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127-556: Santa Pod Raceway is Europe's first permanent drag racing venue for 1 ⁄ 4 mile (1,320 ft; 402 m) and 1 ⁄ 8 mile (660 ft; 201 m) racing. Located in Podington , Bedfordshire , England, the drag strip was built on a disused Second World War Royal Air Force (RAF) airbase , known as RAF Podington ; once used by the USAAF 's 92nd Bomb Group . The drag racing venue opened at Easter in 1966, and it

254-568: A cease and desist letter, stating that Page was allowed to use the New Yardbirds moniker for the Scandinavian dates only. One account of how the new band's name was chosen held that Moon and Entwistle had suggested that a supergroup with Page and Beck would go down like a "lead balloon", an idiom for being very unsuccessful or unpopular. The group dropped the 'a' in lead at the suggestion of Peter Grant, so that those unfamiliar with

381-414: A "pro tree"). In NHRA Sportsman classes, the amber lights illuminate in sequence from top to bottom, 0.5 seconds apart, followed 0.5 seconds later by the green light (this is also known as a "sportsman tree" or "full tree"). If a vehicle leaves the starting line before the green light illuminates, the red light for that lane illuminates instead, and the driver is disqualified (also known as red lighting ). In

508-617: A 90-minute "UnLedded" MTV project. They later released an album called No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded , which featured some reworked Led Zeppelin songs, and embarked on a world tour the following year. This is said to be the beginning of a rift between the band members, as Jones was not even told of the reunion. In 1995, Led Zeppelin were inducted into the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith . Jason and Zoë Bonham also attended, representing their late father. At

635-443: A Deluxe Edition, which contained a bonus disc of previously unheard material ( Coda's Deluxe Edition would include two bonus discs). Each album was also available in a Super Deluxe Edition Box Set, which included the remastered album and bonus disc on both CD and 180-gram vinyl, a high-definition audio download card of all content at 96 kHz/24 bit, a hardbound book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia, and

762-577: A Europe-wide four wheeled championship for the Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny Car, Pro Modified and Pro Stock classes. FIM Europe organises a similar championship for bike classes. In addition, championships are run for sportsman classes in many countries throughout Europe by the various national motorsport governing bodies. Drag racing in New Zealand started in the 1960s. The New Zealand Hot Rod Association (NZHRA) sanctioned what

889-413: A Page-Relf composition initially titled "Knowing That I'm Losing You", which would eventually be re-recorded by Led Zeppelin as " Tangerine ". The Yardbirds' 1968 tour proved to be exhausting for the band. Drummer Jim McCarty and vocalist Keith Relf aimed to embark in a more acoustic direction, forming a folk rock duo called Together, whereas Page wanted to continue the heavier blues-based sound of

1016-652: A breakout (such as NHRA Competition Eliminator), pairings are based on times compared to their index (faster than index for class is better). In bracket racing with a breakout (Stock, Super Stock, but also the NHRA's Super classes), the closest to the index is favorable. A popular alternative to the standard eliminations format is the Chicago Style format (also called the Three Round format in Australia), named for

1143-514: A broken ankle and Maureen was badly injured; a blood transfusion saved her life. Unable to tour, he headed to the Channel Island of Jersey to spend August and September recuperating, with Bonham and Page in tow. The band then reconvened in Malibu, California . During this forced hiatus, much of the material for their next album, Presence , was written. By this time, Led Zeppelin were

1270-638: A concert at Tampa Stadium was cut short because of a severe thunderstorm, despite tickets indicating "Rain or Shine". A riot broke out, resulting in arrests and injuries. After 23 July show at the Day on the Green festival at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California , Bonham and members of Led Zeppelin's support staff were arrested after a member of promoter Bill Graham 's staff was badly beaten during

1397-791: A deal with Atlantic Records that gave them considerable artistic freedom. Initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums over ten years. Their 1969 debut, Led Zeppelin , was a top-ten album in several countries and features such tracks as " Good Times Bad Times ", " Dazed and Confused " and " Communication Breakdown ". Led Zeppelin II (1969), their first number-one album, includes " Whole Lotta Love " and " Ramble On ". In 1970, they released Led Zeppelin III which opens with " Immigrant Song ". Their untitled fourth album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV (1971),

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1524-670: A different direction from Zeppelin, playing standards and in a more R&B style, highlighted by a cover of " Sea of Love " that peaked at number three on the Billboard chart in early 1985. The studio album Coda – a collection of Zeppelin outtakes and unused tracks – was issued in November 1982. It included two tracks from the Royal Albert Hall in 1970, one each from the Led Zeppelin III and Houses of

1651-449: A friend stripped Page's custom modifications and repainted the guitar. From 1969 on the mahogany "Number 1" Les Paul has been Page's main guitar. During the 1970s, Led Zeppelin reached new heights of commercial and critical success that made them one of the most influential groups of the era, eclipsing their earlier achievements. The band's image also changed as the members began to wear elaborate, flamboyant clothing, with Page taking

1778-613: A ham roll. After taking a bite of the ham roll he said to his assistant, "breakfast". He continued to drink heavily after arriving at the studio. The rehearsals were halted late that evening and the band retired to Page's house—the Old Mill House in Clewer , Windsor . After midnight, Bonham, who had fallen asleep, was taken to bed and placed on his side. At 1:45 pm the next day, Benji LeFevre (Led Zeppelin's new tour manager) and John Paul Jones found Bonham dead. The cause of death

1905-413: A handicap start, the green light automatically lights up for the first driver, and the red light is only lit in the proper lane after both cars have launched if one driver leaves early, or if both drivers left early, the driver whose reaction time is worse (if one lane has a -.015 and the other lane has a -.022, the lane of the driver who committed a 0.022 is given the red light after both cars have left), as

