T.N.T.(whilemusic.com).mp3
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"Sylvia Hauser filled (and I mean completely filled)
The Barn with burnout smoke from her Dodge.
When the smoke had cleared,
literally and figuratively,
all our clothes and hair were covered in
thousands of tiny balls
of molten rubber"
"Priceless".
Neil Marks
(Quote taken from Eurodragster.com)
Total Petrol Head, promised myself another Porsche before I popped my clogs, had a 911 Carrera 4 before
She is polished with the amazing stuff Jason Petit gave me at the Mopar Euronationals in 2019 - thank you Jason, and thank you again for the model of my first Independent Race Car back in 1972/3 - A 1968 440ci R/T Dodge Charger
This first page is so big it will take you at least an hour to go through it all
Good Luck, I send my love and hugs to all you Petrol Heads - we live forever !
But don't despair there are SIXTEEN other pages to set your world alight !
Above - My new baby - 3.4S Porsche Boxter
that I'm yet to get the hard pedal down on........
My Dad, bless him taught me so much from driving to laying bricks, he was a wonderful man, and I will always miss him, I just hope he can see how well his grandson is doing, following in his daughters footsteps with the need for speed.
I passed my motorcycle test first time when I was 16, my car test first time when I was 17.
I "rolled" my first car, which taught me respect for motor vehicle's.........
Subsequently had a little go at banger racing when I was around 18 - the boyfriends car of course.
The need for speed made me go into American Muscle, and I bought a '66 289 cubic inch Mustang (about 5500 cc), still not enough!
I was already "drag racing" with the local lads at a disused airfield off Yeading Lane in Hayes, but after nearly having a head on with a police car - I was of course in the right hand lane...... decided I had to do it properly before I either killed myself, someone else, or ended up in jail!
I was 23 when friends took me to Santa Pod Raceway, I saw a WOMAN, Motor Racing in those days was totally male dominated and women race car drivers were almost non-existant - yet here was Paula Murphy driving a Funny Car - hey if she can do it - well so could I!
Subsequently, several years later, I met Paula whilst I was in the US, doing promo and visiting sponsors out there, we became great friends in the short time we spent together, she was my mentor and the reason I started racing in the first place - I never looked back.
In October 1973, through a friend, I got my first drive - in a 9 second Pro-Stocker "Swartz Brothers", which had just been imported from the US - my first run in this beast was a 13.01 seconds over the standing 1/4 mile, it was awesome but totally amazing .
In the 13 years I raced, I won every National, Club and other Championships possible, many times over, I took the overall RAC MSA title three times, (should have been four, but the points got ....ed up - so ended up 2nd - booo) this has never achieved by anyone before or since!
I won Le Man's every year, Zandvoort every year, plus other gigs abroad, too many for me to remember, pulled only one red light.... that was in Sweden, qualified 2nd out of 160 cars, and put the cherry on in the first round of the finals...and I could have walked it through to the finals... can't always be perfect!
As the American term - I was the Most Successful
("Winningest") Drag Racer" in the sport!
- that was from 1978 to 1986........
Stop Press (July 2015) - Jay David, my eldest is back home with me
in Bearwood on the Sunny South Coast, great to have him home again.
Also Scott has finally got his own rented apartment,
so hot - the pool is great
Especially with a nice cold beer :)
no one ha ever taken every single Championship in one year before or since,
I was the first DRIVER (male or female) to take all 5 National Titles in one year,
I sincerely regret that now ........... however, always a winner, with my horses, ponies, siamese cats, and now again in 2017 I am actively breeding and showing Ragdoll Cats -
below is a copy of a email by kind friend Vince Sharp to "BritishDRHOF@aol.com"
Above at Santa Pod 1973, my mentor, and now a dear friend, it was because of her that I went for it...
Paula was the first independent race car driver in the USA,
a truly wonderful lady, I will always love and respect her, she like me loves her animals :)
Back in 1973 - The beginning of a long love affair with American muscle cars
Ealing Broadway ,outside my apartment sat on my "Old Lady" 1968 Mustang 289 Registration BPP 554K
my first American car, lots of fun, thrush mufflers, big carb- it was great fun :)
Below Paula Murphy at Santa Pod in 1973 - wonderful lady, I love her to bits - you rock hon :)
October 1973,through a friend ,i got my first drive- in a 9 second Pro-Stocker "Swartz Brothers the car had just been imported from the USA by Peter Bennett - and i was the "test driver " with no experiance ! I remember Pete saying if the car starts to weave , keep your foot in - hence i covered both lanes several times and finally managed to get the beast straight , just as i took out the mirrows at the top end...quite an exciting and interesting first time up the dragstrip lol
The Dodge and the Chevy 1973/1974..... The Chevy was my road car, and the Charger 440ci 6 pack was my race car - thats how i started racing - drive the Dodge to race meetings, with slicks on the back seat, jack & tools in the boot, drop the exhaust and put the collectors and slicks on and go racing - what a great time then, back in 73 - 76
Posing on the trunk (boot) of my 440 6 pack Charger
Dodge Charger 440 " Mopar Miss"ile 1st race car
Below
The Photo of me above was taken in a lay by on the A6 in February , about 7 am , freezing cold !
