NEW PRODUCTS
EF-EL XR6 & XR8 INDICATOR AND
PARKLAMP ASSEMBLY
$395.00
each

Left hand
Part#
EHTVE13369A

Right hand
Part#
EHTVE13368A

HOLDEN FUEL TANKS
Available in
VB-VL 6cyl & V8
VN-VS 6cyl & V8
Long and short range available

Call our team to enquire about the
options to suit your commodore!
03 366 5982
REAR QUARTER WINDOW INNER
TRIM KIT
VK VL sedan
sandalwood
Part# H1485
$513.70

NOW AVAILABLE IN STORE!
3 Tonne Jack
Dual Pump & Low Profile
Plus
Car Positioning Wheel Dollies
Rated to 680kg per wheel

Rear door seal
VT-VZ, WH-WL
Part#
RDS1102
$150.40

DISTRIBUTOR
ASSEMBLY IGNITIONS
DA1001 – 186 202 HR-WB,
VB-VK, LC-UC Torana
DA1002 – 253-308 HT-WB,
VB-VK, LH-LX Torana
DA1003 – 5.0L VN-VP Blue Plug
DA1004 – 5.0L VP-VS Black Plug
DA1005 – 5.0L VT Commodore
DA1006 – Chev SB or BB
with small cap
DA1007 – Chev SB or BB
with coil in cap
DA2002 – V8 Cleveland XY-XC,
ZC-ZH, 13mm shaft
DA2003 – V8 Cleveland XD-XE,
ZJ-ZK, 12.5mm shaft
DA2004 – 289-302 V8
Windsor
DA5001 – 6CYL 245 265
Chrysler Valiant

MORE MODELS COMING SOON!
HEATER TAP ASSEMBLY
XR, XT, ZA, ZB
Part# HT2000
$143.30

Car Builders range instore now

V8 Supercar
Great and Rare
Spares brand
ambassador

JUST RELEASED

DOOR SEALS
Front door seal
VT-VZ, WH-WL
Part#
RDS1101
$161.00

OUTER DOOR HANDLES
XR-XY Falcon & ZC-ZD Fairlane
rear (pair)
Part#
DH2021P
$296.50
XR-XY
Falcon
& ZA-ZD
Fairlane
front (pair)
Part# DH2020P $296.50

Door Check Strap Kit Front
Left or Right. VB-VL

WINDSCREEN HEADLINING LACING TRIM
Front HQ HJ HX
coupe only
Part # 2817719BA
$49.50

Part# H1469 $155.50
Door Strap Kit Rear Left or
Right. VB-VL

Front HQ HJ HX HZ WB
EXC Coupe
Part # 2817718BA
$66.00

Part# H1470 $155.50
UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS
VB-VS Upper Trailing Arm
VB-VS Lower Trailing Arm
Assembly for non IRS L/H & R/H Assembly for non IRS L/H & R/H

92030065 - $208.40 a Pair

92032352 - $328 a Pair

HARNESS DOOR SWITCH WIRE LOOM
Left & Right Set. XA XB
EC2026
$81.60

XW, XY, ZC, ZD
Part# HT2001
$143.30

SPARE WHEEL WINCH
CABLE REPAIR KIT

XH ute/van AU, BA, BF, FG ute
Part #F2510 $161

MUSCLE
GARAGE
RANGE
INSTORE
NOW

MOULDED 2 PIECE AUSSIE MADE CARPET SETS
Loop .... $386.20 full set ......$268.20 front only Classic Loop....$724 full set
Cut ...... $418.40 full set ......$278.90 front only Underfelt..........$38 per roll (1.8m x 1m)
NEW Kick Panels for Most Holden & Ford Also Available.
Top quality fully moulded 2 piece floor carpets for Holden HG-WB, Ute/Van, 1 tonners, Torana & Commodore.
Ford models like Escort, Falcon, Fairlane & Cortina available. Other makes & models on special order
Give us a call to see if we can get it for you. TRY US! Also boot carpets for most makes and models.
Colours Available - Charcoal, Dark Red, Dark Blue, Turquoise, Green, Black, Brown, Light Grey, USA Red, Ginger, Buckskin.
“For sample colours look up part number CSC on our website.”

Ph: 03 366 5982
43 Shands Road, Hornby, Christchurch
Email: rarespares.nz@xtra.co.nz
Prices are current at time of print but are subject to change at any time.

/raresparesnz
All prices INCLUDE GST

012 THE ULTIMATE — LSA POWERED BLUE MEANIE
034 BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS — BIG CUBES
068 CARBON CREDITS — RESTO-MOD FJ HOLDEN
110 BUSINESS AND PLEASURE — ROYAL COUPE

4

08

22

60

98

The Other Stuff
006: FROM THE ED.
008: NEWS
010: EVENTS
059: SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
078: DRAGGED UP
080: NZ’S QUICKEST
082: AEROFLOW RACE DIARY
084: DECADE AGO
086: STRAIGHT TALK
090: HOT ROD RAMBLINGS
108: IN THE BUILD
120: CMC
124: CARGO
126: DIRECTORY LISTINGS
128: SOCIAL SCENE

022 FULL CUSTOM — HOT RODS UNITE
044 WELL-OILED MACHINE — ALL THE BEST FROM AUTOFEST
054 READERS’ RIDES — YOUR RIDES!
060 CLUB CORNER — SOUTHSIDE STREETERS INC
094 BURNOUT FILES — BLACK LINES MATTER
098 CLASSICS BY THE SEA — KAIKŌURA HOP

44

Rixsta
Sammons

ISSN 1176 - 9920

from
the ed.

SUBSCRIBE NOW
Six months (three issues), $35
One year (six issues), $69
ONLINE nzv8.co.nz/subscribe

EMAIL subscriptions@nzv8.co.nz
MAIL NZV8 Subscriptions,
PO Box 202,152, Southgate, Takanini 2246

EDITOR Rixsta Sammons, rixsta@nzv8.co.nz
SUBEDITORS Sarah Beresford, Justine Clifton
PROOFREADERS Sarah Beresford
SENIOR DESIGNER Mark Gibson
MEDIA SALES Mark Everleigh,
mark.everleigh@viamedia.co.nz
CONTENT PRODUCER Deven Solanki

A

fter a rejuvenating 12 days of rest and
relaxation, I’m back on familiar ground.
Rarotonga provided a break, but cool cars
were notably absent — unless you have a
penchant for mopeds, in which case, the island had
them in abundance! With summer just around the
corner, exciting events are on the horizon. If you
caught Autorama last month, it was undoubtedly
a blast. While some may dub it the ‘New Zealand
SEMA’, we might be a long way from that, but it’s
fantastic to witness a show with a similar model
gaining traction. Let’s hope it continues to thrive
and grow each year. Muscle Car Madness, Repco
Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival 2024, and Repco
Beach Hop 2024 are all gearing up for next year,
so make sure your hot rods and street machines
are primed for these premier NZ events to kickstart
the year.
In this issue, we’ve curated a collection of cars
and events that are bound to leave an impression.
On the cover, and I say this boldly, we present
NZ’s toughest and finest VK Commodore to date.
LSA-powered and adorned with a treasure trove
of gold components, it’s a unique, powerful, and
cool marvel. Don’t overlook the V-Rod bike dressed
in similar components — an unbeatable combo!
The radness doesn’t stop there; we feature Tom’s
striking 632ci fat-block ’67 Chev Chevelle. With its
stance, colour, and interior, this car is set to inspire
countless Chevelle enthusiasts. There’s also a restomod FJ Holden, transformed with the makeup of

nzv8magazine

nzv8magazine

a VS Holden Commodore, marrying a classic body
with classy carbon fibre elements. To wrap up our
feature cars, dive into the wild ’41 Chrysler Royal
Businessman’s Coupe, packing a 354ci Hemi and
some ingenious engineering — a must-read.
Events take centre stage too, with highlights from
Autofest, Custom Street Rides 2023 National Hot
Rod Show, and Kaikoura Hop 2023. Whether you
prefer one flavour or another, our event coverage
has something for everyone. Readers’ Rides and
Club Corner make a return, with fresh rides from
readers and a spotlight on Southside Streeters Inc,
celebrating their 50th — an achievement for any
hot rod club. Amidst this abundance, enjoy insights
from our regular columnists: Straight Talk with Tony
Johnson, Hot Rod Ramblings with Greg Stokes, and
Burnout Files with Hayden Wilby. Plus, catch the
action from Round one of the 2023/24 season for
the NAPA Central Muscle Cars, which kicked off at
the HRC Icebreaker round at Hampton Downs in
September.
That’s all from me. By the time you dive into this
mag, Christmas will be just a few weeks away —
time flies! So, have a fantastic Christmas and an
amazing New Year. Eat plenty and drink more! And
if you’re still pondering a New Year’s resolution,
here’s a suggestion — build a cool V8 and live life in
the fast lane!

nzv8magazine

6

DREAM TEAM Adam P, Biggles Maindonald,
Cam Leggett, Connal Grace, David Whitham,
Glen McNamara, Glynn Henderson, Greg Stokes,
Hayden Wilby, Lance Farrow, Matt Elliott,
Morice McMillin, Rixsta Sammons, Rod Dunn,
Simon Dudding, Todd Wylie, Tony Johnson

NZV8 MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY

EMAIL contact@viamedia.co.nz
MAIL PO Box 82,045, Highland Park, Auckland 2143
BUSINESS DIRECTOR Michael White,
michael.white@viamedia.co.nz

GENERAL MANAGER Simon Holloway,
simon.holloway@viamedia.co.nz

SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Liz Brook
WORKFLOW MANAGER Emily Khov
RETAIL DISTRIBUTION Are Direct 09 979 3018
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS
Via Media uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine,
but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes, misprints, omissions, or
typographical errors. Via Media prints advertisements provided to the
publisher but gives no warranty and makes no representation to the truth,
accuracy, or sufficiency of any description, photograph, or statement. Via
Media accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person
who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph, or
statement contained herein. Via Media reserves the right to refuse any
advertisement for any reason. The views expressed in this magazine are not
necessarily those of Via Media or the editor. All material published, gathered,
or created for NZV8 magazine is copyright 2023 Via Media Limited. All rights
reserved in all media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any
form without the express written permission of the publisher.

Just like the ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air, every classic car is a true individual. Which is why we design insurance
that’s anything but cookie cutter. If you have a vehicle that helps you escape the ordinary,
talk to us about insurance that’s customised for you.

Star Insure Enthusiast. It’s the insurance your car would choose.

0800 250 600

starinsure.co.nz

news
CHECK NZV8.CO.NZ FOR REGULAR NEWS UPDATES

LAND CRUISER
UNLEASHED
Y

ep, you got it right from the headline. The US
wing of Toyota has gone all out for this year’s
SEMA Show, dropping a NASCAR V8 into the
chassis of a 1966 FJ45 Land Cruiser.
They have named it the ‘FJ Bruiser’, a fitting
moniker for a concept designed to mark the return
of the Land Cruiser nameplate to the US market. It
embodies the rugged spirit of off-road adventures.
Toyota Racing Development took on the
challenge with a clear directive: build a vehicle that
not only roars loudly but can also conquer any
rocky terrain. To meet this goal, the team swapped
out the stock six-cylinder for a 5.9-litre V8 sourced
from a NASCAR Cup car, packing a powerful
punch at 541kW. The new heart demands
a substantial amount of air, prompting
Toyota to install an enormous intake
that rivals those found in most drag
cars.
Connected to the engine is a threespeed automatic race transmission
from Rancho Drivetrain Engineering
and an Advanced Adapter Atlas transfer
case. This setup allows the truck to crawl
at a low-range speed of 20km/h while
revving at 7000 rpm. On the flip side, in high

8

range and top gear, the pickup can hit speeds of
up to 266km/h.
Beneath the body, Currie differentials front and
back transfer power to 42-inch BF Goodrich tyres
on all four corners. At full bump travel, the wheels
sit approximately halfway up the windscreen line.
Should the driver encounter a high-centred
situation, a clever tank track attached to the
central skid plate can be deployed to safely move
the vehicle off any obstacle.
Inside, the 40 Series boasts Momo Daytona
Evo bucket seats matching the exterior colour
scheme and a 1968 Jackie Stewart championship
steering wheel.
Mike Tripp, group vice president of Toyota
marketing, describes the build as “iconic, one-ofa-kind, and, let’s face it, totally radical looking”.
He adds, “It’s a reminder of what a Land Cruiser
has always been — a vehicle built to take you as
far as your imagination will allow.”
You can catch a glimpse of this highly modified
1966 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ45) ‘FJ Bruiser’, at
Toyota’s booth during the 2023 SEMA Show in
Las Vegas.

Events GUIDE
EMAIL YOUR INFO TO: EDITOR@NZV8.CO.NZ

north ISLAND

6 January, 8am

Jalopy Dust Up
Waihi beach

19 – 21 January 2024

Kumeu Classic Car
& Hot Rod Festival

Kumeu Showgrounds, West
Auckland
Kumeu is confirmed for 2024! Trade and
swap site bookings can be made online,
as can entry for the vintage caravan park.
Expressions of interest are also being taken
for the prestigious indoor car show shed
— give Ken Galvin a call on 09 412 6318, or
email desma.g@xtra.co.nz. For more details:
www.kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz.

The Jalopy Dust Up ’24 will be held at the Waihi
Beach Dirt Track on Saturday, 6 January 2024, so
make sure to mark it on your calendars. Racing
starts at 10am. $10 adults, and kids free. Pre-’65 cars,
traditional hot rods, vintage stock cars and midgets,
vendors, car show, rockabilly music, on-site bar — no
BYO. For more information kot@xtra.co.nz.

25 – 28 January

Cruise Martinborough
Martinborough

Registrations for Cruise Martinborough are open
now, and there are just 100 spots left! The four-day
festival is a hot rod, classic, and muscle car event
showcasing vehicles from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and
prior. It features cruises, shows (Saturday display
is back at the Square), drive-in movie, flag drop
drags, music, socials, Miss Cruise Martinbororough
pageant, and more. Saturday-only passes are
available on the website. Spectators are welcome.
Go to: cruisemartinborough.co.nz.

6 February, 3pm

Wheels Inc Twilight Run
Hooton Reserve, Albany

Editor’s PICK

south ISLAND

We’ve locked in some sunshine, and we want you
to roll on down to Hooton Reserve in Albany. Be
there by 3pm sharp for a kick-off to a countryside
cruise that’s going to rev up your day! And fear not,
we’ve got you covered with coffee, scrumptious

30 December, 2023
Saturday 10am to 3pm

Rods at Methven
24 – 28 January 2024

Muscle Car Madness

Rangiora A&P Showgrounds,
Ashley St, Rangiora
The South Island’s biggest event is back, and
needs no introduction. Muscle Car Madness
always lives up to its name, with plenty to
see and do, including night cruises, retro
rockabilly pageant, burnouts, and much more.
Open to all muscle cars, classics, hot rods,
rat rods, bikes, trikes, and appropriate trade
and vendor stalls, with live rock music all
weekend. Camping available from 24 January,
gates open 6pm for campers. For further
details: www.musclecarmadness.co.nz.

Editor’s PICK

Methven Town Centre
Rods at Methven, the bi-annual hot rod,
classic car, and motorbike show, based
around the Blue Pub. Adults $5, under 12 free.
Proceeds to the local Methven Community.

24 January 2024

Cromwell Classic Car
& Hot Rod Festival
Cromwell Recreation Ground,
Alpha Street, Cromwell
The Cromwell Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival
is on again and is one of the biggest shows at
this end of the country. The show is hosted by
Southland Ford Falcon Club and is always a
good day out. Either go for a look on Saturday
from 11am – 4pm, or head along Friday and
join the Friday night cruise which is a good
laugh as all the locals line the streets to watch
plenty of fossil fuels being burnt up. Entry is $5
for public admission, with under-12 free. More
info: cromwellcarshownz@gmail.com.

10

food, and refreshing drinks right at the event. It’s
not just a cruise, it’s a whole experience waiting
for you. For more information reach out to Dave
Potter at wheelsincnz@gmail.com.

21 – 24 February

Americarna

Starts New Plymouth CBD,
Opunake, Waitara, Inglewood,
Stratford, and Hawera
A celebration of American cars in the ’Naki —
what’s not to love? Americarna first rumbled its
way around the region’s highways in 2007 and
the event has continued to grow ever since. It
attracts hundreds of showroom-quality classic
American cars and thousands of tourists to the
region and is a hit with locals too.

3 March

Mopars In Morrinsville
Morrinsville Rec Grounds,
Avenue Road South
Rev your engines for Mopars In Morrinsville! Mark
your calendars for 3 March 2024, and head to
the Morrinsville Rec Grounds on Avenue Road
South. Get ready for Miss Rockabilly, thrilling
raffles, bustling trade stalls, exciting spot prizes, a
soundtrack to keep you grooving, and a feast of
yummy food, coffee, and ice creams.
No need to sign up in advance; just roll in and join
the excitement. Entry is a pocket-friendly $2 per
person. It’s guaranteed to be a blast for everyone!
Contact Dion D’Anvers on 021 033 8371.

8 – 10 March

Twizel Show N Shine
Twizel Club, Ohau Road, Twizel
Twizel’s charming community has its annual
show and shine. The car show is back, and it’s
shaping up to be something special with plenty
of action throughout the weekend. Friday night
features a cruise around town, followed by the
Show N Shine on Saturday, and the Poker Run
on Sunday. Any unique vehicle, truck, racecar, or
bike is welcome, with prizes for best in category.
The entry fee is $10 per car, payable on the day.
More information is available at www.facebook.
com/twizelshowandshine.

14 – 17 March

Caroline Bay Rock & Hop 2024
Caroline Bay, Timaru
Registrations are open for the fantastic fourday charity festival, which donates all proceeds
to Hospice South Canterbury. Lucky $10,000
ticket draw! Cars from all eras, caravans,
motorcycles, rock ‘n’ roll bands, parties, ‘best
dressed’ competitions, cruises, and hundreds
of stalls. Contact: (03) 687 7670, email
fundrasier@hospicesc.org.nz, or visit www.
carolinebayrockandhop.co.nz.

30
YEARS
OF THE
BEST
IN THE
WEST
W

hether you are a collector or simply share
a passion for the classics, then the Repco
Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival 2024 is
for you.
The Repco Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod
Festival celebrates its 30th birthday with the 2024
show, and they want you there if you’re a collector

or just a fan of the old school. The classic car
and hot rod community comes together over
the course of three days to either take part in
the festival’s celebration of classic cars and
hot rods, or to simply catch up with friends
while listening to the rumbling of the cars and
potentially adding one or two to their wish list.
The festival, which is proudly owned
and operated by Kiwis, promises to be an
extravaganza you’ll look forward to attending
every year. More than 1000 classic cars and hot
rods will be onsite, along with over 100 trade
sites offering specialty tools, car parts, project
help, memorabilia, retro clothing, antiques, and
classic car importers. In addition there will be
more than 350 swap sites, and a retro caravan
display sponsored by Very Vintage Day Out and
Caravans and Classics.
Other attractions include slot cars, the Very
Vintage Mini Market, onsite camping, retro beauty
pageants sponsored by the Very Vintage Day Out,
drag car start-ups, kid’s hot rod racing sponsored
by Auto Magic, and a huge variety of food
vendors, live music, and many other activities.
Repco has stepped up to the plate to sponsor
the event, and the organisers say it would not
be possible without Repco’s support. Our 2024
Festival is proudly sponsored by Repco! We were
also joined by our sponsors Jack Daniels, Battery
Town, Petrolhead, Shock Shop, and Classic Cover
Insurance. The organisers are keen to see visitors
showing their appreciation for them if they want
to see this event and New Zealand’s car culture
continuing to thrive.
The Repco Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Rod
Festival 2024 will be held on 19—21 January
2024. Tickets will be sold at the gates. For more
information, see kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz.

1986 VK HOLDEN COMMODORE

of Peter Brock throwing the VK Group A Commodores
around the race tracks, and from then on he knew he
wanted one of his own. He had a lifelong car obsession,
actually owning a couple of VKs in his younger years, but
he wasn’t in a position to do them justice at the time, and
each were sold off before they could get transformed to
his liking.
A couple of years ago now, he decided that the time was
right to go balls in and build the best Blue Meanie NZ has
seen… looking at the finished product, we’d say that goal
has been well and truly accomplished.

iwis sure do love building the same cars over and
over. There’s only so many — insert generic belly
button car of your choice here — cars that you
can look at before your eyes glaze over. But then
along comes the likes of Shane Poulton to turn
an old favourite on its head. Shane likes to march
to the beat of his own drum, and do things his way, and
his VK Blue Meanie tribute is a perfect example of that
approach to life. Stuff what anyone else thinks, what it
costs, or how long it takes, the man wants what he wants.
As a child of the 1980s, he grew up watching the likes

12

Like all good projects, there was a bit of a hunt for the
right starting point, but Shane soon had his hands on
an ‘86 VK with fairly solid panels, and more importantly,
straight plastic bumpers and side trims. Even though
the car came with good running gear, it wasn’t of any
interest to him, as he had far greater plans than keeping
what it came with. In fact, part of the reason why Shane
knew the time was right to build the car was that he,
like many other performance fans, had worked out the
potential of GM’s LSA engine. The 6.2-litre supercharged

packages are the ultimate of all factory-fitted LS engines.
Available in the Camaro ZL1 and the HSV Gen-F GTS,
the motors are rated at 430kW — or 577hp if ponies
are your preferred form of measurement — right off
the showroom floor. Better still, with a few simple
tweaks, they can soon offer a whole bunch more, so
after picking one up brand new from Giltrap Holden, he
dropped it straight to Jason at Prescott Engines with the
instructions not to give it back till it made over 800hp.
It’s not often a brand-new engine gets pulled apart, but

14

SPEC
1986 VK HOLDEN COMMODORE

ENGINE: 6.2-litre Chev LSA, Aeroflow front hump
oil pan, COMP Cams LSR roots blower cam .624-inch
lift, 247/251 duration at .050-inch lift, Rollmaster
two row timing set, ARP cam bolts, OEM LSA Eaton
supercharger, composite solid drive coupler, Mace
hub to pulley adaptor, undersized alloy blower pulley,
water to air intercooler, Nitrous Oxide Systems 150hp
nitrous shot, Holley fuel pumps, Holley HydraMat,
Holley fuel pressure regulators, stainless 1¾-inch
Castlemaine conversion headers, twin 3-inch mild
steel exhaust, Flowmaster 40 mufflers, custom
radiator, AN20 fittings, GM Performance ECU
DRIVELINE: Tremec T56 6-speed gearbox, Mantic
LS twin plate clutch, Ford 9-inch diff, Strange axles,
custom 2-piece driveshaft

SUSPENSION: Bilstein adjustable coilovers,
Nolathane bushes

BRAKES: Wilwood master cylinder, Wilwood 6-pot
front calipers, 355mm front rotors, 4-pot rear rotors,
320mm rear rotors

WHEELS/TYRES: Gold plated 20x8.5-inch and
20x10-inch Simmons FR wheels, 225/35R20 and
255/30R20 Falken tyres

EXTERIOR: Custom Blue Pearl paint, Group A
body kit

INTERIOR: Recaro seats, Momo HDT steering
wheel, VF R8 shifter, MoTeC dash, custom roll cage

PERFORMANCE: 850hp at the wheels

soon the camshaft was pulled out and a COMP Cams
replacement was fitted. The new one has specs that
read .624-inch lift, 247/251 duration at .050-inch lift.
A Rollmaster two row timing chain was added along
with ARP fasteners to make sure it all held together,
somewhat important given Shane’s reputation for being
hard on his gear. The only other major change required
was to up the boost by changing to a smaller blower
pulley.
With these mods made, the engine was ready to be
dropped into the freshly smoothed and painted engine
bay along with everything else to make it run. Although
the cooling system may look simple, it took a bit of
figuring out, and now consists of the biggest radiator
that could be fitted between the chassis rails along with
a bunch of AN20 hoses and fittings. Part of the need for
this is that the factory water to air intercooler also relies
on the cooling capability of the radiator.
Although plenty of work has gone into making
the engine bay appear minimalist, there’s a glaring
exception that could quite easily have been hidden if
desired; the NOS solenoids. Yep, as if a worked LSA
wasn’t enough on its own, Shane’s gone a step further
by giving it another 150hp care of the big blue bottle…
Of course doing so means the fuel system needed
to be configured to match, which in this instance
means no less than two Holley fuel pumps along with
two regulators. Fuel itself is stored in a custom drop
tank fitted with a Holley HydraMat system to ensure
starvation is never an issue. On the flip side, the brains
of the operation is surprisingly simple, a stick— albeit
retuned GM ECU.

IT... NOW CONSISTS OF
THE BIGGEST RADIATOR
THAT COULD BE FITTED
BETWEEN THE CHASSIS

16

Every Classic Cover customer is in the draw
to win our 1962 Ford Galaxie Sunliner!

VEHICLE INSURANCE TAILOR-MADE
FOR ENTHUSIASTS, BY ENTHUSIASTS.

0800 456 254
classiccover.co.nz
*Terms & Conditions apply. Visit classiccover.co.nz to find out more.

THE WHEELS
ARE WITHOUT
DOUBT A
DEFINING
FEATURE OF
THE CAR... THE
ONLY SET LIKE
IT IN NZ

The exhaust wasn’t quite as simple, although the
Castlemaine Rod Shop conversion headers did make
it easier than it could have been. From the 1¾-inch
headers, the system feeds into a pair of 3-inch pipes
and Flowmaster 40 mufflers with a crossover pipe in
the middle. Rather than try to get the pipes over the
Ford 9-inch diff, he dumped the pipes just in front —
that’s lucky as given the car’s low ride height getting
the pipes through wasn’t going to be an easy task. The
diff itself has been built by The Krysler Shop and not
only does it run Strange axles but also a limited slip
head as well to ensure both wheels keep on spinning.
It was mounted to the Commodore’s stock rear arms
but brought a whole lot closer to the body thanks
to Bilstein coilovers. Likewise, the stock front struts
have been adapted to incorporate Bilstein coilover

18

assemblies. Shane is very complimentary of those who
have helped out with the various pieces of fabrication
on the car, including Genesis Performance and BNR
Fabrication who he says worked hand in hand to nail
the look he was after.
Part of that look included running Simmons FR
wheels, but rather than the off-the-shelf gold painted
variety, he went a whole lot further. The 24-carat
gold plating of the centers for the 20x8.5-inch and
20x10-inch rollers was undertaken by Astor Refinishers
in Sydney. That effort was well worthwhile though as
the wheels are without doubt a defining feature of
the car, and understandably the only set like it in NZ.
While the 225/35R20 Falken front rubber is in it for the
long run, Shane’s got his tyre dealer on speed dial for
replacement sets of 255/30R20 rears.

KING V

Clearly Shane’s just as passionate about his
two-wheeled creations as he is his fourwheeled ones. His 2015 Harley Davidson
Night Rod Special is a great example of this.
Built in a similar style to the VK, the bike also
features wheels that have been 24-carat gold
plated. Of course, like the VK, the wheels are
somewhat larger than what the bike left the
factory with, now being 23-inches up front
and 18-inches on the rear. That rear tyre
comes in at an impressive 300mm wide too.
To get the right stance, Shane had Chasen
Cycles fit a DGD Customs 6-inch rake kit and
McCully’s swingarm. While at it, they also fitted
a bunch of other DGD components including
handlebars, a smooth rear fender, extended
front fender, and seat. On the performance
front, it’s got a DGD airbox along with Vance
& Hines pipes and a DGD Customs rear pulley.
And yep, it’s on air ride too, allowing the bike
to handle as it should, but be dropped down
for the ultimate look when parked up. With the
candy blue paint, gold wheels, and the number
plate, there’s no denying it’s a matching pair
with the VK. The ultimate car and the ultimate
bike to match!