2032-470: A heavy, guitar-driven sound and drawing from influences including blues and folk music , Led Zeppelin are cited as a progenitor of hard rock and heavy metal . They significantly influenced the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock and stadium rock . Led Zeppelin evolved from a previous band, the Yardbirds , and were originally named "the New Yardbirds". They signed

2159-504: A high-quality print of the original album cover. On 6 November 2015, the Mothership compilation was reissued using the band's newly remastered audio tracks. The reissuing campaign continued the next year with the re-release of BBC Sessions on 16 September 2016. The reissue contained a bonus disc with nine unreleased BBC recordings, including the heavily bootlegged but never officially released "Sunshine Woman". To commemorate

2286-523: A planned Australian tour. The year 2003 saw the release of the triple live album How the West Was Won , and Led Zeppelin DVD , a six-hour chronological set of live footage that became the best-selling music DVD in history. In July 2007, Atlantic/ Rhino and Warner Home Video announced three Zeppelin titles to be released that November: Mothership , a 24-track best-of spanning the band's career;

2413-416: A red light infraction is only assessed to the driver with the worse infraction, if both drivers leave early. Even if both drivers leave early, the green light is automatically lit for the driver that left last, and they still may win the pass (as in the 2014 NHRA Auto Club Pro Stock final, Erica Enders-Stevens and Jason Line both committed red light infractions; only Line was assessed with a red light, as he

2540-469: A red light on the tree. Otherwise, once both drivers are staged, the system chooses a short delay at random (to prevent a driver being able to anticipate the start), then starts the race. The light sequence at this point varies slightly. For example, in NHRA Professional classes, three amber lights on the tree flash simultaneously, followed 0.4 seconds later by a green light (this is also known as

2667-493: A regulated motorsport . Drag racing started in the 1940s. World War II veterans were prominently involved, and some early drag races were done at decommissioned aircraft bases with landing strips that made them an ideal place for the sport. In 1951, Wally Parks formed the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The organization banned the use of nitromethane in 1957, calling it unsafe, in part through

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2794-640: A reissue of the soundtrack The Song Remains the Same , including previously unreleased material; and a new DVD. Zeppelin also made their catalogue legally available for download, becoming one of the last major rock bands to do so. On 10 December 2007, Zeppelin reunited for the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O 2 Arena in London, with Jason Bonham again taking his father's place on drums. According to Guinness World Records 2009 ,

2921-548: A safe deposit box at the Drake Hotel . In 1974, Led Zeppelin took a break from touring and launched their own record label, Swan Song , named after an unreleased song. The record label's logo is based on a drawing called Evening: Fall of Day (1869) by William Rimmer . The drawing features a figure of a winged human-like being interpreted as either Apollo or Icarus . The logo can be found on Led Zeppelin memorabilia, especially T-shirts. In addition to using Swan Song as

3048-557: A session that also included bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones . The Yardbirds played their final gig on 7 July 1968 at Luton College of Technology in Bedfordshire. They were still committed to several concerts in Scandinavia, so McCarty and Relf authorised Page and bassist Chris Dreja to use the Yardbirds' name to fulfill the band's obligations. Page and Dreja began putting a new line-up together. Page's first choice for

3175-401: A short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most commonly 1 ⁄ 4   mi (1,320  ft ; 402  m ), with a shorter, 1,000 ft (0.19 mi; 304.80 m) distance becoming increasingly popular, as it has become the standard for Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars , where some major bracket races and other sanctioning bodies have adopted it as

3302-587: A single edit of "Whole Lotta Love" in the US and the UK, the only single the band released in their homeland, where it peaked at number 21. November 1997 saw the release of Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions , a two-disc set largely recorded in 1969 and 1971. Page and Plant released another album called Walking into Clarksdale in 1998, featuring all new material, but after disappointing sales, the partnership dissolved before

3429-426: A system known as a Christmas tree , which consists of a column of lights for each driver/lane, and two light beam sensors per lane on the track at the starting line. Current NHRA trees, for example, feature one blue light (split into halves), then three amber, one green, and one red. When the first light beam is broken by a vehicle's front tire(s), the vehicle is "pre-staged" (approximately 7 inches (180 mm) from

3556-561: A terminal speed of 314.87 miles per hour (506.73 km/h) reached in less than 5 seconds. At the same race meeting, Eric Teboul set a time of 5.2321 seconds at 249 miles per hour (400.73 km/h) on his Hydrogen Peroxide Rocket Bike, which he further improved to 5.19 seconds at the European championships in September 2010. In 2012, drag-racer Andy Frost set the record of 'the world's fastest accelerating road-legal car' at

3683-611: A tour of the United States, during which they performed several songs which would later be part of Led Zeppelin's early repertoire, including covers of Johnny Burnette 's " Train Kept A-Rollin' " and " Dazed and Confused ", a song originally written and recorded by Jake Holmes . In early April 1968, the Yardbirds held a recording session at Columbia Studios in New York City, recording a number of tracks including

3810-569: A truly National series and has been on a steady decline since its inception. Most recently Top Fuel Australia (the organization that represents the Top Fuel owners) recently extracted itself from the 400 Thunder series. ANDRA recently launched a new National series that will initially cater for Top Doorslammer and Top Fue Motorcycle. This series will provide a greater National coverage than the 400 Thunder Series did and will soon add other Professional categories. In 2021 Heathcote Park Raceway in Victoria

3937-680: A valid Motorsport South Africa license. Drivers can compete in a number of categories including Top Eliminator, Senior Eliminator, Super Competition Eliminator, Competition Eliminator, Pro Street Bikes, Superbike Eliminator, Supersport Shootout (motorcycle), Street Modified, and Factory Stock. Drag racing in Russia started in 2004 in Moscow when the Russian Automotive Federation (RAF) sanctioned it as an official motorsport. Drag Racing became popular in Russia after "The Fast and

