The Japanese car culture scene is so big in the UK that it can have its own gathering where tens of thousands turn up to show their cars from the land of the rising sun. 

Jap Show is one of the many Japanese only car events. Held at the Santa Pod Raceway in the UK which is outside of the village of Podington in Bedfordshire, Jap Show has one unique feature that the other shows don’t have, Drag Racing. 

The drag strip is built on an old disused airfield runway from World War Two so it’s a simple design and concept, one straight road. Get down it as quickly as possible in your Japanese car.

Santa Pod holds the current world record for an elapsed time over a 1/4 mile, 3.58 seconds at 386.26 mph. Set by Sammy Miller back in 1984 in a hydrogen peroxide powered engine car called Vanishing Point. Think about that. In the time it takes you to read this sentence Sammy had gone from a standing start to 1/4 of a mile away and was slowing down.

Stumping up £25 on the day will get you that Sammy Miller experience on the strip if somewhat slower. With unlimited runs for one day this could give you those all important bragging rights all year over your mates. 

Taking photos at Santa Pod is easy as there are good views all the way down the strip from either side. There is not much in the way of catch fencing, just concrete blocks to get in the way.

Stand on the raised grass banking or sitting in the grandstands gives you a good view of one of the cars but the other is obscured by the concrete wall.

One of the highlights of Santa Pod is Fire Force, the resident world’s fastest jet car. I was on the grass banking for these pictures which was not ideal as it was slightly obscured and some photographer had left his gear out. 

No problem I thought as it is scheduled for another run in the afternoon I will get in the grandstand early for a good seat. But it didn’t. It broke down and didn’t make another appearance so this is all I got, but you get the idea.

If drag racing wasn’t enough there was also a bike and car stunt show as well. Terry Grant in the car was on top form, his shows are always worth watching. This show is put on twice during the day so if you don’t get that picture in the morning you will in the afternoon, it’s the same show and you will know what’s coming.

There is a Drift rides up near the Santa Pod finish line on the static show side. There are some thick fences for your protection which is not great for photography but there are some small gaps that you can get a lens through. 

Or get close to the fence, use a large f stop which is a small number f3.4, f4 and click away. Standing back and including the fence can be effective depending on your style and taste. 

So the kit requirements for this track are simple, a zoom up to 300mm will work for the grandstand and the grass bank opposite. For most of the track you will be shooting in the sub 200mm areas and fill the frame even from the back of the grandstand.

For the static show a wide angle lens will work. I’ve been shooting with a telephoto recently and standing back to get something different. However, if you don’t have the patience of a saint stick with the close up stuff as the crowds are large at these events. 

I hope you have enjoyed this write up and photographs of Jap Show from Santa Pod 2018. As always I don’t claim to be an expert on this subject, it’s just my random observations of a day out with some friends carrying a camera and hopefully I will inspire some of you to get out there and take some great images.