When destroying those tyres, which seems to be a
reasonably common occurrence, Shane does so using
a Tremec T56 6-speed box. Atop the long suffering
box is a VF R8 shifter that works in conjunction with a
Mantic twin plate clutch. The VF shifter is very subtle
amongst the well-appointed interior. Every Blue Meanie
owner wants a factory-looking blue trim, but Shane has
taken that a step further by having Super Trim recover
a set of Recaro seats in the coveted fabric. The rear
seat has been not only recovered but also reshaped to
fit around the car’s mini tubs and the custom roll cage
that conveniently was in the car when he purchased it.
Throughout the car, and most notably in the boot, Rapid
Radio have worked their magic to fit a stereo that could
be heard over the engine. Although at a glance the
dash may appear stock, a closer look reveals a MoTeC
digital dash. Not only was fitting it a whole lot easier
to use than to try to get the late model motor to talk
to old analogue gauges, it looks a shitload cooler too
when switched on. On the other side of the firewall is
a Wilwood master cylinder that helps to operate some

of the biggest brakes we’ve ever seen fitted to a VK. Up
front a set of six-piston Wilwood calipers clamp 355mm
rotors, while on the back, four-piston items from the
same manufacturer work with 320mm rotors.
The team at Real Rides were called upon to finesse
the panel and paint work, and they’ve lived up to their
reputation of doing nothing but the best. And that ties
into Shane’s whole philosophy for the build; nothing
but the best would do. He’s quick to admit that he
wanted the car to be Aussie styled, and we’d say he’s
well and truly nailed that — in the process he’s raised
the bar for not only Blue Meanie replicas but also VKs in
general. The car has been tuned to produce 850hp at
the wheels, and given that it’s not exactly heavy, from all
accounts it’s a wild ride, partly due to Shane’s willingness
to use as much of the power as possible. So, although
the result of the two-year build is indeed another Blue
Meanie, it’s more Blue Meanie inspired rather than a
replica of the original, as there sure as hell aren’t any
others around like this! He wanted the ultimate, and he
got it.

DRIVER
SHANE POULTON
AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: Self employed
PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS:
Mazda R100, Mazda RX-3, A9X Torana,
GMC pick-up, 1969 Camaro, VL Calais,
Maloo, R8 ClubSport, Senator SS,
Mercedes C63s, Mercedes E63s Audi,
R8, Mercedes G63

DREAM CAR: Lambo
WHY THE VK? I grew up in the
Brock era and always wanted one. I’ve
built two before but never finished
them

BUILD TIME: Two years
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP:
Two years

SHANE THANKS: Prescott Engines,
Real Rides, Super Trim, Rapid Radio,
Genesis Performance, Protune, Glen
Suckling, BNR Fabrication, Chasen
Cycles, DGD Customs

20

From small
extreme cusunique details to
tom rebuild
s...

We do it all!

RUS T R E PA IR S
PA N E L & PA IN T
F U L L R E B UIL D S
D
C O M P L IA N C E A N
LV V R E PA IR S
FOR SALE!

lridesltd
a
e
r
2
1
1
0
09 947
verdale
27 Foundry Rd, Sil

2023 NATIONAL HOT ROD SHOW

CK TO S
E BA
R
HI
A
OM
S IN T
CUST T I E R C A R
&
D
N T RO
F TOP
EGMOINE-UP O S
T
U
B
IDE
US, K I L L E R L
HIAT
EET R
LD
W
YEAR D WITH A STOM STR OD SHO S MAINDONA
2
1
E
E
R
A
L
U
K
T
G
N
C
C
’S
EE
HO
/ BIG
PA
IT’S B A SHOW
YEAR ATIONAL TA SAMMONS
S
N
N
IX
R
3
O
:
2
S
T
TO
20
PU
S PHO
MON
A SAM
: RIXST
S
D
R
WO

22

ou might remember 2011 as the last time this
show graced your radar. Although there have
been other national hot rod shows, such as the
2019 event in Christchurch, this one remained
in hibernation. Grant Stables, the mastermind
pulling the strings behind the scenes, would tell
you that orchestrating an event of this magnitude is no
small task; it demands an incredible amount of time,
effort, and stress. However, the show’s hiatus in 2011 was
never meant to be its final chapter. The folks at Egmont

Rod & Custom held grand aspirations to resurrect it in
2021. But fate had a different script in mind. Just seven
weeks before the scheduled event, the entire nation
was thrust into the grips of lockdown — a period etched
into our collective memory. It cast a long shadow over
countless events, including this one. Nevertheless, with
those challenging times firmly in the rear-view mirror,
2023 arrived, ushering in the long-awaited Custom
Street Rides 2023 National Hot Rod Show. And let me
assure you, it was a show like no other!

Returning to the same venue it graced almost 12
years ago, the TSB Hub complex in Hāwera, the show
defied expectations. Hāwera, nestled in South Taranaki,
isn’t typically a bustling hub; it’s often merely a town
one breezes through en route to New Plymouth. But on
the weekend of the show, this town burst into vibrant
life, resonating with the roar and rumble of hot rods,
street machines, and custom car enthusiasts. Friday
night witnessed the grand assembly of all 60 cars and
one chopper motorbike that would grace the show. The
event itself kicked off on Saturday at 9am. Fortuitously,
it was an indoor event, a wise choice considering
Saturday’s weather was typical of New
Zealand’s spring — showers with a chance
of more showers. Yet the inclement
weather did little to deter the

24

throngs of people who flocked through the doors to
witness the show. For the meagre sum of $10, attendees
gained entry to a showcase of some of New Zealand’s
most remarkable cars, a true bargain for enthusiasts.
Custom Street Rides, the naming rights sponsor, is
a local Taranaki-based shop renowned for crafting
vehicles that embody the essence of ‘Custom Street
Rides’. They are a well-known custom and fabrication
shop that not only caters to Taranaki locals but also
extends their expertise to Kiwis across the country.
Custom Street Rides set up a modest display at
the show, featuring two of their latest builds: Allister
Simson’s ‘68 Chevrolet C10 and Colin and Shelley
Pope’s ‘51 Chev 3100 pickup. The display also included
a chassis housing a twin-turbo LS engine, showcasing
their impressive craftsmanship and skills.

Tri-Fives like this ‘56 Chev 210 Hardtop owned by Dale and Peter Coster have always been crowd pleasers, and it’s not hard to
see why. The electrifying green and cream two-tone paint job, which flows seamlessly from the exterior to the interior, is an
attention-grabber in itself. What truly enhances this car, and contributes to its recent victory as 1st place Post ‘48 Street Machine
Sedan, is the stunning interior and the abundance of chrome. Under the hood, you’ll find a 350ci Chev Performance engine
paired with a dual quad carburetor set-up, delivering impressive performance. Power is sent to the wheels through a GM 4L60
transmission and a Ford 9-inch rear end. To ensure it stops as well as it goes, this beauty has been equipped with a set of CPP big
brakes on all corners. Inside, the interior is tastefully done with a clean and colour-coordinated design. The Vintage Air package
adds comfort, making this ‘56 Chev 210 Hardtop the ideal cruiser for those who appreciate classic style and modern amenities

CLEVER, ALMOST
REVOLUTIONARY,
INNOVATION,
BUT WE’LL
DELVE INTO THE
DETAILS LATER

Another noteworthy exhibitor was LVVTA, led by the
esteemed Tony Johnson and his team. They brought
along a Cadillac that demonstrated a rather innovative
piece of seatbelt engineering. This system replaced the
conventional lap belts found in older classic cars with a
stylised over-the-shoulder diagonal seat belt set-up. It
was a clever, almost revolutionary, innovation, but we’ll
delve into the details later in a full tech article on how
it works. As visitors wandered through the show, they
encountered community members from Stratford Park,
a planned motorsport park poised to become one of
New Zealand’s leading motorsport facilities once fully
realised. They were brimming with ideas and plans,

eagerly engaging with the event’s attendees and fielding
numerous questions. The hallways of the event centre
buzzed with activity, featuring a range of local displays.
There was a vast collection of Hot Wheels and diecast
models offering visitors the chance to snag some great
deals on their favourite miniature cars. AlloyGator
Wheel and Tyre Protection showcased their products
while other event trade exhibitors showed examples
of vapour-blasted components and centre consoles
equipped with cup holders, perfect for classic cars
lacking this feature from the factory.
There truly was something for everyone, and the coffee
and food options were in no short supply either!

There’s something truly captivating about well-executed paintwork, but when someone goes the
extra mile, infusing early ‘50s custom styling, it demands a closer look. That’s precisely what Ross
and Heather Chisnall achieved with their ‘36 Ford Deluxe coupe. This remarkable vehicle boasts
over 20 coats of paint, showcasing a unique pattern in PPG Blue Pearl/Bright Sapphire. The frosting
and lacework harken back to the ‘50s style with a modern twist, and it’s fantastic to witness this
nostalgic design making a comeback in today’s custom street rods. It’s no surprise that this
beauty earned the title of 2nd Best Paint. However, there’s more to this old girl than meets the
eye. Beyond the stunning paintwork, it’s been meticulously customised. The coupe has been
channelled, features a filled cowl vent and trunk, and boasts handmade rear guards, a custom
grill and insert, and custom front guards. Powering this masterpiece is a 355ci small block Chev
engine paired with a TH350 transmission. The ‘36 Ford Deluxe coupe exudes style, and it’s truly
gratifying to see people admiring the craftsmanship that went into creating such a remarkable car

26

High Performance Car Care

FOR THOSE REALLY
“BIG” POLISHING
JOBS!

Steve and Sue Keys TEXACO TANKER.
Proudly detailed by MOTHERS

Although the rain persisted for most of the day,
limiting the opportunity for enthusiasts to bring their
cars for an outdoor park-up, Sunday’s forecast offered
hope for better weather. As Saturday came to a late
close, with the doors remaining open until 8pm, a
substantial crowd flocked through the entrance to
admire the show.
Sunday, the show’s final day, brought a slight
improvement in the weather forecast. It wasn’t cause
for celebration, as it remained cold, but at least it stayed
dry. This gave some car owners the chance to pull their
prized vehicles out of the garage and cruise to the hot
rod show.
Being an officially sanctioned event by NZHRA (New
Zealand Hot Rod Association), the show had a dedicated
corner where association members were on hand to
answer questions, sell merchandise, and where a team
of judges meticulously evaluated the hard work and
efforts invested by car builders. Prizes were up for grabs
in various categories.
However, let’s be honest, it was the cars themselves
that stole the spotlight, which is precisely what most
attendees came to witness. While I could ramble on for

Matte black, quad turbos, and a flathead! Grant Potter’s ‘34 Ford Coupe is a perfect blend of traditional hot
rodding and an absolute street machine beast. The stance on this machine takes things to a whole new level.
It’s equipped with a Toyota Supra MA70 drivetrain, featuring custom inboard-mounted coilovers both front
and rear, and custom front lower A-arms. The engineering behind it is nothing short of genius. Pair that with a
set of big and small offset steelies, and you’ve got a stance that not only looks incredibly mean but also delivers
exceptional performance. Now, let’s talk about that Flathead V8 and quad turbo set-up; it’s a marvel in its own
right. The engine is an 8BA Flathead V8, and it’s strapped with four CT12 turbos from a 1G-GTE, along with
wastegates from a Toyota. The list of parts used to make this set-up work is longer than the receipts you get
from a $300 grocery shopping trip these days. What we can confirm is that it’s a brilliant fusion of parts from
the ‘49–’53 era, expertly integrated into a custom-built chassis with a ‘34 coupe body wrapped around it. It
combines ‘90s JDM technology with modern-day software management. If this isn’t the epitome of hot
rodding, we don’t know what is. There’s no denying it; this machine is the definition of cool!

28

pages detailing every car on display, it would consume
the entire magazine’s space. You must understand that
each of the 34 cars at this event stand in a league of
their own. They boast incredible custom engineering,
striking paintwork and graphics, chrome embellishments
galore, coupled with some of the most exquisite
interiors you’ll ever lay your eyes on. Add to that the
wheel and stance set-ups that make you step back and
exclaim, “Wow!” A significant amount of credit goes
to the Egmont Rod and Custom Club, along with their
supportive sponsors, for the effort put into this show.
From the diverse car line-up to the venue, trade stalls,
community involvement, prizes, and all the behindthe-scenes work that goes into an event like this, they
orchestrated a stellar hot rod show. Let’s hope we don’t
have to wait another 13 years for the next one. For a
mere $10 and a jaw-dropping line-up such as the one
we just witnessed, make sure to mark your calendars for
the next edition.

Here’s one that may ring a bell from our past features: Elaine and Errol Uttinger’s ‘47 Ford
Coupe, which graced the pages of Issue No. 169. It’s always a pleasure to reconnect with
our featured cars, and this one left an indelible mark, standing the test of time. Not only
have both the car and its owners aged gracefully but also the styling remains undeniably
gorgeous. This beauty earned the well-deserved 1st prize for Best Custom Rod Coupe,
and it’s easy to see why. The show board proudly proclaims, “All Steel Complete Custom
Built Car”, and every word of that statement holds true. The talented crew at Iron Rides
in Te Puke and Shannon went above and beyond with the bodywork, and the final touch,
a stunning House of Kolor Weka Brown paint job, was masterfully applied by Impact
Painters in Tauranga. When it comes to the interior, perfectionists at Action Canvas
took charge, delivering upholstery wrapped in rich, high-quality leather. Powering this
masterpiece is a blueprinted 305ci TPI Chev, coupled with a 700R transmission and a Jag
rear end. This car is undoubtedly a well-deserved winner in every aspect and it’s worth
mentioning it also took home the supreme award, which is Best of Show

30

EXCLUSIVE
OFFERS

GIFT CARDS

FREE
PRODUCTS

ADRENALINE–FUELLED
EXPERIENCES

EARN

REDEEM

SAVE

POINTS

PRODUCTS
EXPERIENCES
GIFT CARDS

MEMBER
OFFERS

EARN POINTS. GET REWARDED.

PRIZE WINNERS
PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST MODIFIED STOCK ROADSTER
1ST PLACE:

Paul Tofts 1930 Ford Model A

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST MODIFIED STOCK COUPE
1ST PLACE: John Rae 1933 Ford 3 Window Coupe
2ND PLACE: Bob Anderson 1946 Ford Deluxe Coupe
3RD PLACE: Kevin Smith 1936 Ford 3 Window Coupe

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST MODIFIED STOCK SEDAN
1ST PLACE: Daryl Gates 1932 Ford Tudor
2ND PLACE: Warren Montgomery 1926 Chrysler Sedan
3RD PLACE: Steven & Kirsten Gooch 1928 Plymouth Sedan

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST MODIFIED STOCK PICK UP
1ST PLACE: Craig Houston 1947 Ford Jail Bar Pickup
2ND PLACE: Jamie Bell 1947 Ford Jail Bar Pickup

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST CUSTOM HOT ROD ROADSTER
1ST PLACE: Grant Hilton 1932 Ford Cabriolet
2ND PLACE: Lloyd Wilson 1932 Ford Roadster
3RD PLACE: Mark Homan 1941 Willys Roadster

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST CUSTOM HOT ROD COUPE
1ST PLACE: Elaine Uttinger 1947 Ford Coupe
2ND PLACE: Robin Parker 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe
3RD PLACE: Ross Chisnall 1936 Ford Coupe

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST CUSTOM HOT ROD SEDAN
1ST PLACE: Bruce Carter 1933 Ford Tudor
2ND PLACE: Tony Vittle 1932 Ford Vicky

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST BUCKET

There’s one award that always sparks
curiosity and that’s the People’s Choice
Award. Although judges meticulously
examine the craftsmanship of a build, it’s
ultimately the initial reaction of the people,
that instant “wow, that’s cool!” factor,
that holds a special place. This year, the
prestigious People’s Choice Award went to
Paul Gibson for his chopped Barra turbopowered Ford Anglia, affectionately named
Batitude. Paul boasts an impressive track
record of building show-worthy cars over
the years, but he proudly claims that Batitude
is his best creation to date. Interestingly,
he humorously suggests it should have
been named Christine, given the myriad of
challenges he faced during its construction —
and upon closer inspection of this remarkable
car, it’s easy to see why. Every inch of
Batitude has been meticulously tweaked
and customised, resulting in a true work of
automotive art

1ST PLACE:

Stefan Topless 1923 Ford T-Bucket

PRE ‘49 HOT ROD BEST COMMERCIAL
1ST PLACE:

Robin Adams 1930 Ford Tudor Delivery

POST ‘48 STREET MACHINE BEST STOCK
1ST PLACE: Rod & Kaye Allen 1957 Chevrolet 2 Door Hardtop
2ND PLACE: Rod & Kaye Allen 1957 Chevrolet Nomad

POST ‘48 STREET MACHINE BEST CLASSIC CONVERTIBLE
1ST PLACE:

Neil Jamieson 1962 Ford Thunderbird

POST ‘48 STREET MACHINE BEST STREET MACHINE SEDAN
1ST PLACE: Peter Coster 1956 Chevrolet 210 4 Door Hardtop
2ND PLACE: Lloyd Darrah 1960 Chevrolet Belair Sedan
3RD PLACE: Daniel Jamieson & Morwenna Hills
1955 Plymouth Plaza

POST ‘48 STREET MACHINE BEST STREET MACHINE COUPE
1ST PLACE: Peter & Delilah Schimanski 1969 Holden Monaro
2ND PLACE: Paul Bailey 1970 Dodge Challenger
3RD PLACE: Maurice Doyle 1957 Chevrolet Belair

POST ‘48 STREET MACHINE BEST CUSTOM
1ST PLACE: Paul Gibson 1967 Ford Anglia 105e
2ND PLACE: Trev Halstead 1951 Studebaker Starlite

POST ‘48 STREET MACHINE BEST COMMERCIAL
1ST PLACE: Colin & Shelley Pope 1951 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup
2ND PLACE: Hamish Hiestand 1968 Chevrolet C10 Truck
3RD PLACE: Graham Espiner 1973 Holden Hq Ute

BEST COMPETITION
1ST PLACE: Wayne Curry Pontiac Funny Car
2ND PLACE: Grant Stables Fiat Topolino-Hombre
3RD PLACE: Peter & Delilah Schimanski 1934 Ford Coupe

BEST UNFINISHED
1ST PLACE: Kerry Morrison 1937 Buick Special Sedan
2ND PLACE: Tracey Ryan 1962 Chevrolet Impala

BEST CHOPPER
1ST PLACE: Keith Gillum 1972 Triumph Chopper

BEST INTERIOR
1ST PLACE: Grant Hilton 1932 Ford Cabriolet
2ND PLACE: Martin Phillips 1957 Ford 63a Victoria
3RD PLACE: Elaine Uttinger 1947 Ford Coupe

BEST PAINT
1ST PLACE: Paul Gibson 1967 Ford Anglia 105e
2ND PLACE: Ross Chisnall 1936 Ford Coupe
3RD PLACE: Kevin Smith 1936 Ford 3 Window Coupe

BEST ENGINEERED
1ST PLACE: John Allen 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe
2ND PLACE: Robin Parker 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe
3RD PLACE: Grant Hilton 1932 Ford Cabriolet

BEST COMPETITION ENGINE
1 ST PLACE: Grant Stables Fiat Topolino-Hombre
2ND PLACE: Peter & Delilah Schimanski 1934 Ford Coupe
3RD PLACE: Wayne Curry Pontiac Funny Car

BEST ENGINE
1ST PLACE: Trev Halstead 1951 Studebaker Starlite
2ND PLACE: Lloyd Wilson 1932 Ford Roadster
3RD PLACE: Paul Gibson 1967 Ford Anglia 105e

PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1ST PLACE: Paul Gibson 1967 Ford Anglia 105e
2ND PLACE: Paul Bailey 1970 Dodge Challenger
3RD PLACE: Trev Halstead 1951 Studebaker Starlite

BEST NOSTALGIA CAR (PRE ‘49)
1ST PLACE:

Neil Mcallum 1930 Ford Model A Coupe

SWEEPSTAKES
1ST PLACE:

32

Elaine Uttinger 1947 Ford Coupe

Industry, Cars & People

to our sponsors
and the exhibitors, car show
entrants and the attending public

Do you want to exhibit at Autorama 2024?
contact: info@sivents.co.nz

1967 CHEV CHEVELLE

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS THE PERFECT FORMULA FOR BUILDING A TOUGH
CAR, BUT WE’D SAY TOM HOCKING HAS GOT PRETTY DAMN CLOSE!
WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: GLEN MCNAMARA

The break-up with the 3100 happened just before
Tom hit the road to check out Repco Beach Hop in 2019.
While there, he got chatting to a mate’s old man, who just
happened to have a ‘67 Chevelle. The more Tom looked
at the car, the more he liked it, and the more questions he
began to ask the owner. Tom tells us, “He told me I should
buy his mate’s ‘67 Chevelle that had just been imported. So
off I went and gave him a call. He had promised another
guy the first look, so I had to wait a few days and give him
a call back. The other guy had never gotten back to him,
so he told me if I wanted it, it was all mine.” The story that
started with despair ended up with him buying the car right
there and then and being on the road right away.

here’s an old saying that if it was easy, everyone
would do it. Although that may be partially true, not
everyone has the vision or desire to build a cool
old car. After all, it takes a bit of dedication and a
whole lot of disregard for sound financial decisions
to dive into the car world, and that’s without the
heartache that happens when things go wrong. Tom
Hocking got the big drama of his build out of the way
right at the beginning though, buying a car that needed
way too much work to get on the road. That unwelcomed
and expensive surprise wasn’t with the car you see here
though, this is more of the rebound car he quickly fell in
love with when his Chev 3100 dream went bad.

34

SPEC
1967 CHEV CHEVELLE
ENGINE: 632ci big block Chev,

BluePrint cast iron block, 4-bolt
mains, 4.60-inch bore, 4.75-inch
forged crank, 6.63-inch forged
H-beam rods, forged pistons, 11.0:1
compression, aluminium heads,
hydraulic roller cam, 2.30-inch intake
valves, 1.88-inch exhaust valves,
Edelbrock Victor Junior intake,
Holley Dominator carburetor, Carter
billet fuel pump, AN-8 fuel lines,
MSD Pro-Billet distributor, 2¼-inch
Lemons headers, 3.5-inch twin
stainless exhaust, AdrenalinR mufflers,
custom Griffin dual pass radiator, twin
Maradyne 16-inch fans, CVF Racing
electric water pump

DRIVELINE: Tremec TKO 5-speed
gearbox, McLeod twin-plate clutch,
9-inch diff

SUSPENSION: RideTech coilovers,
RideTech sway bars, RideTech tubular
arms, 4-link rear

The car was everything it was meant to be, and Tom
was happy for the next few years, just tinkering away on
bits and pieces as he desired. With a 454 up front and
a four-speed at his fingertips, life was good… although
he had a niggling feeling that a five-speed would make
it even better. He knew the right people to make the
change to a TKO five-speed a painless one, and before
long was cruising again, this time with the five-speed,
and for added fun he made a few tweaks to the motor.
Without rebuilding it entirely, or throwing cubic dollars
at it, the most that could be extracted was 400hp, which
left Tom somewhat underwhelmed. When discussing
the idea of adding forced induction to it with Matt from

Pariah Custom Werks, Matt said he knew someone
who would be happy to take the 454 off his hands
if he wanted to replace it entirely. That suggestion
threw a curveball into the mix, as replacing the motor
completely meant he could go for any potential combo
he liked… within reason, of course.
Having scrolled countless pages of the internet,
all recommendations kept coming back to BluePrint
Engines and their catalogue of various big block
offerings. Tom was of the mindset that if you’re buying a
brand-new motor, you may as well go big… he
skipped past another 454, even skipping
past a 572, going all the way to

36

BRAKES: Hydro-Boost booster,
Wilwood Aero 6 pot front callipers,
335mm front rotors, Wilwood 4 pot
rear callipers, 280mm rear rotors
WHEELS/TYRES: 18x9-inch
and 19x10.5-inch BC forged wheels,
245/40R18 and 305/30R19 tyres
EXTERIOR: Custom paint,
removed trim, 4-inch cowl scoop
INTERIOR: Dakota Digital gauges,
Alpine head unit, Alpine speakers

PERFORMANCE: 730hp at the
wheels

the top with a 632ci offering. If you like your engines
measured in measuring cups, that’s some 10.3 litres…
Matt from Pariah was on hand for the installation,
as he should have been, given it was his influence that
started the whole process. But rather than just throw
in the engine and be done, together the pair set about
transforming the car from a grandad-spec cruiser into
something Tom could be truly proud of.
That started with the engine bay being painted
in preparation for what lay ahead. Once the front
chassis rails were painted, the new suspension could
be installed, consisting of RideTech coilovers, tubular
A-arms and sway bars. The rear end received the same,
albeit with adjustable four-link bars to get the diff sitting
just right.
Speaking of which, with the engine being purchased
as having 800hp, Tom wisely chose to upgrade the diff
to a 9-inch from the get-go. Sure, he could have waited
until the 12-bolt destroyed itself, but he wisely chose
to do things right the first time. That meant the diff was
fitted with 4-pot Wilwood callipers along with 280mm
rotors. The front end received a serious upgrade too,
from the factory tiny unboosted discs all the way to
6-pot Wilwoods and 335mm rotors along with a HydroBoost booster system.

THE PAIR SET ABOUT
TRANSFORMING THE
CAR FROM A GRANDADSPEC CRUISER

38

BALL JOINTS

SILICONE HOSES

BODY / SUBFRAME MOUNTS

STRUT MOUNTS

BUMP STOPS

SUSPENSION ARMS

COUPLINGS

SUSPENSION BUSHES

ENGINE MOUNTS

SWAY BAR BUSHES

HARMONIC BALANCERS

SWAY BAR LINKS

IDLER ARMS

TIE ROD ENDS

PITMAN ARMS
SHOCK ABSORBERS

e
p
S

l
a
ci

s
t
is

40

AMONGST ALL OF
THE MECHANICAL
WORK, TOM
DEVISED A PLAN
FOR WHAT HE’D
LIKE TO DO WITH
THE BODY WORK
SIDE OF THE
PROJECT

Somewhere amongst all of the mechanical work,
Tom devised a plan for what he’d like to do with the
body work side of the project. Although the car was
reasonably straight when he bought it, it still had a
vinyl roof and the paint wasn’t quite to his liking either.
Chopper at Choppers Body Shop took on the job of
fixing all that, removing all the trim before having the
body painted in a new custom shade of blue. Although
not all the trim work would go back on, the bits that did
were painted in a custom satin black finish first.
Pariah took on the job of getting the car running
including sorting all the custom fabrication work
required, like constructing the custom 3.5-inch
exhaust system, which was attached to 2¼-inch
Lemons headers. Those headers now attach to the
632’s aluminium heads, heads filled with 2.30-inch
intake valves and 1.88 exhaust valves, along with

upgraded springs thanks to Edgell Automotive. The
block is an all-new cast iron item, filled with a forged
crank, forged H-beam rods, and forged pistons with
an 11.0:1 compression ratio. The top end runs an
Edelbrock Victor Junior intake and a 1250cfm Holley
Dominator carb. Of course in Tom’s efforts to get it
looking just right, he had the engine itself painted and
made sure that all the accessories were black too. The
black accessories include not just the MSD Pro-Billet
distributor and the Meziere electric water pump but
also all the fuel system components such as the AN-8
fittings.
Moving inside the car, Tom replaced the original
gauges with a Dakota Digital cluster. Besides the
addition of a decent Alpine audio system, the rest of the
interior was tidy enough to be left alone though, which
says something given his quest for perfection.