It was featured in the first issue of the News of the World "Sunday" Magazine .
Photo shoot for the Sunday Telegraph .
I turned down the offer of a lot of money to take my kit off for one of the major mens magazines ,
however i ended up with a nice spread in Penthouse - clothes on :) ,
plus the Sun news paper gave me a nice bit of coverage "Speedy Sylvia stays in gear"
all good for PR and my sponsors.
Above - magazine shoot for Custom Car mag 1981
Below - Dodge Challenger 440 6 pack "MOPAR MISS" early days, 1979 - before her race paint job
I set the record originally in my maiden name, Sylvia Read,
I continued to set stock/production records for many years - then moved up into Top Modified....
no looking back, only forward and going FASTER :)
well turned out car and crew .. as always, professional, clean, tidy and all up together
The above 2 photo,s kindly sent to me by Stevan Rehnsi ....thanks xoxo
Stevan Rehnsi's
Mopar Miss ..so glad she is finally getting restored by Andy Hagglund in Norway
In 1979 - I was the first driver, (against the guys,) to take all major Championships in the Sport,
British Drag Racing & Hot Rod Association Street Division Champion
RAC Overall Championship,
RAC Divison 3 Championship,
National Drag Racing Club Overall Championship
National Drag Racing Club Street Division Champion
also the Sperex Ladies Award
I repeated this in 1981 and 1983, but it became difficult to attend all the Championship rounds
as I had to work hard for my Sponsors, often taking the car abroad,
Plus of course racing in Europe, Holland, France, Sweden & Germany etc.
However, I continued to take the majority of National and Club Championships until I retired in 1986,
but do remember 1979 was my first year of seriously winning everything,
until 1986 when I retired to have my sons....... Jay-David and Scott who has taken over the driving seat !
Below: Me in far lane, Derek Bell, near lane...awesome race car driver..
Derick Bell famous motor racing driver and 24hrs LeMans winner, in Mopar Miss ( near lane )
me in the Rossi Dodge ..we did a magazine article for "Cars and Car Conversions"
with him had to teach him how to drag race .. (how to "power shift")
had a job trying to stop him "granny shifting" :)..
Above: My two Dodge Challengers
BELOW - One day I will grow into that hat !
Coming into stage and Geof in the fire up lane in Mopar Miss....
thanks for the photos above and below Pascal Sarrazin
Below, my beloved Paul Rossi wheelie Dodge, I really loved this car, this was taken before Geof messed up the handling, the car became a nightmare to drive, and the more he adjusted it the worse it got ! - he was adjusting it the wrong way :( I was of course his guinea pig in this car and the next one..........
Anyone who remembers will agree the wheelstands got lower and lower as I was fighting to control the beast, but most importantly was to WIN !
Rolling burn out across the line to heat tyres up and lay down some rubber for traction
Then a brief pink outing as Independent Express when the Sierra crashed on its first trip up the strip,so my crew worked their nuts off putting EVERYTHING back into the Dodge, and I mean EVERYTHING - it was one empty shell filling up another one, plus Carlo Gandolfi sprayed it overnight in the Independent Express colours for that one meeting.
Also Geof finally phoned Paul Rossi and found out he was adjusting the rear end the wrong way and my big baby went STRAIGHT AGAIN for the first time in 2 years :)
THEN i had to let go and let Joran take her to Sweden the car was again a pleasure to drive - back to what she was capable of rather than me having to fight it off the start line when she was diving to the right and was a serious threat to anyone in the right lane !
Then a brief pink outing as Independent Express when the Sierra crashed on its first trip up the strip,
so my crew worked their nuts off putting EVERYTHING back into the Dodge, and I
mean EVERYTHING - it was one empty shell filling up another one,
plus Carlo Gandolfi sprayed it overnight in the Independent Express colours for that one meeting.
