At 70 years of age, West Australia’s Alan Hudson has been playing his part in ANDRA drag racing for more than 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Alan first got involved with drag racing in Western Australia in the 1967/68 season, assisting a mate putting a small block Chev into an XM Falcon.
They were running in a team of guys called ‘Seatons Shakers’ with the group including big names of the era like Frank Seaton, Pete ‘the Greek’ Markopolis (otherwise known as ‘Zorba’) and Barry Thomas, racing the ‘latest’ model HT Monaros.
Alan and his brothers Roy and Clive and other members of the family were all involved in the running of their supercharged ‘Big Red Truck’ which was a huge draw card at both Ravenswood Raceway and then the Perth Motorplex.
In the days before the ‘Big Red Truck’, Alan’s brother Roy helped Trevor Morrison and then together, Alan and Roy tried their hand at first a slingshot dragster, and then a rear engine dragster named Cylcops (Roy only has one eye).
“Being a welder, I was given the job of finishing off the rear engined dragster project and the generous soul that Roy is, he said if Clive and I could get our ANDRA licences we could drive it,” Hudson explains.
Alan made his debut in 1989 and soon proved to be a natural, picking up two wins and a runner-up result in his first season, with one of those victories coming as part of the prestigious Goldenstates, seeing him rewarded with an ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree. He would also pick up the Rookie of the Year award for the 1989/1990 season.
It would not be long though before Hudson expanded his attention beyond driving duties.
“ANDRA Division Director of the time, the late George Bailey, ‘bullied’ me into taking on several ANDRA roles,” laughed Hudson.
“Over the years I have taken on more and more duties, including Tech Inspector, a Steward and a Divisional Council Delegate.”
Instead of slowing down when he turned 70 this year, Hudson is still just as passionate about ANDRA drag racing as ever and still undertakes all of these roles today.
“I love every minute involved in drag racing and everybody associated with it. Some people push you to the limit, but not many, and I could not name the great number of brilliant people I have met through the magic sport of Drag Racing. Thank you all,” Hudson said.
Despite his age, Alan also balances these roles with continuing employment as a welder, manufacturing and installing large scale industrial sliding gates, turnstiles and boom gates. During his working career, he has also worked as a truck driver, a crane operator and spent 14 years as a St John’s Ambulance Paramedic. And now, he and his brother Clive have plans afoot to again campaign the ‘Big Red Truck’ at the Perth Motorplex on December 12.
“Alan’s expertise, knowledge, professionalism and all round kindness and encouragement is spread freely at race tracks around the country, selflessly giving of his time when needed both in Perth and around the country,” said Western Australian Drag Racing Association Vice President, Liz Johns.
“Alan attends racers’ premises at all hours of the day and night to conduct Tech Inspections, often travelling vast distances to ensure racers are ready to enjoy themselves safely at the race track, or just to enjoy a drink and shoot the breeze with potential racers.
“His smiling face can be found in the Scrutineering Shed on race day and also on the startline, observing and advising newcomers on licencing procedures, mentoring young trainee volunteers, and generally being friendly to all that cross his path.
“Alan’s level head and negotiating skills can calm a worked up racer during a protest, and his expert knowledge of the ANDRA rule book both past and present, and his mechanical aptitude, make him the go to person when post race checks need to be completed on the elite race vehicles, both cars and bikes, at a championship event.”
To learn more about drag racing in Western Australia, please visit www.andra.com.au or www.wadra.com.au
PHOTO AT TOP: CREDIT TO John Harney, HarneyPhoto
CAR PHOTOS: SUPPLIED