BESIDES,
WHAT’S NOT
TO LOVE ABOUT
A 632-CUBIC
MANUAL
CHEVELLE?

Although he loves the finished car — as he should
— there’s one part of the build he’s less in love with:
the hood scoop. Ideally the car would have a factory
flat hood, but with the tall deck 632 that’s not really
an option as the motor is simply too tall. That is, of
course, unless he changed to a crazy intake set-up
for a low profile EFI intake manifold and some form of
forced induction … but that’s not exactly the simplest

nor cheapest approach. And given how he’s built the
car right the first time, he’s best to leave it alone now
and focus on the new (to him) Chev 3100 he’s recently
bought. Besides, what’s not to love about a 632-cubic
manual Chevelle with modern suspension, steering, and
looks to match? We’d say it’s perfect as it is, something
that not everyone can achieve, even if they’re dedicated
enough to try to do so.

DRIVER
TOM HOCKING
CAR CLUB: Shore V8
Classics

AGE: 35
OCCUPATION:
Flooring industry

PREVIOUSLY
OWNED CARS:
Chevy 3100

DREAM CAR: Chevy
3100

WHY THE
CHEVELLE?: Bought
a 1957 Chevy 3100, but it
was going to be too hard
to comply with, then my
mate’s dad had a friend
selling the ‘67 Chevelle,
and I loved his one.

BUILD TIME: 1 year
LENGTH OF
OWNERSHIP: 4 years
TOM THANKS:
Matt at Pariah Custom
Werks, Tim at Edgell
Performance, Craig
at Mag and Turbo,
Choppers Body Shop

42

HOLDEN VT2 TO VF2
COLD AIR INTAKES

RACE PROVE
N ON THE
NEW

TLX NZV8S!

FROM $550 incl. GST

+ VT2-VF2 OTR COLD AIR INTAKES + 30KW
(Dealers throughout NZ & Australia)
MADE IN NEW ZEALAND

+ VE/VF TRACKSPORT BODYKITS & BONNETS
(Create a VE/VF like no other)

Website: www.xairperformance.co.nz Email: adam@xairperformance.co.nz

Ph: 0800 924 792

EVENT AUTOFEST

THIS YEAR’S AUTOFEST WAS DOWNTIME ENTERTAINMENT’S GREATEST FEAT
IN ITS QUEST TO GIVE THE WHOLE CAR SCENE A SPECTACULAR SHOW
WORDS: CONNAL GRACE PHOTOS: ADAM P

he unmistakable surging, hunting idle of a
supercharged engine carried over to the familiar
parking area outside NAPA Auto Parts Dragway
in Meremere. Before even entering the grounds,
it was the most appropriate introduction to the
weekend ahead. Welcome to AutoFest!
Passing through the gates solidified that. “We’re
turning Meremere Dragway into a village for the
weekend we’ve dubbed Napaville!” claimed an AutoFest
social media post in the lead-up.
The concept isn’t overly difficult to grasp, but it’s one
that organisers Alan and Pare Togia have been working
on and fine-tuning for a while. It’s a place where
entrants and spectators alike can feel at home for a
weekend, regardless of the car scene niche they fit into.
Held at NAPA Auto Parts Dragway in Meremere over

44

the weekend of 14–15 October, entrants could have a
play on track at Hampton Downs on the Friday before
settling into camp at Meremere for the weekend ahead.
So bright and early on the Saturday morning, a queue
of V8s, raucous imports, and tow rigs and trailers lined
up for entry to grounds filled with vendor and trade
displays, all reflective of the event’s focus on creating a
place that allows car lovers to come together and have
fun — whether your idea of that is parking up with the
bonnet up, cruising around with your mates or strangers,
drop-flag drag racing, frying a set of tyres, having a bbq
and quiet beers at a campsite, or just soaking it in and
having a look. And although the cars are the stars, they
aren’t the be-all and end-all, with the Mullet Master
competition and Retro America Miss AutoFest pin-up
pageant also encouraging participation.

A legit ex-Aussie burnout machine bought off Matt
Ellis, Leon Kenny’s TAINTED VZ ute has only retained
the original body panels and middle chassis. Llama
Engineering has designed and fabricated a new rear end
with cantilever arms for airbags in the tray out of harm’s
way.
Up front is an 1100hp dry-sumped and injected
Warspeed 403ci LS built by Troy Worsley in Australia,
based on a Gen IV block, with Higgins CNC heads, and
TBS billet case 8-71.
The ute was only dyno tuned on Thursday, and driven
up from Masterton on Friday for its first ever shakedown
in the burnout qualifying runs. It performed well, with
the Haltech Nexus R5 ECU safety cutting in and killing
the engine once coolant temperatures got too high, but
the potential this thing is packing is very clear — it’s
definitely going to be one to watch as Leon gets familiar
with it.

Sharky [Brent Mako]
“I’ve always wanted a supercharged VK to mimic my other VK,” Sharky
says. “I’ve got a stock SS, so wanted to go hardout with this one.”
He had an LS-powered Mitsi Lancer prior to this, but it wasn’t really what
he wanted, so when this shell came up he spent the last year building it
with Sambo and Luke Edwards.
“I love LSs, I’ve just found them to be reliable. It’s a factory LS1 with a 6-71
blower bought off Arnie Donaldson, and a Big & Ugly injector hat, TH400
trans, and 10-bolt diff. It’s been based all off Aussie stuff after going to
Summernats.”
The Saturday was the first day with the car out, after finishing piecing it all
together at 6pm on the Friday night, and a dyno tune on Thursday — “We
pretty much spent every night of the last three months working on it.”

Braden Smith’s ‘HAUNT
U’ VF wagon has become
something of an icon in the
NZ burnout scene, but it’s
been on a bit of a hiatus
the past few years after
destroying the old big block
combo.
“The only thing left out of
the old motor is the front
drive mag and fuel pump
drive.”
It’s now packing an AFRheaded Dart block, with
Callies crank for a 509ci
displacement, built by
legend Rob Penman. The top
end features a Fisher intake,
Littlefield 14-71 blower, and
DMPE carbon injector hat.
“It’s been tuned by Reece
Fish, and John Neilan
was involved with the
mechanical injection.
It’s been a good learning
curve for us doing this for
burnouts. On 28 degrees
timing with 15lb boost, it’s
good for 1325hp but we
can put a lot more into it,”
Braden says. “There’s an
8000rpm chip in the MSD
right now; I left the 10,000
chip at home, but Rob told
me I can run it up to 10,000
— just don’t keep it there.”
The massive tyre fires
Braden experienced on the
pad during his impressive
qualifying effort are all
proof that this package is
the real deal, ready to take
Summernats on in January.

While the shaded pit area slowly filled up with entrant
set-ups, cars loaded with passengers lined up for
scrutineering and cruised around taking it all in — openheadered V8s to buzzing rotaries, the sensory overload
was only just beginning.
Plenty of pit spaces were already thriving, with
vitals being checked and tyres being changed, and
car owners and their mates hanging out and having a
laugh. And because of the event run sheet — busy but
not overloaded — the pit areas were a pretty relaxed
place, with entrants happy to have a yarn to anyone who

wanted to take a closer look or know more about
their car.
That sensory overload mentioned earlier — as the
morning wore on, more and more engines fired up and
got on the move. Down the staging lanes, which also
served as a gourmet show and shine, the grass banks
had begun to fill with spectators who knew what they
wanted to see. Light ’Em Up Lane was open for business!
Cars lined up on the dragstrip’s right-hand lane for
their turn at hosing a set of tyres, without the risk or
pressure of committing to the burnout competition.

THE SENSORY
OVERLOAD
WAS ONLY
JUST
BEGINNING

One of the most attention-grabbing builds in attendance could have
been the little Suzuki Farmworker built by Doug Griffiths.
“They can’t be road registered,” Doug explains. “My brother bought
this one brand new from Fieldays about 10 years ago, but didn’t find it
practical, so it sat in the barn until I bought it off him.”
He started the build with a 13B rotary engine, but got sick of the
rotary tax on parts, and bought a cheap VS Commodore off Fraser
MacRae, which ended up becoming the donor car for the 304ci
engine up front. There’s a TH350 backing it, and a Hilux diff under the
miniature tray.
Up front are Nissan Silvia S13 struts with fabricated uprights and
modified lower arms to suit, and a KP Starlet steering rack. The
floorpan has been channelled to sit the cabin lower over the rails, and
the fabricated transmission is massive, with a large firewall cut out to
accommodate a straight six if Doug ever decides to change the power
plant. And he might — he’s done all the work on this well-presented
little machine, so there’s no questioning his ability to build, or rebuild
it, whatever way takes his fancy.

46

INTERVIEW

own terms. And if there’s a box and it doesn’t fit our
requirements, what can we do? No pad — make
one. Red tape — just cut through it. And if it takes
a year, so be it. We’ve had some doozies over the
years, but for both of us this is what we want to do.
We love what we do.
There’s also the personal cost — stress, emotion,
financial. People probably don’t realise the extent
of it, but you’re still doing it, and if you weren’t,
would anyone else?
[P] I just think we’re stupid sometimes!

FIVE MINUTES WITH PARE AND ALAN

[A] Being part of the Burnout Masters was part
of our long-term vision, and all the things we
have done for the burnout community we always
wanted to give back to the people — we always
thought the people were never getting anything
back for their efforts, and without these people
there’s no show.

We’ve really noticed your volunteer staff all
weekend — these guys work through it all to
make sure things go smoothly for you. That’s
really special, how did you get to that point?

How did you manage to get Burnout Masters on
board? That’s a massive accomplishment.

[A] They do it off their own backs, every time —
rain, hail, pour, they’re here. For us.
People don’t do that without wanting to. If they
didn’t feel that you gave them a reason to do it,
they wouldn’t. What is that reason?
[A] They believe in our vision and what we’re
about. And for us, especially my wife — she gives
a lot to so many people — it just comes back.
What can you say about the vision? You put a
lot into what you do — what does the car scene
mean for you for it to be worthwhile?
[P] Sometimes, I ask myself that, if I’m honest.
We’ve been through hell for it, that’s for sure. But,
I suppose it’s because we can’t imagine ourselves
doing anything else. The vision for AutoFest was
to create this event; we have street machines,
we have muscle cars, and I think at first the vision
was to bring two worlds together… and we tried
it, and we gave it a couple of years, and it didn’t
actually go the way that we wanted it to go. It
was very import-heavy, so we gave it a rest. Then
we moved into Manfeild, and when you start
bringing in burnouts and things like that… it opens
a door, and it’s not always a door that is very well
received.
So you’ve had to work to overcome a stigma?
[P] Yeah, absolutely — we’ve had to put in
burnout pads, extend burnout pads so it’s fit for
what we want it for. We’ve had to do pop-up
events [SummerJam, WinterJam] and I guess the
vision is… all we wanted, really, was something
like this.
You’ve been involved in the scene since you
were young — the peak of the performance
import scene — but you’ve decided to make

something inclusive. You’re really making an
effort to pull different parts of the car scene
together. Why is that?
[P] I was raised around them. I grew up around
V8s and muscle cars, and I always loved them.
But what put me off track was when I met him
[Alan].
[A] I grew up in a small town, a rotor head. We
were just raggedy country kids that would go to
the beach or go to the Mount [Maunganui] and
create ruckus. But you grow up and get more
responsible and it’s about leaving a legacy now.
The scenes have always been one or the other.
There haven’t been a great deal of events
putting in the effort to blend automotive culture
the way you are, and it seems to be working. Is
there something in particular you think you’re
doing to achieve this?
[P] I think it’s our age group now, people our age
now can afford the muscle car or whatever they
thought was out of their reach. And that’s how
this vision came about — I was raised around V8s,
and we both had a mutual respect or love for the
imports, and more so the club scene. And that
was evident when we created AutoFest. We’ve
had so much support from the import scene, but
at that time it was very divided so the two just
couldn’t come together, and it’s funny what a
difference of seven years makes. So, if we were
to create something, even if it needed tweaks or
whatever, this would have been it.
Everyone here has been into it, but it seems
you’re not finished. Where do you see
yourselves taking AutoFest?
[P] We want to take this to a level where we’re
happy with it. We can’t exactly tell you what that
is now because it’s not necessarily trying to be
the biggest event in the country. But the reality
is, you want to grow slowly. You can’t just book a
venue and nobody shows up…
[A] The other thing, for us, we try and just do us
— stay in our lane, do what we want to do on our

[P] This is where we need to make a shout out
to Jenn Ireland. She introduced us to the man of
Burnout Masters, Dominic McCormack, and we’ve
been speaking with him since the beginning of the
year.
That’s a quick turnaround for something this big.
What did you bring to the table for this level of
commitment from them?
[P] We just communicated — just showing what we
do. Dom liked our vision and we liked Dom’s vision,
and we were lucky enough to meet Kev Peisley
through both Jenn and Ricky [Ireland].
So behind the scenes, they’ve opened doors for
you?
[P] They absolutely have
[A] 100 percent. We started off 2016, our first
AutoFest, gave away prize money, and every year
since then the prize money has gone from $2000
in the first year to $11,000. And that’s huge, but it’s
for the people.
You put a lot of that up personally — you don’t run
a lot of sponsorship even though you could. Why
is that?
[P] We’re in control. That’s the big thing. People
think you run events for money, blah blah blah,
but there’s none and you’ve got to try and fight for
the breadcrumbs. It’s not that we do not welcome
sponsors — we do, and we will open up, but we
want genuine ones that truly believe in what we
believe in. So we refuse to spend big money on this
big proposal because when you start doing that
there’s no passion. It’s just dollars and cents, and
at the end of the day we are gonna need it, but we
want it to be organic.
This isn’t some commercial entity.

Jay Maka isn’t a stranger to the pages
of this magazine, but this 1962 Chev
Nova wagon might be.
Considering it looks like a nice
cruiser on Weld wheels, its a proper
quarter-mile weapon with streetlegal credentials.
“It was originally built for
Drag Week in the States,
before it was brought over
to Wellington. Dennis
Beaver then bought it, and
we got it off him,” Jay
explains.
It’s packing a tough
Dart-blocked and
Brodix-headed 414ci small
block, recently tidied up and tuned
by Engine Specialties, and had
previously run a 10.70 quarter mile
under old owner Dennis. To date, Jay
has managed an 11.0 without using
the transbrake, but it’s the fact that
something like this can be driven to
an event like this and back home that
makes it all the more impressive.

COOLING
SYSTEM
MELTDOWNS...
PUNCTUATED
A DISPLAY OF
VIOLENT TIP-INS

Just get your mates or keen passers-by in the car, line
up, and drop a set as many times as you like! Over the
course of the weekend, Light ’Em Up Lane would be
opened periodically, providing ample opportunity for
everyone to fulfil their appetite for skids.
As the familiar smell of tyre smoke worked its way
towards the sky, an on-the-fly scheduling decision
was made to pull everything forward by an hour as a
precaution against the weather.
Some of the burnout competitors had travelled a
great distance to get here, with plenty from the lower
North Island and a good handful up from the South
Island. With Burnout Masters from Australia coming
onboard, and a hefty prize pool including $5000 for
first place, they were taking things seriously. As soon as
the first qualifying round started, we all knew we’d be
getting a show — cooling system meltdowns and wall
taps punctuated a display of violent tip-ins and wheel
work as competitors worked to use every square metre
of pad at their disposal to impress the Burnout Masters
judges and make it through to Sunday’s final.

“I told Reece Fish I wanted a fast car at the drags
that I could tip in at an intersection, and cruise
to town with mates,” Jay Singh explains of the
powerplant in his tough VF GTS. It’s a 427ci Dart
LS with Harrop 2650i supercharger, and the
Rossler transmission out of Reece’s seven-second
’56 Chev.
So far Jay’s run a 9.4-second PB on run-in tune,
and expects to easily crack into the eights on full
power. But despite the numbers, it’s no dedicated
drag car.
“It’s 2200kg. I race it with the full interior — the
seat warmers still work! I’ll take it out for dinner,
have fun in it…”
It started with just bolt-on modifications, running
10s at Night Speed Drag Wars, then he blew the
6L80 transmission doing skids, so bought Reece’s
old Rossler gearbox, but the engine was also due
for a freshen up.
“It really needed a new motor to handle the abuse.
After a couple of shit motors, I ended up with
Reece who built exactly what I wanted. I won’t
have to redo anything, it’s bulletproof.” And
he proved that by setting the rears on fire and
melting the genuine GTSR rear bumper on Light
‘Em Up Lane — it’s a modern muscle car built to
be enjoyed, not an appreciating shed ornament
gathering dust in a shed. There’s a pretty good
chance Jay will be driving it to work on Monday
with rubber up the rear quarters and a melted
bumper still hanging off it.

48

GATES OPEN
8.00AM

ADMISSION $30
UNDER 12 YEARS FREE

TRACK OPENS
10.00AM

Purchase your tickets at: https://napaautopartsdragway.flicket.co.nz/

www.napaautopartsdragway.co.nz

EVERY COMPETITOR COULD
HAVE SAID... THAT THEY GIVE
IT THEIR ALL

Originally the cover car from NZV8 Issue No 100, Brad Vear now owns the incredible pro
street Mustang. He’s no stranger to this type of car, with his tubbed Buick GSX featured in
the magazine many moons ago.
“I was looking for something different, and Todd [Wylie] put me onto this, which was being
sold by John Cooper. I was living in the South Island at the time and flew up to check it out,
and ended up buying it and selling the Buick — I can’t drive both cars at once.”
Mechanically, it’s the same as it was when featured, and features a tube chassis and roll
cage with funny car hoop, supercharged big block Chev, and most impressively, a legit
LVV cert.
“I’ve only taken it to Te Aroha for the Cruise last weekend, where it won Supreme Award,
Organisers’ Choice, and Best Wheels. But John Cooper really deserves all the credit for this
car — all I’ve done is vinyl wrap to change the colour, change the wheels, and adjust the
ride height. I’d never been a Mustang guy, but I’ve wanted something like this my whole
life.” And if this is the car that makes Brad happy, he deserves it — you won’t meet a nicer
guy out there. But, judging by the number of people stopping to take a closer look at this
Mustang, he definitely isn’t alone in appreciating a build like this.

50

Mark Howle
tt doesn’t re
ally flaunt w
has owned so
hat he
me seriously
cool things in ’s got, but he
planet. Tuck
ed away in th
e campsite w his time on this
hardtop, a ge
as his 1972 Fo
nuine GS. Or
rd XA
iginally a 30
4V Clevelan
2 car, he’s ha
d dr
d a 351
he’s owned it. opped in the hole durin
g the 16-odd
And this car
ye
gets used —
from Auckla
he drove it do ars
nd
wn
a trailer of ca to Muscle Car Madness in
mping equipm
January, tow
Island. “It’s no
ing
ent all around
t a real car if
the South
it hasn’t got
a towbar!”

By the time that rolled around the field had been
narrowed to the best, albeit with a few finalists tapping
out due to mechanical issues. Even so, it was clear that
this was going to be a class act. If Saturday’s qualifying
was a feat of driver and vehicle performance, the finals
turned that up to 11 with nothing left on the line as
bragging rights and that prize pool beckoned.
The cloudless sky meant there would be more
cooling system disasters to come, but kept the packed
crowd happy after a year lacking in vitamin D.
When all was said and done, every competitor could
have said hand on heart that they gave it their all, and
whoever’s names were to be called out would be up to
fate and the world-class judging panel.
As the Miss AutoFest pin-up comp wrapped up
under an almost-summer sky — Gizzy Galore took it
out, by the way — a crowd blackened by an afternoon’s
burnouts thronged the main stage eager to know how
that prize pool would be divvied up.
And as we caught up with Alan and Pare afterwards
for a post-event debrief, the NZ Viclas fired up and rode
out. AutoFest 2023 had ended as it began — with a
deafening roar of enthusiasm and burnt gasoline.

WINNERS
BURNOUTS
PRO CLASS — Liz Gracie
V8 CLASS — Arnie Donaldson
ROTARY CLASS — Steve Ellicott
SIX CYLINDER CLASS — Shaun Jury

BEST TIP-IN — Shaun Jury
1ST — Liz Gracie
2ND — Shaun Jury
3RD — Arnie Donaldson
4TH — Bryn Playford
5TH — Miah Tarawhiti

SHOW & SHINE
TOP CUSTOM — Matt Elliott
TOP HOT ROD — Andrew Schooling

Feijoa Boys [Tony Dorman, Naz, Teina Mana]

TOP CLASSIC — Shelley Smith

Tony Dorman is the brains behind a handful of
LS-swapped vehicles in attendance, including
his tidy VK tow wagon and converted Subaru
Impreza, with full VY LS1 and T56 running
gear, including the rear subframe and diff. “It’s
got a two-step and no rev limiter, so I’ve been
taking it to 9000rpm,” Tony laughs, and it still
hasn’t shown any sign of grenading itself.

TOP STREET MACHINE — Brad Vear
TOP CLUB — Lokey Car Club
1ST — Matt Elliott
2ND — Andrew Schooling
3RD — Hayden Kirkwood

Dad [Teina Mana] has an LS3 and TH400 in his
street driven Mk4 Cortina — “Dad is a small
block man, but you spend so much more to be
reliable. The LS is cheaper,” Tony explains.

4TH — Brad Vear

Then there’s Naz’s ‘MR1RAQ’ Supra — the LS1
was pulled out of his 1JZ-swapped VY, then
beefed up with valve springs, lifters, pushrods,
oil pump, and one of Tony’s ‘Feijoa’ profile
turbo cams, pumping 500kW (670hp) on E85
through a TH400 and Holden diff. And it took a
beating all weekend on the pad, never showing
any sign of overheating or drama. These
boys have mastered the art of the LS, with
Tony claiming they’re inspired by ‘LYNCHY’
the Aussie burnout legend — and watching
the way they beat up on their cars, he’s 100
percent right. Andrew Lynch would be proud.

MISS AUTOFEST —
Gizzy Galore

RETRO AMERICA MISS
AUTOFEST

MISS AUTOFEST RUNNER-UP —
Miss Chevy Chevelle
BEST BIO —
Miss Katie Cupcake
HAIR & MAKEUP —
Miss Chevy Chevelle
OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY —
Gizzy Galore
OUTSTANDING OUTFIT —
Miss Sweet Jean

52

Mount Shop to Purchase George Stock’s Automotive Division
Mount Shop is set to acquire the
automotive division of George
Stock & Company, which will
result in Mount Shop taking over
the agencies for several established
brands in New Zealand, including
Koni, KYB, King Springs, H&R
Springs, and Transteering Steering
& Suspension Parts. Super Pro
polyurethane bushes will also be
available from Mount Shop.
These brands are well-known for
their quality and reliability, and
Mount Shop is excited to give
them more exposure through its
national network. Mount Shop’s
GLUHFWRU+HPL7RLDLVFRQ¿GHQWWKDW
FXVWRPHUV ZLOO EHQH¿W IURP KDYLQJ
access to these additional quality

brands, which perfectly complement
the company’s existing product lines.
For Mount Shop, quality products,
expert knowledge, good service,
and the latest ranges are the core
principles on which the company was
IRXQGHG DQG DOO RI WKHVH EUDQGV ¿W
perfectly with those principles. Says
Hemi, “Our guys at the front counter
are trusted by our customers and they
have a well-deserved reputation, as
does Mount Shop.
We’re excited to have these quality
brands on board and — with what
we already have available — having
Koni, KYB, King Springs, H&R
Springs, Transteering Steering &
Suspension Parts and Super Pro
polyurethane bushed all adds up to

.
F R O M . . RY 2 0 2 4
FEBRUA

Mount Shop having the complete
under-car product range.”
The addition of these premium product
names means that Mount Shop will be
DEOHWRR൵HUDZLGHUUDQJHRITXDOLW\
products to an expanded customer
EDVH ³&ODVVLF FDUV R൵URDGHUV
heavier-duty, specialty, and older
vehicles that make up the national
ÀHHWWKH\DOOUHTXLUHVXVSHQVLRQSDUWV
which we will be able to supply thanks
to an increased catalogue,” enthuses
+HPL ³/LNH PRVW RI P\ VWD൵ ,¶P
a car guy and passionate about the
industry, and to have these brands inhouse is a new step for the company.”
7KH R൶FLDO KDQGRYHU LV VHW WR WDNH
place on January 31, 2024.

SPECIAL FEATURE READERS’ RIDES

WANT TO HAVE YOUR COOL STREETER FEATURED IN OUR MAG? NOT A SHOW CAR BUT
STILL
LL HAS STREET CRED AND WORTHY OF A MENTION? FROM DAILIES TO W
WEEKEND
WARRIORS, LET’S SEE WHAT YOU’RE DRIVING. EMAIL: EDITOR@NZV8.CO.NZ
EDITOR@NZV8.CO.
WORDS: RIXSTA SAMMONS
SAMMO
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

I

n 2021, Chris Brattle’s dream became a reality
when he finally found his perfect secondgeneration Pontiac Trans Am. It had been a
long-time quest for him, and the car he had always
yearned for was none other than the iconic blackand-gold special edition Trans Am made famous by
the legendary movie Smokey and the Bandit.
Bandit.
This particular 1979 Pontiac Trans Am had quite a
story to tell. Originally imported to New Zealand from
Arizona in 1981, it had seen its share of the world
before finding its forever home with Chris.
Over the course of the two-plus years he’s owned
this beauty, Chris has poured his heart and soul into
it, making sure it lives up to its legendary reputation.

54

Numerous parts have been replaced, bringing it back
to its former glory. Chris personally sourced many of
these parts from the USA, and others came via Muscle
Car Parts NZ.
Under the hood, the Trans Am boasts a powerful
Pontiac 400 engine with Pontiac 6X4 heads, a Lunati
BM2 camshaft, an Edelbrock manifold, Quick Fuel
680 carb, and an MSD pro billet distributor. Hooker
headers give it that distinctive growl. The TH350
transmission has been shift kitted, providing smooth
power delivery, and it’s connected to a robust 10-bolt
differential. The wheels and tyres make a statement
as well — 17x9-inch Yearone snowflakes paired with
255/45/R17 tyres.

This set-up not only looks fantastic but also ensures a
solid grip on the road.
Although Chris has been meticulous in restoring and
upgrading the mechanical aspects of his Trans Am, he
hasn’t tackled the panel and paint just yet. Being a skilled
painter himself, he contemplates giving it another round
of refinishing in the future.
But what truly sets this Trans Am apart is Chris’s
determination to enjoy every moment behind the
wheel. He didn’t acquire it to let it sit and collect dust;
he wanted to drive it, relishing the miles and the smiles
it brings.

Chris extends his gratitude to several
companies that have played a pivotal role in his
Trans Am’s transformation. Shaun at Muscle Car Parts in
Nelson supplied wheels and miscellaneous parts, while
John at Second Gen Graveyard in Tennessee provided
numerous interior components. Baldrick at Andrews
Automotive in Upper Hutt took care of the mechanical
work, ensuring the Trans Am ran like a dream. Finally,
Dion at Cover Me expertly fitted the new Legendary
Auto Interiors seat foams and covers, enhancing both
the aesthetics and comfort of the car.
Ripper of a car Chris — looks the part, nice job!