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4064-818: A vehicle to promote their own albums, the band expanded the label's roster, signing artists such as Bad Company , the Pretty Things and Maggie Bell . The label was successful while Led Zeppelin existed, but folded less than three years after they disbanded. In 1975, Led Zeppelin's double album Physical Graffiti was their first release on the Swan Song label. It consisted of fifteen songs, of which eight had been recorded at Headley Grange in 1974 and seven had been recorded earlier. A review in Rolling Stone magazine referred to Physical Graffiti as Led Zeppelin's "bid for artistic respectability", adding that

4191-479: Is 6.940 seconds at 201.37 mph (324.0736 km/h) for a quarter mile (402 m). Another niche organization is the VWDRC which run a VW-only championship with vehicles running under 7 seconds. Prior to the founding of the NHRA and IHRA, smaller organizations sanctioned drag racing in the early years, which included the competing AHRA in the United States from 1955 to 2005. The first Australian Nationals event

4318-542: Is Elite Octanes' Valley Run which is held at Ambey Valley air strip in Loanavla every year. The biggest drag series event was organized by India Speed Week with three different locations around India. After the series two riders were chosen to represent the country 2017 initiative to bring 11 times world drag racing champion Rickey Gadson to India. The initiative was executed during the Valley Run 2017 event, which gave

4445-421: Is allowed to perform a burnout , which heats the driving tires and lays rubber down at the beginning of the track, improving traction. The cars run through a "water box" (formerly a "bleach box", before bleach was replaced by flammable traction compound, which produced spectacular, and dangerous, flame burnouts; the hazard led NHRA to mandate use of water in the 1970s ). Modern races are started electronically by

4572-765: Is believed to have been the first drag meeting at an open cut coal mine at Kopuku, south of Auckland, sometime in 1966. In 1973, the first and only purpose built drag strip opened in Meremere by the Pukekohe Hot Rod Club. In April 1993 the governance of drag racing was separated from the NZHRA and the New Zealand Drag Racing Association (NZDRA) was formed. In 2014, New Zealand's second purpose built drag strip – Masterton Motorplex – opened. The first New Zealand Drag Racing Nationals

4699-517: Is now also popular with bracket racing, especially in meets where there are 1/8 mile cars and 1/4 mile cars racing together, and is used by the revived American Drag Racing League for its primary classes (not Jr Dragster). Some organizations that deal with Pro Modified and "Mountain Motor" Pro Stock cars (Professional Drag Racers Association) use the 1/8 mile distance, even if the tracks are 1/4 mile tracks. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) oversees

4826-581: Is now the home of European drag racing and hosts both the first and last round of the FIA and FIM / UEM European Drag Racing Championship, along with the British National Drag Racing Championships . It has also been the venue for the annual Volkswagen Beetle Bug Jam weekend since 1987. Podington airfield , near the villages of Hinwick and Podington , was formerly a Second World War airbase. In 1966, permission

4953-592: Is one of the best-selling albums in history, with 37 million copies sold. It includes " Black Dog ", " Rock and Roll " and " Stairway to Heaven ", with the latter being among the most popular and influential works in rock. Houses of the Holy (1973) includes " The Song Remains the Same " and " Over the Hills and Far Away ". Physical Graffiti (1975), a double album, features " The Rover " and " Kashmir ". Page composed most of Led Zeppelin's music, while Plant wrote most of

5080-471: The Guinness Book of Records , the largest attendance to that date for a single act show. Although the tour was financially profitable, it was beset by off-stage problems. On 19 April, over 70 people were arrested as about 1,000 fans tried to gatecrash Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum for two sold-out concerts, while others tried to gain entry by throwing rocks and bottles through glass doors. On 3 June,

5207-563: The Billboard chart; it was released in the UK, where it peaked at number 6, on 31 March. According to Steve Erlewine , the album's memorable guitar riffs, lumbering rhythms, psychedelic blues , groovy, bluesy shuffles and hints of English folk music made it "a significant turning point in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal". In their first year, Led Zeppelin completed four US and four UK concert tours , and also released their second album, Led Zeppelin II . Recorded mostly on

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5334-694: The Earls Court Arena in London, at the time the largest arena in Britain. Following their triumphant Earls Court appearances , Led Zeppelin took a holiday and planned an autumn tour in America, scheduled to open with two outdoor dates in San Francisco. In August 1975, however, Plant and his wife Maureen were involved in a serious car crash while on holiday in Rhodes , Greece. Plant suffered

5461-616: The Knebworth Music Festival , playing to a crowd of approximately 104,000 on the first night. A brief, low-key European tour was undertaken in June and July 1980, featuring a stripped-down set without the usual lengthy jams and solos. On 27 June, at a show in Nuremberg , West Germany, the concert came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the third song, when Bonham collapsed onstage and was rushed to hospital. Speculation in

5588-671: The Mayfair Ballroom in Newcastle upon Tyne . Their first show as Led Zeppelin was at the University of Surrey in Battersea on 25 October. Tour manager Richard Cole , who would become a major figure in the touring life of the group, organised their first North American tour at the end of the year. Their debut album, Led Zeppelin , was released in the US during the tour on 13 January 1969, and peaked at number 10 on

5715-414: The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) mandated self-starters in 1976. After burnouts , cars would be pushed back by crews; this persisted until NHRA required reversing systems in 1980. Don Garlits was the first to do burnouts across the starting line, which is now standard practice. Each driver then backs up to and stages at the starting line. Before each race (commonly known as a pass), each driver

5842-437: The induction ceremony , the band's inner rift became apparent when Jones joked upon accepting his award, "Thank you, my friends, for finally remembering my phone number", causing consternation and awkward looks from Page and Plant. Afterwards, they played one brief set with Tyler and Perry, with Jason Bonham on drums, and then a second with Neil Young , this time with Michael Lee playing the drums. In 1997, Atlantic released

5969-549: The "Riot House"), and became the subject of frequently repeated stories of debauchery. One involved John Bonham riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House, while another involved the destruction of a room in the Tokyo Hilton , leading to the group being banned from that establishment for life. Although Led Zeppelin developed a reputation for trashing their hotel suites and throwing television sets out of

