Now those achievements over a quarter mile — often at more than 200mph (322kmh) and in under six seconds — are being acknowledged by those in the home of drag racing, the United States.
The Wānaka resident took an unexpected phone call this week from the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, congratulating him on being voted one of their 2024 inductees.
Mr Hogan, 76, has long been a legend of Australasian drag racing, entering the sport as a young hotrodder in the late ’60s and going on to forge a formidable reputation as a racer, winning at the highest level on both sides of the Tasman.
In 1978, he became the first New Zealander to break the 200mph barrier, posting 203.16mph (326.95kmh) in 7.137sec — drag racing is always recorded in imperial measures.
During 1988 he set the then fastest time ever recorded outside the US, 5.681sec.
In 1989, he was the first New Zealander to top 250mph (402.33kmh), recording 263mph (423.25kmh) in 5.52sec. It was a record that stood for 18 years.
"It was quite a surprise — or shock — and not at all expected," Mr Hogan said yesterday of the phone call from the US.
"The people previously inducted have been my heroes, so I’m not sure what I’m doing there.
"I’m still trying to get my head around it."
Mr Hogan said it was also a huge honour for the sport in New Zealand.
"More than anything, I’m chuffed for the recognition it gives New Zealand drag racing.
"Here we are, way down here, being acknowledged for what we have done."
The hall of fame began in 1991 and each year the achievements of a select handful are acknowledged.
Among the legends who will be sharing the stage with Mr Hogan at the presentation in Florida next March are American football coach and race team owner Joe Gibbs and 1970s racing personality Pam Hardy.
"I’m really looking forward to meeting Pam in Florida. She was certainly a big part of the scene back then."
Mr Hogan retired from the sport in the early 1990s and went on to enjoy a hugely successful business career.
"I stopped racing because I was over it. I’d had 18 years of it and towards the end came close to a big crash."
Prompted and encouraged by wife Andrea — "she wanted me out of the house"— he then took up flying, going on to establish an aircraft restoration business and fly his World War 2 fighters in airshows for 10 years.
For many years he was a leading figure in Warbirds Over Wānaka, becoming the first chairman of the Warbirds Over Wānaka Community Trust.
However, he has never forgotten the explosive thrill of drag racing, even though he said yesterday "I don’t need to go fast any more."
He offered an enthusiastic insight into top level drag racing.
"If a modern supercar does 0-60mph [97kmh] in 2.5sec, a drag racer does 0-100mph [161kmh] in less than a second.
"All pandemonium breaks out," he said.
"It is the sheer violence of the experience and the mixture of emotions. It gets very busy.
"You go from 4Gs under acceleration to negative Gs when the parachutes come out to stop the car.
"I really don’t think there are enough appropriate words in the English language to explain the experience," Mr Hogan said.
By Peter Donaldson
