Stu Bradbury: British Drag Racing Hall Of Fame Chairman- Obituary July 2020
There are few personalities in British drag racing as well-known and respected as Stu Bradbury. For many years Stu was Chief Starter at Santa Pod Raceway, UK and also the Founder and current Chair of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame that has, in recent years, received international acclaim.
Stu first discovered the sport of drag racing back in 1964 at one of Britain’s finest stately homes — Woburn Abbey, home of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. Stu was playing at the event in a local pop group then asked to perform at a function being held there. Prior to the band’s gig he wandered the grounds and stumbled across a display organised by the British Hot Rod Association, at that time a sparse group of enthusiasts dreaming about organised drag racing in the UK and promoting a hot rodding street culture. The wild hot rods and dragsters struck a chord with Stu and he immediately joined the club. This was the start of a love affair with drag racing that has lasted over fifty years.
During 1965 plans were revealed for a permanent UK drag strip to be developed at Podington airfield that had been used by the United States Army Airforce during World War II. Before long Stu was totally involved in developing Europe’s first permanent drag strip that was named Santa Pod as a tribute to the Santa Ana track in California.
The track opened Easter 1966 and Stu was involved with developing and operating the race track. In the second year of operation Stu was promoted to Deputy Starter, then took over as Chief Starter in 1968.
Stu’s first experience of American drag racers came in 1966 when Al Eckstrand, Larry Arnold, Dave Mudrack, Bud Barnes and EJ Potter visited Santa Pod. Another tour in 1967 saw Al and Bud joined by Ron Jelineck — all Michigan based racers. They really put on a show and cemented the track as Europe’s premier drag racing venue; the growth continuing with UK racers being joined by an expanding Scandinavian and Dutch contingent. One meeting even saw racers from South Africa.
In 1973 Don Schumacher and Paula Murphy transported their funny cars to Santa Pod joined by Tony Nancy and Danny Johnson. Stu was the man in the middle keeping things in order.
1976 saw Stu in charge of the startline when Don Garlits visited the UK and during the next two decades started races that included Raymond Beadle, Leroy Chatterton, Don Prudhomme, Tom Hoover, Gene Snow, Sammy Miller, Al Eirdam, TC Christenson, Marion Owens and many more. Stu even spent time on the NHRA startline with Buster Couch in the USA.
Stu also lost many friends in accidents and in 1990 he left his position as Chief Starter to join his then employer John Woolfe Racing in a venture to develop Long Marston Airfield into an NHRA sanctioned track & joined UK parts supplier US Automotive when the company was launched in the UK. Next Stu began crewing for UK Top Fuel Dragster star Andy Carter.
Always remembering the friends he had lost, Stu and a few supporters created the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2005 and was Stu’s focus along with restoring Europe’s first dragster; ‘The Sydney Allard’s 1961 Allard Chrysler’. Also Stu was involved with the creation of the Dragstalgia meeting at Santa Pod and in just a few short years has become Europe’s premier nostalgia drag racing event.
As well as drag racing stars, many businesses & global personalities have also become involved in Stu’s projects. Consequently, Stu’s circle of friends even encompassed Royalty, in 2014, where Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Serbia based in the UK supported the annual BDRHOF Gala Award ceremony with Don Garlits and Education Charity Monarchyonline.
Stu Bradbury’s personal credibility really has been the shining light that has enabled the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame to gain international respect today. Sadly, in recent years Stu fought ill health, but with the constant support of his wife Bev and daughter Genna, continued with the task of preserving the names of those who have helped drag racing in the UK.
Stu Bradbury, a truly inspiring gentleman.
Kaz Aston
W1PR
Misskaston@gmail.com
CEO Monarchyonline.org
