Stephen Thomas joined the Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing team in 2016 at the L'Ultime Descente Speed Challenge. He and fellow UK teammates, Andy Ash and Jono Searby would fly to the small Canadian town of Les Eboulements, Quebec, Canada and become part of gravity land speed history! Stephen was no stranger to gravity car racing. He and his infamous C12 gravity car would win numerous races around Europe and in 2011 Thomas touched 70 mph at the Caingorm race. As of late, Thomas and the C12 are still make gravity racing appearances in Europe. Stephen at the 2018 Harewood Soapbox Race would win the race and set a new track record.
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At the 2016 L'Ultime Descente Speed Challenge, this would be the ultimate speed test for the Bodrodz gravity cars. It would be an all out assault on the 100 mph barrier. No gravity car had officially been clocked over 100. Anderson's Atomic Splinter had posted speeds in the low 90's on the hill and conceded that it would never stand a chance at the century mark, however, teammate Fast Donnie Schoettler ripped off a 97.44 mph right off the trailer on Friday! His next lap was virtually the same running 97.74 mph. Now the media was asking Schoettler if he was going to make it to the century. Fast Donnie commented he was running flat out in his usual style and was wondering where they were going to find two miles per hour and change on the hill.
On Saturday, Thomas would step up to the plate. After watching the speeds of Fast D's laps and analyzing the cars aero he went to work with the help of his UK teammates Andy Ash and Jono Searby working his go
fast aero magic. Getting down to business, the first mod involved forming a helmet fairing made from cardboard procured from the local grocery and color matching tape supplied by Anderson for his Nuclear Banana. With fairing installed, Schoettler goes to the starting line to make his pass. Running under Guinness rules which allow an assisted push at the start, Fast Donnie stopped the timers with a 99.65 mph posting. Just missing the 100 mph summit, Thomas had still one more trick up his sleeve. |
The team was making history on every pass and now only short of the 100 mph barrier by less than half a mile per hour! Stephen would have Schoettler climb in the car and go to work enclosing the cockpit with his aero work. Fast Donnie was now in it for the ride and nowhere else to go but faster! And that is exactly what he did and drove right into the gravity speed racing history books. On his next pass he would lay down a speed of 162.60 km/h 101.03 mph thanks to Stephen Thomas, who became the Bodrodz most valuable team-member for the historic weekend. It was truly an incredible weekend for Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing. A special thanks goes to teammate and great friend, Stephen Thomas
Stephen Thomas watches on as teammates Jono Searby and Andy Ash shove Fast Donnie Schoettler into the history books 101.03 MPH
The 2016 Bodrodz Xtreme Gravity Racing world record holders
With Stephen Thomas' help, Fast Donnie would run 101.03 MPH at the 2016 L'Ultime Descente