Propper Droppers Dahn The Arena

The older and more London based readers may know the Essex Arena Raceway. Another rather grandly over-named quarter mile oval of worn tarmac (hey that’s posh – you should see the asymmetrical concrete at Smeatharpe ‘Stadium’ in Devon!) like so many up and down the country on old airfields. However, Essex, like Matchams in the Bournemouth area is a purpose built spot. It has acreages of cinder car parks and it has a large cinder surfaced pit area out back of the oval itself.
For me, it’ll always bring memories the Mean Street Cruise, as I used to compere the lunacy of Show & Shine, Best Dressed and Rinse What You Brung. The first thing, S&S, was the best cars all parked up by the bar building and judged by each other, the Rinsing was a simple one car versus the clock and resulted in some scary times by the end of the season. But Best Dressed was my favourite as it was about crowd reaction. This meant that an enthusiastic girl friend could wave her bra, then her breasts at the crowd to get a better roar of approval. This became such a feature of the show that we ended up getting all sorts of rude girls coming along and getting so naked that the promoter even hired Anna Braim from Fast Car as ‘girl-wrangler’ since it was getting necessary to get fully naked to win Best Undressed (and yes, there was a special trophy to make their Essex mums proud and meant there was actually a car contest, too) and I was getting kinda inappropriate for that level. Sort of seemed alright for a lass to be encouraging the naughty behaviour. While all this was going on, the dB Drag guys would be rocking in the pits area.

But the shenanigans up Essex Arena these days are a bit different. Pure Carma have the first Saturday slot and it’s not about spectating, it’s about doing it. They are drift nights and the cars are frankly mostly old wrecks. They hoon around and try to ‘link’ the track by spending the entire time sideways. There are over thirty all queuing up to impress the judges. In the pits while this happens are the guys from Propper Droppers.
A new format where the car is measured at deep bass rather than simply the loudest tones, which are up around 70Hz, the StreetBassers website is its home. It’s a concept I’ve wanted to see for literally years and I particularly like the fact that Todd Ramsey’s reported 33Hz clitoral resonance frequency (CRF) is one of the tones they use. They test at 40Hz, 33Hz, 25Hz and 20Hz plus your own car’s peak frequency. They test with the sensor on the headrest where your head would go and they let you open the door. What this means is an operator in the vehicle opening the door incrementally during a run to get the best bandpass effect of their car’s interior versus the outside world.
As is hardly surprising, Ian Pinder dominates but there are some bloody huge systems out there as well now. Many with JBL speakers and also a few with Ballistic. A brand I have been guilty (quite clearly) of savagely under estimating in the past. Both have that value-with-power thing that adds up to stupendous results if you have, say SIX!
These guys also brag about having in excess of 500Ah of batteries in their boots, with stuff from bank computer back up batteries and even trains being used. The best seem to be Odyssey these days as Ian’s results tend to prove.
I got myself along to their last month’s do on the eve of Trax, so a  few folks were at Silverstone but the season Finale is going to be at Arena Essex (RM19 1AE) on Saturday 3rd October, gates open 4.30 testing 5 to 10.30. Tenner for each for entry to the link  drift event and for the PD thang.
The guys have a real laugh and somehow it’s a bit different to normal SPL. A bit more exclusive and more for the nutters than those who might just want to know how their car plays but definitely a real entertainment as they strive for absurd lows. Come and check it out!