6096-599: The 1970s as the Beatles were in the 1960s. In 1966, London-based session guitarist Jimmy Page joined the blues-influenced rock band the Yardbirds to replace bassist Paul Samwell-Smith . Page soon switched from bass to lead guitar, creating a dual lead guitar line-up with Jeff Beck . Following Beck's departure in October 1966, the Yardbirds became a four-piece with Page as the sole guitarist. This new line-up recorded an album, Little Games , in 1967, before embarking on

6223-474: The 1970s. The group followed up the album's release with tours of the UK , Australasia , North America , Japan , and the UK again from late 1971 through early 1973. Led Zeppelin's next album, Houses of the Holy , was released in March 1973. It featured further experimentation by the band, who expanded their use of synthesisers and mellotron orchestration. The predominantly orange album cover, designed by

6350-541: The Ceylon Motor Sports Club, an FIA sanctioned body. In recent years, exotic cars and Japanese power houses have been taking part in these popular events. Drag racing is an established sport in South Africa, with a number of strips around the country including Tarlton International Raceway and ODI Raceway. Drag racing is controlled by Motorsport South Africa and all drivers are required to hold

6477-552: The Furious" film in 2001, but competitions were illegal before 2004. The most outstanding drag racing event of the early years was "DRAG BITVA" (Drag Battle) which took place in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia from 2005 to 2008. Krasnoyarsk is located in the middle of Russia, so it was the best place to bring all the fastest cars from all over the country. Due to the financial situation "DRAG BITVA" was canceled in 2009 and never came back. It

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6604-475: The Holy , were released on 27 October 2014. Physical Graffiti was released on 23 February 2015, almost exactly forty years to the day after the original release. The fourth and final wave of studio album reissues, Presence , In Through the Out Door , and Coda , were released on 31 July 2015. Through this remastering project, each studio album was reissued on CD and vinyl and was also available in

6731-591: The Holy sessions, and three from the In Through the Out Door sessions. It also featured a 1976 Bonham drum instrumental with electronic effects added by Page, called " Bonzo's Montreux ". On 13 July 1985, Page, Plant, and Jones reunited for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia , playing a short set featuring drummers Tony Thompson and Phil Collins , and bassist Paul Martinez . Collins had contributed to Plant's first two solo albums while Martinez

6858-850: The London-based design group Hipgnosis , depicts images of nude children climbing the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. Although the children are not shown from the front, the cover was controversial at the time of the album's release. As with the band's fourth album, neither their name nor the album title was printed on the sleeve. Houses of the Holy topped charts worldwide, and the band's subsequent concert tour of North America in 1973 broke records for attendance, as they consistently filled large auditoriums and stadiums. At Tampa Stadium in Florida, they played to 56,800 fans, breaking

6985-598: The National Drag Racing Championship in Australia uses the format for major categories. The standard distance of a drag race is 1,320 feet, 402 m, or 1/4 mile (±0.2% FIA & NHRA rules). However, due to safety concerns, certain sanctioning bodies (notably the NHRA for its Top Fuel and Funny Car classes) have shortened races to 1,000 feet. Some drag strips are even shorter and run 660 feet, 201 m, or 1/8 mile. The 1,000 foot distance

7112-591: The Perth Motorplex invited the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) to sanction events at their tracks. Shortly thereafter the Perth Motorplex reverted to ANDRA sanction. Although greatly assisted by ANDRA prior to its construction, Springmount Raceway opted for IHRA sanction. The 400 Thunder Series targets professional racers to its races. Intended to be the premier Drag racing series in Australia it has never been able to run

7239-576: The Same and the accompanying soundtrack album . The film premiered in New York City on 20 October 1976, but was given a lukewarm reception by critics and fans. The film was particularly unsuccessful in the UK, where, unwilling to tour since 1975 because of their tax exile status, Led Zeppelin faced an uphill battle to recapture the public's affection. In 1977, Led Zeppelin embarked on another major concert tour of North America . The band set another attendance record, with an audience of 76,229 at their Silverdome concert on 30 April. It was, according to

7366-510: The UK's Santa Pod Raceway. In September 2010, 47-year-old Briton Perry Watkins drove a racing vehicle, a 1994 Reliant Scimitar Sabre , decorated as a formal Queen Anne style dining table, complete with tablecloth, chairs, place settings, food and various vessels. The vehicle was dubbed the 'Fast Food'. It performed two runs at Santa Pod, topping out at 130 miles per hour (209.21 km/h) and achieving an average speed of 113.8 miles per hour (183.14 km/h). Santa Pod for many years remained

7493-642: The US Billboard 200 , with five of their albums certified Diamond in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Rolling Stone described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum's biography states that they were "as influential" in

7620-422: The US 30 Dragstrip near Merrillville, Indiana where a midweek meet featured this format. All entered cars participate in one qualifying round, and then are paired for the elimination round. The two fastest times among winners from this round participate in the championship round. Depending on the organization, the next two fastest times may play for third, then fifth, and so forth, in consolation rounds. Currently,

7747-522: The US Old military base also known as the "Ca Ca Beff", "The Base" near the Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort. Dominican Republic On Santo Domingo, organization of drag racing events is done by Autodromo Sunix and they happen at the Autodromo Sunix, close to the Airport SDQ. Organized drag racing is rapidly growing in India . The country's first drag race meet was organized by Autocar India in Mumbai in 2002. Since then there have been many drag racing events in India. The most popular event

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7874-422: The US. In 1969, an edited version of " Whole Lotta Love ", a track from their second album, was released as a single in the US. It reached number four in the Billboard chart in January 1970, selling over one million copies and helping to cement the band's popularity. The group also increasingly shunned television appearances, citing their preference that their fans hear and see them in live concerts. Following

