STEVE GIBBS TO RECEIVE BRITISH DRAG RACING H.0.F. AWARD
The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame (BDRHoF) and Lucas Oil Products confirmed former NHRA Vice President and drag racing pioneer Steve Gibbs will receive the 2017 BDRHoF Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award. It will be presented later this year at the BDRHoF Gala Awards Dinner being held at the historic Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey on November 18th.
Last year Gibbs attended the event to accept the 2016 Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award on behalf of the National Hot Rod Association. But early in 2017 he shocked the drag racing community when he announced his retirement from the NHRA after 48 years.
At the time he said, “I will be eternally grateful to Wally Parks for the opportunity to do the things I did … and for so long. I’m proud of the ‘fingerprints’ I have left on the sport. But it’s time to move on.”
Gibbs understands the enormity of the award.
“This is all a bit overwhelming. I will be extremely honoured…humbled…and eternally thankful to accept the award. It would mean a great deal at any point in time, but is particularly rewarding at the present moment. I cannot adequately express my heartfelt thanks to the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the date is circled on my calendar”.
Although probably best known as a former NHRA Competition Director and for re-establishing the NHRA Safety Safari Programme, and refining track preparation, Gibbs started his involvement with drag racing in 1961 when he became a part time official with a wide variety of duties including track reporter for Drag News and Drag Sports Illustrated at San Gabriel drag strip. Between the years 1965 and 1968, he managed Irwindale and Fremont Raceways.
In 1969, Gibbs was hired by Wally Parks at the NHRA and he remained there until this year. Initially he was Advertising Director for the NHRA’s National Dragster Magazine but within 6-months was promoted as Assistant to Jack Hart running NHRA events. In 1973, he became Competitions Director and later Vice President of Competition where he managed approximately 400 NHRA National and Reunion Events during a 48 year career. Many of the safety developments in place at NHRA events that continue to today are attributed to Gibbs and his Safety Safari team.
In the early 1990s Gibbs formed NHRA Historical Services and in 1992 he helped launch the first California Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield – a living history bringing to life the sights and sounds of the early days of drag racing, with the proceeds of the original meeting and subsequent reunion events going towards the creation and maintenance of a drag racing museum to be based at Pomona that opened in 1998.
Gibbs served as first Executive Director after his retirement from NHRA full time activity in 2003, and up until early this year he remained involved in the Museum and the Hot Rod Reunions. He was inducted into The Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall Of Fame in 2006 and at the age of 77, remains committed to his calling. Gibbs is now involved in organizing Nostalgia Events in his own name so the sport has not lost his amazing talent and enthusiasm.
“My goal is to follow many of Wally’s original concepts of the sport, and to provide events that celebrate and respect our rich drag racing and hot rodding heritage,” Gibbs explained.
Known for his long and tireless service to the sport of drag racing, Gibbs epitomizes what the BDRHoF Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award stands for.
“We are so pleased that a trophy with our name on it is being presented to someone whose commitment to drag racing goes back to the very early days and his positive influence on so many aspects of our sport will act as a guiding light for others in the industry. He has played a leading role in laying the foundations that have served drag racing well and will continue to be part of his legacy," Morgan Lucas, Senior Vice President of Sales for Lucas Oil said. "We thank the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame for enabling us to be part of honoring Steve this way. You have chosen well."