British Drag Racing Hall of Fame to hold Bench Racing session for Priddle book launch

The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala, to be held on 17th November at the Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey, will again be preceded by the popular Bench Racing session, starting at 12 noon, and sponsored by US Automotive and Kelsey Media, publisher of Custom Car magazine. In the three previous years, a varied panel of US and European legends entertained a packed audience with their stories and views on the sport for two hours in the afternoon prior to the main Gala dinner and presentations in the evening.

The BDRHoF is delighted to announce that the Bench Racing session will again be held in the Terrazza at Oatlands Park Hotel. This year, the Bench Racing session marks the launch of Mister Six: the story of drag racing legend Dennis Priddle by Keith Lee. The book, which has been the product of almost two years’ work by Keith, includes many anecdotes from the book’s subject Dennis Priddle, members of his team and others from the sport. The book will include many images not previously published.

The Bench Racing session, to be hosted by Graham Beckwith, brings together Dennis and some of his competitors, prominent personalities connected with him, and team members over the years. The current panel looks like this:

Dennis Priddle, former Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car champion;
Barry Sheavills, Top Methanol and Top Fuel Dragster Champion;
Roy Phelps, former owner and promoter of Santa Pod Raceway;
Stuart Bradbury, former Santa Pod chief starter and chair of the BDRHoF;
Andy Craddock, former Top Fuel Dragster racer and Dennis’s competitor from the 1980s;
Geof Hauser, crewman for Dennis’s main 1970s competitor Clive Skilton;
Pelle Lindelow, former Top Fuel Dragster champion and regular visitor to the UK from 1982-2001;
Gary Page, former Pro Comp champion and Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car racer from 1970s to 2010s;
Steve Read, Top Methanol champion and, following emigrating to Australia, Top Fuel champion; and
Brian ‘Star’ Savidge, long time crew member with Dennis.
Other stars from Dennis’s era will be present and the Bench Racing will be the very first opportunity to buy the limited edition book and have it signed by Dennis and other racers.

Keith Lee (pictured at Dragstalgia 2018) said ‘I have covered a lot of ground, helped by my wife Annie, with research and proof reading. It has been a joy to work with Dennis, who has a great capacity for coming out with stories from the old days, and has been very open with me­. I have seen many of Dennis’s team, and also spoken to a lot of those involved with him over the years. The large format hardback book runs to more than 90,000 words, with over 250 pictures, so it will be a great read’.

Stuart Bradbury said ‘Many thanks go to Keith for putting together a great panel who will bring a different flavour to the Bench Racing from previous years, which will fascinate our loyal audience many of whom themselves were part of British Drag Racing history’.

No pre-booking for the Bench Racing session is necessary and attendance is not restricted to those coming to the Gala Awards Dinner.

The BDRHoF will be taking reservations for the 2018 Gala Awards Dinner by email at stuart@britishdragracinghof.co.uk or by telephone at 01933 279102. This year the dinner tickets which include table wine are priced competitively at £70.00 each, an increase of £5 due to price rises. We have managed to keep the same rates for hotel rooms at £115.00 for double rooms and £94.00 single which includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking. 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.

For more information about Keith’s book, visit www.keithleeimages.co.uk, https://www.facebook.com/groups/398554693879332/ or the book blog at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/keith/lee_blog2.html.

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