08/08/2026
I remember fondly the days of match racing in the 80s and 90s with cars booked in a three round series and to put on a show.
My history is from Nth QLD, and I enjoyed many of these match races, usually Gary Phillips and Steven Reed at both the Townsville track and Palmyra Dragway in Mackay.
These match events were a once a year part of the racing program and always drew the biggest crowds and help fill the coffers for the promoters to carry the tracks through the season.
The new year series at the old Surfers track with American imports and all regional tracks relied on the success of the match races.
While looking for content recently these two shots were standouts when I thought, "imagine the crowds these two would have attracted through the gates. One night only, best of three". Long smoky burnouts and wheels up launches would keep the crowds enthralled and returning.
Made for match races, BAD INFLUENCE with Clive Hudson and FORCE FED with Alan Mankhopf wrestling the beasts on every pass.
Disappeared into history now, like girlfriends/wives laying down lines of VHT and five yellow light Christmas trees.
Force Fed Racing
Clive Hudson