CHRIS BRATTLE

1979
PONTIAC
TRANS AM
LOCATION: UPPER HUTT

MATT MCDONALD

1971
XY FORD
FALCON

LOCATION: WHANGAPARĀOA

I

n 2004, Matt McDonald stumbled upon a hidden
gem in West Auckland — a 1971 XY Ford Falcon.
This classic had been tucked away in a shed, buried
beneath boxes and odds and ends for a staggering
18 years. Remarkably, it had only seen two owners in its
lifetime, making it a genuine find. The opportunity came
through an ad in the old Trade and Exchange paper, and
Matt seized it for a mere $1000.
At that time, Matt had another Ford, an XW, which
had succumbed to the ravages of rust. He believed
that the XY Falcon, in better condition, would serve
as a more promising starting point for his automotive
dreams.
His journey with the XY began with a complete strip
down, returning it to its bare steel frame. Rust work
was next on the agenda, and to his surprise, it wasn’t as
extensive as he had feared. After this, he embarked on a
comprehensive panel and paint restoration, a task that
took time and the skilled hands of his friend Jim,
and Jim’s brother Matt, for that final touch of
perfection before the paint was applied.
As the bodywork neared
completion, Matt set out on the
quest for the ideal running
gear. Starting with a 302
Cleveland engine paired
with a 4-speed toploader,
the Falcon was gradually
transformed into the
vision he had in mind.
A significant
milestone arrived
when the Falcon was
ready just in time for
Matt and his wife’s
wedding. It had been a
race against time, with
a few sleepless nights to
ensure it was roadworthy
for their special day.

56

Mechanical upgrades continued with the
installation of a 9-inch differential featuring XF
callipers. Inside, Matt incorporated some modern
comfort by fitting BF XR6 leather seats, which,
surprisingly, slid into place quite smoothly.
The list of improvements grew, including a full
Nolathane kit, new springs, shocks, sway bars, and
much more. Matt left no stone unturned in enhancing
the Falcon’s performance and handling.
However, there was one dream that had eluded him
for years — a supercharger protruding from the hood.
He had been collecting the necessary parts for a
quarter of a century, and the time had come to make
that dream a reality.
One Christmas, with the help of his friend Glen,
they embarked on a journey to overhaul the 302
engine. Matt had his 4MAB crank polished and stroked
it to a potent 351. All the collected and newly acquired
parts were carefully assembled. Al from Als Blowers
provided guidance, and together they breathed life
into the Falcon with a mild 6psi boost. Matt’s choice of
a matte black finish for the blower set it apart, creating
a striking contrast with the silver body.
Over the years, Matt’s Falcon has become a
familiar sight in Whangaparāoa, with its unmistakable
sound echoing through the streets during test
runs. It’s a car that’s woven into the fabric of the
community, recognised at events such as Beach
Hop. Matt’s passion for Fords runs deep, having
owned over 20, but this XY Falcon holds a special
place in his heart. It’s not going anywhere, and one
day, it might spark a friendly rivalry between his son
and daughter, as they vie for the chance to take the
wheel. Matt owes a debt of gratitude to his wife,
Rachel, who patiently stood by him as he realised
his dream of owning a blown Falcon before turning
40. To celebrate her 40th, they added a 2017 Dodge
Challenger to their V8-loving family, proving that
they’re a true powerhouse on the road.
One of my dream cars! You’ve done well; killer car!

MIKE VESLY

1980
XD FORD
FALCON

LOCATION: DRURY, AUCKLAND

M

ike Vesly’s 1980 XD Ford Falcon has captured
the essence of a dream car. As a child of the
seventies, he grew up witnessing legends like
Dick Johnson taking on formidable opponents
like Peter Brock. With a family deeply rooted in Ford
loyalty, it was only natural for Mike to be a staunch
supporter of the Johnsons and Moffats. For him, the XD
Falcon represented the epitome of what he wanted to
achieve.
Over the years, Mike had the pleasure of owning a
fleet of fast Falcons, which served as his daily drivers.
From the likes of the ED, EF, EL, AU, BA, and FG XR8s,
to even an AU TS50, his passion for these vehicles was
undeniable. In fact, he still holds onto the FG XR8 to this
day.
The
e journey of the XD Falcon began with a fortunate
discovery on Trade Me. Mike stumbled upon this gem,
located in Waiuku, which had only seen two owners
in its lifetime. The previous owner, the second in line,
inherited it from his father-in-law. This XD had a
history that led back to Cromwell, and it was in
surprisingly good condition. The previous
owner had initiated a paint job but never
finished it.
Once the XD arrived at Mike’s
doorstep, the transformation
commenced immediately. The
original 3.3-litre six-cylinder
engine was promptly
removed and listed for sale
on Trade Me. In its place, a
potent 302 Windsor took
centre stage, sourced
through a friend. This
Windsor had already
undergone substantial
modifications, featuring
Edelbrock heads, a
performance cam, and
was coupled to a toploader
transmission with a McLeod
clutch. Although Mike

58

decided to retain the 8-inch diff for the time being, a
future upgrade to a 9-inch diff looms on the horizon.
The extensive makeover journey began with a
complete strip down of the vehicle to its bare body
shell. It was then dispatched to the paint shop for an
exquisite finish, complemented by some necessary
panel work. The front fenders required substantial flaring
to accommodate the impressive 18x9-inch Simmons
wheels up front and the commanding 18x10-inches
at the rear. Installation of fibreglass Group C rear and
front spoilers was a meticulous process that demanded
precision.
Upon the Falcon’s return from the paint shop, every
single component underwent thorough cleaning
and repainting. Every nut and bolt either received a
fresh coat of paint or was replaced entirely. Wilwood
brakes were introduced at the front to enhance
stopping power. The engine, gearbox, and diff received
meticulous paintwork and were reinstalled with utmost
care. The vehicle was outfitted with a new rubber kit and
indicator tail lights to complete the refreshed look.
Inside the cabin, Mike retained the original charm
while introducing subtle enhancements. An S-Pack
dash found its place, along with additional Autometer
gauges that replaced an unsightly air vent. New carpets
and Corbeau seats freshened up the interior, and the
rear seat underwent a transformation to match the front
seats.
Mike Vesly led this remarkable journey himself, except
for the panel and paintwork, which were executed to
perfection by Mark and Skinny at Alpine Panelbeaters.
David and Andrew from Ultimate Tyres lent their
expertise to procure the wheels and tyres. Additionally,
a special shout-out goes to Mike Shaw Fibreglass and
Andrew Anderson for their valuable contributions. Mike
Shaw Fibreglass played a crucial role in this project, and
Andrew Anderson graciously allowed Mike to use his
mould for the front spoiler.
Now, Mike eagerly anticipates hitting the open road
and indulging in the sheer pleasure of cruising this killer
combo during the upcoming summer months.
Very tough-looking car right there, wicked job!

SUBSCRIBE TO NZV8
G E T E V ERY ISSU E DELIV ERED TO YOU R DOOR

NEED MORE
REASONS TO
SUBSCRIBE?

• NEVER MISS AN ISSUE
• FREE DELIV ERY TO YOU R HOM E
• REGUL AR EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBERO N LY O F F E R S A N D P R I Z E D R A W S

SIX MONTHS
3 ISSUES

ONE YE AR
SIX ISSUES

$35

$69

TO SUBSCRIBE
NZ V8 .CO. NZ/SUBSCRIBE
Terms and conditions: 1. Prizes/gifts are as stated, not redeemable for cash and the publisher’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. 2. Prizes/gifts are
administered by the respective magazine publisher. If the subscription purchaser is a giftor, prizes/gifts will be sent to the subscription recipient unless requested otherwise by
the giftor. 3. Prizes/gifts are available to New Zealand residents only. 4. Prizes/gifts are available/applicable for direct subscriptions purchased through Via Media only and are
not applicable for third-party subscriptions. 5. Staff, friends, and clients (and their immediate families) of the publishers are not eligible to enter. 6. All entries become the property
of the participating publishers and may be used for further promotional purposes. 7. Prices quoted refer to New Zealand addresses only. 8. Prices quoted apply to subscriptions
purchased through Via Media only. 9. Savings quote apply to New Zealand per-copy retail RRP. 10. All Via Media magazine subscriptions are non-refundable. For our complete
terms and conditions see https://viamedia.co.nz/subscriptions/terms-and-conditions 11. Savings apply to per-copy retail RRP.

S U B S C R I B E T O D AY – N Z V 8 .C O . N Z / S U B S C R I B E

CLUB CORNER SOUTHSIDE STREETERS INC

SOUTHSIDE STREETERS INC. CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY — IT’S A CAR CLUB THAT GOES
BEYOND THE PRIMARY DUTIES OF BEING A CAR CLUB. WE CHECK OUT THE CLUB THAT PROMOTES
WIDER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, EXTENDING BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE CLUB’S WALLS

WELCOME TO NZV8’S LATEST COLUMN, CLUB CORNER! EVERY MONTH, WE’LL VENTURE DEEP INTO THE
VIBRANT WORLD OF KIWI CAR CLUBS, UNCOVERING UNTOLD TALES OF THEIR PASTS, SHOWCASING
THEIR AWE-INSPIRING MACHINES, AND SHARING THEIR PASSION FOR ALL THINGS AUTOMOTIVE. SO,
BUCKLE UP AND JOIN US AS WE EXPLORE THE GRIT AND GLORY OF NEW ZEALAND’S CAR CLUB SCENE!
WORDS AND PHOTOS: SIMON DUDDING

he hobby of hot-rodding automobiles has been
around for under 100 years, depending on who
you’re listening to, so for a New Zealand car club
to celebrate its 50th anniversary is a notable feat.
Originating in 1973, Southside Streeters Inc. held
regular club meetings by passing around the
hosting duties to individual members until the permanent

60

club rooms were built. So it was shed raids by necessity,
not by choice, at that point in the club’s history.
The early club members used fundraising drives and
even hosted the New Zealand Nationals Hot Rod show
in the late 1970s to raise the capital to fund a dedicated
club room. Hosting the National Hot Rod show topped
up the coffers enough to get the build started. The local

council was approached, and they kindly provided a
small patch of land for the club to be built. Although
the exact dates are a bit hazy, Southside Streeters Inc.
has called its east Auckland club rooms home since
being constructed sometime in the early 1980s. I guess
that just like the cars that belong to the club members,
completion dates of projects can become blurred over
time, especially when one iteration can sometimes just
flow into another. The club rooms, tucked away on
one of east Auckland’s busiest roads, are at the end of
a speed bump-lined car park, which is not super ideal,
but it is nestled among several other neighbouring
community club rooms.

CLUB CORNER
SPOTLIGHT

PHIL GAME

BLUE TILE
FEVER

CAR:
1969 CHEVROLET
CAMARO RS
CONVERTIBLE

WHEN IMPULSE
TRUMPS NECESSITY

I

For the 50th anniversary milestone, current club
members have put in the hard yards, giving the twostorey club room a renovation inside and out that
well and truly brings it into the 21st century. The small
footprint of the building feels much bigger inside,
and the club rooms retain the charm of a small club
and give a nod to past members, with picture boards
neatly dotted around the walls on the lower level. The
upper level has had a more extensive overhaul with
the addition of air conditioning and a new rear deck to
increase the capacity for the expanding members’ roll.
The new Southside Streeters Inc. neon sign above the
rebuilt bar is the icing on the cake.
Decorations around the bar leaners are tin signs from
yesteryear and feature a smattering of Texaco oil signs;
Steve Keys may have had some input, and if you haven’t

62

f his name or cheery smile ring a bell it’s possibly from his long
association with either winning sprint car races or his involvement
with his well-known business, PG Hydraulics. Phil has been an
active member of Southside Streeters Inc for 14 or so years but
has been involved in all things automotive for much longer. Starting
dirt track racing at the ripe old age of 17 and undertaking a start-up
automotive business at 22 years old, it is fair to say Phil has worked on
a car or two over his lifetime.
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS convertible, that Phil’s forever
understanding wife nicknamed ‘meals on wheels’, has been in the
stable since the turn of the new millennium. The Camaro’s name was
given after the savings for the new kitchen was depleted to purchase
the car from Peter Walton. Peter bought the car in from the USA and
after owning it for some time he on-sold it to Phil after a passing
gentleman’s agreement of, “If you ever want to sell that car, I’ll buy it.”
Hence the reason why funds had to be obtained in a hurry to secure
the car. It did sound like a panic buy that Phil reflects on fondly as he
had admired the car for some time.
After purchasing the Camaro, Phil removed the factory matching
numbers motor and put it into storage for safe keeping. As the
original motor was hopped up with high compression and a fairly
aggressive camshaft, it was deemed as not being completely suitable
for what Phil had planned as an easy cruiser that could bang out
road miles at will. A replacement crate short block was sourced
and dressed with cast Dart heads and a more sensible cam fitted
to make the tall first gear easier to drive from a standing start. Oh,
did we forget to mention this is a factory three-pedal car also? The
Muncie M21 transmission makes this car even more rare but it still
gets driven fairly often, as Phil hung up his racing boots some years
ago to slow down somewhat. The engine bay still looks factory due
to the cast heads so it’s just a nice cruiser to go on runs with fellow
club members. He says that Southside Streeters has come a long
way since he joined and the camaraderie between the members is
exceptional.

AIRFLOW RESEARCH HEADS

SERIOUS ABOUT RACING, SERIOUS
ABOUT WINNING… SO IS CALLIES
CRANKSHAFTS
Callies Crankshafts are at the top of the industry for
quality of finish and reliability. Their precise, no
compromise production efforts deliver dimensional
accuracy that is second to none. Concentricity and
surface finish are the two most desirable features in
a high performance crankshaft journal.

AEROFLOW PRODUCTS
Here at CHS we carry one of the largest stocks of
Aeroflow products in New Zealand. We use these
products in our own engines so give us a call for all
your Aeroflow needs.

World leaders in Race Cylinder Head technology. For over 30 years
Airflow Research has been defining technologicial leadership in
Cylinder Head manufacturing and Flow Dynamics. AFR design,
engineering and manufacturing technology never rests.
AFR is investing in the horsepower of tomorrow with their state of
the art manufacturing and R&D.
World leaders in CNC Cylinder Head Porting with new and
existing product being continually updated and improved. Latest
models stocked in Small Block Chev, LS1-6, all new Small Block
Ford Renegade Series. New 15deg and 13.5deg Small Block
Chev, ideal high RPM drag car or sprint car style, and the largest
range of the ever popular BB Chev style. We can compliment all
AFR Heads with the top of the line T&D Rockers.
SBF

AVIAID - DRY SUMPS,
OIL PUMPS & DRIVE SYSTEMS
Competition oiling systems since 1961.
CHS has the largest range of race dry sump
systems and parts. Good
stock of Aviaid dry sump
pumps, tanks and parts.
Complimented with the
XRP line of Hose and
Fittings, Peterson Pulley
Belts and Drive Systems.

BBC

T&D SHAFT MOUNT ROCKER
SBC

High quality Shaft Mount Rocker Arm systems to
compliment the AFR range of Cylinder Heads. For
all out race application or serious street. We carry a
range of spares for the T&D range that we stock.

LSX

CP CARRILLO
CHS are distrubters for CP Carrillo
and carry a good range of there
bullet pistons to suit the American
V8 engines.

STRANGE ENGINEERING PRODUCTS

MANLEY PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS

JESEL VALVETRAIN INNOVATION

Here at CHS we carry a massive stock of all your 9”
rear-end components from the small hard-to-get parts,
through to a complete disc brake rear end/floaters /gear
sets/axle kits etc.

CHS has been a New Zealand Distributor of Manley Performance
Products for 20 years. We are experts on the product range
that run from their top end Race Valve Train Components,
including their range of their
absolute highest quality Nextex
Valve Spring Range through to
their Pro Series Racing Con Rods
and Pistons.

Cylinder Head Specialists are the New Zealand Master
Distributors for Jesel.

Full machine shop service. Computerised 2500 H/P Dyno facility.
237 Waltham Road, Christchurch.
Ph/Fax 03 366 1729,
Email: heads@heads.co.nz

www.heads.co.nz

seen his tanker build, it’s worth checking out! All of
these renovations were completed in the same manner
as the club rooms were initially built, through members’
dedication to the club and giving a little back. All the
labour was sourced internally through club members
donating their time and organising materials through
contact within the club.
To mark the momentous 50th anniversary,
Southside Streeters Inc. dedicated an entire weekend
to celebrating the milestone. A club member function
was held on the Friday night in the club rooms prior to
the main event the following night. One could suggest
that this was to ‘break in’ the recently completed
renovations to the bar area of the club rooms. Saturday
evening was the official 50th anniversary event, held
in the WWII hanger of NZ Warbirds at Ardmore. More
than 180 people gathered for a formal sit-down dinner
with speeches from special guests to commemorate
the milestone. The event setting was spectacular, with
special lighting, a full-scale 12m wide garage façade
built by members, a large video screen with many
photos and memories, and a selection of club members’
cars nestled among some spectacular WWI and WWII

TO MARK THE
MOMENTOUS 50TH
ANNIVERSARY,
SOUTHSIDE
STREETERS INC.
DEDICATED AN
ENTIRE WEEKEND TO
CELEBRATING THE
MILESTONE
CLUB CORNER
SPOTLIGHT

LANCE JONES
CAR:
1965 FORD
FALCON FUTURA

EATIN’ DUST

PATINA FROM ARIZONA
TO EAST AUCKLAND

L

ance has owned his 1965 Futura two-door sedan
since he imported it from Arizona in 2017, with the
help of dad who was the influence behind joining
Southside Streeters Inc. The Futura runs a factory
289 and overall remains fairly stock standard, apart from
a new set of wheels to fit the only other modification
of upgraded front brakes. The Wilwood four-pot disc
brake conversion brings performance into the twentieth
century and a little more peace of mind while cruising
in Auckland traffic. Being an Arizona desert car, the
body is in good shape and the original patina is cleared
over for preservation. Plans for the Futura are fairly
straightforward — drive it as much as possible and
maybe get the interior done in the future. “It drives
well for a cruiser so why change a good thing?” Lance
comments. A fairly good call for a cruiser. Lance is also
involved in midget racing so the hot rodding cars stick
to the clay at this point in time.
Lance has been a member of Southside Streeters
Inc for the past five years and gets the honourable
mention of being the youngest member of the club.
Being around the club for some time quizzing
Lance on any insights from a younger person’s

64

perspective of where he sees the club going, there was
a lot of positive feedback about the club in general.
The club members are actively involved in cruises and
events are well attended by fellow members, whether it
be a social outing or a fundraising drive, pun definitely
intended, for other community groups. The question
mark he has revolves around traditional hot rodding.
You can see in the Japanese and European origin car
import car scene that the younger generation embrace
the culture and modify their cars accordingly. So the
modified car scene is in good health and therefore car
clubs should also be in good health going forward.
When it comes to traditional hot rodding, Lance feels
it is something that is not being passed onto younger
generations and is threatened with being forgotten
over time. I would agree with this as traditional hot
rodding of ’30s-era vehicles is far more complex than
modifying full-bodied cars from the ’60s onwards. More
automotive art than anything else and something that
does need to be passed down to keep the hobby alive.
Something to think about, and in saying that Lance has
an inkling to get a Mazda RX7 next. Hopefully the club
won’t mind too much and he said the members are
laid-back and would probably welcome it anyway.

CLUB CORNER
SPOTLIGHT

JON TYE

CAR:
1966 CHEVROLET
CHEVELLE

planes. The evening included celebrating Neil and Josie
Guy’s 1947 Jailbar pickup, which has been in the club
forever under their ownership, and it also included
the unveiling of Keith Hunter’s long-awaited 1934
Ford Coupe.
Southside Streeters Inc. has members from all walks
of life and the cars on public display on the Sunday
morning following the 50th anniversary dinner reflect
that. Everything from traditional hot rods, 1940s through
to 1960s cruisers, muscle cars, and even a couple of
very healthy-sounding competition cars. When talking
to club president Kerry Earl, he spoke about “the good”
in the club in general; how the members look out for
each other and have a commitment to helping others
in the community. The member numbers have grown
somewhat in recent years as some members become
less active, and new members have been welcomed to
continue the regular attendance. The club benefits from
some renewed enthusiasm from a growing roll, too. The
fresh faces drive along new ideas and reinvigorate the
passion for car culture and spending time together.
While spending the afternoon peering at picture
boards hanging on the walls downstairs and chatting
with the Southside Streeters crew, it quickly became
obvious that the club, although revolving around
automotive culture, has an overreaching quest to give
back to the community. It also became apparent that
the club boasts some very well-known members who
have built many, many feature cars that have appeared
in a vast selection of media publications.

ASPHALT RISING

TAKING LAPS OF THE COUNTRY IN OVERDRIVE

J

on gets the illustrious award for being the newest member
of Southside Streeters Inc. He has been in other clubs in the
past but he joined after a few of his friends recommended the
change since joining the club themselves. It’s been six months
since he became a full club member and, now it’s effectively the
season for car events, he intends on attending plenty with fellow
members. Much was said by his friends, and also newer club
members, about the laid-back atmosphere and diverse nature
of club members and their vehicles. Jon purchased the Chevelle
much as it looks currently. The previous owner was located in the
South Island and had imported the car from the USA. Jon liked the
look of the paint scheme, but as it was starting to look a bit tired,
the body went back to bare metal for a full tidy up and respray. The
paint does look fantastic and the drivetrain didn’t get overlooked
either. Although the engine is a 460ci big block, it retains the
correct location of the distributor at the rear and is a 454ci
Chevrolet with 30 thousands over pistons. C&M Performance fitted
the EFI system and gave the big block a tune that can propel the
A-body Chevrolet to mid-12 second passes at the drag strip. Fairly
impressive as the car has also done a lap or two of New Zealand
with Jon behind the wheel. Jon does say the 400L overdrive
transmission is the thing that makes it such a great cruiser while
still being able to rip respectable quarter mile times. The engine
sounds as muscle cars should too, grumpy and strong. Jon is a big
believer in using and cruising the Chevelle and attends events in
both the North and South Islands.

CLUB CORNER
SPOTLIGHT

CHRIS
WILLIAMS

CAR:
1963 CHEVROLET
IMPALA

TURNING ON THE SCREW
WRENCHING ON CARS RUNS IN THE FAMILY

N

ext year will be an odd milestone for Chris and
Southside Streeters Inc. Chris is currently 33 years
old and he has been a member for 16 years, so
next year he will have been a member of the club
for longer than he hasn’t. Impressive! Bitten by the bug,
he purchased a Ford Mustang off fellow well-known
club member Steve Keys two days before his 17th
birthday. After punting the Mustang around the country
for numerous years, a change of pace came about in
the form of the 1963 Chevrolet Impala.
The Impala was more of a project car that required
work to turn into a reliable cruiser for his growing
family. Rust and body repairs were carried out and

seat belt anchor points added to keep the precious
cargo as safe as possible. The interior is a work in
progress but it’s functional and does not stop the car
from being used. All this work was possible as Chris
had served his younger days wrenching on a 1956
Chevrolet with his dad. It’s something he reflects
on with fond memories. “It’s what building cars and
cruising with clubs is all about, isn’t it? Time to bond
over something you have a common interest in.” I
couldn’t agree more. That is the hot rodding spirit and
what Chris enjoys most about the club. His dad is still
a member of the club, so cruising with the extended
family is always a bonus.

Streetcars are what the club revolves around, but there is
a good array of interest in all types of automotive racing.
Dirt or salt is often the flavour of choice, along with the
more common asphalt-based racing. As an example of
giving back to the community, past hot rod and static
car displays have fundraised for larger organisations
such as St John Ambulance, but the club also looks out
for smaller community groups as well. The proceeds of
the display that was held on the Sunday following the
50th anniversary celebrations were used to benefit club
room neighbours, Harlequin Musical Theatre.
The chemistry of the club members and the vast array
of automotive types and styles was quite infectious. It’s
well worth checking them out if they put on a show, as
you never know what will turn up. Some of the 60-odd
club members have vast car collections themselves, and
you might see an award-winning 1957 Buick towing in
a belly tank salt-flat race car roll into the car park. Quite
a sight!

66

CUSTOM FABRICATION AND MECHANICAL SERVICES
Here at BNR Engineering we
specialize in a wide range of
services. From your basic jobs of
repairing trailers & ramps, right up
to fabricating full-blown race cars.
We strive to uphold the best
customer experience, and work with
our customers to create something
truly unique. Mobile services are
also available for light mechanical
& fabrication work.

279 Sandwich Road, Hamilton 3200 Contact Brendon on 021 107 8048
@BNREngineering

bnr_engineering

HORSEPOWER
HEADS
5-Axis CNC cylinder head porting services
Successful racers in NZ and
worldwide choose HorsePower
Heads to provide innovative,
personalised solutions. With more
than 30 years experience, you can
trust our knowledge and expertise.

CNC porting available for all LS castings. We stock PAC Racing valve
ZWYPUNZ/LHKHUKJHTWHJRHNLZJYHM[LK[VZ\P[`V\YULLKZZWLJPÄJHSS`

03 377 0974
shop@horsepowerheads.com

www.horsepowerheads.com
Check out our Facebook page for results, photos and news

1956 HOLDEN FJ UTE

68

TAKE ONE FJ HOLDEN, MIX WITH A GOOD SERVING OF VS COMMODORE AND ADD A SPRINKLE
OF CARBON, LEAVE TO BAKE FOR A DECADE, AND YOU’LL GET A CREATION UNLIKE ANY OTHER!
WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: CAM LEGGETT

he story of this ‘56 FJ Holden starts with so many
stereotypes that you’d almost think we were making
it up. The owner is Wayne ‘Mad Dog’ Maddox, and
yep, that nickname is stereotype number one for
a bloke from rural New Zealand. The ute itself has
been transformed from a barn find by a handful of

clever bastards using plenty of Kiwi ingenuity in the back
shed — making stereotypes two and three. And, of course,
being an FJ Holden that once belonged to the owner of
the local pub kind of cements this as a classic tale.
Wayne, who got his nickname through years of racing jet
sprint boats across Australasia, has also dabbled with jet boat

THE FACT IT HAD A TREE GROWING
UP THROUGH THE TRAY IS A GREAT
INDICATION OF THE STATE OF THINGS
marathon events, so clearly he’s got high-octane race
gas coursing through his veins. He purchased the FJ from
the son of its original owner, who, you guessed it, owned
the local pub where Mad Dog was a frequent flier. Over
a few beers, or maybe more than a few — given the fact
the car had been parked for 20 years — a deal was done
for it to change hands. Understandably, it wasn’t in great
nick — the fact it had a tree growing up through the tray
is a great indication of the state of things.
Dropping it off to be sandblasted after purchase, there
were definitely questions about whether anything would
come back once the rust was blown out. Clearly enough
of it did to enable the build to begin.
Rather than tackle it himself though, he sent the car to
the West Coast of the South Island to a little town called
Ikamatua. If you’ve not heard of it, don’t worry, not many

people have, but ironically it’s where the ute started its
life belonging to a well-known local farming family: the
O’Malleys. With a surname like that, it’s no surprise son
Marty grew up to be a publican! Here in Ikamatua, Mad
Dog’s brother Barry would take over the reins, and over
the next decade or so, the car and the plans for the car
would evolve massively.
The initial instructions were to make it standard
looking but to stand out, and Barry could paint it any
colour he wanted. During the build, the scope changed,
as did the colour requirements, as in 2017 when Wayne
purchased a pair of the final VF Commodores, both were
in Heron White. He then knew the FJ had to be the same
colour too, but there were thousands of hours of work
that needed to be done before any paint could go near
the panels.

