We were deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Steve Woods, 74, San Leandro, Calif. 

Steve raced a variety of race cars over better than five decades in our sport of drag racing. He first made a trip to Firebird back in 1974. The event was an AHRA Grand American meet some fifty odd years ago driving a very rare Plymouth Cricket four-door sedan in the BB/GS class.

He later returned with a `48 Anglia Prefect sedan in the AA/Supercharged category. Quite appropriately, he coined the sedan the “Hypocrite”, a name he used on several of his cars. Steve won a number of times at Firebird, before setting his helmet and fire gear aside to help tune for good friend Chuck Moore. Together, they were not only very successful racing at nostalgia events in the west, but also reached the Firebird winner’s circle during the Oldies But Goodies Drags.

We paid tribute to Steve during this year’s Oldies event by featuring his original Cricket on the event shirt art (distinctively drawn by Ger Peters).

On behalf of every member of the New family, our staff and the racing community, we wish to convey our sympathies and condolences to the Woods family, close friends and acquaintances. He will be missed.

God speed.