▁one ▁set ▁of ▁lights ▁to ▁the ▁other ▁- ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁Drag ▁Racing . ▁ ▁Drag ▁Racing ▁took ▁off ▁in ▁the ▁UK ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁when , ▁like ▁in ▁the ▁USA , ▁many ▁of ▁the ▁old ▁dis used ▁a irst ri ps ▁around ▁the ▁country ▁were ▁converted ▁to ▁drag ▁stri ps . ▁ ▁P oding ton ▁air field , ▁near ▁the ▁villages ▁of ▁Hin wick ▁and ▁P oding ton , ▁was ▁formerly ▁a ▁w art ime ▁air base ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁USA AF ▁during ▁the ▁Second ▁World ▁War . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁permission ▁was ▁obtained ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁air field ▁as ▁a ▁drag ▁racing ▁complex , ▁the ▁ ¾ ▁of ▁a ▁mile ▁main ▁run way ▁being ▁used ▁as ▁the ▁drag ▁strip . ▁ ▁The ▁track ▁was ▁named ▁Santa ▁Pod ▁after ▁the ▁Santa ▁Ana ▁strip ▁in ▁America , ▁combined ▁with ▁the ▁name ▁of ▁the ▁local ▁village ▁of ▁P oding ton . ▁ ▁Since ▁then ▁the ▁name ▁Santa ▁Pod ▁Race way ▁has ▁become ▁syn onymous ▁with ▁the ▁sport ▁of ▁Drag ▁Racing ▁in ▁Europe . ▁ ▁Today ▁the ▁race way ▁hosts ▁events ▁throughout ▁the ▁year ▁including ▁the ▁FI A ▁European ▁Drag ▁Racing ▁Championships ▁and ▁the ▁' Run ▁What ▁You ▁Br ung ' ▁( R W Y B ) ▁events ▁where ▁anyone ▁with ▁a ▁valid ▁driving ▁lic ence ▁can ▁have ▁a ▁go ▁and ▁put ▁their ▁own ▁vehicles ▁and ▁skills ▁to ▁the ▁test . ▁ ▁R ally ing ▁ ▁R ally ing ▁is ▁a ▁popular ▁form ▁of ▁mot ors