70

SPEC
1956 HOLDEN FJ UTE

ENGINE: 304ci Holden, custom intake,
stock internals, 2.5-inch exhaust, custom
radiator, electric fan, carbon ducting

DRIVELINE: Holden 700R4 4-speed
automatic transmission, custom driveshaft, VS
Commodore diff
SUSPENSION: VS Commodore
suspension, front lowering springs, 4-link rear
BRAKES: Holden ABS system, 289mm front
rotors, 279mm rear rotors

WHEELS/TYRES: 16x7-inch VS
Commodore wheels, 225/50R16 tyres

EXTERIOR: Widened carbon fibre front
guards, widened carbon fibre bonnet, carbon
fibre rear deck panels, carbon fibre bumpers,
shaved badges, custom front valance,
concealed indicators, Heron White paint

CHASSIS: Shortened and narrowed Holden
Commodore VS SS floor pan

INTERIOR: Leather electric bucket seats, FJ
Holden steering wheel, VS Commodore cluster,
raised steering column, carbon fibre dash,
carbon fibre door trims, carbon fibre hood
lining, carbon fibre kick panels, Pioneer audio

PERFORMANCE: 230hp

Although some of those hours would be spent on
rust work, a larger part was dropping the body over a
VS SS Commodore floor pan. The idea came about as
the best way to deal with the rusty floor as well as give
the car much more modern performance, handling,
and braking. The difficulty is that a VS has a far larger
footprint than an FJ, so it needed to be shortened
115mm in the centre section — 200mm from the front,
200mm in the back, and narrowed 100mm on each
side. It was a very ambitious plan, but Barry came up
with the idea of creating a thin metal buck to transfer
the body shape over to the donor car to work out what
was going and what was staying.
Plenty of cutting, grinding, and welding followed, all
with enough care to cut away exactly the right parts
and leave what was necessary. Falling into the latter
category were the firewall and front chassis rails that
needed to be integrated into the FJ’s shell and do so
while looking like they were from the factory. The
VS floor pan now underpins the cab, and even
the rear rails have been retained, although
now hidden below the custom deck.

72


    

   

 

west coast collision
repair specialists
PANEL BEATING
INSURANCE REPAIRS
SPRAY PAINTING

HOKITIKACOLLISIONCENTRE.CO.NZ
03 755 8782
63 KUMARA JUNCTION HIGHWAY, HOKITIKA

During the transformation, the (unibody) chassis was
strengthened, as were the sills, all while making sure
everything was perfectly aligned. Barry only managed to
catch a break when he had Kiwi Kustoms in Blenheim
help out with the back end of the rear guards. Given
the car’s extra 130mm of track width, and the fact the
original front guards were shot, they needed to be
remade from scratch. It was at this point that things
took a turn, and the subject of using carbon fibre came
up. Barry had some experience with composites, but
never to the extent of building custom carbon fibre
wide body front guards. This would become the first of
many carbon components in the build, or, as the guys
refer to it, the start of carbon dating. The start of the
carbon work also led to the plan of replacing all of the
previous bright work for a very unique look. Although
from a distance it may simply look like many parts have
been blacked out, the reality is much more complex.
The bumpers, grille, hood ornament, and headlight
surrounds have all been created in the lightweight
composite material. Although the carbon may get the
attention, there’s actually a lot more going on under the
painted components too. Take the bonnet, for example,
it’s actually 20mm wider on each side, but modified so
well that it goes unnoticed.

THE CAR IS IN
MANY WAYS A
VS COMMODORE
IN AN FJ BODY KIT
The carbon treatment is even more evident in the
interior, where it covers almost every conceivable item
from the roof lining down to the floor. Barry laughs
that there are two compartments in the carbon fibre
glovebox, one for speeding tickets yet to be paid, and
the other for ones that have been paid. Given how
clever the workmanship on the car is, we wouldn’t be
surprised if he’s not actually joking. Although the dash
itself looks like the original piece, it’s been built from
scratch to look original with the addition of VS air vents
and the VS instrument cluster. Keeping in mind that the
car is in many ways a VS Commodore in an FJ body
kit, Barry’s done well to make the interior look like it

74

A Passion for high Performance Engines
Stock Cruisers to Serious Power
We will Build Your Engine to Perform
33C Forge Road,
Silverdale,
Auckland

021 109 4834
Prescottengines@icloud.com
prescottengines.co.nz

P 09 912 9912
18a Joval Place | Manukau City

LS Performance Specialists
WE SPECIALISE IN ANYTHING

LS POWERED
›
›
›
›

Now with two Dynos › Upgrade packages
› ECU VATS/security removal
Cam upgrades
› ECU unlocking
Exhaust systems
Dyno tuning
Post
› tunes

Sales@Protune.co.nz

We work on nothing but LS engines, so no matter what your
vehicle, if its LS powered, trust us to help with anything from
the best advice to engine builds and dyno tuning.

protune
www.pro
une.co.nz

DRIVER
WAYNE ‘MAD DOG’
KEENAN
AGE: 70 going on 17

OCCUPATION: Concrete placer
PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS:

belongs in an FJ, but with modern twists.
Under the hood things get even more interesting.
The stock 304ci Holden motor is sitting under what
appears to be a unique engine cover, which, at a closer
glance, is actually a top-mounted radiator. While plenty
of eyebrows are sure to be raised at that concept, from
all reports it works remarkably well, thanks in no small
part to a very effective fan system and a vented bonnet.
The need for this unique engineering was due to the
car running the stock VS firewall, which didn’t leave
enough length in the engine bay for the engine and a
traditionally placed radiator.
Like the engine, the driveline remains stock VS, as
do the brake and suspension with the exception of

lowering springs being installed up front. As you can
imagine with a set-up like this, and with the car even
riding on (hydro dipped) VS wheels, it drives exactly
as you would expect of a VS Commodore. The fact
it looks nothing like one is a testament to the efforts
and abilities of all involved. Even LVV Certifier Andy
Smith who certified the vehicle, and has inspected
thousands of cars in his time, has been heard extolling
the car’s virtues. A build of this level obviously always
takes longer than expected, but the end result has been
worthwhile. The Mad Dog is living up to that nickname,
not on the water, but on the road in the culmination of
his own vision and his brother’s ability. There’s nothing
stereotypical about that at all.

76

Plenty of Holdens including Bathurst
Monaro, currently have VF sedan and VF
ute both in Heron White

DREAM CAR: Any Holden
WHY THE FJ?: Old mate in a pub,
what else could I do?

BUILD TIME: 7000 hrs
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP:
15 years

WAYNE THANKS: Barry for all the
hard work making the dream become
a reality, Neville Blacktopp who sadly
died of cancer mid build, Bruce Wright
who picked up some body work after
Neville’s passing, Hokitika Collision
Centre for painting and clear coat.

100% New Zealand owned and operated

Don’t pay cylinder rental
fees again…ever!
Join New Zealand’s only 100% kiwi owned, nationwide
industrial gas swap system by purchasing an Eziswap
Gas cylinder and stop paying cylinder rental fees.
Go to the Eziswap Gas website and find out more now.

Shop now. Pay later with Afterpay.

0800 394 7927
–
eziswapgas.co.nz

CSR are one of New Zealands leading hot rod shops specialising
in ground up custom vehicles and classic restorations.
Fully equipped shops for all Mechanical, Fabrication,
Electrical, Panel and Paint.

45-47 CUTFIELD ST,
INGLEWOOD
TARANAKI NZ
06 756 7144
CUSTOM STREET RIDES

dragged up DRAG RACING NEWS
PHOTOS: LANCE FARROW, GLYNN HENDERSON

MMP DEBUTS
T

he great thing about Test and Tune events
at the start of the season is seeing the new
cars come out for the first time. At the start
of November at Masterton Motorplex that
included the new Upper Hutt Glass-sponsored
Top Alcohol dragster of Paul Davison. It was
great to see the Davison family back on
track, and the car was flawlessly prepared as
expected from experienced racers.
The car itself was purchased out of the
States four years ago, but has been a major

undertaking to get ready in time to debut
on local soil. That debut didn’t start off well
when the car killed a points box at the start
of the meeting, but it ended on a high by
running straight and clean into the sevensecond zone. Paul is first to admit, having
been out of the hot seat for five years, he’s got
a bit of refreshing to do before he’ll be back
where he wants to be, but given his levels of
determination, we guess he’ll be back in form
in no time at all!

Likewise, Wairarapa’s Johnny Burkhart, who
has also been away from the track for a while,
had jaws dropping when his Plymouth Duster
was rolled out of the trailer. The twin turbo
451ci BAE Hemi engine got plenty of adoration
from those who stopped in for a closer look.
Although there were some issues getting the
car up on boost, the team had them sorted by
the end of the weekend, and came home with
plenty of data to help with the next time out,
which can’t come soon enough!

HEADING TO THE TOP
B

en Morris and his ‘69 Camaro made waves at
Masterton Motorplex on 4 November. While
the car has worked its way through the street
car ranks, Ben took it off the road for a bunch
of work a few seasons ago, and although it did
return to the strip, it wasn’t legal at the time. This
time around, it was freshly LVV certified, and
living up to its potential. The second run of the
day wasn’t a clean pass with Ben needing to get
off and back on the gas mid track, but he still
crossed the line in an impressive 7.56 seconds
at 173.32mph. The 1.197-second 60-foot time is
an indication it’s getting off the line well, but the
173mph is well down on where the car has been
before, so there’s every indication we will see
the PBs keep on coming.
The car is powered by a 550ci big block that is
force-fed by a 136mm direct drive ProCharger,
and now runs 33x16.5x15 Mickey Thompson
slicks that sit within carbon fibre wheel tubs.
Between these is a Race Products chromoly diff
from the The Krysler Shop, mounted to Santhuff
coilovers. Running the 7.56 saw him take the
second-quickest streetcar spot from Aaron
Jenkins who also recently ran a PB of 7.70 at

185.21mph pushing Brendon Shearing down from
second to fourth.
But we know he’s not content to stay there,
and is planning a return.

78

With so much movement at this end of the
streetcar list right at the start of the season and
a few other cars yet to run, we can’t wait to see
how it plays out over the coming months.

T

here are few cars cooler than a Hemipowered front-engine dragster, and New
Zealand now has another one in its midst. Brad
Taylor and his FED were familiar sights at tracks
around the North Island until having a kid and
other priorities slowed him down three years
ago. Thanks to a recent deal struck with Dave
Best at Gravel Motor Garage though he’s now
back on track, complete with Hemi rather than
his previous big block Chev combo. Dave’s well
known for his Hemis, and happened to have the

one from his Model A coupe just sitting in the
workshop, so was happy to lend it to Brad to
see the car back on track. Brad says he’s always
wanted a Hemi in the car, so it was the perfect
opportunity. Now all he needs is a Lotto win
to be able to keep it there permanently. With
the engine being built well, the only change
that’s happened to it is a switch from petrol to
methanol.
Straight off the trailer, the car ran a 9.2, and
continued to stay in the low nines all weekend

NZ’S QUICKEST STREETERS
NAME
VEHICLE
REECE FISH
1956 CHEV BEL AIR
BEN MORRIS
1969 CHEV CAMARO
AARON JENKINS
1977 HOLDEN TORANA
BRENDON SHEARING
1971 HOLDEN HQ MONARO
DANIEL SOUTHALL
1969 CHEV CAMARO
MIKE CARLTON
1973 CHEV CORVETTE
GARY BOGAART
1975 FALCON XB COUPE
STUART GOLDSWORTHY 1969 CHEV CAMARO
TONY RICHARDSON
1946 FORD JAILBAR
WAYNE FOWLER
1967 CHEV CAMARO
SAM ANAND
1996 MITSUBISHI EVO IV
DALLAS GRAHAM
1978 TOYOTA COROLLA COUPE
BEN MOORCOCK
1974 MAZDA RX-3
MICHAEL SCHOLTEN
1998 MITSUBISHI EVO V
ROGER BINNEMA
1968 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
TANIA BINNEMA
1968 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
MIKE BARI
1971 CHEV CHEVELLE
AZHAR BHAMJI
1973 MAZDA RX-3
RIZWAN ALAM
2003 MITSUBISHI EVO 8
DARREN RICHES
1954 FORD POP
ROSS WHELAN
1934 FORD MODEL Y
JAY SINGH
2016 HSV GTS
WAYNE GRIMMER
1973 PLYMOUTH CUDA
ROBERT CONLON
1972 CHEV CAMARO
WARREN BLACK
1972 HOLDEN HQ MONARO
SAMUEL GARTH
1971 CHEV EL CAMINO
JUSTIN WEIR
2019 DODGE HELLCAT REDEYE
CRAIG WALL
1972 CHEV CAMARO
ASHNIL KUMAR
1995 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R (R33)
BEN GAINFORT
1990 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R (R32)
AARON WILLIAMS
2015 LVV FORD POP
MARK HUDSON
1973 FORD CAPRI
JAY MAKA
1979 HOLDEN SUNBIRD
COLE RAIKA
1977 MAZDA 808
GARTH WHITE
1963 FORD GALAXIE
HARLEY DOUGLAS
1968 CHEV CAMARO
CORY DE KORT
1972 HOLDEN HQ

TIME (S)
7.38
7.56
7.70
7.84
7.95
8.32
8.61
8.72
8.79
8.58
8.92
9.00
9.08
9.09
9.09
9.17
9.26
9.32
9.38
9.43
9.45
9.49
9.50
9.51
9.52
9.58
9.54
9.74
9.75
9.78
9.81
9.86
9.87
9.88
9.93
9.97
9.97

MPH
194.50
173.32
185.21
185.84
182.59
167.49
158.56
173.94
155.82
160.88
158.09
147.44
155.74
157.20
149.98
146.95
148.92
144.13
160.77
141.71
143.60
144.72
142.90
142.58
143.44
137.68
140.08
144.8
149.70
142.66
136.98
137.39
133.98
145.28
140.78
137.01
139.46

long. As Dave was away at the time, they
intentionally ran the motor on a rich tune, but
he’ll be on hand next time to get it where it
needs to be. Regardless of how quick it’s running
though, the car looks perfect, and Brad is happy
to be out on track again and having fun with the
family and friends. Obviously he’s keen to extend
a huge thanks to Dave and the rest of the team at
Gravel Motor Garage, as well as his wife Kelly for
her support with getting him back into what we
all love doing!

ENGINE
540CI BBC TWIN-TURBO
550CI BBC PROCHARGER SC
540CI BBC TWIN-TURBO
509CI BBC TWIN-TURBO
406CI SBC TWIN-TURBO
540CI BBC SC
395CI SBF NITROUS
540CI BBC TWIN-TURBO
555CI BBC TWIN-TURBO
454CI BBC SC
4G63 TURBO
1UZ TURBO
13B TURBO
4G63 TURBO
540CI BBC NA
540CI BBC NA
598CI BBC NITROUS
13B TURBO
4G63 TURBO
540CI BBC NA
427CI SBC NA
427CI SC
588CI HEMI NA
540CI BBC NITROUS
555CI BBC SC
572CI BBC PROCHARGER SC
6.2L SC
400CI SBC SC
RB26 TURBO
RB26 TURBO
400CI SBC NA
379CI SBF
572CI BBC NA
13B TURBO
551CI BBF NITROUS
582CI BBC NITROUS
392CI PC SBC

TRIM AS RACED
E85, ET STREETS
AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
AVGAS, NITROUS, DOT HOOSIERS
C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
E85, DOT HOSSIERS
PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIERS
AVGAS, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, STREET RADIALS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
PUMP GAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
C14, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, ET STREETS
AVGAS, ET STREETS, EXHAUST REMOVED
E85, ET STREETS
AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, ET STREETS
E85, MT RADIAL
AVGAS EXHAUST REMOVED, NITROUS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
E85, DOT HOOSIERS
AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, MT SLICKS
AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, MT SLICKS
PUMP GAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIERS
C12, DOT HOOSIERS
PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIERS
E85 DOT MICKY TS

Yellow text denotes a new entry or bettered ET.

HEMI THE WORLD

NZ’S 100 QUICKEST V8 DRAG RACERS
To update your details, email editor@v8.co.nz Yellow text denotes a new entry or bettered ET / *Currently competing vehicles only listed

GROUP ONE TOP-10 VEHICLES
TOP FUEL
Michael Franklin
Karl Boniface
TOP ALCOHOL
Tamara Silk
Shane Lodge
Wayne Curry
Bryan Norman
Simon Fowke
Andrew Curry
TOP DOORSLAMMER
Barry Plumpton
Gavin Green
Nigel Dixon
Benjes/Dillon
Dwane Garrett
Trevor Smith
Dwayne Garrett
Kane Douché
Mark Thomas
Steve Carlson

SPONSOR
Castrol
SPONSOR
Lucas Oil
RPM Automation

SPONSOR
Focus Construction
Kruzin Kustoms
Childs Play
Torquing Heads
Trevor Smith Racing
KND Electrical
Wairarapa Automotive & Engineering

VEHICLE
Nitro FC
Nitro FC
VEHICLE
Dragster
Dragster
’27 T-altered
FE Dragster
FC
T-Altered
VEHICLE
Chev Camaro
Pontiac Firebird
Ford Falcon
Chev Beretta
Camaro
Holden Statesman
Chev Camaro
55 Chev
Ford Customline
Falcon Sprint

ET
5.93
6.89
ET
5.84
6.091
6.15
6.16
6.20
6.819
ET
5.92
6.07
6.10
6.21
6.24
6.26
6.30
6.33
6.36
6.60

MPH
236.55
206.90
MPH
245.00
227.42
229.07
223.87
226.10
199.52
MPH
237.42
234.45
241.00
221.50
223.00
225.94
214.55
225.00
225.60
206.57

Pontiac Grand Am
Pontiac GXP
Dragster
’27 T Roadster
Dragster
Ford Maverick
Dragster
Dragster
Dragster
Altered
CHCH FC
Dragster
Camaro
Pontiac Funny Car
Dragster
Altered
FE Dragster
FE Dragster
FE Dragster
FE Dragster
Altered
Chev S10
Altered
FE Dragster
FC
Altered
23 T Altered
Chev Camaro
FE Dragster
05 Jaguar XKR
’69 Camaro
36 Chev
Dragster
’23 T-Altered
69 Vauxhall PC Cresta
Altered
Freight Train
63 Chev Nova
Altered
Honda Accord
55 Chev
FE Dragster
XA Falcon
’64 Ford Falcon
FE Dragster
Dragster
Willys Coupe
23 T Bucket
66 Impala
Altered
FE Dragster
84 Corvette
Chev Nova
VW Beetle
XY Falcon Ute
Dragster
Chev Nova
FE Dragster
Plymouth Fury
Willys Coupe
T-Altered
Pontiac GTO
Altered
Camaro
55 Chev
FE Dragster
Dragster
FE Dragster
Sinister
Ford Capri
59 Impala
FE Dragster
HT Holden Ute
Holden HT
Ford Mustang
Dragster
Altered
Dragster
Falcon
T-Altered
Chev Camaro
FE Dragster

6.63
6.83
5.78
6.34
6.37
6.38
6.45
6.48
6.52
6.56
6.58
6.63
6.66
6.73
6.77
6.84
6.90
6.91
6.91
6.94
6.96
6.98
7.02
7.02
7.04
7.04
7.05
7.08
7.11
7.13
7.16
7.17
7.19
7.19
7.21
7.23
7.24
7.25
7.25
7.26
7.27
7.28
7.28
7.30
7.319
7.35
7.42
7.43
7.44
7.44
7.46
7.461
7.49
7.50
7.52
7.54
7.54
7.56
7.59
7.60
7.62
7.69
7.69
7.72
7.73
7.76
7.78
7.78
7.8
7.82
7.90
7.95
7.98
8.03
8.07
8.07
8.11
8.13
8.15
8.18
8.19
8.22

210.15
200.35
254.10
218.41
197.89
211.49
171.25
216.8
208.36
204.00
201.30
209.7
191.48
205.2
204.14
187.45
195.09
201.10
190.89
201.22
192.17
206.50
192.00
180.12
198.17
165.00
184.07
192.36
191.00
182.77
191.92
192.60
188.17
178.85
193.50
176.86
142.66
198.12
181.52
194.86
200.53
179.11
168.95
190.24
184.93
181.13
182.00
183.00
187.55
178.00
189.23
189.04
182.07
180.29
185.08
168.00
183.46
176.77
173.54
176.11
174.38
165.50
171.49
176.70
180.55
170.49
175.44
161.88
169.00
177.24
166.87
176.12
159.94
174.22
166.93
164.34
161.99
165.94
161.13
160.10
166.85
157.40

GROUP TWO/THREE QUICKEST VEHICLES

FREEPHONE
0508 86 66 86
WWW.MOUNTSHOP.CO.NZ

Prestney/Dobson Pirtek
Rex Duckett
Christoffersen/King/Hay
Lindsay/Karen Hay
Jordan Robertson
Tony Marsh
Todd Vincent
Grant/Adrian/Nicole Rivers
Craig Griffith
Stuart Henley-Minchington
Bill/Clint Minchington
Dave Tunnel
Roger Binnema
Grant Rivers
Raymond/Trent Smyth
Alan Hartley
Grant Briffault
Dion Crook
Aaron Lelean
JD Shepherd
Ian Deboo
Dean Scott
Sam Leviene
Ross Brown
Darren Hayes
Jason Robertson
Rob Boyce
Jodey Irving
Cameron Paterson
Graham Carter
Brent Whittingham
Steve Milliken
Kendal/Dylan Smith
Gerald Smith
Graeme Bates
Rchard McCarthy
Mark Vincent
Gary Sinkinson
Gary Bogaart
Roger Binnema
George McCutcheon
Graham Christison
Gary/Casey Cawthra
Bobby Owens
Ana Paterson
Wayne Tangney
Mark Gapp
Vanessa Lilly
David/Trevor Tynan
Peter Schimanski
Andrew Rea/Gary Martin
Darryn Hayes
Kurt Goodin
JD Sheppard
Jason Sellars
Andrew Neiman
John Hooper
Paul Sattler
Ryan Sheldon
Benji Sneddon
Neil Morgan
Michael Franklin
Reuban/Jack Beaumont
Robert Shearing
Dylan Deboo
Pete Lormans
Neville Gadd
Dave Mason
Rueban Beaumont
Mike Wilson
Ces Miller
Kevin Ericson
Aidan Crook
Craig Wilson
Murray Hartley
Cory Silk
Bruce Riddick
Janelle Lawson
Dutchie Wijdeven
Doug/Daniel Jefferies
Mike Cload
Pete Lormans

Taranaki
Total Oil
RC Industries
Hutt City Autoworld
Marsh Motorsport
Blu’s Brothers Racing
Buck Engineering
Anthill Mob/Garden City Movers
Trident Homes/Auto Trans CHCH
TPE Racing

FE
New Zealand Home Loans
Tax Time Accounting
DB Racecars
A1 Exhaust
Mayhem Racing

G.A.S Parua Bay

Rob Boyce Racing
Lucas oil
Lichfield Poultry Farm

GSS
Kruzin Kustoms
Rivers speed/Feilding Flowers
Haltech / SGR Engineering

Cylinder Head Services

Macauley Metals

Pro Parts
Rib Rattler Racing

Martin & Rea
Kurt goodin artworks
JSE Fabrications
Peko Contracting
Autochecker/KG Artwork
All Fleet Services
MJH Engineering
Team Sonic
Mayhem Racing
Remarkables tools & Safety
A1 Exhaust
Balclutha Automotive Services

Evolution Painting & Decorating
Otaihanga Speed Shop

Bran Roberts Towing

TT INDUSTRIES
6 SPEED SEQUENTIAL
GEARBOX
Rated to 750hp
Wide range of setups available
Custom ratio options
Proudly designed and
manufactured in New Zealand
Also available in 4 speed, 5 speed
and 5 speed XHD

TTi.GTO

TT.Industries

ttindustries.com | sales@ttindustries.com
24 Forests Road, Nelson, NZ | +64 3547 1517

aeroflow
Race Diary

morice
mcmillin

NEW CAR BLUES
ell, all good runs have to come to an end,
and I was really hoping the first round of
the 2023/24 championship would not be that
weekend. After a great run of success between
the Nitro Express and the Aeroflow Top Fuel
Funny Car, this was our first race with the new
Aeroflow Mustang. Now this car was brand new,
assembled, wired, and set up all at Aeroflow
funny car headquarters, so it was not ‘new’ to us.
We had done five test passes on it, and let me tell
you it was fast from the get-go, and I mean really
fast, with every run going exactly as planned.
In typical Aeroflow fashion, it now also meant
we had an extra car sitting in the workshop, so
after a few phone calls — well, actually just one
to NHRA star Tommy Johnson Jr — we decided
we would put together a fourth car to run out of
the Aeroflow stables. On the Wednesday prior
to the event we wanted to do a test pass with TJ
to get him comfortable in the car and to get the
new team acquainted with our procedures. So
in another pinch yourself moment, there I was in
the staging lanes adjusting the tune up in my old
car with Tommy Johnson Jr driving it. Guiding
him into stage, I made the final fuel adjustment
and sent him in. Every time I do that roll on any
car, I always look at the driver and before sending
them in, I mouth the words “have fun”. Of course

W

I did the same, but walked away thinking, ‘I just
said that to a guy who has done 4000 laps in
these cars.’ A planned half track shut off saw the
car run 5.02 at only 220mph so we knew things
were ready to go for that Toyota.
Q1 didn’t start off so well for the Aeroflow
Mustang. New car blues decided to start now
with a gremlin setting off the throttle safety
switch, which basically disconnects the throttle
from the pedal. As I was going into stage I felt
the pedal go limp and had no choice but to idle
down the track — not the debut we wanted for
the new car, especially after our testing results.
However, we were confident that in Q2 we could
make up for that issue, but the weather had other
ideas and rain put an end to the day.
So basically it was straight into eliminations
against Adam Murphy. This time we had no
throttle switch to stop us and the car left good; I
didn’t see Adam next to me and the car felt fast.
It started to drift around a little bit but nothing
that was too worrying, then just past half track it
hurt a piston so I shut it off. Now, let me tell you,
although you’re doing 270mph (400km/h) it feels
so slow when you’re praying the car next to you
doesn’t drive past you. Thankfully, Adam only
came flying past after the finish line, so not the
run we wanted, but a round win all the same.

ALTHOUGH
YOU’RE DOING
270MPH
(400KM/H) IT
FEELS SO SLOW
WHEN YOU’RE
PRAYING THE
CAR NEXT TO
YOU DOESN’T
DRIVE PAST YOU

AFFORDABLE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE
PROFESSIONAL FLUID TRANSFER SYSTEMS
AND PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
82
AEROFLOWPERFORMANCE

Round 2 and with the way the three-round
format works we ended up racing Adam again.
This time as I backed up from the burn out, the
clutch felt really funny and I realised the clutch
controller had activated, but I was not too worried
as the crew reactivated it all when they lifted the
body up after the burn out. The only problem
was it was actually a clutch malfunction so when
I stood on the throttle, instead of engaging six of
the 18 clutch levers it engaged all 18. Instead of
applying one third of the 11,000 horsepower at the
hit of the throttle, it tried to apply all 11,000hp to
the track, which does not work. I gave it a couple
of stabs on the pedal to no avail as it just wouldn’t
hook the tyres up. All I could do was watch Adam
drive away to take the round win.
The final round of the night was a rematch of
the Winter Nationals final between us and Brandon
Gosbell in the Rocket funny car, however this
time it was for fifth and sixth. Once again the track
was cooling off pretty quickly, so it was going
to be interesting to see how the cars would go.
The Aeroflow Mustang left hard and by quarter
track it was absolutely flying with some seriously
fast incremental times, but new car blues got us
again. This time instead of all 18 levers engaging
straight away, at quarter track and the last six levers
didn’t engage. The only positive was Brandon had
overpowered the track so had got off the throttle.
So a round win nonetheless.
As I said at the start of this column, all good
runs have to come to an end, and for the Aeroflow
team this event was it. But when you’re surrounded
by a team like we have, we will be back next race
and I know we will be on top of all the gremlins
and ready to make the points back up that we
missed.