8001-449: The USA Pro Modified class), Pro Stock (using 400 cubic inch engines (6.5 litres)), Top Bike and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The Summit Sportsman Series is for ANDRA sportsman drivers and riders and includes Competition, Super Stock, Super Compact, Competition Bike, Supercharged Outlaws, Top Sportsman, Modified, Super Sedan, Modified Bike, Super Street and Junior Dragster. In 2015, after a dispute with ANDRA, Sydney Dragway, Willowbank Raceway and

8128-429: The Yardbirds. Page, with the support of the Yardbirds' new manager Peter Grant , planned to form a supergroup with Beck and himself on guitars, and the Who 's Keith Moon and John Entwistle on drums and bass, respectively. Vocalists Steve Winwood and Steve Marriott were also considered for the project. The group never formed, although Page, Beck, and Moon did record a song together in 1966, " Beck's Bolero ", in

8255-402: The annual Bug Jam weekend. Santa Pod appears in Led Zeppelin 's concert film The Song Remains The Same . Drummer John Bonham drove a dragster at the raceway for his fantasy sequence in the film. Drag racing Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows

8382-435: The band developed a reputation for off-stage excess. In 1970, Page and Plant retired to Bron-Yr-Aur , a remote cottage in Wales , to commence work on their third album, Led Zeppelin III . The result was a more acoustic style that was strongly influenced by folk and Celtic music , and showcased the band's versatility. The album's rich acoustic sound initially received mixed reactions, with critics and fans surprised at

8509-424: The band had autonomy in deciding when they would release albums and tour and had the final say over the contents and design of each album. They would also decide how to promote each release and which tracks to release as singles. They formed their own company, Superhype, to handle all publishing rights. Still billed as the New Yardbirds, the band began their first tour of the UK on 4 October 1968, when they played at

8636-503: The band's 50th anniversary, Page, Plant and Jones announced an official illustrated book celebrating 50 years since the formation of the band. Also released for the celebration was a reissue of How the West Was Won on 23 March 2018, which includes the album's first pressing on vinyl. For Record Store Day on 21 April 2018, Led Zeppelin released a 7" single "Rock and Roll" (Sunset Sound Mix) / "Friends" (Olympic Studio Mix) , their first single in 21 years. In October 2020, Page released

8763-469: The band's performance. The following day's second Oakland concert was the group's final live appearance in the United States. Two days later, as they checked in at a French Quarter hotel for their 30 July performance at the Louisiana Superdome , Plant received news that his five-year-old son, Karac, had died from a stomach virus. The rest of the tour was immediately cancelled, prompting widespread speculation about Led Zeppelin's future. In November 1978,

8890-485: The band's reputation, leading to abortive discussions among members about a reunion. This set included four previously unreleased tracks, including a version of Robert Johnson 's " Travelling Riverside Blues ". The song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 was released in 1993; the two box sets together contained all known studio recordings, as well as some rare live tracks. In 1994, Page and Plant reunited for

9017-456: The band. "I told them I was busy and they'd simply have to wait," he recalled in 2014. "I would come around eventually, which they were fine with – at least to my knowledge. But it turns out they weren't. And what's even more disheartening, Jimmy used it against me." Jones and Page reportedly looked for a replacement for Plant; candidates including Steven Tyler of Aerosmith , and Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge . However, in January 2009, it

9144-684: The best drag strip in NZ. However, the official ASN of the sport, per FIA regulations, is the New Zealand Drag Racing Association. Many countries in South America race 200 meters, unlike in the United States and Australia, where the quarter-mile, or, 400 meters, respectively, is typical. Organized drag racing in Colombia is the responsibility of Club G3, a private organization. The events take place at Autódromo de Tocancipá. Local cars like Volkswagen Gol , Chevrolet Opala and Chevrolet Chevette are

9271-594: The competitor who breaks out by less time wins. Regardless, a red light foul is worse than a breakout, except in Junior Dragster where exceeding the absolute limit is a cause for disqualification. Most race events use a traditional bracket system, where the losing car and driver are eliminated from the event while the winner advances to the next round, until a champion is crowned. Events can range from 16 to over 100 car brackets. Drivers are typically seeded by elapsed times in qualifying. In bracket racing without

9398-553: The efforts of C. J. Hart ; the ban would be lifted in 1963. Several other racing organizations were created over the past several decades, such as the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) founded in 2014. Thanks, in part, to the Discovery series Street Outlaws , fandom for drag racing has seen a resurgence in the past decade. Push starts to get engines running were necessary until

9525-411: The efforts of SMP RDRC promoters in 2019 the first professional dragstrip in Russia "RDRC Racepark" was built. It's located near Moscow in 40 kilometers of downtown at the former airfield Bykovo. It gave many opportunities to test the cars and make new records. Before the track was built, competitions took place on straight parts of circuits, so it was not allowed to prepare the whole 1/4 mile, only 1/8 and

9652-423: The elapsed time difference. In heads-up racing, this is known as a holeshot win . In categories where a breakout rule is in effect (for example, NHRA Junior Dragster, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Stock, and Stock classes, as well as some dial-in classes), if a competitor is faster than his or her predetermined time (a "breakout"), that competitor loses. If both competitors are faster than their predetermined times,

9779-648: The event, Amit Sharma, the fastest drag racer in Indian drag racing history, produced a time slip of 8.87 sec's – the fastest ever by any Indian. Drag racing is also gaining popularity in Pakistan , with private organizations sponsoring such events. The Bahria Town housing project recently organized a drag racing event in Rawalpindi with the help of some of the country's best drivers. Sri Lanka has seen an immense growth in drag racing due to legal meets held by

9906-407: The fastest all-asphalt dragstrip in the world, since most North American tracks are partially or entirely concrete in construction. However, during the winter of 2017/2018, the entire length of the track was lifted and replaced with a track constructed entirely in concrete, the reasoning being that concrete gives more consistent times as it, "moves around less" than asphalt. Since 1987, it has hosted

