All I want for Christmas is my own junior dragster

That tricky Christmas problem of what to give the child who has everything has been solved! H&H Classic Auctions are offering five, unique, beautifully-engineered junior dragsters, guaranteed to gladden the heart of some very lucky, car-mad youngsters on December 25th.

“These are fabulous little machines,” said H&H Managing Director Simon Hope. “They are meticulously built and have set a number of world records in children’s drag racing, raising money for charity in the process. They are serious pieces of engineering that would give a child an incredible amount of fun, or sit well in any collection.”

The miniature V8 hotrod replicas were all designed and built by engineer Brian Eyre, one of the founders of kart racing in Britain. He began the project 18 years ago, building two American-style Bathtub Hotrods. His grandchildren raced them at Santa Pod raceway and his then four-year old grandson Stephen set his first world record, with a speed of 22.70mph down the ¼ mile strip. The feat was officially recorded by the Guinness Book of Records, and raised over £1,000 for the hospital that had treated Stephen during a serious illness.

The Kindred Spirit racing team was born, and in 1993 Brian Eyre added the Batmobile to the ‘fleet’, which shattered the under-10’s world ¼ mile record. He continued building unique junior racers and today the Kindred Spirit team is still going strong, and Brian is selling five of these very special vehicles to fund a further charitable programme:

The Batmobile – built around a stunning, 10’-long body believed to be one of just four designed and built for the Batman and Batman Returns films, this two-seater features on-board computers measuring RPM and engine temperatures, pit-to-car communications, plus a sound-effect system that imitates guns, bomb launchers and sirens. It has a high-power, tuned Honda engine and reverse cone mega exhaust system, plus a low loss modified race gearbox supplemented by an American torque converter system. This makes the vehicle suitable for experienced and inexperienced drivers from age five upwards. It comes complete with its own four-wheel trailer and would make a once-in-a-lifetime gift for a child – or, indeed, a Batman enthusiast of any age!

American Drag Race Rail – this 11’ long American Slingshot Rail led the field in early Junior Drag Racing in the mid 1990s, achieving a record-breaking 17.16 second ¼ mile from a standing start at Santa Pod, with a terminal speed of 63mph. Like all the vehicles on offer, it features full harness seat belts, and this particular car can accommodate children up to the size of a small adult.

American NASCAR - this 10’ NASCAR replica was inspired by the Tom Cruise racecar from the film ‘Days of Thunder’. The body was painted by PPG of Indy Car fame in a process that took more than three weeks and cost over £10,000. The vehicle features an omni-directional impact full crush zone body/chassis, and the race seat can accommodate an adult frame. It is powered by a 300cc Japanese Kubota engine.

American-style Bath Tub Hotrods – these two distinctive machines are the original Junior Dragsters that formed the basis of the Kindred Spirit team. Both vehicles feature handbuilt wood and polished alloy bodies with bright red paintwork and chromed metal parts mounted on full steel chassis. The lavishly furnished passenger compartments feature interior lighting, fully-functioning electronic dashboard, plus carpets and deep buttoned upholstery. The electric-powered version is powered by 2x24-volt electric motors and is capable of speeds up to 15mph, making it suitable for children from three to 12 years of age. The petrol model is more applicable to kids aged six to 12 and has a 60cc two-stroke engine and a top speed of 20mph.

To obtain estimates, images or further information generally on any of the Junior Dragsters, please contact H&H Classic Auctions at Hatton, Cheshire on 01925 730630 or email info@classic-auctions.co.uk