Christchurch-based Rocky (51) and his wife, Lisa (48), met through motorsport many years ago and have since both become synonymous with co-driving in New Zealand rally circles, so it is little wonder their children, Amy (15) and Jared (13), have followed in their footsteps.
''The kids have been brought up with it,'' Rocky, who will competing in his 20th Otago Rally, said.
In Saturday and Sunday's 14-stage event, he will sit alongside talented Timaru driver Darren Galbraith in a Mitsubishi Evo 8; Lisa will call the pace notes for Classic Rally front-runner Regan Ross, of Kaikoura, driving his Ford Escort RS 1800; Amy starts her second full New Zealand Rally Championship season with Waiuku's Dylan Thomson, who pilots a Ford Fiesta; and Jared will pair up with Gore driver Michelle Harris in her Suzuki Baleno.
Otago Rally spokesman Roger Oakley said rallying was much more of a family sport than people realise.
''It can hook you for life, and there are so many different ways of being involved. But the Hudson family are unique.
'' I don't recall any time in the past where all the members of the family have been competing as co-drivers in the same event. You can just imagine the discussion around the dinner table,'' he said.
A year 9 pupil, Jared made his co-driving debut last year, competing in five rallies and two days of the Silver Fern Rally aged only 12, which Rocky believes makes him one of the youngest motorsport competitors worldwide.
In Australia and the United Kingdom, participants cannot co-drive in special stage rallies until they are 16.
In New Zealand, a competition licence can be issued to junior competitors from age 12, providing they have passed their rally licence test and compete only on closed roads.
Rocky said the whole family were members of the Eastern Southland Car Club and had helped with the Catlins Coast Rally since Jared was 6.
That meant he and his sister were familiar with systems such as the RallySafe safety, timing and tracking package.
After 20 years of competing with many of New Zealand's top drivers, Rocky and Lisa have never been involved in a major accident, although they ''are all aware of what may happen'' when it comes to their children.
''There's worse things they could be doing. We do appreciate the safety aspect of what they are doing and we are choosey about who the kids go [co-drive] with,'' he said.
