The grandmother who can’t stop doing burnouts
Proving that age is no barrier, 80-year-old Lorraine Tuckett is fast becoming the face of burnouts.
The grandmother is capturing hearts across the country by racking up millions of views on social media for her extreme hobby.
Lorraine was initially convinced to give controlled burnouts a go by her grandson Guy after the death of her husband a couple of years ago.
Since then she hasn’t looked back, believing it keeps her looking and feeling young.
“Every burnout I’m a bit nervous, but only cause I’m that excited about doing it,” Ms Tuckett said.
Driving her V8 Holden ute named “Nan’s Dream” recently at the controlled Brobenah Burnouts near her hometown of Leeton, Ms Tuckett was not only the oldest participant but the only woman in a field of around 30 men.
It’s a fact that doesn’t intimidate her but actually has the opposite effect: Lorraine thriving on the attention.
“It’s just excitement plus, just being around all these young blokes,” she said.
According to her co-driver Guy, “Nan” is an inspiration.
“I feel privileged (and) over the moon that I’ve got my 80-year-old nan driving it with me,” he said.
But it’s not just her grandson that’s in awe of her ability.
Due to the notoriety of Ms Tuckett’s burnouts, her influence has stretched beyond the local motor racing community in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
Her hobby has reached a wider audience, and is giving burnout rallies across the country credibility.
Ronnie Watts, who is the president of a Riverina motorsports club, said it’s the best thing for the sport.
“An 80-year-old lady doing burnouts in an LS-1 ute, she does legitimise burnouts, she’s not a crazy old lady, she’s a nice lady,” he said.
Mr Watts hopes the positive attention brought to the sport by Ms Tuckett will keep people from doing burnouts illegally on the streets.
“I’d love to think it discourages them,” he said.
As for Ms Tuckett, she’d love nothing more than to see people pick the craft, and burn some rubber in a controlled environment.
She’s urging others to get off the streets and get involved in the legitimate sport.
Leeton’s burnout queen admits, in characteristic tongue-in-cheek fashion, she’d love more women to consider getting involved.
“I’ve got to have a bit of competition on the girl’s side,” she said.
