NIGEL ALSOP, 8 AUGUST 1972 – 19 FEBRUARY 2019

New Zealand drag racing lost one of its true characters on 19 February this year with the passing of Nigel Alsop. Those who knew the 46-year-old knew him for his sense of humour and triumph against adversity. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, he never let his condition get in his way and turned his passion to drag racing from the time he was in high school. That love rubbed off on brother Johnny, and, together, the two formed an admirable racing partnership — Nigel was the brains and Johnny the driving talent. Or, as he put it, “Tony Marsh and Chris Johnston are the brains behind the combo. I just have the harebrained ideas to go faster, they make it happen, and Johnny’s the poor bugger strapped in!” The drag racing antics progressed to the family — and close-knit team — who ran a small block Chev-powered altered in Top Alcohol — a move that was spurred on after being beaten by fellow altered racer Karen Hay. The banter that began between the two blossomed into an amazing friendship. It was turbos versus blowers, guys versus girls, and north versus south, but, at the bottom of it all, was good friends with a combined passion. Away from the drag strip, Nigel was a talented graphic designer responsible for many poster designs for drag racing events, team logos, and more. All this done without the use of his hands — instead using a head-mounted cursor. During our interview with him in January 2017, he laughed, “Most people possibly don’t realize that I can’t use my arms basically at all. So everything I design and do for work, and the racing car, I do with my head.” One of his big goals in life was to see the altered become the first five-second altered in the country — and this goal was achieved. The car has continued its winning ways, taking the Top Alcohol win at the IHRA Auckland Invasion meet at Masterton Motorplex shortly before his passing. While he was unable to be at the meet, the news of the win would still have been music to his ears. Of course, besides being a drag racing fanatic and an eternal smart-arse, he was also a wonderful brother, uncle, and friend; an inspiration to many; and a big loss to the drag racing community. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. We’re sure that his legacy will live on every time the altered hits the strip. RIP, Nigel.