DECADE
AGO

ISSUE NOS. 100 AND 101

yOßEw Eª‫غ‬DECEw Eª

2013

WHERE IS IT NOW?
JOHN COOPER — 1968 FORD MUSTANG

J

ohn Cooper’s Mustang is one of New
Zealand’s secret success stories — a full
tube chassis street car that looks like it should
be running with the Top Doorslammer field.
The car was built with the best bits available
and by the best people around, and although
John never ended up racing it, the car had all
the potential to be one of the quickest, if not
the quickest streetcar in the land. However, with
various business and other interests, the car
— as amazing as it was — really didn’t get the
attention it deserved, and in 2022 it was put up
for sale. Not wanting to deal with the inevitable
tyre kickers, or people’s opinions about a big
block Chev powering a Mustang, a deal was
done off-market with the perfect buyer for it:

84

Brad Vear. Brad’s owned a bunch of cool cars in
his time, and wanted something next level, and
they don’t get more extreme than the Mustang.
Since taking ownership, he’s added his own
touch, the most notable being a matte silver
wrap together with a new set of wheels. He
purchased the car while living in the deep
south, but has since returned to Rotorua where
he’s had Russell and the team at The Toy Shed
involved in helping make the car even more
to his taste. The car still hasn’t been down the
drag strip, and to be fair, Brad’s not in any hurry
to do so, preferring to have it as a seriously
tough streeter that has nothing to prove. It
was amazing when it was built, and it’s just as
amazing now.

WHERE IS IT NOW?

CARL JOHNSTON — 1963 CHEV IMPALA

D

ripping in candy red paint, sitting on
airbags, and packed full of Sony audio gear,
Carl Johnston’s Impala was the perfect street
cruiser… almost. After our shoot, Carl undertook
a brake upgrade and changed the wheels from
wires to 20s before deciding to sell the car. A
few owners later, it ended up in the custody of
the NZ Police, where it is believed to remain
today. While that’s a sad end for the car, Carl
on the other hand has gone on to good things.

Besides meeting his now wife through the
car, and having a couple of kids together, he’s
also owned and modified a number of other
vehicles. That includes a ’53 Chev 311 pickup,
’66, ’68, and ’69 Lincoln Continentals, a ’66 and
a ’67 Impala, and he’s currently playing with a
’68 Cadillac. While none of those have been to
the level of the original Impala, we’d say it’s only
a matter of time before he builds something
jaw-dropping again.

AND THE REST
L

arry Kerridge’s ’66 GTO is one car that sticks
in the memory of previous NZV8 Editor Todd
Wylie. A decade ago, the car was a genuine low
10-second streeter, which puts it well into an
elite group. While Larry continued to race the car,
consistently running times in the 10.2-second
zone, sadly he ended up parking it up for a few
years before selling it. The good news is, the
new owner is now a regular at NAPA Auto Parts
Dragway, and the car is every bit as good as Todd

remembers it to be. There’s a similar story with
Dean Mitchell’s VU Commodore ute. After
making the car his own, coating it in deep
gloss black, and undertaking plenty of engine
work, he too on-sold the car, and it’s still on
the road today looking as good as when he
sold it. Robert and Andrew Pegler’s collection
of aero warriors thankfully have not been moved
on, and stay in their custody surrounded by other
equally impressive machines.

straight
talk

tony
johnson

SO LONG,
SIMPLE WORLD
M

y home hot rod club, Wanganui Road
Rodders, had its 50th anniversary a few
weeks back, and I contributed to a book that
Peter Berge and other members were writing
(fantastic job they did of it, too) to mark the
event. I was asked to write about what it was
like to be a hot rod club member in the
1980s. That doesn’t seem like long ago
when you’re part of my generation and
you say “the ’80s” quickly, but, bugger me,
the early 1980s was 40 years ago. That’s
before a significant proportion of NZV8
readers were even born.
We didn’t know it then, but it was a
great period of our lives. Having a good
time was easy, nobody took things too
seriously, and there wasn’t much in the
way of consequences if we overstepped
the mark. In some ways, I’m sorry for the
generations that have grown up since
because they missed out on a much
simpler life, and a life where, as young
car guys, we were able to have some fun
without getting locked up or having our
cars impounded.
I think part of the reason the 1980s was
a great time to be a car guy is because it
marked a new era of ‘accessible speed’
for young car guys. Throughout the
1960s and 1970s, while high-powered
small-block Chevys, Ford Windsors and
Clevelands were starting to creep in as
engines of choice for people building
cars, they were still very expensive. Many hot
rodders continued to use the vastly more
affordable flathead V8 Fords, 272/292 Fords,
and 283 Chevs. By the time the 1980s had rolled
around however, most of us could afford a 327
or 350 Chevy, or even a big-block Chevy, for our
builds. Also, factory hot rods like V8-equipped

Falcons, Monaros, Chargers, and Toranas were
becoming old enough to be affordable for the
average bloke. Suddenly, there we all were,
driving cars — hot rods or regular road cars —
that could run 13-second, or even 12-second,
quarter mile times. It was a big, and sudden,

“…WE
SEEMED
TO KNOW
WHERE
THE LINE
WAS…”
shift. In only the space of a decade, your 10year old affordable drive car went from being a
six-cylinder EH Holden or MK 3 Zephyr, to a GT
Falcon or GTS Monaro, and the engine in your
budget home-built hot rod went from being
a 160 horsepower 272 ‘boat anchor’ to a 300
horsepower 350 Chevy.

86

Because of the level of performance available
to us then, my clubmates and I — just like other
hot rodders all around the country — took an
increased interest in drag racing. Some of us
did okay at it, but more importantly, we had a
hell of a time doing it. Bruce ‘Goose’ McDonald
(chopped two-door yellow ’55 Chevy) broke
during qualifying at a race meeting at Thunder
Park one time, got on the booze, and then
half-way through the racing programme
found himself being chased down the drag
strip by the fire truck as he did a streak in
front of thousands of cheering spectators.
Mark Branford (409 and four-speed candy
red-and-white ’56 Chevy) had qualified well at
another event, but never appeared for round
one because he’d wandered over to catch
up with the Whanganui supporters in the
grandstand, got on the piss with them, and
forgot that he was racing. Of course he did! It
was the ’80s…
In a wonderful stroke of luck, these fast
street cars coincided with a time that predated being guaranteed of getting a speeding
ticket if you got caught going too quickly.
The ‘Traffic Department’ was separate from
the Police back then, so the ‘cop’ presence
was, compared to now, few and far between,
especially on the open road. There was
no radar, so whatever the speed really was
became open to debate, and more often
than not, if you did get caught speeding,
because there were no ‘quotas’ back then,
we had a better than even chance of talking our
way out of a ticket. It’s hard to imagine now,
but we would travel at huge speeds during our
out-of-town road-trips. Not just a quick windup, or gassing it for a mile or two, but sustained
big speeds. In a decent car, we’d sit, easily and
comfortably at, and over, 100mph (160kph) for

an hour at a time. There was nothing particularly
clever about that, but it’s pretty astonishing
that we thought we could get away with it. And
here’s the thing — we thought that we could get
away with it, because we did get away with it. All
the time.
To young blokes today, this stuff probably
sounds like tall stories or exaggeration. One
other difference with that environment
compared to todays is, of course, the number of
cars on the road – the national vehicle fleet has
doubled over the past four decades.
We’d get pulled over now and then, and
usually the traffic cop would give us a good
telling off, and we’d be told not to do it again.
That was it. “Yes Sir!” We didn’t seem to have
any real fear of repercussions, probably because
they seldom happened. Certainly, no-one ever
had their car impounded. Occasionally there
were consequences, but you had to try pretty
hard. Mark Branford did an almighty line-lock
burnout at a set of traffic lights on Victoria
Ave (Whanganui’s main city centre street) one
Saturday night in his 409-powered ’56 Chevy,
blanking out the whole intersection with smoke
to the extent that everyone coming from every
direction had to stop because they couldn’t
see where they were going. It would have been
perfect, if not for the marked Traffic Department
car immediately behind him at the traffic light.
That cost Mark II his licence. Again. But even
then, the car didn’t get impounded. Mark II just
got in the back, one of his passengers got behind
the wheel, and we carried on cruising for the
night like nothing had happened.

This was a from a road trip we did in the early 1980s from Wanganui to Thunderpark and
back, with 8 people in my ’60 Galaxie! Seatbelts? What are they?!

The people who lived in my street formed
a residents’ committee to try to deal with me.
Before and after every drag meeting, and other
times just for fun, I’d do huge open-headered
smokey burn-outs up and down the street in
my big-block Viva a few times, and so they
appointed a ‘spokes-group’ to meet with me to
try to stop this stuff. Of course, I didn’t listen, so
eventually they made a complaint to my hot rod
club. Sadly for the good people of Barrack Street,
the letter they received in reply was a little short
on compassion because I was the club president.

While the stupidity of youth was ever-present,
and we all did burn-outs anywhere, anytime,
what we did seem to have on our side was
some sort of ability to understand the principles
of ‘time and place’. Looking back, as stupid
as we were, we seemed to keep our antics
confined to a set of circumstances that was
less likely to kill us. Our big speeds were on
dry roads, and not in built up areas. Our street
racing was away in quieter industrial areas.
As an adult, some decades later, I’ve been
involved in a lot of accident investigations of

modified vehicles through my work within
LVVTA, and have seen up close the horrific
consequences of young people (our age back
in the ’80s), who, for some reason, didn’t grasp
the concept of ‘time and place’. One case was
the aftermath of four young blokes, all drunk,
in a modified Japanese import doing 160kph
in a 50kph area, at night, in the wet. Three of
the four kids were killed, with only the driver
surviving. I look back on the 1980s (and earlier)
and think how lucky I am, and how lucky all of
my car friends of the time are, to not be living
with that sort of thing on our consciences. I
guess, for all our stupidity, there was a line there
somewhere, and we seemed to know where
that line was, and we knew not to cross it.
The ’80s were, in general, a wonderful time;
carefree, un-PC, do whatever the heck you
want. The Wanganui Road Rodders clubrooms
could tell some stories. We used to have some
great parties there – not for any particular
reason; just open up on Friday night, people
would turn up, and things would get messy. Rod
Sklenars got stripped naked for some reason
once, and his gruts spent the night hanging
from a light fitting. Someone let rip inside with
the fire hose one night and drenched most of
us there. Euan Mark didn’t like people smoking,
and kept pouring his beer into my cigarette
packet, wrecking three packets of fags in one
night. We’d often realise it was time to go home
because we’d see the sun coming up, and we’d
wake up Joe Berridge who was semi-conscious
outside the entrance way as we stepped over
him.
Until old mate Rod Sklenars reminded me
during the recent anniversary weekend, I’d
forgotten about two of our club members who
ended up in hospital during separate incidents
at one of our Friday night get-togethers. Grant
Rivers got utterly trolleyed and was dancing
around on one of the tables, fell off, and
broke a leg. Later in the same evening, Rod
Sklenars, equally trashed, got hold of someone’s

WE JUST DID OUR THING, AND TRIED TO
KEEP OUT OF EVERYONE ELSE’S WAY
scooter and while trying to do donuts outside
in the carpark, he hit a pothole, went over the
handlebars, and broke his collarbone. Rivers
and Sklenars bumped into each other up at the
outpatients’ sections of the Whanganui hospital
that night and kept each other company until
they were both patched up again.
According to today’s woke, PC, and ‘inclusive’
brigade, we were ignorant menaces to a society
over-tolerant of our reprehensible behaviour.
But y’know what? We didn’t kill ourselves. We
didn’t hurt anyone else. We didn’t ram-raid
shops. We didn’t force our beliefs and cultural

88

ideals on anyone else. And, we didn’t go around
getting all offended by everyone who had a
different opinion to ours or said something we
didn’t like. We just did our thing, and tried to
keep out of everyone else’s way.
Subsequent generations have changed
the shape of our society a lot in the past
40-something years. But, for all the
improvements that have been made to our lives
and our society over the past four decades, I
sure wouldn’t choose to be having my time as a
20-something year old over again now, instead
of the amazing ’80s.

THE GEARBOX
FACTORY - FAMILY
OWNED BUSINESS
FOR 49 YEARS

49 YEARS SERVICING, REPLACING, REPAIRING AND REBUILDING AUTOMATIC, MANUAL,
DSGS, CVTS, 4WDS, DIFFERENTIALS, TRANSFER CASES AND TORQUE CONVERTERS, ON ALL
MODELS OF VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS (UP TO 5000 TARE)

* Fully equipped machine shop and
torque converter rebuilding capability
* Latest diagnostic equipment and
tooling to service and repair all makes
and models of cars and light trucks
*Technical and sales staff with
decades of dedicated experience
*Approved and preferred by the
insurance industry for all quality work
*Finance available

1972 Valiant Pacer
This beautifully restored Pacer belongs to
The Gearbox Factory’s very talented
Automatic transmission rebuilder
Chris Pointon

No obligation test drive and diagnosis* Free courtesy cars* Free towing/pick up* Free car pickups and delivery* 18 months or 25,000km warranty on parts and workmanship* **Conditions apply

THE GEARBOX FACTORY FOR NATIONWIDE SERVICE: 68 GREENMOUNT DR, EAST TAMAKI, AUCKLAND, PH. 09 274 8340, enquiries@gearboxfactory.co.nz

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION MOUNTS

HOLDEN

+ FORD + CHRYSLER + CHEV + NISSAN

PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN MADE
ENGINE CONVERSION KITS & COMPONENTS
LS ENGINE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
TUBULAR GEARBOX CROSSMEMBERS
SUSPENSION & CHASSIS + MORE!

Call Us +61 8 8374 0011

or email sales@tuffmounts.com.au

NOW
STOCKED AT

2-4 Denis Street, St Mary’s South Australia 5042

www.tuffmounts.com.au

HOT ROD
RAMBLINGS

GREG
STOKES

RUNNING
DOWN A DREAM

90

s a boy growing up in New Zealand during the
eighties, the hot rod culture of the USA seemed
such a faraway place. As a kid I never thought I
would get to America or see some of the cars I was
reading about, let alone meet the creators of these
cars. I think the ’70s and ’80s era of American hot
rodding was an interesting time before the internet
and reality TV. I read about guys like Pete & Jake,
the Brizios, Bob Bauder, Pete Eastwood, Fat Jack,
Lil John, and Tom Prufer, to name a few. The most
inspiring writers of that time were the late Gray
Baskerville and the late Pat Ganahl; they had a way
with words that made you visualise a lot more than
what was in print — inspiring times. It was during this
time when I started to find my way in the rodding
world as to the style of car I really like. Cars like the
roadsters of the late Pete Chapouris with Limefire,
and the late Boyce Asquith’s drag and street car
really struck a chord and rate highly in my Top 10.
Another one was the Cop Shop coupe of Tom
Prufer, built mostly by Pete Eastwood.
Prufer was inspired by the cartoon artwork of the
late Dave Bell, which was the masthead of the Cop
Shop column in Street Rodder Magazine. It was a
severely exaggerated chopped and channelled ’34
Ford coupe and Prufer dug it real bad. So much so
that he harassed Pete Eastwood for long enough
that Pete agreed to build the car based on the
cartoon. Anyone who has built a car knows that
renderings can cheat reality and a cartoon is no
exception. In his late twenties at the time, Pete
masterfully built the coupe to replicate the cartoon
like never seen before. It was a real head scratcher
of a build to be honest, as both Prufer and Eastwood
reflect upon it some 40 years later. The Cop Shop
coupe went down as one of the most timeless and

A

THIS IS TESTAMENT TO THE ART
INSPIRING ITS CREATORS BACK IN 1982
badass ’34 Ford coupes of all time for many in the
USA rodding scene. This is testament to the art
inspiring its creators back in 1982. I had been a fan
of this car for many years and it would not be until
2016 when I actually got to see it in real life.
We were travelling up the coast from LA to

COUNTRY
CLASSIC
CARS
699 Rongotea Road, Rongotea, Manawatu
info@countryclassiccars.co.nz
www.countryclassiccars.co.nz
Mob: 027 270 9703 Ph: 06 324 8884

Canada for Deuce Days and I reached out to
Chuck Rodgers to see if we could see the car. It
was a meeting that ticked off a bucket list thing
to see such an iconic car, but also led to a great
friendship with Chuck and his wife Marsha. We kept
in contact over the years and one day I reached

Full Restoration Services
Custom & Hot Rod Work
Competitive Rates

to see such an iconic car, but also led to a great
friendship with Chuck and his wife Marsha. We kept
in contact over the years and one day I reached
out again, “I know this is random but could I please
be considered for next in line if and when the time
came to sell the coupe?” Chuck replied, “Sure.”

Wow, how cool is that, I thought, and it proves the
old saying of ‘you don’t get what you don’t ask for’.
Fast forward to June 2022, when I met with Chuck
and Marsha for dinner and Chuck asked if I was
still keen on the coupe. “Hell yes!” I replied. It took
a year to put it all together and by October 2023

TOP OFF THE TRANS FLUID, ADJUST THE
BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS, AND THIS
BAD BOY WAS READY FOR THE ROAD

92

I had become the next owner or caretaker of the
Cop Shop coupe. What is interesting though is that
if you look back to my NZV8 Hot Rod Ramblings
column in 2015 I talked about the influence this car
had on me and also others here in New Zealand.
Be careful what you wish for, as I concluded by
wondering if a chopped and channelled black with
flames ’33–’34 Ford coupe was in my future!
Back in October, my Dad and I had a great
father and son trip to go and collect the car with
much great assistance from Squeak Bell. The
reality of owning such a car had set in and while
the idea had been sitting around for 10–15 years
I didn’t know whether to be more happy or more
nervous. Collection day was nerve-racking but
Chuck and Marsha are the best people you could
ever hope to buy a car from. It was a big day for
them also, as owning the Cop Shop coupe had
been a big part of their lives. As for me, I was on
another planet. We had a great lunch together and
loaded the car onto Squeak’s trailer. Only then
did we notice a broken leaf spring on the trailer,
so we rushed around and fixed that, and were
back on the road around 6pm. It had been a long
day, but what a ride home it was with THAT car on
the trailer!
The next day we started getting the car ready
to run; all the fluids were clean, and it cranked
over good enough to get 40 psi oil pressure to
bring fuel up to the carb. With a new starter motor
fitted, the ignition leads around the right way,
and a stuck needle fixed in the carb, the coupe
fired straight up to a healthy and happy idle. Unfreakin-believable! Top off the trans fluid, adjust
the brakes and wheel bearings, and this bad boy
was ready for the road. What an incredible driving
experience too, peering through that chopped
screen with the Frankland quick change rear end
screaming out the back. Next up is to display it at
the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona,
CA, on the first weekend of February and then
bring it home. That can’t come soon enough!

15B Polaris Place, East Tamaki,
Auckland Phone: 09 274 5871

ORDER ONLINE NOW: WWW.PERFORMANCEPARTS.NZ
100% NEW ZEALAND OWNED AND OPERATED

— Over —

TS

40 YEARS

N EW Z E A L A N D !

#1 A M E R I C A N & AU S

8 PARTS SPECIALIS

E IN

10 Tironui Road, Takanini, Auckland 2112 / 09 299 6890
0RQ‹)ULDPSP/6DWXUGD\DPSP
ZZZSHUIRUPDQFHSDUWVQ] /)DFHERRNFRP9SDUWV

NV
ALIA

TO R

Our staff with extensive knowledge
and dedication will offer you the
best quality and selection of parts
available around the world to
PDNHb\RXUUHPRGHOOLQJDQHQMR\DEOH
experience.

TR

We offer a range that includes
thousands of parts from exhaust to
engine parts, for a variety of makes
and car models from America and
Australia, plus we ship nationwide.

in Business
E XC E L L E NC E

BURNOUT
FILES

HAYDEN
WILBY

BLACK LINES MATTER

BIG RISK, BIG REWARDS — RIGHT? WE HEAD BACK TO MEREMERE DRAGWAY FOR AUTOFEST IN
ASSOCIATION WITH BURNOUT MASTERS TO PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE AGAIN — THAT’S THE BURNOUT LIFE
e are just a few days away from the 2023
edition of Downtime Entertainment’s
AutoFest, and I’m wrapping up the last few loose
ends before we hit the road. One of these tasks
includes getting my new tow wagon legalised. A
couple of years back, I purchased a deregistered
party bus with the grand idea of converting it
into the Fitzroy Motorsport mobile HQ. This
would serve as a hub for events, where we could

W

sell our merchandise, accommodate the whole
crew, and even double as sleeping quarters when
needed. It wasn’t an easy feat, and as is often the
case, leaving it to the last minute didn’t make
things any smoother. Putting a deregistered
passenger service vehicle back into operation is
not something I’d be eager to repeat.
At last year’s AutoFest, we had a fantastic run
of merchandise sales over the two days. So, in

94

the past month or so, I’ve been hard at work
designing three new tees and hoodies. We’re
incredibly fortunate to have had consistent
support from our merchandise buyers over the
years, and it significantly contributes to funding
our projects. Therefore, having a well-stocked
inventory is crucial, and the folks at Muzzy Shirts
consistently go the extra mile to ensure we have
top-quality gear.

The logistics of a three-day event located at
the far end of the country are quite extensive.
By the time we load the car into the trailer,
pack enough tyres for a great time, gather the
tools, fuel, gazebos, chairs, etc., and stock
the bus with merchandise, food, and drinks, a
whole day flies by.
I’m incredibly excited for this year’s AutoFest
because it has now become an official
Burnout Masters event! This is a monumental
step for the sport of burnouts in New Zealand.
Burnout Masters conduct qualifying rounds at
events across Australia, where the top finishers
secure a spot in the Burnout Masters Final at
Summernats.
The Burnout Masters Final consists of the
top 30 cars in Australia. Earning a place in this
elite competition is the pinnacle of burnouts.
This is what the audience comes to witness —
the main event. The excitement is electric, and
the crowd goes wild, eagerly anticipating the
crowning of the Burnout Masters Champion.
I hope that this will evolve into a series in
New Zealand, giving us the opportunity for a
Burnout Masters ticket. This year’s AutoFest
offers a prize pool of $10,000 and, for the
top finisher, a different kind of reward — no
Burnout Masters ticket, but a spot in the official
Burnout Masters Game! This is a substantial
prize in its own right because people can pay
to download your car in the game, and you
receive royalties for it.
My sidekick and merchandise manager, my
daughter Charlotte, and I embarked on our
journey on Thursday night at around 6pm,
heading to the first part of the weekend at

Hampton Downs. I had overestimated the
pulling power of my 1991 Hino Rainbow, as
she struggled to tow my fully loaded trailer at
any reasonable speed. We were crawling at
80kmph on flat roads and slowing down to
about 30kph on even slight inclines. I watched
as the evening turned into night, and our
slow-moving rig became a 15-metre obstacle
for other traffic as we made our way up the
North Island.
We arrived at Hampton Downs around
11am on Friday morning, a staggering 17 hours
after our journey began. I did take a break in
Taupō to catch some sleep, but I seriously
need to rethink the whole bus thing as a tow
wagon. Maybe it needs a turbo, ha ha. We
were greeted by a small line of cars eager to
make the most of the track day. We spent a
few hours here, catching up with a group of
southerners who had made the long trek to
AutoFest and were excited to hit the track. I
decided not to unload here as I had come
for the Burnout competition and didn’t want
to create any unnecessary hassles for myself,
ha ha.
We then made a short five-minute drive
to Meremere Dragway, arriving early to set
up for the weekend. After spending about 10
minutes figuring out the best spot to park and
avoid getting stuck in soft grass, I settled on a
location I thought would work. As luck would
have it, I got stuck! Fortunately, Ramo Simpson
came to the rescue with his brand new Ford
Ranger to pull me out. Once we were in place,
we set up our pit area for the weekend and
finally had a chance to relax.

I’M INCREDIBLY
EXCITED FOR
THIS YEAR’S
AUTOFEST
BECAUSE IT HAS
NOW BECOME
AN OFFICIAL
BURNOUT
MASTERS EVENT

AutoFest offers a little something for everyone.
It encompasses car culture with activities such as
cruising, car shows, music, drag racing, burnouts, car
clubs, and socialising. It’s a place to share ideas and
show off the results of your garage work from the
past year.
On Saturday morning, those who hadn’t camped
started rolling in bright and early to get set up. The
public also began to arrive, looking for posters and
stickers. I left Charlotte in charge and headed off to
get the car scrutineered. When I returned, there were
a bunch of kids seeking photos and signatures. Kids
at these events make you feel like a rock star!
Light em up Lane opened, and cars were lining
up for their chance to destroy a set of tyres without
the pressure of being in the burnout competition.
The addition of zones like this is a game changer for
events, and many cars took full advantage of it over
the weekend. There’s no pressure, no judgement,
just you and your mates letting loose. The only rules
are that you must keep moving (no static burnouts)
and you can’t pop your tyres.
I’ve been following the rebuild of the Tainted
Burnout ute over the past 12 months at Llama
Engineering and eagerly anticipated its first outing.
Going from naturally aspirated to a Warspeed blown
LS package is an exciting upgrade! The ute literally
rolled off the dyno onto the trailer and was brought
all the way to AutoFest. So Light em up Lane was the
perfect opportunity for some testing, and although
Leon was taking it easy, she didn’t disappoint. As
soon as the loud pedal was stomped, the ute roared
to life, and massive amounts of smoke filled the air.
The ute still has some work to finish her off, but it
was awesome to see it make the finals in its first
outing. Tainted will be one to watch!

...CARS WERE
LINING UP FOR
THEIR CHANCE
TO DESTROY A
SET OF TYRES

One thing I love about my trips to Auckland
is seeing what new builds have been going on.
Nothing is safe from an LS swap around those
ways, and as usual, they didn’t disappoint — Ford
Cortina, Toyota Starlet, Subaru WRX, Toyota
Supra, Mazda RX-3 Coupe, and a good old VK
Commodore or two. The WRX was the one that
stood out for me. It was running a manual box,
and the driver manoeuvred it around the pad so
well with a heap of clutch kicks and many gear
changes. It was a very entertaining burnout!
Those who had already qualified for the
Burnout Masters final on Sunday were able to get
out and have a practice skid after the qualifying
was finished. It was great to be able to sit back
and watch the day’s qualifiers go head to head.
I got out to do my practice, and NUTOUT
performed flawlessly. I banged through the gears,
drove around the pad, and got the tyres off! I
feel very happy with where the car is at and am
confident about heading into the finals tomorrow.
The New Zealand burnout scene has been
going from strength to strength over the past
few years. With this new Burnout Masters series,
it gives everyone that little bit more motivation to
build bigger and better. The sky’s the limit when it
comes to building a burnout car. There are no set
rules to say what you can or can’t build. You can
build something totally wild or totally different.
The SLUG Burnout ute is a perfect example of
building something totally out of the box, and it’s
exciting to watch.
Sunday is here, and it’s finals day. There’s a
field of about 30 cars, so it’s shaping up to be an
exciting final. The weather is a bit unpredictable,
but people are slowly making their way into the
venue. We have the final drivers’ meeting and
the ball is drawn for positions. I draw 24, so I’ll be

96

following TAINTED, and HAUNTU will follow me.
When it’s finals time, nerves kick in for
everyone — whether they’re old timers or
newbies, it doesn’t matter. As we’re all lined up,
watching the others go before us and chatting
away, Reece Smith notices that the tyres on
TAINTED are completely bald! Leon has also
been helping work the pad, so somewhere
between him skidding down Light em up Lane
and working pad side, he’s forgotten to change
his tyres. Now he’s lined up in the finals with
tyres that will go bang in two seconds! Everyone
jumps into action mode to ensure Leon gets his
wheels changed in time to compete. It was so
awesome to see the burnout community rally
together for a fellow competitor.
It’s my turn to skid, and I’ve picked up a
passenger named Cindy Mendoza, a promising
young drag racer who’s keen to try her hand
at some burnouts. The light goes green, and I
do my usual third gear clutch dump, but we go
nowhere. The clutch has slipped and is crying
for help. I go back to first gear to get the wheels
going, but by then, I know I’ve already put
myself out of contention. My driving reflects the
disappointment. I manage to get the tyres off,
but I’m pissed off. It seems like I’m letting myself
down when it matters most. Something will have
to change for me to stay competitive.
Liz Gracie in EV1L69 puts on the performance
of the day and rightfully takes the crown as New
Zealand’s first Burnout Master. She and her car
always deliver the performance needed and set
the bar that everyone should aim for.
The days are counting down, and it won’t be
long before we’re all headed to Summernats to
support the team as they take on the big stage
and set those tyres ablaze!