10033-441: The final 66 feet (20 m) to the finish line, indicating average speed of the vehicle in that distance. Except where a breakout rule is in place, the winner is the first vehicle to cross the finish line, and therefore the driver with the lowest combined reaction time and elapsed time. Because these times are measured separately, a driver with a slower elapsed time can actually win if that driver's advantage in reaction time exceeds

10160-402: The final member. In August 1968, the four played together for the first time in a room below a record store on Gerrard Street in London. Page suggested that they attempt " Train Kept A-Rollin' ", originally a jump blues song popularised in a rockabilly version by Johnny Burnette , which had been covered by the Yardbirds. "As soon as I heard John Bonham play", Jones recalled, "I knew this

10287-491: The first time in front of a live audience at Gladsaxe Teen Club at the Egegård School (today Gladsaxe School) festive hall, Gladsaxe , Denmark, on 7 September 1968. Later that month, they began recording their first album, which was based on their live set. The album was recorded and mixed in nine days, and Page covered the costs. After the album's completion, the band were forced to change their name after Dreja issued

10414-402: The four symbols appearing on the record label, as Four Symbols , Zoso or Runes . The band had wanted to release the fourth album with no title or information, in response to the music press "going on about Zeppelin being a hype", but the record company wanted something on the cover, so in discussions, it was agreed to have four symbols to represent both the four members of the band and that it

10541-708: The group recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. The resulting album, In Through the Out Door , featured sonic experimentation that again drew mixed reactions from critics. Nevertheless, the album reached number one in the UK and the US in just its second week of release. With this album's release, Led Zeppelin's entire catalogue returned to the Billboard Top 200 in the weeks of 27 October and 3 November 1979. In August 1979, after two warm-up shows in Copenhagen , Led Zeppelin headlined two concerts at

10668-625: The island of Barbados , organization of drag racing events is done by the Barbados Association of Dragsters and Drifters. Currently the drag racing is done at Bushy Park racing circuit over 1/8 mile, while "acceleration tests" of 1/4 mile are done at the Paragon military base. Saint Lucia On the Island of Saint Lucia , organization of drag racing events is done by no-one. All local groups are tie ups. Currently races are held at

10795-497: The late 1970s. After Bonham's death in 1980, the group disbanded. The former members have sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off concerts, including the 2007 Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London, with Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums. Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time , with estimated record sales of between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums and six number-one albums on

10922-593: The lead on the flamboyant appearance by wearing a glittering moon-and-stars outfit. Led Zeppelin changed their show by using things such as lasers, professional light shows and mirror balls. They began travelling in a private jet airliner, a Boeing 720 (nicknamed the Starship ), rented out entire sections of hotels (including the Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles, known colloquially as

11049-546: The lead singer was Terry Reid , but Reid declined the offer and suggested Robert Plant , a singer for the Band of Joy and Hobbstweedle. Plant eventually accepted the position, recommending former Band of Joy drummer John Bonham . John Paul Jones enquired about the vacant position of bass guitarist, at the suggestion of his wife, after Dreja dropped out of the project to become a photographer. Page had known Jones since they were both session musicians, and agreed to let him join as

11176-416: The lyrics. Jones occasionally contributed keyboard-focused parts, particularly on the band's final album. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their touring and output, which included Presence (1976) and In Through the Out Door (1979), declined in

11303-497: The majority of drag racing events in North America. The next largest organization is the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). One of the major sanctioning bodies in drag racing. The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) WDRA is the first fully functioning sanctioning body created (one that actually sanctions facilities) since 1970. Besides NHRA, IHRA, and WDRA, there are several other racing organizations were created over

11430-420: The music press, with some critics suggesting that the band's excesses may have caught up with them. Page had begun using heroin during recording sessions for the album, a habit which may have affected the band's later live shows and studio recordings, although he has since denied this. Because of Plant's injuries, Led Zeppelin did not tour in 1976. Instead, the band completed the concert film The Song Remains

11557-581: The next level and become competitors in National Events after obtaining a licence from one of the official sanctioning bodies; Auto-Cycle Union or Motorsport UK . Santa Pod is the venue at which the current world drag racing record, a time of 3.58 seconds at 386.26 miles per hour (621.63 kilometres per hour ) was set by Sammy Miller in his Vanishing Point rocket-propelled funny car in July 1984. Another record has also been set at Santa Pod,

11684-606: The only bands Led Zeppelin had to compete with for the title "The World's Best Rock Band" were the Rolling Stones and the Who. The album was a massive commercial and critical success. Shortly after the release of Physical Graffiti , all previous Led Zeppelin albums simultaneously re-entered the top-200 album chart, and the band embarked on another North American tour , now employing sophisticated sound and lighting systems. In May 1975, Led Zeppelin played five sold-out nights at

11811-523: The participants a platform to perform at the highest level globally. Rickey Gadson, as an extension of the initiative invited two of the top performing drag racers to visit USA to train and get an opportunity to represent India at the World Finals of drag racing held on 16–18 November 2018 in Valdosta GA, USA. As a result, the two riders performed in their maiden event outside India. Also during

11938-522: The past several decades. The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA), founded in 2014, races 1/8 mile with events throughout the US. The National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA), started in 1999, is considered the leader in Ford motorsports events. The National Muscle Car Association (NMCA), is the longest running major street-legal drag racing association. The NMCA provides competitive and organized national event competitions from grassroots drag racers all

12065-521: The press suggested that his collapse had been the result of excessive alcohol and drug use, but the band claimed that he had simply overeaten. A North American tour , the band's first since 1977, was scheduled to commence on 17 October 1980. On 24 September, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at Bray Studios . During the journey, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he downed four quadruple vodkas (from 16 to 24 US fl oz (470 to 710 ml)), with

12192-500: The raceway hosts events throughout the year, including the FIA European Drag Racing Championships and the 'Run What You Brung' (RWYB) events where anyone with a valid driving licence can have a go and put their own vehicles and skills to the test. This also serves as a 'grassroots' recruitment ground, as many who start by running their road vehicle on the track for bragging rights often progress to

