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IOPD AND RAT TRAP RACING RENEW SUPPORT OF BDRHOF GALA AWARDS DINNER

The International Organisation of Professional Drivers (IOPD) will once again be supporting the 2017 British Drag

Racing Hall of Fame (BDRHoF) Annual Awards Dinner being held this year at the Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge on November 18th. And we are pleased to announce that Ron Hope of Rat Trap Racing has confirmed that he too is renewing his sponsorship of the event.

The IOPD was formed in 1990 to regulate and support the driving experience sector of recreational motor sport in the UK. It was brought about by the MSA/RAC refusal to recognise and permit ‘Run What You Brung’ events and track driving activities thereby denying participants and organisers a route to legitimisation and parity with main stream motor sports.

The IOPD soon grew, facilitating events for some 70,000 to 100,000 participants each year – not only for driving experiences but for full competition and Drag Racing. The IOPD also permits many of the world’s international motor manufactures driving experience programs and track days. A visit to their website www.iopd.org.uk will explain all.

Heading up the IOPD is Steve Murty who said, “We are very happy to support the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards Dinner for a third year. It is a totally non-political impartial organisation that is dedicated to recognising and celebrating those people that have contributed so much to create the sport we can enjoy today”.

Steve also operates York Raceway with his son Chris. He said, “The Hall of Fame embraces Nostalgia – something that has always been a part of the York Raceway culture and in association with the Pennine Drag Racing Club we have been instrumental in developing several of the classes that have become part of today’s national Nostalgia scene. But as with some other drag racing and sprinting tracks in the UK, there are some tough battles ahead before we can ensure our survival.

This year is our 40th anniversary and racers can help by supporting our meetings – particularly the August Bank Holiday 7th Annual National Hot Rod Reunion that will mark our official birthday celebrations. It will be great to see the return of those that have burnt rubber on our track during our 40 years history. We plan a real northern welcome and it will be a party”.

Information about this meeting can be found www.yorkraceway.org.uk

BDRHoF Stu Bradbury said, “York Raceway and the Pennine Drag Racing Club have been strong supporters of the BDRHoF since it was formed in 2006. They have provided a focal point for the development of drag racing in the North of England and long may it continue. UK drag racing would be a poorer place without it”.

Ron Hope and Rat Trap Racing have supported the BDRHoF for the past two years and have announced continued commitment for 2017. This year has seen Ron on a worldwide tour with BDRHoF member Rob Loaring and driver Nick Davies joining the American arm of the Fuel Altered show, racing the blown Chrysler Donovan Hemi powered Havoc. This renews the exciting battles seen at Santa Pod’s Dragstalgia Meet in 2016.

Double engined Freight Train dragster driver Bob Muravez tries the seat in Rat Trap at the 2016 BDRHoF Gala Awards Dinner while Ron Hope and the Quarter Mile Foundation’s Traci Hrudka look on. All three are Honorary BDRHoF International Ambassadors. (Photo; Andy Willsheer)

Ron said, “I am really glad to continue my sponsorship of the BDRHoF. Celebrating the sport’s pioneers is an important task that all those in drag racing should support. The Gala Awards Dinner is an amazing event; one that I look forward to attending each year; meeting old friends and making new ones. What started as the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame has truly become an international organization.  It was an honour to have Rat Trap on display at last year’s event”.

The BDRHoF is now taking reservations for the 2017 Gala Awards Dinner by email at stuart@britishdragracinghof.co.uk or by telephone at 01933 279102. This year the tickets are priced competitively at £65.00 each and this includes a pre-dinner reception and table wine. The event always sells out well in advance, so if you would like to join us for the occasion we suggest you make your reservation sooner rather than later. On receiving your reservation you will be given the procedure to book rooms at the negotiated room rate that includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking.

On-going news about the Gala, sponsors and other events in which the BDRHoF is involved will be published on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame website, www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk, www.eurodragster.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

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