Hud Johnston's Summernats elite show car is 40 years in the making

As a 10-year-old boy, he began work on the 1934 Ford coupe with his father Rod, a highly respected car builder from Wongarbon, just outside Dubbo.

"It was one of those cars that Dad had in the shed and that he would work on now and again between other projects, but we never really had time to finish," he said.

His father first bought the coupe's chassis back in 1982. Rod Johnston was a panelbeater by trade and taught his son all the necessary skills along the way, such as welding, fabrication, engine building and spray painting.

"We would do bits on this car now and then and then about 10 years ago we gradually devoted more and more time to it," Mr Johnston said.

But then six years ago, tragedy struck.

"I ducked out of the shed and when I came back, I found Dad collapsed in the boot of this car where he had been working on it," he said.

"I tried to revive him but I couldn't, and he passed away."

For years after that Hud Johnston couldn't even look at the car; the memories were just too painful.

Then about 12 months ago, the chief judge at Summernats, Owen Webb, gave him a call.

"Owen said: 'Come on, you have to get this done and get it to Summernats, it's what your Dad would have wanted'," he said.

"So I got stuck into it."

Time was of the essence so he worked flat-out on the project, only completing it just after the New Year.

"It was a lot more rushed than I wanted; I was still painting the doors on Christmas Day," he said.

"It's still not perfect; [there are] things I still wanted to do but just ran out of time. But we got it here, that's the main thing."

As a proper tribute, he used all the parts his father had set aside for the project down through the years.

Over 30 years, Hud Johnston has built many elite show cars but this one, he said, was very special.

"It was always my intention to go for Grand Champion here but you need to spend time driving the car, getting used to the way it drives," he said.

To qualify for Summernats Grand Champion, cars have to be judged as elite in their build quality but also have to compete successfully in the grass events, which is proof that they stop, go, steer and handle well.

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"Time ran out so we had to put that plan aside and just concentrate on getting it to an elite build standard," he said.

"To be honest, I'm just pleased to get the car finished and have it here on show.

"And I know Dad would be very pleased that it's here for everyone to see."

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