12319-401: The record set by the Beatles' 1965 Shea Stadium concert and grossing $ 309,000. Three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City were filmed for a motion picture, but the theatrical release of this project ( The Song Remains the Same ) was delayed until 1976. Before the final night's performance, $ 180,000 ($ 1,235,000 today) of the band's money from gate receipts was stolen from

12446-437: The release of their second album, Led Zeppelin completed several more US tours. They played initially in clubs and ballrooms, and then in larger auditoriums as their popularity grew. Some early Led Zeppelin concerts lasted more than four hours, with expanded and improvised live versions of their repertoire. Many of these shows have been preserved as bootleg recordings . It was during this period of intensive concert touring that

12573-450: The road at various North American studios, it was an even greater commercial success than their first album and reached the number one chart position in the US and the UK. The album further developed the mostly blues-rock musical style established on their debut release, creating a sound that was "heavy and hard, brutal and direct", and which would be highly influential and frequently imitated. Steve Waksman has suggested that Led Zeppelin II

12700-588: The show makers for Brazilian dragstrips. Curaçao On the island of Curaçao , organization of drag racing events is handled by the Curaçao Autosport Foundation (FAC) All racing events, including street legal competitions, happen at the Curaçao International Raceway. On the island of Aruba , all racing events, including street legal competitions, happen at Palomarga International Raceway. Barbados On

12827-476: The show set a record for the "Highest Demand for Tickets for One Music Concert" as 20 million requests were submitted online. Critics praised the performance and there was widespread speculation about a full reunion. Page, Jones and Jason Bonham were reported to be willing to tour and to be working on material for a new Zeppelin project. Plant continued his touring commitments with Alison Krauss , stating in September 2008 that he would not record or tour with

12954-401: The standard. The 1 ⁄ 8  mi (660 ft; 201 m) is also popular in some circles. Electronic timing and speed sensing systems have been used to record race results since the 1960s. The history of automobiles and motorcycles being used for drag racing is nearly as long as the history of motorized vehicles themselves, and has taken the form of both illegal street racing and as

13081-411: The starting line), and the pre-stage indicator on the tree is lit. When the second light beam is broken, the vehicle is "staged", and the stage indicator on the tree is lit. Vehicles may then leave the pre-stage beam, but must remain in the stage beam until the race starts. Once one competitor is staged, their opponent has a set amount of time to stage or they will be instantly disqualified, indicated by

13208-417: The term would not pronounce it "leed". The word "balloon" was replaced by " zeppelin ", a word which, according to music journalist Keith Shadwick, brought "the perfect combination of heavy and light, combustibility and grace" to Page's mind. Grant secured a $ 143,000 advance contract ($ 1,253,000 today) from Atlantic Records in November 1968—at the time, the biggest deal of its kind for a new band. Atlantic

13335-698: The tracks were available for drag racers except racing weekends of local or national events. From the very beginning one of the main ideas of the promoters was to increase the quality and reach of live broadcasts, so SMP RDRC became the first racing series with its video production and remains so to this day. Russian Championship has four classes: Regional Series also have four classes divided by ET: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass and keyboards) and John Bonham (drums). With

13462-463: The turn from the primarily electric arrangements of the first two albums, further fuelling the band's hostility to the musical press. It reached number one in the UK and US charts, but its stay would be the shortest of their first five albums. The album's opening track, " Immigrant Song ", was released as a US single in November 1970 against the band's wishes, reaching the top twenty on the Billboard chart. Page played his 1959 Dragon Telecaster until

13589-1066: The way to the powerful and fast VP Racing Fuels Xtreme Pro Mod racers. There are also niche organizations for muscle cars and nostalgia vehicles. The Nostalgia Drag Racing League (NDRL) based in Brownsburg, IN, runs a series of 1/4 mile (402 m) drag races in the Midwest for 1979 and older nostalgic appearing cars, with four classes of competition running in an index system. Pro 7.0 and Pro 7.50 run heads up 200 mile per hour (320 kilometre per hour) passes, while Pro Comp and Pro Gas run 8.0 to 10.0 indices. NDRL competition vehicles typically include Front Engine Dragsters, Altereds, Funny Cars, early Pro Stock clones, Super Stocks and Gassers. The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) races electric vehicles against high performance gasoline-powered vehicles such as Dodge Vipers or classic muscle cars in 1/4 and 1/8 mile (402 m & 201 m) races. The current electric drag racing record

13716-409: The windows, some suggest that these tales have been exaggerated. According to music journalist Chris Welch , "[Led Zeppelin's] travels spawned many stories, but it was a myth that [they] were constantly engaged in acts of wanton destruction and lewd behaviour". Led Zeppelin released their fourth album on 8 November 1971. It is variously referred to as Led Zeppelin IV , Untitled , IV , or, due to

13843-513: The world's fastest jet car (notably Santa Pod's 'resident') Fireforce 3 piloted by Martin Hill broke the record in Easter 2005 with a terminal speed of 336.10 miles per hour (540.90 kilometres per hour). Several other European drag racing records have been set, along with records unsurpassed outside the United States. In May 2010, Top Fuel dragster driver Urs Erbacher set a class speed record with

13970-483: The world's number one rock attraction, having outsold most bands of the time, including the Rolling Stones. Presence , released in March 1976, marked a change in the Led Zeppelin sound towards more straightforward, guitar-based jams, departing from the acoustic ballads and intricate arrangements featured on their previous albums. Though it was a platinum seller, Presence received a mixed reaction among fans and

14097-589: Was asphyxiation from vomit; the finding was accidental death. An autopsy found no other recreational drugs in Bonham's body. Although he had recently begun to take Motival (a cocktail of the antipsychotic fluphenazine and the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline ) to combat his anxiety, it is unclear if these substances interacted with the alcohol in his system. Bonham's remains were cremated and his ashes interred on 12 October 1980, at Rushock parish church, Worcestershire . The planned North American tour