Geof finally figured
out he was adjusting the rear end the wrong way
and the Dodge went STRAIGHT AGAIN for the first time in 2 years,
THEN i had to let go and
let Joran take her to Sweden the car was again a pleasure to drive - back
to what she was capable of - rather than me having to fight it off the
start line,
it broke my heart to lose her then :(((((((((
Waving to the crowds after winning the "Burn Out" Competition, taken away from Don "The snake" Schumacher, who did a 1/4 mile burnout - I just set the tarmac alight lol
1983 racing at famous motor racing circuit Zandvoort in Holland ,i won the final and was towed down the track and given flowers ! :)) ,had to be so careful sat on the front wing as they was so thin from acid dipping to save weight (hence no shoes lol ) ...loved this track ,you could walk across the road and go sunbathing on the beach :)) ...piccy from friend Steve Bingham who crewed for Mick Cheley in the Mr Shifter team ....
such good fun traveling with these fellow racers :) ...love this piccy thanks Steve x
Some of us Brit racers on the beach at Zandvoort
Zandvoort racing circuit
" Mr Shifter " with Mick Cheley at the wheel ...doing sprints on a closed down street at Steenwijk ,..
photo's by Steve Bingham ...
Below
Me pulling pints behind the bar at the hotel in Steenwijk ...
the owners said they could not cope with a load of Brits drinking their pub dry ,
so they went to bed and told us to
carry on drinking !
but make sure we put the money in the till :)
I always loved this photo
I am proud to say every time we raced at LeMans in France I won :) I think it was for 3 years
Also in Holland, and I love Holland, at Zandvort again I won every year......
did love the gigs abroad.... so much fun racing in other countries, it was great to meet some lovely people.
getting towed down historic LeMans circuit after winning in 1982
Racing at the famous LeMans circuit was great fun !!
the crowds were huge 40-50,000 people
Queen of LeMans
Below, friends pushing the car back to the pits at Le Mans,
Jason & Steve Gorringe who with his wife Shesh ran the first
MOPAR MUSCLE CLUB in England, and I was proud to be a member !
Le Mans 1983 getting pushed down the pit lane waving at the crowds having won my class
"Man" handling my car into the paddock at LeMans after my victory
Thomas Naehrig from Germany kindly sent me this, taken at Giebelstadt Army Airfield - thanks Tom
I love Germany - the beer and the sausages and the people :) and the technology!
Update 2017: I now own two BMW's a 2.8 Z3 and a Turbo Diesel Sports,
plus a kitchen full of German engineering !
Above photos supplied by Pascal Sarrazine fellow racer and friend
A
WHEELS UP AS ALWAYS !!
In the pits at Santa Pod
Clive Mechelle's Acapulco Express Corvette. another good friend and fellow racer.
racing Des Taylor's Revell Rebel Ford Pop...getting the jump on him :-)
perfect wheels up launch
mmmm ..Keke Rosberg x..
At the RAC MSA Award Presentation in Pall Mall, London ,
Keke Rosberg who was current F1 Champion gave me my trophy,
and a smacker of a big kiss
I stepped backwards and fell off the stage and dropped the lot
Never a dull moment when I'm around.......hehe
Below: Autographed from book on Drag Racing ...
me smiling as always ...Geof looking serious and glum (as always lol )
Couple of the many news paper and magazine cuttings i have ..
so many, such a task to scan them all..... maybe later !
Santa Pod 2012, in a possible drive for 2012
Below
The London Ace Cafe - Brighton "burn up" 2007 -
went on the back of "Grand Dads" trike ,
last time i managed to go as it always clashed with Scott's racing; that of course came first! .....
I went dressed like that- got so much sun and wind burn !
My "slicks" (back tyres) were actually bigger than me!
Squash racket in hand ....
used to play every day, except for weekends when I was racing,
kept me fit and fast!
getting off the line the way a race car should
brute force and horsepower........
miss it badly!
Front Cover Hot Rod & Custom; see the pool of water under the back wheels,
this photo was taken about 1/2 second before the wheels hit it and sent me flying off to the right hand lane....
she got too hot on the start line, lost a bit of water ...... and it cost me that final !
Custom Car magazine 1981 ......how small am i on my big beastie :) !!
racing in Germany
Santa Pod July 1986
Brilliant wheel stand by new owner Joakim Martenson
Above - My race cars in chronological order ...left to right
Joakim Martenson racer, good friend and current owner of the Paul Rossi Dodge
his web page is below ....
tell him Sylvia wants her car back !
Photo of the Paul Rossi Dodge, she is still going strong in Sweden, in the hands of Joakam Martinson,
one of the most favoured cars in the sport.
