Drayton Manor in Tamworth on Saturday 30th November!!
Messages were read noting some highlights of the year and welcoming all our guests. Our sponsors during the season were all thanked, most notably Bob Hawkins of Springbridge Direct Ltd for his ongoing great support over the last 12 years!
Flowers were sponsored and presented to Hayley Fyfe and Claire Meaddows by the Marras, Pete & Rob Brown on behalf of the Wild Bunch, for their services: Hayley as Secretary, and Claire as Race Co-ordinator, Treasurer and General Manager. Many thanks to them!
Gifts were given to all the lovely ladies attending (thanks to the Marras for running round and presenting these to the ladies!). These were arranged and sponsored by Hayley Fyfe of the Burnout Boutique and Wrathchild & Rebel Racing. Huge thanks to Hayley for this kind gesture!
The Series winners were awarded their well-earned trophies:
28th Annual Wild Bunch Series
1st Place:
2nd Place: Pete & Rob Brown “Rebel”
3rd Place:
4th Place: Dan Wilson “Antique Toy”
Rob & Pete Brown “Wrathchild”
9th Annual Spirit of Nostalgia Challenge Series
1st Place: Rob & Pete Brown “Rebel”
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
4th Place: Dan Wilson “Antique Toy”
26th Annual Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series
1st Place:
2nd Place: Dan Wilson “Antique Toy”
3rd Place:
4th Place:
12th Annual Springbridge MSUK Challenge Series
Winner: Pete & Rob Brown “Rebel”
[The following trophies will be presented in February at the SPRC Prizegiving:]
5th Annual Santa Pod Racers Club Championship for Wild Bunch
Winner: Rob & Pete Brown “Rebel”
Runner-up:
Commemorative presentations were given for:
Hayley Fyfe - for being Wild Bunch Secretary and co-ordinating the Raffle and Ladies Gifts.
&
Claire Meaddows - for being Wild Bunch Race Co-ordinator & Treasurer, as well as a special plaque commemorating her 10 years as Wild Bunch General Manager.
Many thanks ladies!!
Barry Bohannon was presented with a special microphone trophy to commemorate and thank him for 20 years of great service as a fantastic MC for the Wild Bunch Prize Presentations.
MERIT AWARDS
Big Bang Trophy - Bob Hawkins WB 91 “Time Traveller II”
Fastest time by a British-engined dragster- Ian Wild WB 116 “WildScat” 11.323 Summer Sho
(Sponsored by Martin Holgate) (+ 11.370 Hot Rod Drags backup)
Fastest MPH – Bob Hawkins WB 91 “Time Traveller II” 206.81 mph Nostalgia Nats
(+ 205.33 mph backup Nostalgia Nats)
Quickest E.T. - Bob Hawkins WB 91 “Time Traveller II” 6.436 Nostalgia Nationals 4/5
& WB E.T. Record certificate (+ 6.469 backup Nostalgia Nationals)
Best Newcomer - Colin & Joey Childs WB 130 “Boxo Bomb”
Best Radical/Dragster - James Auld WB 3 “Little Fauss”
Best Altered - James Griffen WB 50 “Kiss my Gas”
Best Slingshot - The Marras WB 2 “Rebel”
Best Turned Out - Hold Fast Racing WB 50 “Kiss my Gas”
Best Achiever - James Auld WB 3 “Little Fauss”
Perseverance Award - The Marras WB 2 & 20 “Rebel” & “Wrathchild”
‘Crazy Chris’ Showmanship - Andy Roy WB 89 “Shawcrank Redemption”
Crew of the Year - Bob Hawkins & Team WB 91 “Time Traveller II”
Personal Achievement - Jones Racing - Danny, Elliott, Glyn & Annette WB 132 “Ragin’ Cajun”
(Daddy Cool Sag)
C & C Sportsperson - The Marras WB 2 & 20 “Rebel” & “Wrathchild”
Derek & Brenda Annable trophy - Team Chasin’ Time WB 65 “Chasin’ Time”
Driver Dave Memorial Bell – presented by Bob Hawkins to Claire Meaddows
(Kept Calm and Carried on) (along with Angie Woods and Dave Williams)
Scottie Durrant - Jones Family Racing - Danny, Elliott, Glyn & Annette WB 132 “Ragin’ Cajun”
Above & Beyond Award
The DON GARLITS ‘SPIRIT OF DRAG RACING’ SHIELD
The 2023 winner, James Auld, presented the Shield to the 2024 winners:
The Marras – Rob, Pete, Hayley, Nat, George & Julie of “Wrathchild & Rebel Racing”
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Here is the full writeup with the citations of all of the Merit Awards:
Big Bang Trophy
This team started the year well achieving great success and getting into the mid 6’s at the very first event of the season! However mid-season the car experienced massive damage to the engine!! But the team persevered as always and were back out for the Hot Rod Drags and the National Finals! No easy task when you are running Nitro!! Well done Bob and all the team!