14224-415: Was "the musical starting point for heavy metal". The band saw their albums as indivisible, complete listening experiences, disliking the re-editing of existing tracks for release as singles. Grant maintained an aggressive pro-album stance, particularly in the UK, where there were few radio and TV outlets for rock music. Without the band's consent, however, some songs were released as singles, particularly in

14351-408: Was -.011 versus Enders-Stevens' -.002). Several measurements are taken for each race: reaction time, elapsed time, and speed. Reaction time is the period from the green light illuminating to the vehicle leaving the staging beams or breaking the guard beam. Elapsed time is the period from the vehicle leaving the starting line to crossing the finish line. Speed is measured through a speed trap covering

14478-530: Was a label with a catalogue of mainly blues, soul, and jazz artists, but in the late 1960s, it began to take an interest in British progressive rock acts. At the recommendation of British singer Dusty Springfield , a friend of Jones who at the time was completing her first Atlantic album, Dusty in Memphis , record executives signed Led Zeppelin without having ever seen them. Under the terms of their contract,

14605-530: Was a member of Plant's solo band. The performance was marred by a lack of rehearsal with the two drummers, Page's struggles with an out-of-tune guitar, poorly functioning monitors, and Plant's hoarse voice. Page described the performance as "pretty shambolic", while Plant characterised it as an "atrocity". The three members reunited again on 14 May 1988, for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert, with Bonham's son Jason on drums. The result

14732-415: Was again disjointed: Plant and Page had argued immediately prior to taking the stage about whether to play "Stairway to Heaven", and Jones' keyboards were absent from the live television feed. Page described the performance as "one big disappointment" and Plant said "the gig was foul". The first Led Zeppelin box set , featuring tracks remastered under Page's supervision, was released in 1990 and bolstered

14859-473: Was cancelled, and despite rumours that Cozy Powell , Carmine Appice , Barriemore Barlow , Simon Kirke , Ric Lee or Bev Bevan would join the group as his replacement, the remaining members decided to disband. A 4 December 1980 press statement stated that, "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." The statement

14986-455: Was confirmed that the project had been abandoned. "Getting the opportunity to play with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham was pretty special," Kennedy recalled. "That is pretty much the zenith right there. That was a crazy, good experience. It's something I still think of often ... It's so precious to me." A film of the O2 performance, Celebration Day , premiered on 17 October 2012 and

15113-672: Was difficult times for drag racing in Russia from 2009 to 2014, but it was supported by enthusiasts in every region. There were a lot of competitions but it was not as big as "DRAG BITVA". In 2014 Dragtimes company in partnership with SMP Racing became the Russian Drag Racing Championship (SMP RDRC) promoters, since then Drag Racing in Russia became more professional. From the very beginning to 2014 only streetcars were allowed to compete in Russia. Now it's also allowed to run promods and dragsters in SMP RDRC. Thanks to

15240-484: Was going to be great ... We locked together as a team immediately". Before leaving for Scandinavia, the group took part in a recording session for the P. J. Proby album Three Week Hero . The album's track "Jim's Blues", with Plant on harmonica, was the first studio track to feature all four future members of Led Zeppelin. The band completed the Scandinavian tour as the New Yardbirds, playing together for

15367-701: Was held in the 1966/67 season at Kopuku, near Auckland. There are now two governing bodies operating drag racing in New Zealand with the Florida-based International Hot Rod Association sanctioning both of New Zealands major tracks at Ruapuna (Pegasus Bay Drag Racing Association Error in Webarchive template: Empty url. ) in the South Island and Meremere Dragway Inc in the North Island which is now become

15494-517: Was obtained to use the airfield as a drag racing complex, the 3 ⁄ 4 mile (4,000 feet; 1.2 kilometres) main runway being used as the drag strip. Santa Pod was named after Santa Ana Drags , a drag strip in California, USA, and the local village of Podington. Since then, the name Santa Pod has become synonymous with the sport of drag racing in Europe. Informally known as 'The Pod', today

15621-446: Was released on DVD on 19 November. The film grossed $ 2 million in one night, and the live album peaked at number 4 and 9 in the UK and US, respectively. Following the film's premiere, Page revealed that he had been remastering the band's discography . The first wave of albums, Led Zeppelin , Led Zeppelin II , and Led Zeppelin III , were released on 2 June 2014. The second wave of albums, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of

15748-474: Was run in 1965 at Riverside raceway, near Melbourne. The Australian National Drag Racing Association ( ANDRA ) was established in 1973, and today they claim they are the "best in the world outside the United States". ANDRA sanctions races throughout Australia and throughout the year at all levels, from Junior Dragster to Top Fuel . The ANDRA Drag Racing Series is for professional drivers and riders and includes Top Fuel , Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer (similar to

15875-463: Was signed simply "Led Zeppelin". Following Led Zeppelin's dissolution, the first significant musical project by one of its members was the Honeydrippers , which Plant initially formed in 1981. The group, featuring Page on lead guitar, along with studio musicians and friends of the pair, including Jeff Beck, Paul Shaffer , and Nile Rodgers , released its only album in 1984. Plant focused on

16002-556: Was sold to new ownership and has since been sanctioned by IHRA for small regional events. Drag racing was imported to Europe by American NATO troops during the Cold War. Races were held in West Germany beginning in the 1960s at the airbases at Ramstein and Sembach and in the UK at various airstrips and racing circuits before the opening of Europe's first permanent drag strip at Santa Pod Raceway in 1966. The FIA organises

16129-415: Was the fourth album. With 37 million copies sold, Led Zeppelin IV is one of the best-selling albums in history, and its massive popularity cemented Led Zeppelin's status as superstars in the 1970s. By 2021, it had sold 24 million copies in the United States alone. The track " Stairway to Heaven ", never released as a single, was the most requested and most played song on American rock radio in

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