TM

PREFERRED SUPPLIER

Radiators
Oil Coolers
Intercoolers
Charge Air Coolers
Heaters
Air Conditioning
Heat Exchangers
Coolant & Caps
www.radiators.co.nz



 

0800 628 723

Go fast bits WWW.PROFLOW.COM.AU

PROFLOW HAVE BEEN MAKING QUALITY PARTS EASILY AVAILABLE SINCE 2008
WORDS: NZV8 PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

I

n the day and age of sub-standard factories
around the world making knock-off parts with
no understanding of what they actually do, it
comes as a refreshing change when you deal
with a company that designs, tests, specifies, and
manufactures its own products. Australia’s Proflow
is exactly that and more. Part of the VPW group of
companies, a group that lives and breathes cars as
much as you do, the brains behind Proflow were
sick of sub-standard designs and manufacturing
they were finding abroad, so they set out to build
parts the right way.
It’s worked a treat, too, as Proflow has evolved over
the years from a small company focusing on fluid
transfer products into an automotive powerhouse
with a catalogue that’s a massive 440 pages!
Of course, these days, while a print catalogue is
nice, we all know the real shopping is done online,
and that’s a place where both Proflow and VPW
have successfully made their mark. Through the
proflow.com.au website, it’s easy to find the right
components for your full build or next upgrade.
Take intercoolers, for example, where they offer
all shapes and sizes as well as a few specific-fit

options for the likes of FG Falcons. The main seller,
as you’d expect, is the 600x300x76mm bar and
plate with 3-inch outlets. Perfect for any turbo
conversion where you’re looking for a decent flow
rate, minimum boost drop and maximum cooling,
the bar and plate intercoolers are available in a
black or raw aluminium finish.
While developing their product range, the company
naturally extended to tooling to help make fitting
intercoolers easier. One key item to assist in this
area is their vice-mounted pipe bead roller —
essential for making your own intercooler piping,
and with a size range of 
-inch to 6-inch, it will
come in handy for plenty of other workshop jobs,
too. Despite its diminutive size, the pipe bead
roller has been designed to last a lifetime, whether
it’s being used in the home workshop or in a
professional environment.
Of course, if you’re in the market for specialist tools
like this, chances are your build — or builds — are
getting serious, which is even more of a reason
to combine shipping costs and make sure to grab
all the parts you’ll need while on the Proflow
site. If you’ve got a common engine, like an LS,

98

for example, then there’s even more that the
Proflow team has for you. One of the highlights
of their catalogue is the new full billet-aluminium
SuperMax+ LS intake manifold. The manifolds
are a CNC-machined work of art that starts life
as a block of 6061 aluminium and ends up as
the ultimate under-bonnet accessory. Unlike
plenty of lesser quality parts, the manifolds don’t
just look good, but thanks to their CFD-aided
design, they offer maximum flow as well as
runners to maximise top-end performance. The
design works with 102mm throttle bodies (which
Proflow also produce), and unlike many LS turbo
manifolds, they have been designed to fit under
a stock VT-VF hood, and they work with LS1, LS2,
LS3, and L92 configurations.
The ability to design and manufacture high-end
components like this has been born from their
years of experience as well as a genuine passion
for all things performance. The Proflow staff
aren’t just there to sell parts but to make sure
you get the right combination to suit your build
goals; it’s something they pride themselves on.
Of course, they’re not above supplying the more
universal parts, too, such as a range of turbo
beanies to help keep under-bonnet temps down,
as well as turbo guards to keep stones out of
where they shouldn’t be. They even offer a range
of brake-line flaring tools ranging from a budgetfriendly option to a more professional-style

— and handy hint for those new to the game
— much easier-to-use tool. The professional
version even comes with the dies, allowing you
to flare 3/8th-inch tubing and create custom fuel
lines or similar. While you’re on the site, it may
pay to add a thread checker kit to your cart, too.
Or maybe ask Santa for one, as checking and
cleaning threads is much better than stripping
studs or cross threading, especially if it’s on
things like your heads, as you attach a fancy
new manifold. The 16-piece thread checker kit
includes all common metric and imperial sizes,
so it is just the thing regardless of your car’s
origin.
While Kiwis obviously don’t like to give Aussies
too much credit, when it comes to car parts and
car trends, the battle lines have softened, and
we know we can learn plenty from what goes
on over the ditch. And the Proflow crew deserve
plenty of credit for what they have been able to
achieve since their humble beginnings. Better
still, they’ve made it super easy for Kiwis to buy,
too, with the website automatically displaying
prices in NZ dollars, automatically calculating
shipping costs, and combining shipping when
you add more to your cart. Even if you’re not
looking for anything specific, with so many
products in their range, just browsing through
the Proflow website is well worthwhile. Just don’t
blame us when you find parts you can’t resist.

BETTER STILL,
THEY’VE MADE IT
SUPER EASY FOR
KIWIS TO BUY
www.proflow.com.au

EVENT 2023 KAIKOURA HOP

SUN, SEA, AND CLASSICS — THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR ANY CAR ENTHUSIAST
WORDS AND PHOTOS: ROD DUNN

100

THE EVENT SAW RECORDS BROKEN,
WITH 1200 VEHICLES ATTENDING
Shaun and Lisa Soal travelled over from Greymouth to attend Kaikōura
Hop. The guys are a regular sight on the east coast, travelling over for
a number of events during the year. This was their fourth Hop and they
really enjoyed the weekend. “We love it,” says Shaun. “We know a few
people and have made a lot of great long-term friends.” This year saw
them load up their 2011 E3 R8 ClubSport wagon with their wooden
signs to sell for the first time. The wagon is one of three built in the
colour ‘Sizzle’ and is build no. 83 of 185. The 6.2 litre power plant has
had a bit of work done to it, including a custom cam, Walkinshaw OTR,
XForce stainless headers, and Varex remote mufflers. The couple has
owned the wagon for 5.5 years

aikōura Hop has really established itself as one
of the South Island’s must-do events. This
year saw the event run from 13–17 September,
centred on the Kaikōura racecourse. Originally
run from the grounds of the Kaikōura Rugby
Club, the first Hop was held in 2010. Event
organiser, Doug O’Callahan, who was running a
business at the time, was looking for a way to shorten
the winter low season and envisioned a classic car
event that would not only bring hot rods and American
classics to town but also people willing to spend a few
dollars at local businesses.
“I was hoping to create an event that would attract
80-plus vehicles after a year or two,” Doug tells us. “That
first Hop in 2010 actually brought in 77 registrations, with
177 vehicles showing up on show day.” It wasn’t long
before the popularity of the classic car event caused
it to outgrow its home, and an alternative venue was
needed that could cater not only for the show and shine
but also for the growth of the event. So, in 2015, the
Kaikōura racecourse, situated in South Bay, was locked
in as the new home of Kaikōura Hop. The event has
steadily grown over the years to the point that the 2023
event saw records broken, with 1200 vehicles attending
Saturday’s Show and Shine.

The multi-day event started on Wednesday night
with the Early Bird Quiz night taking place at Groper
Garage Bar, which attracted quite the crowd. Thursday
was the much-anticipated ‘Bandit Run’ to the Rodin
Cars test facility located at Wandle Downs near Mt
Lyford. The facility includes three separate loops of the
test track for in-house engineers to effectively test their
innovative engineering and design projects. The facility
also houses some of the best manufacturing equipment
seen in any automotive facility, including one of the
largest 3D titanium printers in the world.
On arrival, the entrants got the chance to drive part
of the track before parking up and enjoying a walk
around the facilities, viewing their collection of cars,
as well as a number of vehicles and parts developed
by the Rodin Cars team. Entrants were also given the
chance to watch a McLaren take to the track for a lap
or two, with one lucky entrant tightly strapped into
the passenger seat. Thursday night’s entertainment
was a drive-in movie back at the racecourse, but
unfortunately, this had to be cancelled due to the
strong nor’wester that was battering the east coast.

Gary Morton is a well-known NZ rodder, having built several hot rods
and custom cars over the years. Finished only days before Kaikōura
Hop, Gary was attending his fourth Hop in his absolutely beautiful 1941
Chrysler Royal business coupe. This is a body shape rarely seen in New
Zealand. Owned for 28 years, Gary has fought a few battles over the
years while building the car, but has finally come out on top. A 2001
Jaguar gave up both its front and rear suspension to provide the coupe
with a much better ride than what was provided in 1941. The same can

be said for the power plant, with the engine bay now housing a 354ci
Hemi, complete with a tunnel ram and twin 450 Quick Fuel carbs. A
TH400 helps shift the power to the jag rear. The entire car was built by
Gary except for paint, which was done by Robert Duff at Rangiora, and
interior trim, expertly done by Will Sales. We asked Gary what brings him
back to Kaikōura Hop and his answer was simply, “The hop is great and
the weather and people.” Gary was rewarded for his years of hard work
with a top 10 finish

102

Left: Dean Anthony, along with
wife Apryl, have attended most
Kaikōura Hops. Asked what it
is that they like, Dean replied,
“Love Kaikōura as a place and
having it full of classic cars
makes it even better. Kaikōura
Hop is one event that is always
on our calendar.” So while Apryl
runs her rock ‘n’ roll accessories
stall called Peppermint Twist,
Dean gets the opportunity to
wander amongst the cars and
catch up with friends. Having
a number of cars to choose
from, Dean settled on bringing
up his 1962 MKII Zephyr from
Christchurch this year. Having
been under Dean’s ownership
for 23 years, the Zephyr has
changed quite a bit. The twodoor now sports a 302 V8 under
the hood backed by a supra
5-speed and 8-inch diff

Friday had entrants taking part in a poker run. Divided
into four groups, each stop provided an activity to do,
as well as a card draw, before the next destination was
announced. For those keen to get out and drive, the
afternoon saw entrants take part in the Southern Rumble
parade, cruising a predetermined course around town.
The evening’s musical entertainment was provided by
The Starlets at the Memorial Hall, where an onsite bar
helped people relax for the evening.

ENTRANTS GOT THE CHANCE TO DRIVE
PART OF THE TRACK BEFORE... A
WALK AROUND THE FACILITIES

As with other years, Saturday was show day
with the extravaganza show and shine taking
place. But what set this year apart from others
was the sheer number of vehicles on display.
The centre oval is usually set aside for weekend
entrants, while the outer areas surrounding it are for
day-pass holders. Both areas were full this year, with
numbers reaching 1200 vehicles, making it quite
the mission to get around and view all the cars.
The trade stalls and market also provided another
aspect to the day, with many families wandering
the rows looking for bargains.

WHAT SET THIS YEAR
APART... WAS THE
SHEER NUMBER
John and Amy Crowe love Kaikōura Hop. The couple, along with their
three children, attend most events throughout Canterbury, and further
afield, such as Repco Beach Hop, but enjoy Kaikōura Hop as a family.
Speaking to John about the event, and what keeps them coming back,
he tells us, “Kaikōura Hop is FUN, where we can camp and catch up with
friends. The cruising at night is always a favourite with the kids.” Asked
what he enjoys, he said, “It’s an event that allows you to go to places like
Rodin Cars and drive the track. The show is always a great day, one where
you can catch up with people and just talk car shit.” This year was the
family’s eighth Hop — this time attending in different cars. Amy brought

her recently purchased 1964 C20 truck that is running a 350 Chev crate
engine and 700R trans. Since buying it, the truck’s height has been
brought down, 6 inches in the rear and 4 inches up front. John drove
his T-bucket up from their home in Rangiora. The 1929 replica bucket
was built in 1995 and purchased by John at MCM this year. The 350 Chev
power plant has a nice cam and ported and polished heads making the
bucket a lot of fun in the wet. A TH350 sends the power down to an MK4
Zephyr rear. Mickey Thompson tyres help to throw up the stones. “As a
family, they really enjoy show day, with the stalls and market, it appeals
to everyone,” says John.

104

Speaking of trade stalls, events like this wouldn’t
happen without some of these trades and the
sponsorship they provide. The likes of the naming
sponsor, Classic Cover Insurance, are a massive help,
and their support is certainly appreciated. Another
sponsor is John Haggitt from Anything Hydraulic,
who has been attending the Hop for eight years, five
of which he has been a sponsor. “I love the area and
the interesting events we take part in,” John tells us.
“Doug and Fonda do a great job, and it’s heaps of fun
spending a few days with friends, old and new.”
As usual, there were a large number of food stalls,
with many having continuous queues all day trying
to cater to the large crowds. Helicopter rides were

Each year, a theme is chosen for the Hop, this year being The Munsters.
Some people went to a lot of trouble on Saturday to look the part, and
not only that, the Munster Coach was even present. Built by Motueka’s Ian
Griffith, the coach provided the perfect photo op. The chassis and body
were scratch built with the scuttle being from a 1925 Buick. An XJ6 Jaguar

gave up its front and rear suspension for the project. The engine is a 1972
Buick 455 backed with a TH400. There has been many hours of work put
into the project and $6k worth of brass. Dressed for the part and having
a munsta of a time were (L-R) John Haggitt, Sandi Bell, Vania Payne, and
dressed as Grandpa was Barry Jones

again a popular choice for many, as was the live band,
Route 66, which kept the crowd entertained. Rocker
cover racing was another choice for many to watch, and
in the afternoon, the ever-popular Miss Kaikōura Hop
took place. This event always draws a strong crowd, not
only to watch the lovely ladies walk the tiles but also to
watch the tiny tots and juniors give it a go. Around 2pm
cars started leaving, with a long queue weaving its way

across the field and down the road. With an event of
this size, traffic management was on hand to help ease
the issue of vehicles entering SH1. Saturday evening saw
a rock ‘n’ roll dance put on, with music provided once
again by Route 66, as well as a bar and even supper
provided. Sunday saw some gather for a pre-booked
farewell breakfast that saw Kaikōura Hop ’23 come to a
close for another year.

106

People can sometimes meet in the
most unexpected ways. Take Stan
Hauraki Tumu for example, owner of
this beautiful looking Oldsmobile.
A few years ago, Stan overheard a
phone call his mate had just received
from some travellers who were
experiencing car trouble with their
Valiant that had ended up in Taupō
on the back of a truck. Due to his
mate only working on European
stuff, he was unable to help with
the parts required. Being in a bind
and unable to afford the cost to be
trucked to Wellington to catch their
ferry to get home to Kaikōura, Stan
commented to his mate that he knew
someone who fitted the profile. “So
I got the number and called this
person back and it turned out to be
Doug,” says Stan. “They were in a
panic so I told them to go have lunch
and I would look at the car.” Fixing
the car and getting them back on the
road to catch the ferry, Stan refused
to take payment, and that kind
generosity never went unrewarded.
“The following two years, Doug
and Fonda wouldn’t let us pay for
Kaikōura Hop,” says Stan. “In the
end, my wife Jennine and I told them
that we wanted to give back and
came on board as a sponsor”

Ɲ,&&1*/ƛ
5)&
0*-
0/
5)&
*/4*%&ƞ
HYDRAULIC HOSE REPAIR ,
DESIGN AND BUILD SERVICES

IF IT’S TRUCKS, DIGGERS, LOADERS, TRACTORS, FACTORY AND
MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, POWER STEERING AND MARINE,
THEN ANYTHING HYDRAULIC CAN SORT IT FOR YOU!
FULL RANGE OF HIGH PRESSURE HOSES
AND FITTINGS SUPPLIED BY:

9D Vulcan Place, Middleton, Christchurch
anythinghydraulic@gmail.com

In The Build
WHAT’S UNDER CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE COUNTRY

RUST TO RICHES
I

f you’ve been following our Fabrication series,
the name Taylor Peterson might ring a bell.
Taylor, renowned for his incredible fabrication
skills at his Dunedin-based workshop, Peterson
Fabrication, has been cooking up quite a storm
with their latest project. They took on the
challenge of reviving what might have been the
rustiest ‘74 XP Ford Falcon known to man — a
true diamond in the rough. If it weren’t for some
photos taken before the transformation began,
you’d be hard-pressed to believe it’s the same car.
Their journey started with Steve Johnson ’65
Ford Falcon, stripping it down to the bare bones
and securing it to their mock-up jig. Then, they
dropped a set of custom-made Billet Specialties
18x11-inch wheels beneath it, setting the stage
for the rebirth. The transformation involved

fabricating rear chassis rails, connectors, a fully
custom floor, tubs, firewall, and inner guards.
The result? More fresh steel than rust, turning
it from a relic into a work of art.
At the heart of this beast lies a 332 cubic
inch Windsor engine, meticulously assembled
with AFR heads and a CHS-spec solid roller
cam, courtesy of Engine Reconditioning
Services. This powerhouse is married to a C4
transmission, built by Nigel at Transgear. The
whole drivetrain is seamlessly connected
by one of Peterson Fabrication’s specialties
— a custom-built chromoly driveshaft and
a 9-inch diff. It’s equipped with a custom
4-link rear suspension and Wilwood brakes
to ensure it not only looks fantastic but
performs like a dream.

108

To keep everything in line, with the
right amount of stopping power and
precise steering, they’ve incorporated RSS
components from down under. Inside,
Lewis at Tinwald Canvas and Upholstery has
crafted a luxurious red leather interior that
oozes style and comfort. PD’s Auto Electrical
tackled a full rewire and sound system,
ensuring this ride not only looks the part but
sounds great too.
The list of modifications is extensive, from
tucked bumpers and Kindig door handles to
deleted quarter windows and extended sills.
Now, the final chapter in this journey awaits
— the body and paintwork. Currently in
progress, soon to be in progress at Winders
Rods and Restos in Oamaru, before its debut

K

BODY
SWAPPER

HELCON
R

eal Rides has earned its reputation for crafting
some of the nation’s finest rides, many of which
have graced the pages of this magazine. One of
their latest endeavours, catching our keen eye,
involves Mark and his XB Ford Falcon undergoing a
comprehensive transformation across the spectrum
of the car — from the body to the chassis and a
thorough engine overhaul.
After spending numerous weeks in the fabrication
stage, the car has now reached the exciting phase of
seeing its new engine being fitted and mocked up.
Brace yourselves for this powerhouse: an injected
427ci Windsor paired with a Ford 6R80 6-speed
transmission. And for an extra dose of excitement,
a mighty ProCharger is strapped to the side! With
aspirations to hit the four-digit mark, this beast
boasts the cubic inches and boost to make it happen.
Although there’s still a considerable journey ahead
before we witness the Aussie icon, affectionately
named Helcon, tearing up the streets, it’s clear that
every aspect, from aftermarket tech to intricate
details like fitting the Ford 6R80 Trans, is receiving
the meticulous attention needed to elevate it beyond
factory standards.

ohl Rod & Custom has a reputation for crafting
unique automotive combinations, and their
latest project exemplifies the skills of this Ōtakibased crew. It all began with a damaged yet intact
2015 Holden Colorado, but it soon transformed
into something truly extraordinary — a body swap
with a K series Bedford. Zack, fabricator at Kohl
Rod & Custom, came armed with envisioning tape
and a tape measure to meticulously calculate
the dimensions necessary to blend the Holden
and the Ford. They retained the front half of the
Holden floor pan and firewall, ensuring that crucial
components such as body mounts, seats, steering,
brakes, clutch, and even the air conditioning
remained in their factory positions.
On the flip side of the firewall, things got a bit
trickier. They extensively chopped, channelled,
and sectioned the body to make it fit seamlessly.
The timber frame of the K body was recreated in
steel, and the front panels were artfully widened,
shortened, and creatively modified in various ways.
From the engine to the reverse cam, this K Series
Bedford is like a fox in sheep’s clothing. They even
managed to incorporate the complete Holden
dash and center console, with only airbags and
rain sensor wipers missing from the full array of
features.

1941 CHRYSLER ROYAL BUSINESS COUPE

GARY MO
RTON HA
S
HIS BUSIN ALWAYS BEEN IN
VO
ESS, BUT
THIS ONE LVED IN HIGH-EN
D VEHICL
WAS STR
WORDS: TU
EB
ICTLY FO
RNKEY IND
USTRIES PH
R
PLEASUR UILDS AS
OTOS: ROD
E!
DUN
N

110

he irony is not lost on Gary Morton that despite
being regarded as the foremost wire wheel
maker in the world, his own car does not run
wire wheels. But while it may not have the
wheels, his world-renowned attention to detail
and fabrication abilities are present throughout
the build. Mind you, he’s owned the 1941 Chrysler
Businessman’s Coupe for 28 years, so you’d also hope
it was pretty damn good. That’s not to say the car
took that long to build, but it was spread out over that
time period due to various other aspects of life getting
in the way. Gary thinks in reality it took about four
years of actual work and, given that almost all of it was
performed at home, even that’s not bad going.
Purchased off eBay back before buying cars off the
internet from abroad was really a thing, Gary took a
big punt, but it was well worth it, as even though it was
rare then, it’s even rarer now. Mind you, even if they
were common, chances are there still wouldn’t be
any others customised the same as this. Being a selfdescribed old school hot rodder, he had a plan for the
build right from the outset — to use some traditional
rodding components, but with a bit of a twist. While
many rodders use Jaguar suspension from 1970s or
1980s models, Gary ended up using the components
from a 2001 Jag XK8. This all came about in 2002 after

112

LATE-MODEL CHEV
, FORD, DODGE
TUNING FOR PO
WER AND ECONOM
Y

NEW ZEALAND AUTHORIZED DEAL
ER

FOR PROCHARGER AND HOLLEY
EFI
SALES SERVICE KNOWLEDGE

NITROUS | DYNO TUNING | SERVICE & REPAIRS
FUEL INJECTION | STREET & STRIP DEVELOPMENTS
ALL ELECTRICAL NEEDS
THE BRANDS WE SERVICE AND TRUST
The trusted name in fuel injection.
Drives the country’s fastest street
car to 7-sec passes

Leaders in blow-through
superchargers

High performance
electrical accessories

AUTHORIZED HOLLEY EFI STOCKISTS

New Zealand Authorised Dealer for Procharger and Holley EFI
Sales Service Knowledge.

www.candmperformance.co.nz

Ph: 09 273 4928

www.candmperformance.co.nz
09 273 4928

Email: drnos@candmperformance.co.nz

Email: drnos@candmperformance.co.nz | Fax: 09 273 49 | 59C Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki, Auckland

59C Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki, Auckland

Fax: 09

273 4927

he was commissioned to buy the XK8 out of Japan
as a damaged vehicle to put the running gear into a
Jag MKII. While doing this, he realised the wheel track
would be right for the Chrysler, and as the parts weren’t
needed for the customer car, they were up for grabs.
With the donor car having travelled just 6000km from
new, it was as good as using brand new parts, making
the swap even more appealing.
Understandably, the Frankenstein project of grafting
in the Jag gear required custom box section chassis
rails to be fabricated and a cross brace added, for
which Gary used 50x100mm box. As we know, the key
feature of the Jaguar suspension assemblies is how they
are self-contained beside the front shock mounts, so
mounting the Jag front, complete with steering rack
and brake assembly, was fairly straightforward. It did
come with one catch, and that was that the donor was
right-hand drive, so rather than change this to suit the
left-hand drive configuration of the body, he decided
to convert the car to suit instead. Before he could get
into that side of things, the chassis needed completing
though, including mounting the Jag’s rear end, which,
like the front, was all inclusive including diff, axles,
brakes, and suspension.

114

SPEC
1941
CHRYSLER ROYAL
BUSINESS COUPE

ENGINE: 354ci Chrysler Hemi, Ross
10:1 forged pistons, custom tunnel
ram, 2x450cfm Quick Fuel carbs, 2¼inch exhaust, custom-made radiator

DRIVETRAIN: TH400
transmission, shift kit, custom adaptor
plate, Jaguar XK8 diff, custom
driveshaft, 2001 Jaguar XK8 front end,
Koni shocks, Jaguar rear end
BRAKES: 8.5-inch dual diaphragm
booster, 1-inch Wilwood master
cylinder, Jag discs and callipers

WHEELS: 17x6-inch and 17x10-inch
Ridler wheels

EXTERIOR: Welded rear fenders,
custom roll pan, recessed number
plate, recessed tail lights, tilt front,
frenched headlights, custom grille,
custom paint

CHASSIS: Custom front clip,
custom crossmembers

INTERIOR: Jaguar X300 seats,
aftermarket steering wheel, VDO
gauges, custom fibreglass dashboard,
touch screen head unit

PERFORMANCE: Untested

Before the body could come near the chassis again,
Gary wisely decided to mount the new engine and
drivetrain. While the factory fitted straight six may have
been okay back in 1941, he knew a real hot rod needed
a Hemi. The one he managed to get his hands on was a
354ci version from a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker. Rather
than using the Chrysler transmission, he decided to
fabricate an adaptor to attach something a bit more
suitable. Some people may ask why bother, but the
PowerFlite transmission of these early Hemis aren’t
known for their longevity, nor ease of repair, so the
change to a tried and tested TH400 was a very wise
one. With these components in place, Gary shifted his
attention to all the finishing touches, like building a 2¼inch exhaust system, running the new brake lines, and
building a 3-inch driveshaft.
With the chassis back rolling again, the body could
be remounted to it. While that may sound like a couple
of bolts, sadly that wasn’t quite the case. The floor of
the car was rusty, and the firewall no better, so Gary set
about fabricating replacements. During this process he
mounted an 8.5-inch dual diaphragm brake booster
and Wilwood master cylinder and mounting points for
the fuel system the components required. The reason
for these components is that the Hemi is not left stock,
as Gary stripped it down and rebuilt it for greater power
with Ross 10:1 forged pistons. Externally, he ditched
the restrictive original carb and manifold in favour
of a custom tunnel ram and a pair of 450cfm Quick
Fuel carbs. While it’s never been on a dyno, it’s easy to

...THE CHANGE TO A
TRIED AND TESTED
TH400 WAS A VERY
WISE ONE

establish that it makes much more power than it did in
factory form. His fabrication work under the hood didn’t
end there as he next turned his attention to building his
own radiator, a job not for the faint-hearted.
Clearly not being shy of undertaking his own
fabrication work, it should come as no surprise that he
was happy to build his own right-hand-drive dashboard.
Utilising the Jag’s donated steering column and central
air vents, he built everything around them before adding
a swag of VDO gauges and a touch screen head unit.
Will Sales was called upon for the upholstery work,
which included recovering the Jaguar-sourced seats as

well as every other surface. What couldn’t be covered
was painted by Rob Duff, who also took care of painting
the exterior. The top colour of the two-tone hue that
Gary chose may look black, but when the right light hits,
it’s very clearly a dark chocolate brown with a gold pearl.
The exact blend was custom mixed for the car, as was
the main colour that now adorns the car’s body. With
the cars being so rare, it takes a true trainspotter to pick
out all the modifications that have been made before
any colour was sprayed. Take the lights for example —
both front and rear sets have been frenched into the
body and the bumpers have been removed along with

116

...HE NEXT
TURNED HIS
ATTENTION
TO BUILDING
HIS OWN
RADIATOR

MODERN FEATURES
CLASSIC LOOK
NZ AGENT FOR AURORA DESIGN (USA MADE)

WE CONVERT OLD RADIO TO AM/FM 45WATT RMS PER CHANNEL
BLUETOOTH WITH ADD ON SUCH AS USB, RCA OUTS FOR AMPS ETC.

