Vale “Gentlemen” Jim Reed
“Gentlemen” Jim Reed, the driving force behind the Reed Racing dynasty has passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind an incredible 70 year legacy of influence, performance, and innovation in Australian drag racing.
Reed was a pioneer in the sport both on and off the track, heading up a family of successful drag racers, and was inducted into the ANDRA hall of fame in 2014.
Over the last 30 years, his son Steve Reed was one of the many Reed’s to further carry the torch as the current reigning 400 Thunder Pro Alcohol Champion and a multiple Australian champion. His daughter Kerri also raced, as did his wife Nelma, his daughter in law Debbie, his grandson Daniel, Daniel’s wife Fiona, his granddaughter Sally, and her husband Matty Watts… quite the competitive bloodline!
A cofounder of the Queensland Drag Racing association and driving force behind the creation of the Pro Alcohol category, Reed’s first foray into the sport came at age 13 when he modified his fathers 1928 Essex, upping the compression to significantly increase its power.
Jim started racing in 1955, running 16 second times over a standing start quarter-mile competing in a modified flathead V8 powered 1935 Ford at the Strathpine ex-WWII airstrip.
From 1957 – the year he married his wife Nelma, who shared a mutual love of the sport – he and Nelma didn’t miss a season of competition for the next 50 years.
In 1966 he competed in the 1966 Dragfest USA Tour as part of the opening meeting for Surfers Paradise International Raceway, with a string of Supercharged Altered models following suit.
His battles with Bob Dunn and Graeme Cowin became the stuff of folklore on the Aussie scene, with Reed also winning the first Winternationals at Surfers Paradise International Raceway.
Reed became one of the leading authorities on methanol-fuelled engines, which he was prominent in through the 1980’s, spreading his knowledge to others in helping to extensively grow the category.
In 1977 he started to share the driving duties with his son Steve, until Jim stopped racing in 1982.
Following 1982, Reed was instrumental in the formation of the Top Alcohol Eliminator category that was – and still is – a favourite with racers and fans, with the Reed Racing family now having competed in the the category for over 30 years, collecting plenty of championships along the way.
His tuning, fabrication and innovative skills kept him at the helm of Reed Racing after giving the on-track stuff away, only ever missing one race day in 20 years, which was due to being in hospital in November of 2022.
Jim will be forever remembered as an icon of the sport on Australian shores.
AUTO ACTION sends its condolences to the Reed family, friends, and the Australian drag racing community.
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