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We thank Randy Broadbent and the Broadbent family for loaning us Steve Broadbent’s drag racing station wagon for the 2024 season at the museum. The car is a 1982 Chevrolet Malibu Station Wagon that was the parts car for his sons Randy’s first street car at age 16. The build which was started in 1997 was inspired by other successful drag racing wagons. The wagons power to weight ratio was a proven winner with the stock eliminator class. Steve and Bob Broadbent of the Broadbent Bros Racing team started competing at New England Dragway in 1968 and have been a staple of the dragways fabric for decades.

All work on the superb build was completed at the family’s shop in Lakeville, MA. The shop which has been owned by the family for over 60 years has seen seven different family drag racing cars completed there. Contributors on the wagon build included son Randy, Steve, Bob, Don Fardie and Ralph Blackburn. Steve Broadbent who started the build was a outstanding metalsmith and auto body specialist by trade.

The car was named Sourpuss VI and features the family’s trademark lime green color within the paint scheme. The car name and color combination was inspired by the first Broadbent Bros drag racing build from 1968. The Sourpuss name was given to the team by Steve and Bob’s mother Claire. The car successfully competed in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the All Star Racing Association at New England Dragway, Lebanon Valley, Maple Grove and Numidia Dragway.

In January of 2022 Steve and his longtime supportive wife Beth both passed away within 12 days of each other after an unexpected illness. A memorial race was held in Steve and Beth’s honor at New England Dragway in August of 2022. The Broadbent Bros Racing legacy carries on to this day traveling thousands of miles each year racing at venues across the northeast. Pictured in the photo with the 1982 Chevrolet Malibu Wagon to the right is Randy Broadbent and to the left is Bob Broadbent. The effort to display the Steve Broadbent drag racing station wagon was led by museum board member Mable Doyle.