About Rapid Rich

Everyone has always known Richard Stoodley as ‘Rapid Rich’  from his early days .

‘Rapid Rich’ has been involved with things with wheels for most of his life.

From driving the RAC RALLY 5 times, with much success and racing Cars to MotoCross and racing Production MotorBikes to long distance Cycling trips and Hill Climb Racing, Rapid has always not been far from two or four wheels.

In Motorsport, although always fast, with some stunning results, Crashing has always seemed like the common theme in his exploits !  …

The RAC Rally, when it was the Lombard and Network Q, gave Rapid a platform to show his raw speed through the forests and always wanting to ‘show off’ to the spectators, he conceived The Spectators Charter whereby he pledged to drive spectacularly fast always on the limit and never just ‘drive for a finish’.

This attacking tactic paid off with Rapid and his co-driver Paul ‘I’m Lost’ Collins being positioned as fastest 2 wheel drive non Works Car on the final stage and looking for an amazing top 30 finish with just one stage to go.

Never giving up on his pledge for maximum attack, even with a healthy lead, Rapid and ‘Im Lost’ over committed on just one corner (full of spectators obviously) and resulted in a ripped off front strut, a puncture and a holed radiator.

With just 12 miles to go they soldiered on as fast as the stricken car would take them till eventually it seized up and blew a hole in the block.

They were pushed out of the stage by other competing Rally Cars and eventually got the car to some how start to get over the finish line, keeping it cool by pouring Cold Soup and Ribena into the radiator !

Their efforts were rewarded with the biggest cheers of the event as the poor Car finally expired in a cloud of sweet Black Currant and Leek and Potato steam actually on the Finish Ramp !

Still disappointed to this day not to have got what could have been a career changing result, Rapid still maintains that you have always got to give people something to cheer !

Originally working as a Commercial Vehicle Salesman, selling Transit Vans after a short lived Gas Fitter Apprenticeship, then helping design and build the YAK Yeoman Utility Vehicle and take 4 wheel drive conversion projects from drawing board to production, Richard then started to become an Auctioneer and has now over 35 years freelance experience.

After winning a Novice Rally Driver Search, Rapid ended up instructing people to drive Race and Rally Cars which developed into worldwide positions in the Automotive Training Industry hosting Sales Training, Presenting  and also Performance Driving demonstrations with most of the leading marques.

Now working as a Freelance Auctioneer, and very slow Property Developer,  Rapid also hosts various Charity Auctions.

Rich has organised many successful high profile Events such as The International Rally Driver’s Ball, The Roger Clark Award and the fantastic Tickhill Grand Prix raising hundreds of thousands for Charity along the way. He’s flown a Helicopter – SOLO –  and also managed to blag a couple of hours sat in with The Red Arrows (feature to follow).

Rapid is more recently known for his 110% efforts in attacking short cycle Hill Climbs in the colours of TrueSapien with his team mate Dan Farrand, and never can it be said he didnt give his all.

Often controversial, but Rapid always delivers whatever he puts his mind to and always believes in attention to detail.

Rich has five children and 4 grand children and is a proud Yorkshireman.