Record prize money at Sue Hawkings Memorial Harbour City Hustle, Gladstone

Just days before losing her battle to cancer, Central Queensland speedway stalwart Sue Hawkings asked for one thing. See how her son Matt responded.

Central Queensland speedway stalwart Sue Hawkings will be remembered at a rich memorial race meeting in Gladstone this weekend.

Matt Hawkings will fulfil his mother’s dying wish when Australia’s leading super sedan drivers race for the country’s richest first-place prize in Gladstone this weekend.

The Mackay businessman has stumped up $20,000 for the winning driver to commemorate and celebrate his late mother Sue, who died on July 23 last year, aged 73.

Wracked by cancer, the speedway-loving matriarch asked Matt just days before her death to organise a race meeting in her honour.

He responded the only way a loving son knew how.

“I told her I would make it the biggest prize-paying meeting ever held in Australia,” he said.

True to his word, the Sue Hawkings Memorial Harbour City Hustle was devised and will be held at the McCosker Gladstone Speedway on Friday and Saturday nights.

Central Queensland speedway stalwart Sue Hawkings will be remembered at a rich memorial race meeting in Gladstone this weekend.

A star-studded field of 29 drivers from four states is headed to the city for a battle royale, with the first of them to greet the chequered flag to pocket $20,000.

The owner of Hawks Industrial Solutions, Matt has been on a mission to deliver the event since first reaching out to Gladstone Speedway vice-president Bob McCosker in August last year.

“Mum would be absolutely thrilled to know this is happening for her,” he said.

“For me, it’s an honour to be able to do it for her and for our family.

“It’s a big thing and it means so much.”

Matt said Sue would have been in her element watching the best of the best, including Australian No.1 Darren Kane and Tasmanian talent Callum Harper, battle it out this weekend.

Australian number one Darren Kane headlines a class field of super sedan drivers competing this weekend. Photo: Stuart Fast

He explained how his mum was introduced to speedway by his dad Lyndsay, a five-time Queensland super sedan champion.

“Dad’s passion became her passion. She was there beside him through everything,” Matt said.

“She watched the first 25 years of speedway through a video recorder, videoing every one of his races.”

Matt, too, got a taste for racing.

A late starter, he first got behind the wheel in his early 20s, and competed for about 20 years.

By his own admission, he would be better remembered for his post-race pit parties than his accomplishments on the track.

Matt said his parents’ passion morphed into a vocation as they owned and operated Mac’s Speedway in Mackay for more than 20 years.

Decorated speedway driver Lyndsay Hawkings pictured in 2012 with grandsons Josh and Rob Hawkings who were carrying on the racing tradition.

He describes his mum as a capable and competent woman who could just get things done.

But for him and his three siblings, she was a rock, constant and reliable.

“I’ll always remember her care and support, the unconditional love she gave not only family but also friends.

“If you had a problem, you’d just have to talk to mum and she’d sort it out.

“She was always there for us.”

Matt said one of the most special moments for him was his mum getting to meet two of his children.

“That was something she always wanted,” he said.

“She got to meet my two boys,Wolf and Phoenix, but unfortunately she just missed out on seeing my daughter Stormy.

“The boys still talk about Nana Sue and I can tell she’s still there. She’ll always be looking down on us.”

Originally published as Record prize money at Sue Hawkings Memorial Harbour City Hustle, Gladstone