[ukdrn]

"If you're going to do you might as well do it properly"
That was what they said and that is what they done, what a great night.
Never in a hundred years would I have thought this kind of event would happen for UK drag racing, but it did and what a way to honor our drag racing pioneers and inductees.
It was like a who's who of UK drag racing greats everywhere you looked and everybody I spoke to had a great time.
Of course what made the evening extra special was the attendance of the king of drag racing, Don Garlits and his family and there were times when I looked over and see him sitting there I had to pinch myself.
Before Don won his final award there was a short film about him that showed his wife Pat and when he emotionally told everyone how much he missed her and loved her I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

Of course I was not only lucky enough to attend the gala but I also had the honor to win an award which I'm very proud of. To have won on the night when not only Don Garlits was in attendance but also the new UK inductees that included 2 of my own drag racing hero's Russ Carpenter and John Whitmore made it something I will treasure forever.
I did plan to say more than I did when i got on stage and I did plan a better speech but my nerves where shattered at the point when I got on stage and I only just managed to mumble out a few thanks.

How much work went in to this I would never understand but it must have taken months of organizing and effort so a huge well done to everyone involved, you done a fantastic job.

I didn't take many photographs but here's a few.
The Venue

The Venue.
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Russ Carpenter receives his well deserved award.

Russ Carpenter receives his well deserved award.
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Don received one his wards from Roy Phelps.

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John Whitmore receives his trophy.

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Nick Brooke Langham received the other Allard award and I had the pleasure of spending the evening with him and his beautiful family.

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The first and only time I will post a picture of myself (I promise) on ukdrn but I couldn't have been more proud, as you can see from the scary and stupid smile.

Drag racing legend and Don Garlits
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[Geofstilwell]

I am so glad you enjoyed the evening Jon. A well deserved award. That event took an awful lot of planning and my personal thanks go to Stu & Bev, Brian Taylor and robin Jackson. But we must not forget all of the other sponsors because we could not have done it without their support. Also can I thank everyone who attended. It's strange seeing so many stars In a Tuxedo instead fire suit. Lastly, A big thank you from me as CEO of Beech Underwriting to everyone who made it happen.

[ukdrn]

Thanks for the praise and well said about the people involved.

I was going to try and say hello but as you know it was a pretty hectic evening but in a good way.
Thanks to for your generous support of the whole scene and the BDR HoF. Hopefully your 6 years on this forum played a part in keeping your passion alive for the old days

[Geofstilwell]

I am lucky enough to have known a number of Racers who sadly are no longer with us. Bootsie, Wiggy, to name but 2. These people inspired me years ago and that inspiration has never left me. it's only now that I am able to do something and will continue to help protect and document their achievements. I was so proud Saturday night and i hope it will help lift the sport overall to another level. I have to say there where some very surreal moments and my arm is very sore where I was continually pinching myself.

Thank you Jon for creating a brilliant site. Your continual hardwork to record so much of this history goes unmentioned a lot of the time. So again a Big Thank you. Roll on 2015.

[Stu Bradbury]

There are so many people who need a big pat on the back. Geoff Stilwell of Beech Underwriting for his generous backing and enthusiasm without which we would never been able to put this together. My ol' mate Brian Taylor for his attention to detail, his organisational abilities, and so much more I could mention. The same goes for Robin Jackson, again attention detail and all the things I missed, but Robin didn't. He had total commitment to every task he was asked to do, or find information about, and then followed the job through to the end, (as he is at the moment being chauffer and tour guide to the Garlits as I type) To Power Race Graphics for all their hard work with design and production of all our printed matter, back drop displays etc. Amp Audio Solutions (Nitro FM) for lighting and sound sponsored by a generous contribution from the NSRA. Mr MC, Chief Barker Paul Wright who did an outstanding job keeping us all in order, Phil Cottingham for his invaluable help looking after the press interviews and book signing, and lastly the girls, Kaz Aston for all her help and for reading the induction profiles, my daughter Genna and second daughter Laura for escorting our inductee’s to and from the stage.

All our other sponsors of the night, Lucas Oil, Flint Insurance, Real Steel, Custom Car, Alamo, Santa Pod Raceway, Allard Motor Company, Eurodragster.com, APIRA, Shakespeare County Raceway, York Raceway, Pennine Drag Racing Club, and Nitro Goddess Julie Braskett, but mainly our long term sponsors without whom we would never have reached this point, Santa Pod Racers Club, my old company, US Automotive. Not to forget the lady behind me, my wife Bev. Without her putting me right, (when I’m so obviously wrong, but too stubborn to admit it) things would certainly not have gone off as well as they did.

Also, thanks to everyone who gave us encouragement to carry on when things didn't go quite the way we wanted. So you see, it's a combined effort from Drag Racing in general. Let’s hope positive things come out of this that benefit all involved in this sometimes crazy sport of ours. That was the aim, only time will tell if we have achieved what we set out to do.

Lastly, congratulations to all our inductee's. I hope you all had a memorable evening being inducted along with the most famous icon of sport “Big Daddy" Don Garlits.

We are already planning the 2015 gala we hope with an equally well known guest of honour. Ticket announcement as soon as we have conformations in our in box. Stay tuned!!


I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone, if I have, please forgive me.

[wayne]

well done on your award jon!

[Barngt]

SOOOOOOOOOOO lucky by well deserved Jon , looks like a great night , wish i could of been there . Well done all

[ukdrn]

To be honest I'm really proud to have won the award for photoghraphy but I'm hoping more than anything that it might bring some new faces and material to this website for all of us to enjoy.
I spoke to somebody who has a huge collection of slides from 1968 onwards who said if he finds the time he will try and join in.

In the last few weeks I've also been told about some other exciting goodies that if it happens we're enjoy

[eraider]

Brilliant Jon. By the look on your face and his, I'd say Don was about to give you a Wedgie!