Jean Gordon with Jeff Hodge.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 11:40 am
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Jeff Hodge has checked another item off his bucket list after entering and completing The Great Race and describes the race as one of his most unique experiences of his life.
Hodge, a native of Rutherford County, entered his 1929 Ford Model "A" Roadster in the 2,300 mile, nine day race that began in Minnesota and concluded in Irmo, South Carolina in June. His good friend, Mike Block of Rutherfordton, was the navigator.
Jeff explains the Great Race as an antique, vintage, and collector car competitive controlled-speed endurance road rally consisting of 1974 models and older vehicles. The race is on public highways and is not a test of speed. The race is a test of driver/navigator team's ability to follow precise course instructions, and the cars/teams ability to endure a cross country trip. Use of GPS, odometer, binoculars and maps are not allowed. Only one speedometer, an analog clock, and one digital stopwatch are allowed for the nine day event. One cell phone is also allowed but can only be used in case of an emergency or submitting time allowances. Course instructions are handed out each morning, 30 minutes before start time.
The notion to add the Great Race to his "bucket list" came to Jeff after he and brother, Mark Hodge, traveled to Mooresville in 2007 to watch the start of The Great Race.
"Fast forward to 2023, my friend Mike Block from Rutherfordton asked if I would be interested in doing The Great Race and without hesitation, my answer was 'yes'. We decided to enter the 2025 race, giving us plenty of time to prepare. It was decided we would enter and drive my 1929 Ford Model 'A' Roadster, Jeff said.
There is, of course, a history behind Jeff's 1929 Ford Model "A" Roadster.
The car was dug out of a ditch in the early 1970s and Jeff's dad, J.Q. Hodge, and other family members pieced together and began the restoration.
J.Q. Hodge, along with wife Ruth, drove the Roadster for many years on tours and was a presence in Christmas parades in Rutherford County and other areas.
"Later on, Dad acquired and restored a 1930 Ford Model "A" Ford so the Roadster sat idle for many years," Jeff said. "Dad passed away in 2003 so I revived the Roadster, joined the local Model A club, and drove the car on many tours and in Christmas parades," he said.
To prepare the Roadster for The Great Race, Jeff completely disassembled the car in 2023 and for two years, they began rebuilding or replacing any questionable parts, then had it repainted.
In March and April of 2025, the Roadster was back together.
"Mike and I began driving and preparing calibration charts to help us be more competitive," Jeff continued.
Jeff and Mike entered the "Coker Tire Spring Challenge" in May in Owensboro, Kentucky in order to become familiar with using course instructions and other rules for such races. The Kentucky race was a three day "clover leaf" rally and the locals placed fourth in the Rookie Division. Competing in the spring rally, the engine gave some trouble, so Mike and his wife Mandi suggested that Jeff install their rebuilt engine.
The 2025 Great Race started June 21 in St. Paul, Minnesota and nine days, 2300 miles later, the race concluded June 29 in Irmo, South Carolina.
"Traveling through 10 states and numerous cities, our preparations for the race paid off as we had no troubles or breakdowns and placed third in the Rookie Division.
"Although the Roadster did not give us any trouble, boy, the endurance aspect was very challenging and demanded full concentration and communication between Mike and myself; there was absolutely no time for sightseeing," Jeff said. "Driving in an almost 100-year-old, open car, exposed to the harsh elements including hot temperatures, high winds, as well as intense rain, sometimes coming in the driver's window and exiting out the navigator's window, was grueling," Jeff said.
Jeff said race days were long beginning around 6am and concluding about 14 hours later at 8pm, averaging about six to eight hours of driving.
"As part of the race day, the host city at lunchtime and the host city at the end of each race day asked the race cars be parked for the public to see and usually offered a prepared meal," he said.
Jeff said he and Mike would not have been able to finish the race without their support crew - Jeff's girlfriend, Shannon McCool and Mike's wife, Mandi Block.
"They were not allowed to travel on the same roads designated for the race. Therefore, they had to leave each morning before the race started," Jeff began. "They were the best."
Shannon and Mandi would then drive to the drive next hotel, check-in, carry in luggage, wash clothes, drive to the designated trailer parking area, unhook the trailer, and then drive to the designated finish line to encourage Jeff and Mike.
"Driving in the Great Race was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had. Starting out we established two goals for ourselves; have fun and finish the race, we accomplished both. Within a couple of days driving in the race we added another goal, get an "ACE", we received three. An "ACE" signifies a perfect score on a leg of the completion, meaning a team arrived at a checkpoint at precisely the predetermined time."
Would Jeff ever consider the race again?
Absolutely.