Bob Hawkins “Time Traveller II”
Fastest time by a British-engined dragster (the Martin Holgate award)
[This time needs to be backed up within 2% and the driver attend 2 or more events]
It was great to see this driver improve throughout the season, ultimately recording an 11.323 at the Summer Nationals, and later backing this up with an 11.370 at the Hot Rod Drags in his Jag-powered “WildsCat” altered. Hooray!! Well done Ian!
Ian Wild “WildsCat”
Fastest MPH [The driver must attend at least 4 events and back the run up within 2%]
This driver had rebuilt an engine over the off season and started the year well, running a 206.81 mph run at the Nostalgia Nationals. He backed this up with a 205.33 mph pass, also at the Nostalgia Nationals ……. He also later set a Personal Best speed of 212mph whilst running in the Cannonball at Dragstalgia! Great stuff!
Bob Hawkins “Time Traveller II”
Quickest E.T. [The driver must attend at least 4 events and back the run up within 2%]
Once again this driver had worked hard to improve the performance of his nitro-burning engine and started the season deep in the 6’s on only his second run of the year, recording both a Personal Best and new Wild Bunch ET record of 6.436 at the Nostalgia Nationals. He backed this up with a 6.469 also at the Nostalgias!
Bob Hawkins “Time Traveller II”
There was also a certificate to go with this award to commemorate the WB record
The Roy Wilding ‘Best Newcomer’ Award
Although these new members have raced in other motorsports, they have never drag raced before! They made their debut at Dragstalgia with a lovely Topolino altered! During the season the father and son drivers gradually got a handle on the car, improving at every one of the 3 events they attended. By the end of the year, they ran PBs of 10.893 @ 124mph for Joey and 11.248 @ 118mph for ColinWell done and Welcome!
Colin & Joey Childs “Boxo Bomb”
BEST VEHICLES These 3 categories of Best Vehicle trophies are chosen this year by commentator Colin Theobald, who judges the winners on high standards of presentation, appearance and performance.
Best Radical or Rear-engine Dragster
The winner this year is a very historic and well turned out car. The well dressed team competed together at 4 events. The supportive crew assisted the driver in winning 1 race and also having a 2nd and two 3rd places during the season! The team won the Wild Bunch Series and the Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series, for the first time ever! Very well done!
James Auld “Little Fauss”
Best Altered
The driver of this altered is still fairly new to the Wild Bunch. The team have made massive improvements with the appearance of the car and competed in 4 events this year steadily improving the car’s performance and finishing in the Top 4 at every event! The driver recorded his first ever 8-second pass and a PB of 8.855 @ 142mph. He finished a strong 5th in the Wild Bunch Series.
James Griffen “Kiss my Gas”
Best Slingshot
This Slingshot is an absolutely beautifully well turned out fantastic-looking period correct nostalgic car, competing at many events this season! The team have various crew wear and always put on a brilliant show whatever they do and wherever they go, promoting Drag Racing and the Wild Bunch brilliantly! They are very professional and always strive to be the best they can be!
