2025 Gala Review
The 2025 British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards Dinner took place last Saturday, 15th November. The black-tie occasion was held in its regular venue, the York Suite at Oatlands Park Hotel at Weybridge, Surrey.
Five new Members of the Hall of Fame were inducted, but first, 2024 inductee and former Funny Car champion John Spuffard, unable to attend last year’s Gala, was honoured and presented with his ‘Bootsie’ trophy. In a surprise video appearance on-screen, John Force offered ‘Spuff’ his congratulations.
The five new Members inducted were Jon Webster, prolific racer, racecar constructor and current Pro Mod star; Kathy Taylor, Race Secretary, club administrator and Dragbike sponsor; Keith Lee, author columnist, photographer, organiser, commentator and historian; Kenny Coleman, racer, class promoter, engine builder and analyst; and Nigel Patrick, champion Dragbike racer, engineer and innovator in the UK and USA.
All Photos By Julian Hunt
The 2025 Stuart Bradbury Junior Drag Racing Awards were presented to the season’s new national champions and runners-up: in Junior Dragster, champion Luke Mugridge and runner-up Chevrolet Checkett; in Junior Dragbike, champion Leah Morrison and runner-up Declan Butt.
Special guests attending the event included Hugh Chambers, CEO of MotorsportUK, and his wife Elisabeth, and from America, Doug & Mimi Herbert and their daughter Carly.
A pre-dinner drinks reception was hosted by Santa Pod Raceway in the hotel’s La Terrazza suite. Santa Pod marked the occasion with a static display of historic Top Fuel Bikes: The Hobbit of John Hobbs and the Ian Messenger/Derek Chinn, Pegasus (all three being Hall of Fame Members) and the late TC Christenson’s Hogslayer from America. The three bikes were provided by courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum.
An extensive gallery of photographs of the occasion, taken by Julian Hunt and Callum Pudge, is available …