So many "tricks" in this car - great fun to drive and a total animal :)
We then had the backing of FORD Motorsport, and needed to run an English bodied car,
even so all the running gear was USA muscle :)
Bring in the"Think Pink" Sierra. backed by Ford and Independent Express
plus our many English and USA sponsors....
as i tell Scott nothing goes on the car unless its paid for !!
sylvia@snowpoms.com
Below
My boys as little ones
Jay-David was 17 months in his first race car and Scott was 9 months
whoops ! after too much falling down liquid at the Annual Trophy Awards Dinner & Dance, of course i was always the one to start the "bread roll throwing"....bet they don't do it now !!
fit,lotsa muscle and power-muscle to drive muscle cars
how super fit was i and PROUD of it
September 2011 with best friend Margaret check out the figure boys ..
retired 27 years and can still get in my old fire suit ;)
Check out ma guns haha
News of the World- first issue of Sunday Magazine., real famous piccy,love it but was cold at the time,Febuary sitting in lay by in just my firesuit with my race car-what we did for our sponsors.......
different kinda of horse power,my horse breeding days, my first Palomino filly foal.
above - I LOVE this photo...it was taken by Jay-David, my eldest son when he was only 4 years old !!
photo taken in my garden 2009
With my friend since we were about 4 yrs old - Sandra
her 60th fancy dress birthday bash
birthday girl in 2011
above ,one of my road rides,she is great fun,not much room for big people ! but have my Supra Turbo as well to get more bodies in ......
restored 3 ltr turbo beastie Supra
the veiw most people got of a 440 six pack Challenger :-)))
Drag Racing is something that most people will never understand. It's not just a sport or something to do on a Saturday night....it's a way of life. Once you're in it, it's in your blood. Once you make that first pass you can't stop. The drag strip is your home away from home. You smell that smoke, rubber, and race fuel & you feel peace within. When you hear those revving engines it's music to your ears.
I do really look like butter would not melt in my mouth in this photo, I really like it and so glad I found it!
photos below are from 1973, just before I drove the Schwartz Bros Pro Stocker that came over from USA, what an animal that was, did a 13.1 on first pass, had to back off mid track or would have ended up back in the pits, never the less it was the beginning of forever love...... muscle cars, guns and being baddddddd......... well according to the Police - I was bad already ;-)
my modelling days -was only a baby at the time
Another photo of my "rear end" lol back in the good old days when I was helping out with Pete Crane, Top Fuel - the first man in Europe to hit the 5 second bracket, well done Pete, love ya babe, we did have some fun!
I remember when I drove you home in your Porsche you were too drunk
you just told me to drop it into 2nd and floor it, round tight u-bend,
twas your car so I did..... YUM !
that is when I fell in love with Porches .....
a truly wonderful lady,
and certainly a living legend
MUTE OR PAUSE THE MUSIC IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE VIDEO :-))
I am so proud of him, watch him - he will surely take my title as the "Winningest Drag Racer in the UK" and will be worthy of it :-)
Great 1st Season Scott, love Mum xxx
my youngest son Scott in his new dragster ( chip off the old block )
Scott Hauser Does A Big Break Out In His New Built Dragster Made By HRC,
Runs 8.12 Seconds @ 160MPh On A 8.20 Dial-In Which Made This His 3Rd
Personal Best That Weekend At Santapod European Finals 2011 First
Competition Meeting In The New Dragster After Licensing, Well Done To
Driver: Scott & Crew Chief: Geof (DAD)
my face book pages come check me out
a real old one from '73, before the "paint job" by Slick Tricks Racing, but we made her beautiful between us and them, thanks Guys!
testing the "Pink Thing" Sierra at the Pod ,did a 360 hitting the guard rail ,
never happy with this car and always knew it was going to try and kill me :(
pic from good friend Steve Bingham
http://sb-vintageservices.co.uk/drag-racing
and i was right -
on my birthday 27th Juyly 1986 - the car did try to kill me
Summernationals at Santa Pod luckily the car was left hand drive as we took out 3 of the armco rails plus one upright and a huge lump of concrete weighing around 1/2 cwt, and took out the top of the carb, and ended up on the passenger seat - could have killed me :(
Oops... sorry boys !!!
Giving it some " Sylvia "...doing what i do best, wow the crowds, tiz what they wanted !
The Burn Out Queen ..... again......
What people remember about my huge burnouts "doing a Sylvia" :)) page copied from "UK Drag Racing Nostalgia website" http://www.ukdrn.co.uk ... lots of great articles on the "golden years" of British drag racing ... valuable info and facts ! :)
Never Stop Playing
My Paintball "handle" was/is Powercat....
and I still have two of the best markers ever made ......
me in my paintballing Ghillie Suit lol ( like to dig in and take them out )
limited edition Dye DM7 Ironemen Billywing, one of only 4! - am really pleased!
my other gun ..... Ego 6
Santa pod launch the book Crazy Horses ...
great day out, with my friend and drag racer Dave Lee Travis who was inducted into the British drag racers hall of fame..........
Dave lee Travis at the Pod ...great friend and fellow loonie :)
Mel McClain,s web page
Reminds me so much of Jim Morrison ...always will love Jim ...
My song ;-).....LOVE love love this ....FASTER ..yesss !!!
in the movie "HOT ROD"
Card drawn by Geof's mum who was brilliant artist.