The Marras – Rob & Pete Brown “Rebel”
The Roy Wilding ‘Best Turned Out’ Award
This team have made huge improvements in the appearance of their stunning altered and crew wear, and it paid dividends, winning a ‘Best Appearing Car’ Spot Prize during the season and receiving many compliments. The driver has achieved his highest placing so finishing 5th place in the Wild Bunch Series. This team have had a really great season!
James Griffen “Kiss my Gas”
Best Achiever
This driver has been making improvements to his car ever since he first started with the Wild Bunch. He took part in all 4 RWYB type events this year. He won 1 race and also had a 2nd and two 3rd places during the season! He has been trying for years and finally has WON the Wild Bunch Series and WON the Roy Wilding Series for the first time ever! Great achievements! Many Congratulations!!
James Auld “Little Fauss”
Perseverance Award
This team always tries their very best and are often rewarded with great success! However, they experience a massive gearbox breakage at the Summer Nationals! Within just one week they had managed to get this sorted, and this involved driving many miles back and forth during the week! The team had the car all sorted, and even had to do more work at the track! This paid off as they had a very famous American driver Cackle the car at the Cracklefest at Dragstalgia!! They participated in ALL 7 events this season, the only team to do so! They won 4 events and had one 5th place. Team Wrathchild & Rebel Racing have won the Spirit of Nostalgia, Springbridge and SPRC Series!
The Marras: Pete, Rob, Hayley, Nat, George & Julie “Rebel” & “Wrathchild”
‘Crazy Chris’ Showmanship Award
A tribute to Chris’ entertainment & the great show he’s always put on!
This driver has a period correct slingshot and always puts on a great show whenever he takes to the track! He even pulled a ‘Crazy Chris’ style multiple wheelie at one event. He strives to put on a very nostalgic display! He ran PBs in the season of 9.700 @137mph! Plus he finished in 3rd place in the Wild Bunch, Spirit of Nostalgia Challenge and Roy Wilding Series!!
Andy Roy “Shawcrank Redemption”
Crew of the Year Shield
Celebrating crews’ hard work, achievements & dedication!
This year’s winners have hardly stopped working all season! The car requires a lot of maintenance even when it is running on song, but the team have had several breakages and issues to deal with during the year! They coped admirably with everything that was thrown at them! The driver spent many hours back home in the garage rebuilding the engine after damage and repairing and checking everything! Many a time the team worked for hours at the track and managed to make the call for the next round! Always with a smile on their faces! Huge well done to Bob, Dave, Ted, John, Tom and Linda!
Bob Hawkins & Team - Dave & Linda Williams, Ted Hawkins, Tom Hawkins, John Sheehy “Time Traveller II”
Daddy Cool (Sags) Personal Achievement Shield
This family team have been members of the Wild Bunch for many years, and have been trying to achieve performance with their car all this time! They started to have great success last season and carried that through to this year, persevering all the time! They fixed several issues at a couple of event and managed to get a Top 4 placing at Dragstalgia in a tough field! They won a Best Appearing Car along the way for their stunning period correct altered! They have finished in 9th place in the Wild Bunch (their first Top 10 appearance) and 4th in the Roy Wilding Series. They really deserve their success! A huge well done to ….
Jones Family Racing - Danny, Elliott, Glyn & Annette “Ragin’ Cajun”
C & C Sportsperson Award
Chris and Claire read a speech about this award, outlining all the amazing support, sportsmanship, helpfulness, promotion of the Wild Bunch and showmanship displayed by the winners.
The Marras “Rebel” & “Wrathchild”
Derek & Brenda Annable Trophy
This award was initiated by Derek & Brenda to be presented to a ‘couple’ or partnership who are committed to Drag Racing, and demonstrate the family spirit of the Wild Bunch.
Last year’s winners Andy, Karen, Tara and Team Econorail chose the 2024 winners: They write:
“With unshakable determination they embody the spirit of drag racing. They’ve built a car, they built a trailer and they go racing and improve it every time they take it to the track. They encourage a new generation into the sport, young Ford who just blows us away with his enthusiasm and ability to beat his Dad! Every Team member always cares enough to ask how we’re doing. Their experience and advice is always helpful. There is always a willingness to support anyone who needs help. The whole team are so helpful and full of life, they are a pleasure to be around. They are inspirational to us to keep going with our old dragster.”
