Husband and wife racers, Dan and Josie Hodgins, are travelling to this weekend’s Twilight Nationals all the way from their home in the Northern Territory as they chase the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Championship in the Modified bracket.
The February 17-18 event, hosted by the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association, marks the penultimate round of the season, which will conclude at the Perth Motorplex’s Westernationals/ANDRA Grand Finals across March 4 and 5.
Josie is currently leading the points tally in the Modified category, sitting ten points ahead of her husband Dan and fellow racers Darryl Treasure and Josh Baker, who are all on 100 points. WA’s Treasure however is ineligible for championship honours, as he has not travelled outside of his home division.
“I have always been a bit of a ‘tomboy’ and liked cars. My brother, Derek, crewed for Steve and Renee Cockerill, so I would go to events at Adelaide International Raceway with him. That’s where I met Dan, who was crewing for Scott Ferguson, and the rest is history,” Josie explained.
“I have been racing for just under 18 months now in the Modified class. Before that, I raced a few local events in my street car.
“At the 2022 Desert Nationals I was the runner-up which has been my biggest achievement so far – beating Dan and my son Cody on different occasions also has its benefits in the bragging rights department!
“To be in contention for the title is a bit of a shock actually, but I’m quite excited and also nervous. I’m still getting a feel for the car after getting some issues sorted, and although I just go out to have fun, I’m still very competitive on the track (especially against Dan and Cody).
“I’ve been trying to sort some issues out with the turbo, so my consistency hasn’t been great, and it’s also been a big learning curve for me. But I also know that anything can happen in drag racing, so who knows? Maybe I can win it!
“It would be amazing if I can. I have been around this sport for a very long time (behind the scenes) and seen some fantastic racers take home the Gold Christmas Tree. To have one of my own would be surreal.
“With Dan also being in contention, there is lots of trash talk flying around! Good mates race against each other all the time, and in this case, it’s my best mate – what could be better than that?
“If I am unable to take out the title, drag racing is Dan’s greatest passion, so I think it would be amazing for him to win it. He has selflessly helped so many racers over the years get to the track, and put so many hours into our local track (Alice Springs Inland Dragway), that it would be very fitting for him to have that success.
“In the meantime, though, we will just be sticking to the usual routine and doing our best. The only thing I really need to worry about it is not forgetting things, with 1,760km to get to Mildura and 3,600kms to get to Perth, it is is a long way to back and get anything I leave behind!” she laughed.
Dan was recently appointed as the President for the Central Australian Drag Racing Association (CADRA) and has a clear passion for ANDRA drag racing.
“I always had an interest as a young fella but dad didn’t like it, so as soon as I was old enough to drive myself to the track, I was watching. I then got involved as crew and then as driver,” Dan explains.
“I have now been involved in the sport for more than 30 years, from crewing on cars and then driving. My first ever pass down the track was in Scott Ferguson’s Top Alky dragster – wow what an eye opener that was – and it set in the addiction for drag racing. I then moved on to my own B/MD front engine dragster, my Supercharged Outlaw Funny Car, and then to our Altereds (BB/MA and A/MA). Along the way, I also had the opportunity to drive Graeme Cowin’s Nitro Funny Car, The Bandit.
“The dream was always to go 200mph, so to do that in my Funny Car was probably my biggest highlight, but to have the opportunity to drive the Outlaw Nitro Funny Car and do a five second pass on the first pass is also pretty hard to beat.
“To say that I am surprised to be in contention for the title is an understatement. We have built our cars to help make up numbers at our local track and to show the younger fellas that you don’t have to have a big dollar carby car to have fun.
“Our engines are pretty close to stock and are great fun to drive and easy to work on. I think it’s important to develop our up-and-coming racers, and by showing the younger generation that it can be done with an EFI engine is helping them get involved in our sport at a competition level.
“I am not at all confident of taking it out, we got the car going for the first time just 45 minutes before the Desert Nationals started! And sharing the drive with my son, we haven’t had much track time to dial the car in or dial me into the car.
“I’m used to a supercharged clutch car so it is a completely new driving experience for me. I don’t have a tacho that works and no delay box, so I’m not making it easy for myself – but it is not all about being the best, it is about having a go.
“Having said that, it would be huge to win a tree, let alone a big gold one!
“There is definitely plenty of banter between Josie and I at the moment. She is very competitive and has as much chance as winning it as me. One of the great things about our sport, is it doesn’t matter if your male or female, strong or weak etc we are all equal on the track.
“Neither of us hold back on beating on each other and I sure hope she doesn’t beat me on the way to the win, the shit stirring would never end!” he laughed.
“But on a serious note, I would love to see her take the win, it would be beyond words and with all the work she has done for my racing and for our local club, if anyone deserves it, it is Josie.
“Like every race, I’m going to have fun and catch up with mates, and just have a crack. I have a passion for introducing newbies to our sport so if you are a spectator come by the pits and say G’day and ask about the cars. I’d love for everyone to have a chance to sit in a race car and to hear what’s involved in getting it down the track.”
The Hodgins’ have plenty of family and friends they want to thank for their support of their racing as they look to challenge for the title.
“It is a real family affair. Firstly, Dan, for building my car for me from the ground up and giving me the confidence and support to get out on the track and have a go,” Josie said.
“We also want to thank our crew – my daughter Tara and brother Derek for working on the car at home as well as on race day. My son, Cody, for helping out when he’s not racing in Dan’s car or my car, and Jayla, Jordy, Michael Hoey Mechanical, MotorsportsNT and Hawkeye Motorsport.”
As big fans of the drag racing road trip, Dan and Josie are keen to encourage other racers to get on the road and travel to support race tracks all over the country.
“Our recent road trip to Portland for the South Coast 660 was really great – meeting new people, sightseeing along the way and experiencing the amazing track hospitality, and I’m really looking forward to the next few events to do it all again,” Josie said.
“I would encourage everyone to do a road trip at least once in their racing time – and if we do say so ourselves, the Desert Nationals at Alice Springs Inland Dragway in July would be a great start,” she smiled.
“The Desert Nationals have great, relaxed racing on a super flat quarter-mile with 50 percent bonus points – we would love to see you there!” added Dan.
The penultimate and next round of the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, the Twilight Nationals, will be held at Mildura’s Sunset Strip across February 17-18. For event information, visit www.sunsetstrip.org.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au