Neath, NSW duo Joel and Melanie Lucas are preparing to hit the road again for this year’s Street Machine Drag Challenge, joined by husband and dad Mark as crew. Joel is competing in the in the HP Tuners / VCM Performance Dial-Your-Own class and Melanie in Kemppi Australia Radial Aspirated.

Street Machine Drag Challenge is one of the most unique motorsport events in the country, with more than 280 street-registered cars competing across five days at different drag strips in South Australia and Victoria.

After each day’s racing, competitors must then drive hundreds of kilometres to the next venue without car trailers or support crews, making it a rare test of endurance and reliability.

For Joel, 23, sharing the event with his mum and dad has created memories that will last a lifetime.

“Being able to compete in Drag Challenge over the past two years with my mum entered and my dad in her crew has been an absolutely unreal experience,” Joel said.

“The core memories we’ve made, from pulling into checkpoints and accommodation at ungodly hours thanks to technical difficulties on a certain Fairlane, to racing side by side at amazing tracks across the country, have made it all worth it.

“Having Mum entered makes for great competition, as we’re both very competitive when it comes down to it. On the other hand, getting to the pits and helping each other out is a wholesome feeling too.”

Melanie, 54, says racing against her son while her husband crews has been a family experience like no other.

“Not many people can say they’ve competed in Drag Challenge against, and with, their only child, while also having their husband as crew. The event has been an unforgettable experience for our family,” Melanie said.

“I am so proud of Joel. Coming first in DYO on only his second attempt really shows that all his time and dedication paid off. Yes, the competitive side does come out when we’re racing each other, but then getting back to the pits and being able to talk about what might make a difference in the next race brings a feeling of closeness, validation and success.”

Joel’s ’88 XF Falcon ute was the first street machine he built at home in the shed with help from his parents and mates.

“I originally bought the shell for $500 from the wreckers and joked with Dad about barra-swapping it. Needless to say, the build snowballed from there,” Joel said.

“It’s still a stock-bottom-end barra with a standard turbo, a set of Bosch injectors and a Haltech ECU. The gearbox is a C4 built in Sydney, transbraked with all the billet goodies, and there’s a nine-inch diff in the rear. Justin from Blacktrack Performance did the dyno work and tuning, with the ute making just under 600hp at the wheels.

“The best pass it has seen is a 10.51 at 130mph, though at Drag Challenge I’ll be aiming for around 10.7s to keep it nice and consistent.”

Joel is no stranger to success at Street Machine Drag Challenge, having finished runner-up in the Dial Your Own class in 2023 before winning it in 2024.

“After taking the win in the DYO class last year, and runner-up the year before, I’m hoping to defend the title this year. It’s always a massive challenge in the DYO class chasing the time needed, which is why I enjoy it so much,” Joel said.

Melanie will once again campaign her purple ’68 Ford Fairlane, a car the family has owned since 1990 and fully rebuilt in their backyard.

“The motor is a 427 Clevor with a Turbo 400 gearbox, four-link rear suspension, a McDonald Brothers front end, custom interior and power steering. When we re-registered the car we discovered it was only 10 days off being 30 years unregistered since we first took her off the road,” Melanie said.

“My personal goal is to finish Drag Challenge without any issues along the way and, most of all, enjoy the event with my husband and son. We haven’t yet had the chance to run the car to its full potential with the current combo, so to achieve a 10-second pass would be a major highlight.”

She says the event has already delivered its share of stories and challenges.

“From our first year, when we reversed the car off the truck and suddenly had no reverse before day one, to relying on other racers and crews to help us, Drag Challenge has been full of surprises,” Melanie said.

“Another time we lost a bunch of wheel studs out of Heathcote and thought we were done. Along came Frosty from Portland Mechanical, who helped us out on the roadside in the dark. Unless you’ve personally experienced Drag Challenge, it’s hard to explain the willingness and dedication of people you’ve never met before, all working towards the same goal of finishing.”

For both Joel and Melanie, the long road kilometres are just as demanding as the drag strip.

“Cruising with so many awesome cars for hundreds of kilometres in the middle of nowhere and then racing for days on end is truly eye-opening,” Joel said.

“Being able to do Drag Challenge with mates and family makes it even better. The road kilometres are the real killer.”

They also agree the event is well worth watching from the sidelines.

“If you’ve never seen Drag Challenge, you’re missing out on one of the most exciting car events in Australia,” Joel said.

“It’s not just about speed and skill, or even just about the cars. Drag Challenge is about endurance, building relationships and experiencing parts of the country we’re lucky enough to call home.”

“If you enjoy seeing a blend of restored classics and hand-built cars, meeting passionate builders and watching them push their cars to the limit, then I encourage you to come along,” Melanie said.

“The mix of racing and endurance all in one event is something you don’t really find anywhere else. It’s worth coming down just to feel the atmosphere and see what these cars and their teams can achieve.”

The 10th annual Street Machine Drag Challenge runs from Wednesday 29 October to Sunday 2 November across South Australia and Victoria.

More than 280 street-registered cars will race at a different drag strip each day before driving hundreds of kilometres to the next under their own power. No car trailers, no support and no excuses.

Spectators are welcome at every stop, with wall-to-wall racing, tyre smoke and real street car action.

Visit dragchallenge.com.au for tickets and more information.