BRITISH DRAG RACING HALL OF FAME SPONSOR STILWELL HEADED FOR BONNEVILLE

Geoff Stilwell, principal of Beech Underwriting Agencies, Official Sponsorship Partner of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame, has announced that he will be racing at the 2016 Bonneville Speed Week to be held 13-19 August in Utah, USA.

Geoff will be running one of Rat Trap Fuel Altered driver Ron Hope’s land speed cars, initially making licensing runs. He said ‘I want to thank Ron and Brian Hope of Rat Trap Racing, Stewart Bassett and everyone at US Automotive, Sharon and Bob Muravez (Floyd Lippencott Jr) and Tony Thacker for making this all possible. My aim is to license and then run as quick as Ron will let me.’ Ron’s daughter Victoria set a speed record of 216.552 mph in his roadster (pictured) in August 2012.

Conditions for Bonneville Speed Week at Bonneville are looking to be the best in some years. Events in 2014 and 2015 had to be cancelled due to rain causing the natural salt crust to weaken and shrink. Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), the organising body for the event, has liaised with US government agencies and local racing organisations about repairs to parts of the surface and the SCTA is confident that the courses are in good shape.

BDRHoF Chairman Stu Bradbury said ‘We are thrilled that Geoff is able to take part in Speed Week thanks to Ron, whom we also thank as a major sponsor of the BDRHoF. We wish Geoff all the best and will be crossing our fingers that he will achieve the dream of running 200mph at Bonneville’.