CUSTOM RESTORATION AND
AUTOMOTIVE PAINTING
09 238 3267 OR 021 261 7716
COUNTIESAUTOPAINTERS2019@GMAIL.COM

52 JOHN STREET, PUKEKOHE
COUNTIES AUTO PAINTERS LTD

ROBIN SMITH
SPRAYPAINTING

63 EAST STREET, PETONE, LOWER HUTT
04 568 4655
RSMITHSPRAYPAINTING@YAHOO.CO.NZ

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO
51 BRUNNER RD
GLEN EDEN, AUCKLAND
09 818 1999
ROSS@MCALLISTERRADIOREPAIRS.CO.NZ
WWW.MCALLISTERRADIOREPAIRS.CO.NZ

IT WAS FINALLY
ON THE ROAD
AND LEGAL
JUST BEFORE
THE 2023
KAIKOURA HOP

creating custom exhaust outlets. The grille is also a
custom piece, fabricated by Gary to look almost factory,
while the tilt front it attaches to is most definitely not
stock. As part of the process of building the tilt front,
Gary adapted a remote control system, something he
thought of while lying in a hospital bed that utilised a
similar system. You can imagine the surprise on people’s
faces when he operates it from as far as 50 metres away.
After various life changes along the way, Gary got
stuck in and has spent the past few years determined
to get the car completed. It was finally on the road and
legal just before the 2023 Kaikoura Hop, and the hard
work was rewarded when the car was selected as one
of the Top 10 cars at the event. From there on it’s been
trouble-free motoring — Gary and partner Fiona are
getting the car out every chance they get. After all, he’s
got over 20 years of missed cruising to catch up on!

DRIVER
GARY MORTON

CAR CLUB: East Coast Rodders
AGE: 69.... 70 now 28 Oct
OCCUPATION: Wheelwright
PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS: Lots
DREAM CAR: Got it
WHY THE CHRYSLER: It is so rare, I had to have it
BUILD TIME: 28 years (4 years full time)
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: 28 years
GARY THANKS: Will Sales, Rob Duff

118

CELEBRATING 27 YEARS!

USED BY NZ’S LEADING MOTORSPORTS TEAMS
AND HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES

HiPerCoat
HiPerCoat Extreme
HiPerColour
HiPerCrystal
PowderCoat
BEST QUALITY, BEST SERVICE,
PROVEN PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY

Unit B/62 Mahia RD, Manurewa, Auckland
0800 412 832
info@hpcoatings.co.nz

HPCOATINGS.CO.NZ

CLASSIC & PERFORMANCE
SPECIALIST FOR 33 YEARS
SUPERFLOW DYNO
PARTS: Large range of Mopar and aftermarket parts
MACHINE SHOP: We have a full in-house engine machine shop to handle all
aspects of engine reconditioning and performance modifications

WORKSHOP AND TRANSMISSION SHOP: Full workshop service for all
mechanical repairs on all makes and models. TorqueFlite transmissions, repairs,
recos and performance modifications

09 838 7536 㼨 20 Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson 㼨㻌waer@xtra.co.nz

www.waer.co.nz

 West Auckland Engine Reconditioners
Check us out on Facebook

COMPLETE SCRAP METAL SERVICES
FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND
CHRISTCHURCH: 03 348 0609
BLENHEIM: 03 578 0340
027 357 1390 | trillometals@xtra.co.nz

trillometals.co.nz

NAPA CENTRAL MUSCLE CARS ROUND ONE

ROUND ONE OF THE 2023/24 SEASON FOR THE NAPA CENTRAL MUSCLE CARS
KICKED OFF AT THE HRC ICEBREAKER ROUND AT HAMPTON DOWNS IN SEPTEMBER
WORDS AND PHOTOS: DAVID WHITHAM

ifteen cars came out of hibernation, getting the
season underway. The season opener saw the
return of a number of the regular runners, as well
as some of the newcomers who had raced in
the category the season prior. Barry Richards in
the ex-championship winning Dean Hansen HQ
Holden and Troy Guise in his Ford Falcon were among
the returning drivers. Rodney Heads returned with his
new Torana for the season ahead. The car was built by
Rodney for his long-time friend Warren Fowler who
raced it before he sadly passed away. The car was then
purchased and run by ex-V8 Ute champion Matt Spratt.
The car has now returned home to Rodney and he is
more than happy to be racing it this season.
Shane Holland had also made a car switch for the
season ahead. After the passing of Shane’s dad Mark,
the family decided that rather than sell the car Mark had
won the Group two championship in, Shane would take
over driving the Camaro in honour of his father and sell
the Mustang he had run in the previous season — it’s
currently listed on Trade Me if anyone is interested.
During the off season many of the cars underwent
rebuilds. The Group one cars that had won races in the

120

previous season had their 200rpm engine reductions
lifted, meaning that the cars and drivers would start
fresh for the season ahead. One of the biggest changes
to come during the off season was the switch to a new
control tyre. Due to the Hankook tyre factory burning
down earlier in the year, the category had to find a new
control tyre that would be available for them to race on.
Thanks to the team at Mag & Turbo Christchurch, the
category made a switch to a Maxxis slick tyre as the new
control tyre for the season.
This switch in tyre meant that teams and drivers had
to learn how this new tyre would react to not only their
cars but also the tracks in which they run in. Talking to
most drivers over the weekend, the general feeling was
that the tyre was a couple of seconds slower than the
previous Hankook control tyre but had a better wear life
and didn’t fall away as quickly.
The two-day meeting meant the format for the
weekend was tight, especially for the Sunday races
where damage was not an option for teams or drivers
given the quick turnaround time between races.
Saturday morning drivers and teams were greeted
with a wet circuit as showers were predicted for the
weekend’s event. Teams were left to guess which tyre
choice to run with as the race directors had declared
the track wet when the event started. As the morning
went on a drying line was starting to form. Cars from
the previous classes had created enough of a dry line
around the circuit that the race directors made the call
to allow drivers the choice of which tyre to use — wet
or dry.

DAMAGE WAS NOT AN OPTION
FOR TEAMS OR DRIVERS GIVEN
THE QUICK TURNAROUND TIME

The cars rolled out for their qualifying session. Andy
Knight in his Z28 Camaro was there to prove that after
the bitter disappointment of losing the championship
last season he was here with clear intentions. Andy
set the fastest lap of the session to put the Camaro
on pole position, a clear second ahead of Craig Boote
in the Mustang for a South Island front row lock out.
Andrew Porter in the Vertex Mustang took third, with last
season’s Group 1A champion Tristan Teki in fourth.
The drivers lined up on the dummy grid for race
one and while they were waiting for the track to clear,
a heavy rain shower hit the circuit. While drivers and
teams were looking skyward to see if it would clear
before they reached the start line, cars began to clear
the dummy grid and quickly return to their garages to
make tyre changes. In some cases slicks came off for
the wets to go on, only for the wets to come off, and
the slicks go back on. Both Shane Johnson and Steve
Ross took the gamble to run the wet tyre for the race
while the rest of the teams opted to run on the slick
tyre on the greasy track. The gamble would not pay off
for Johnson and Ross as the track continued to dry out
again as the cars raced around and they both lost time
as their tyres became ineffective on the drying circuit.
When the lights went out it was Tristan Teki who got
the best jump out of the top four heading into turn
one. Teki’s previous experience in drag racing meant
his reaction time was sublime, he was in second place
behind pole sitter Knight as the cars roared off into
turn two with Craig Boote and Andrew Porter close
behind. Teki’s Batmobile Camaro was no match for the
Mustangs of Boote and Porter however, and by the end
of lap two the horsepower in the two Mustangs would
leave Teki’s Camaro in their dust.
Meanwhile Knight pulled a 10-second gap ahead of
the two Mustangs and cruised to a lights-to-flag victory
with ease. Boote and Porter took the minor podium
places respectively.
Sunday morning’s overcast conditions meant that the
chance of rain was still in the air as the teams prepared
for the three races for the day.
First up was the first of two handicap races. Group
2 champion Mike Oldham led the charge in the Stang
Media Mustang, and as the flag drops continued, the
faster cars started to be released. By lap three Barry

BY LAP THREE BARRY RICHARDS WOULD TAKE THE
LEAD AND FROM THERE CONTROL THE RACE
Richards would take the lead and from there control
the race while keeping an eye in his mirrors for the
faster chargers trying to make their way through. The
first retirements for the race would happen on lap four
with both Steve Ross in his Camaro and Craig Boote in
his Mustang being forced to retire. For Boote a broken
tooth in the gearbox saw him limp to the garages to
allow the team time to repair the car for the last two
races of the day. In Steve’s case a fuel issue forced him
to park the car safely on the side of the track and watch
from the sidelines. As the chequered flag came out
Barry Richards crossed the line ahead of Bruce Kett and
Shane Holland. Fast charging Knight finished sixth just
behind Shane Johnson and Nick Ross respectively.
Race three kicked off in the afternoon. During the
time between the races Craig Boote’s team along
with the help of fellow competitors were able to swap
the gearbox out in time for Boote to join the race. A
revisement in the flag drop times saw Kayton Coughey
in his Holden lead the drivers off the line. However,
Kayton would not be caught by anyone and would take
a flag to flag victory — his second win since joining
the category. Behind him a battle for the minor places
took place between Troy Guise, Bruce Kett, and Shane
Holland. With two laps to go Kett would overtake Guise,
leaving the battle for third wide open. Holland’s Camaro
came charging in a drag race to the finish line between
the Camaro and the Falcon. Holland’s Camaro would
cross the line 0.023 seconds ahead of Guise in the

122

Falcon for third. For Knight, while he managed to get the
fastest lap of the race, he would only manage to finish in
eleventh position, with Porter in fifth and Boote in ninth.
The final race of the weekend saw the return of
the standing start format as per race one. Craig Boote
elected to bolt a pair of new rear tyres to his car, giving
the Mustang extra grip around the track. Pole sitter
Knight opted to continue on the same set of tyres he
had been running all weekend as they still had plenty of
life in them. Craig was the quickest off the line between
the two of them as the lights went out and led the field
into turn one.
From there he never looked back and was able to
keep a gap between Knight in second place. Knight used
his vast circuit racing knowledge to find a way around
Boote but the ex-Speedway champion was able to hold
off the pressure from Knight in the Camaro.
In the closing stages, Porter was starting to reel in
Knight but as the laps counted down Boote was able
to hold off Knight and Porter to cross the line in first.
It was a great way to say thank you to his team for the
work they had done earlier in the day replacing the
gearbox. Nick Ross in the Dodge and Mike Wallace in
the Pak’nSave Monza would make up the top five.
The teams will now head to the South Island for the
first time in three years for the first of two back-to-back
weekends in October and November. First up will be
Ruapuna where we might see the tables turned on the
South Island boys at their own tracks. Only time will tell.

Save Money
Get Discounts on your
favourite retailers And go in
the draw for insane prizes.

Join now for just S19
l

Find out more
cherryperformance.co.nz

CARGO

THIS MONTH’S
MUST-HAVES

NUDGE BAR EXCELLENCE
Hayman Reese has quality alloy nudge bars to suit most of
today’s commercial utes. Traditional highly polished alloy or
powder coat black options, most come with spotlight mounts,
and if required mounts for front sensors. All nudge bars
meet frontal protection requirements for New Zealand and
Australia. Priced from $995 Incl GST
Want to be a reseller? Call Hayman Reese on 0800 698 227

COMMODORE VT-VY LS CONVERSION
FOR V6 K FRAMES!
Introducing Tuff Mounts’ Newest Product: Commodore VT-VY LS Conversion
for V6 K frames! Experience a hassle-free upgrade with our bolt-up fitment,
requiring NO modifications. Whether you need engine mounts or a complete
conversion kit, they are now available! Find our latest release at Rare Spares
NZ, The Mount Shop, or conveniently order online at www.tuffmounts.com.au.
Upgrade your Commodore VT-VY with ease and precision!

HOLDEN WINDSCREEN
REJUVENATION!
Revitalise your Holden with our latest front windscreen headlining
lacing trim, now in stock! Restore the essence of your vehicle with
precision-crafted trims tailored for the following models:
HQ HJ HX HZ WB (Part# 2817718BA) – $66.00
HQ HJ HX Coupe Only (Part# 2817719BA) – $49.50
Visit our showroom at 43 Shands Road, Hornby, Christchurch, or
contact our dedicated team on 03 366 5982. Prefer the convenience
of online shopping? Explore and purchase these quality trims at
https://rarespares.net.au/rsnz

IGNITE YOUR ENGINE WITH XPRO
XPRO Universal Ceramic Ignition Lead Sets by Xpro Performance are designed for
versatility, with ceramic lead boots pre-fitted and the opposite end open ready to
be cut to your preferred length. The kit includes distributor cap boots and terminals
for both late (HEI male terminals) and early-style (female terminals) setups.
Engineered to tackle issues related to burnt spark plug boots, the black ceramic
wire boots are the solution for scenarios like tight headers, turbo manifolds, or
extreme heat challenges. These ceramic boots can endure temperatures up to
1090°C (2000°F).
Paired with our 8.5mm spiral-wound low-resistance XPRO ignition lead wire
offering high EMI suppression, the universal 8-cylinder kit comes with various lead
lengths and 90° silicone standard and HEI cap ends. Choose between 90°, 135°, or
straight ceramic spark plug boots to suit your needs.
For GM LS applications (LS1, LS2), the kit includes eight leads with straight ceramic
spark plug boots at 14-inch length. Ceramic boots are also available separately to
meet specific requirements. For more details, visit aeroflowperformance.com.

124

ELEVATE YOUR RIDE’S
SHINE WITH MEGUIAR’S!
Looking to polish, revive, or enhance uncoated metals on your street
machine? Meguiar’s Metal Polish is the way to go!
Say goodbye to oxidation, minor swirls, stains, and tarnish that dull the
brilliance of your metal surfaces. This product is specially formulated
to swiftly eliminate these imperfections, restoring the radiant shine and
reflectivity that your vehicle deserves.
Whether you prefer a personal touch or a little help from a foam
attachment, our metal polish ensures flawless, mirror-like clarity and
unbeatable shine, safely and effectively on all uncoated metals,
including chrome and polished aluminium.
Don’t let dull metals drag down your pride and joy’s look; grab a tub
now and bring your vehicle’s shine to another level!
For more product or stockist info, freephone 0800 227 422, or visit
www.smitsgroup.co.nz.

UNLEASH THE BARRA
Introducing Proflow’s V2 Intake Manifold Kit for Ford Falcon XR6 BA/BF/FG
Barra – PFEM67740BK, priced at AU$1,350.
This highly anticipated Series II Barra intake manifold is redesigned, providing
an ideal solution for those building an ultra-responsive street/drag car. With
a redesigned plenum featuring provisions for an 80mm throttle body and an
improved flange angle, this manifold is compatible with both BA/BF and FG
factory fly-by-wire throttle bodies, or a universal 80mm throttle body in engine
swap applications. Developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
software, it ensures even airflow distribution to all six cylinders. The improved
billet fuel rail includes additional AN8 ORB ports for easier plumbing, and O-ring
grooves on the mounting flange enhance sealing.
Suitable for all Ford Falcon BA/BF/FG vehicles with the 4.0L Barra engine.
Explore more at: https://www.proflow.com.au/ford-4.0-inlet-plenum-suit-dbw-oroptional-90mm-t~11692

UPPED YOUR GO? NOW, UP YOUR STOP!
If your late-model Commodore has had a power increase, then it should also get the brake
upgrade to match. Genuine GM-spec Brembo four-pot and six-pot caliper Big Brake upgrades
are now in stock at XAir Performance. Suitable for VT–VF Commodores, these kits come
complete with ceramic dustless pads and slotted/cross-drilled zinc-coated rotors, and are
available in silver and yellow, with other colours available upon order. Priced from $2290.00.
Visit www.xairperformance.co.nz or call 0800 924 792 for more details.

KYB SHOCK ABSORBERS
Are your shocks old or wearing out? Worn out shocks can bring premature vehicle repairs by reducing the
lifetime of your vehicles steering and suspension products. So, when replacing shock absorbers, it’s wise to
fit the best affordable quality brand you can especially with the state of NZ roads and our lovely judder bars.
KYB shock absorbers are designed to the highest standards and are original equipment for some vehicle
manufacturers. They are manufactured in various plants around the world and KYB owns the largest shock
absorber manufacturing plant on the planet, located in Gifu, Japan.
KYB has the strongest and thickest strut bodies and brackets in the industry, this minimizes flex to keep the
alignment correct and you in control. In-house damping valves are assembled by hand to help restore the
handling and stability to what the vehicle manufacturer intended.
KYB shocks and struts are vehicle specific and offer original equipment control and handling. Whether you
are looking to restore control and handling or upgrade car or truck shocks, KYB has you covered.
So, if you’re after the best affordable shock absorber give Mount Shop a call and ask about KYB.

ADVERTISE

YOUR

BUSINESS

HERE

CO NTAC T M A RK E V ERLEI G H
02 1 14 0 6855 | M A R K . E V ER L EI G H@V I A M ED I A .CO. NZ

NZ’S ENGINE
COMPONENTS &
WHEEL BEARING
SPECIALISTS
WWW.ABDGROUP.CO.NZ • 0800 ABD GROUP
HEAD OFFICE: 11 SATURN PL, ROSEDALE AUCKLAND
OTHER BRANCHES: AVONDALE, WIRI, NEW PLYMOUTH,
HAMILTON, CHRISTCHURCH, TAURANGA, WHANGANUI.

HOTROD INTERIORS &
CUSTOM MOTORBIKE SEATS
Nick Horwood
027 209 3223
nick.actioncanvas@hotmail.com
15C CYPRESS STREET, JUDEA, TAURANGA

FROM THE LATEST TO THE
OLDEST, WE CAN REBUILD IT
09 571 2429
2 Botha Road, Penrose, Auckland
enginerebuilders.co.nz
ewan@enginerebuilders.co.nz

Falcon, Holden
& Valiant
We also buy all
of your unwanted
Aussie vehicles

We value modified vehicles, hot rods,
rat rods, classics, also during the stages
of the restoration process.

Aussie Spares 07 847 3323
12 Woodward St, Frankton, Hamilton

carvaluation.nz
0800 500 040 info@carvaluation.co.nz

ustom
Classoric T&riCmm
M ot

ers

Specializing in classic cars and hot rods
chris@carupholstery.co.nz
carupholstery.co.nz 06 357 0835
Unit 1, 209 John F Kennedy Drive, Palmerston North

Providing a comprehensive vehicle
restoration and automotive
painting service

Counties Auto Painters Ltd
09 238 3267
countiesautopainters2019@gmail.com

Stocking and
importing
American cars
and parts, new
and used
03 208 9480
11 Charlton Lane, Gore
Charltonautoimports

Engine builders to the
highest standard. Diagnostics,
reconditioning, rebuilding
high-performance engines

enginespecialties.co.nz
09 444 4213
96 Hillside Road, Glenfield, Akl

40 years
automotive
engine repair
experience

Freephone 0508 86 66 86

franklinengineering.co.nz
0800 001 628

Whangarei . Henderson . Penrose
Hamilton . Palmerston North
Lower Hutt . Christchurch

129 Manukau Rd,
Pukekohe, Auckland

R s
CiAalist
R
DE p e c
UN S

www.mountshop.co.nz

A Forty Year History of Race Car Windows
Now Supplying Direct to the Enthusiast

Restoring old motorbikes?
Decorating man-caves, garages or sheds?
View our memorabilia online!

HIGGHLY SKI
HI
KILL
LLED
LL
ED ENGGIN
INEE RE
RECO
COND
CO
NDIT
ND
ITIO
IT
IOONI
NING
NGG SER
ERVI
VICE
VI
C S;
CE
S;
DIESEL - CLASSIC - PERFORMANCE - NATIONWIDE

road-relics.co.nz

AUCKLANDENGINERECONDITIONER.CO.NZ
09 426 4373 - 9 FORGE ROAD, SILVERDALE, AUCKLAND

027 937 7177

CHRISTCHURCH
CANTERBURY

HEATED GLASS WINDSCREENS
PLASTIC FRONT, SIDE & REAR WINDOWS
t
POLYCARBONATE, MR10 & ACRYLIC
t
In-house CNC Cut, Curved, Moulded
t
Holes, vents, scoops, Retro fit Door sliders

Call us now on 09 278 9816
www.

.co.nz

ADVERTISE

YOUR

BUSINESS

HERE

CO NTAC T M A RK E V ERLEI G H
02 1 14 0 6855 | M A R K . E V ER L EI G H@V I A M ED I A .CO. NZ

• vin/cert
• Vehicle service
• repairs
• maintenance
• dyno tuning
• engine building and development

NZ9 Fabricated Housings
9 Inch Performance Axles
Full Floating Hubs
Truetrac Third Members
Street Machine Chassis Builds

PH 021 059 4701

2/64 AVIATION AVE, MOUNT MAUNGANUI

www.thekryslershop.co.nz

SPECIALIST
IN ALL EXHAUST
COMPONENTS
WE STOCK
NOTHING ELSE
ONE CALL GETS IT ALL
09 630 0690

18 MOUNT EDEN RD, GRAFTO
N, AKL 1023

woolfmufflers.co.nz

AUTO
TRANSMISSIONS
TAURANGA Ltd
Specialising in Servicing & Repair of all
%
%
%
%

Automatic Transmissions
All Japanese Imports
Free Diagnosing
All Repairs Guaranteed

thetoyshedv8@gmail.com / 07 348 5314
106-112 Riri Street, Mangakakahi, Rotorua

Marlborough
Classsic & Custom
Restorations Ltd
AUTO SUPER SHOPPES AUTOCARE
Your one stop shop — WOF,
services, diagnostics, suspension,
wheel alignment
autocare.co.nz / 09 438 4700
116 Lower Dent St, Whangarei

CUT & POLISH • RESTORATION WORK
WHEELS/MAGS • CUSTOM GUARD ROLLING
IN - HOUSE FABRICATION • WELDING
BODY PROTECTION • W.O.F. COMPLIANCE
SPECIALISED COATINGS
125 Rimu Rd, Paraparaumu
04 902 5507
info@spectrumcollision.co.nz

89 Courtney Road, Tauranga
07 578 1025

SPECTRUMCOLLISION.CO.NZ


info@geartech.nz

GEARBOX, DIFFERENTIAL & CLUTCH SPECIALISTS
• Fast turnaround, CompeƟƟve pricing
• Bearing overhaul kits & Large range of new & used parts
• Importers of all Leading American Gearbox & DiīĞrenƟal parts

• weberspecialties.co.nz • 09 442 5479
• 2/12 Anvil Road, Silverdale, Hibiscus Coast

•
•
•
•
•

Automotive Android Stereo
Android operating system
GPS
Wireless Carplay
Android Auto

Phone: 03 578 0086 – Fax: 03 578 0087
Email: info@classicandcustom.co.nz – www.classicandcustom.co.nz
3 Warwick Street, PO Box 1024, Blenheim

Mobile windscreen replacements
old and new cars, trucks, buses.
0800 555 141
Unit 2/97 Rutherford Street,
Woolston, Christchurch
7UDQVIRUP\RXUIORRULQDFOLFN

Jason Su
+6421 023 90199
js.wir3@gmail.com
www.jswire.co.nz
 @jswir3
 @js.wire464

TXLFNFOLFNIORRUFRQ]

#TXLFNFOLFNIORRU

MUTHA

MAGNETOS

SPECIALISING IN VERTEX, MALLORY & MSD
REPAIRS AND UPGRADES

WE BUILD YOUR DREAM
STEVE MOORE

P: 021 216 3148
E: muthamoore1@hotmail.co.nz

WWW.MUTHAMAGNETOS.CO.NZ

AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
PANEL, RUST REPAIR & PAINT
FULL BUILDS & RESTORATIONS

48 Custom Street Ashhurst • 06 354 54595 • hotrodheaven@xtra.co.nz

Covering all types of mechanical services
including race car fabrication, Warrant of
Fitness checks, car servicing and much more
04 297 0600
23 Hinemoa Street, Paraparaumu

www.tmsracing.co.nz

Social SCENE
WORDS: MAT T ELLIOT T — LOW FAST FAMOUS

Here are some quick hits of content from social media channels around the globe,
curated by Low Fast Famous. They relate to some of the projects and completed
builds that have been generating the most interaction and impressions in the
past 30 days. Check out more of the work from the vehicles highlighted via their
Instagram handles listed or at Low Fast Famous: @lowfastfamous

1967 CHEVROLET NOVA
@JEFFBOGGS01
Man, this Nova build is so clean, the factory based
body colour and altered stance set it off perfectly.
Jeff specced the LSX454 power plant to ensure the
car had some go and mated it to a worked 4L80E
transmission to get it all to the back wheels. Handling
is taken care of by Heidts with a full front clip and
4-link rear end, finally some custom-sized Schott
Wheels completed the build.

1967 CHEVROLET
CHEVELLE
@CARSBYKRIS
We have posted plenty of the insane renders
that Kris does previously, but this time it is
his personal ride that is getting the attention.
Fitted with RideTech suspension components
to get the ride height and handling sorted,
it looks just right rolling on Rocket Racing
wheels. Keeping it old school with small block
power, it is also assisted with some new school
Holley Sniper technology — overall one clean
street cruiser.

1967 CHEVROLET C10
@CASSIDYCUSTOMS
Man, this truck is the business — called Tiffany, it
definitely looks like a piece of jewellery. Running
an Acme Chassis Factory frame it has the perfect
stance over large diameter Raceline wheels. Turning
these wheels is no problem thanks to the Don Hardy
supercharged LS-based power plant. Wilwood takes
care of the stopping while the interior is the place to be
thanks to Snowden Custom Seats. Very cool.

1970 CHEVROLET
CHEVELLE
@FRODE_MEEK
You can guarantee that necks get broken
every time Frode takes this Chevelle out for
a cruise in Norway! With a tough LS3 engine
mated to a six-speed manual transmission
you know it’s a great time, especially with
the full Hotchkis suspension treatment.
Brakes are via Baer and rolling stock is
courtesy of Forgeline with a custom set of
wheels.

128

• Do It Yourself

• Bolt-in

• 5 Year warranty

RRS THE BEST UNDER YOUR CAR

AUSTRALIAN MADE FOR AUSTRALIAN MUSCLE
RRS, BUILDING FASTER FORDS FOR 20 YEARS

RRS - “YOUR ONE STOP SHOP”

“MADE FOR DRIVING”
RRS Head Office 61 2 9907 3755 sales@rrs-online.com

RRS “custom” top quality products - full warranty
Recomended workshop Matamata Panelworks (07) 888 7831