Congratulations from: Team Econorail and the whole Wild Bunch to: ……………
Alan & Ford Skipp, Matt Hollins and all of Team “Chasin’ Time”
Driver Dave Memorial Bell – Kept Calm and Carried On!
Last year’s winner Bob Hawkins decided the winner of this special award in memory of Dave Rowlands, and on behalf of Angie Woods & Warren Rowlands, with Angie present.
Dave Williams gave a speech about his great friend Dave and presented the bell in his memory to this year’s winner, who he said summed up the title of the award!
Claire Meaddows
The Scottie Durrant ‘Above and Beyond’ Award
Gina and Beau Durrant presented this award in loving memory of Scottie with Gina adding her own speech and anecdotes about the winners to the writeup below.
These guys worked mega hard again to get the race car to 3 events this year! They managed to get a 3rd place at Dragstalgia in a tough field of 32 cars. They again had issues with the car and broke a UJ at the Hot Rod Drags but burnt the midnight oil literally to fix the car and make all 3 competition rounds on the Sunday. They finished in 9th place in the Wild Bunch Series (their first ever Top 10 after years of trying!) and also 4th place in the Roy Wilding Series, their first ever Top 4 win in any Series! They also won a couple of Best Appearing spot prizes. All after so many years of trying!! It is wonderful to see them achieving success and enjoying their racing together!
The Jones family - Danny, Elliot, Glyn & Annette “Ragin’ Cajun”
Don Garlits ‘Spirit of Drag Racing’ Shield 2024
Story of the Shield
This award was instigated in 1996, when Roy Wilding wrote to ‘BIG’ himself seeking permission to name a trophy in his honour. Don Garlits duly replied, writing on Roy’s letter simply … “Sounds OK to me!” To be eligible, a team must have participated in at least 4 events during the season. A winner may not repeat within 5 years. The ‘Spirit of Drag Racing’ Shield is presented for many reasons which are all demonstrated by our winner!!
2024 Winners:
This year’s winners have been fantastic members of the Wild Bunch for many years now and are brilliant ambassadors for the Wild Bunch and the sport in general. What more can we say about this team that hasn’t already been said tonight?! They have simply excelled themselves this year! They have gone over and above in every way and are truly beyond compare! They were the only team to take part in every event, and put huge efforts into doing so, persevering through problems, including destruction of the gearbox, putting in many hours effort and driving to get this fixed and then putting in a great display at the Dragstalgia Cracklefest with American drag racing legend Bob Muravez, aka Floyd in the hot seat! They are super passionate about their racing, super passionate about the Wild Bunch and Nostalgia Drag Racing. They are fantastic ambassadors for the sport wherever they go, promoting it to many others outside of Drag Racing, such as at the Silverstone Classic event. They had 4 event wins during the season and have WON the Spirit of Nostalgia Challenge, the Springbridge MSUK Challenge and the SPRC Championship in Wild Bunch, well and truly flying the flag for the Club, especially in the MSUK rounds! Pete and Rob are valued Wild Bunch committee members and Hayley is our excellent Secretary, whilst Natalie, George and Julie also provide amazing support in every way possible. They truly are committed to the Sport of Nostalgia Drag Racing and especially the Wild Bunch! Huge Congratulations to the whole team on their second time of winning this incredible award, so very well deserved!
The Marras - Rob, Pete, Hayley, Nat, George & Julie of “Wrathchild & Rebel Racing”
How fitting that they were one of the Wild Bunch teams to see Don Garlits' "Swamp Rat 21" and meet Donna Garlits at the previous weekend's British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala!! 
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Many Congratulations to all of our winners! Well done on all your achievements! Looking forward to next season already, for an amazing 29th Anniversary year of The Wild Bunch Series!! Happy Off-season and Best Wishes to you all!! 