Australia's greatest drag racer, Jim Read Celebrates 70th Birthday

Happy 70th Birthday to Australia's greatest drag racer, Jim Read!

Read's on-track success is second to none – 17 National Championships, 16 Australian Championships, 10 Winternationals victories plus many more race wins.

He was the first Australian to break the 7, 6 and 5-second barriers and the first driver to reach over 300 mph.

Read is the only motorsport competitor to receive the coveted Advance Australia Ambassador Award, and was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal.

Read is also Australia's only member of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame – he was inducted in 2010.

Read's induction into the IDRHOF was testimony to his efforts on the world stage including a memorable 1982 NHRA event where he became Top Fuel "Top Qualifier", despite the handicaps of a borrowed dragster and a shoestring budget.

Read's passion and contribution to Australian drag race is undeniable. He was instrumental in bringing major national TV coverage to the sport via Channel 9's Wide World of Sports in the mid-90s with the Winfield Pro Series.

Perhaps his greatest achievement, and a lasting legacy for the sport, was the return of ANDRA Championship events to Sydney Dragway in 2003 – the result of Read's passionate and vigorous negotiations with the NSW Government over a six year period.

Just Drag Racing wishes Jim Read a very happy 70th birthday and congratulates him on his great achievements in the sport.