Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2023 i NZ Hot Rod

Classic Cover FOR the past few years, the Street Rod Nationals has been cancelled due to COVID or other problems. However, the Zone 9 clubs were determined to run the event as it coincided with the 50th anniversary; the first was held in Taupo in 1973. We may have missed a couple, but the 50-year anniversary was going to be celebrated and was done in grand style over Easter weekend in Christchurch. Over 100 cars were entered from the North Island, and many still had problems getting across the water, some not managing to arrive ‘til Friday afternoon. All up 155 cars were entered. Interesting note: Dave Coker and Danny Redhill (from Northland) found out that their boat sailings had been cancelled, so they stored their cars with friends halfway…

WITH the 2022 event cancelled because of Covid, there was much anticipation for the 2023 event. The event poster featured Russell Lowe's Strange Magic ‘56 Chev, and with plenty of marketing for the event, Bay Rodders was on track to more than make up for the previous year's cancellation. However, every mobile phone that predicts the weather said it would rain all day Saturday and be fine on Sunday. The “phones” were half right. The weather held off on Saturday ‘til early afternoon before the rain came. So, the remaining eliminations were held Sunday, followed by the Teams Racing. But the weather certainly didn't dampen Bay Rodders enthusiasm, and they still pulled off two excellent events over the weekend. Even the hundreds of campers still managed to smile despite the…

CAR BUILDER: Dan Tyler, Rocket Speed Equipment, Hamilton ENGINE: Engine builder: Ray Barton Racing Engines, Robesonia, PA. RBRE 472ci Hemi race block, heads, crank, I-beam rods, rocker gear, timing gears, JE pistons and rings. Comp Cams roller cam and push rods, Crane solid roller lifters, Milodon oil pump, Dan Olson Racing Products oil pan. MSD ignition, Holley Dominator EFI ECU, Meziere 55 gph water pump, BDS 10/71 blower, Holley 2550CFM Dominator Flange “Big Dual” EFI Throttle Body, Headers by Bob Tynan, Rocket Speed Equipment. Additional engine work: by Reece Fish, FFR Engine and Machine. EFI set-up and engine tuner: Carl Jensen, C&M Performance, Auckland TRANS: TorqueFlite 904 transmission, reverse pattern manual shift, 3000 RPM stall converter DIFF: Dana 60 rear axle, Strange axles, 4.11 ratio, Strange adjustable coil-over shocks BODY…

ANZAC DAY 25th April is a special day in New Zealand for all of us to remember those who gave their lives in the two World Wars. However, for hot rodders, it is also a day for them to not only remember those who served in the World Wars but to remember fellow hot rodders who have passed away also. And as time marches on, it seems it, more often than not, we learn of a fellow hot rodder who has passed away. So, it is a great deal of credit to the Hamilton Hot Rod Club, who, over many years, has held a Memorial Rod Run on ANZAC Day to pay our respects to those who have died. The format is simple; Hamilton Hot Rod Club put out the…

THE 11th Annual Kiwitown Cruisers Rod Run, Otorohanga, was held on the weekend of 21 - 23 April and was based at the K T C clubrooms. Friday's entrants arrived at the clubrooms, and the bottom paddock was set aside for camping. Bar facilities, a sausage sizzle and a goodies bag, were provided. The clubrooms are a disused cow shed and have been converted into a very presentable space. The track from the road is a good 500 metres, and on Saturday, it became quite muddy. However, old cars were once driven on muddy gravel roads in the ‘40s and ‘50s, so those who owned Model As thrived in the conditions of yesteryear. Saturday saw light rain as we lined up for the Mystery Rod Run. We were handed a…

ONCE again, the Golden Bay Rodders put on an excellent event. This time it was to celebrate 45 great years of Hot Rodding. The weekend kicked off on Friday night. After everyone had collected their goodies bag, they were all treated to a top-notch BBQ tea with plenty of time to catch up with mates old and new. After a great cooked breakfast on Saturday morning, the cars headed off - complete with an instruction sheet, on a mystery run which would see them re-group later in the morning at Dovedale school in time for lunch. There were questions to be answered along the way, plus a photo shoot in a tree-lined avenue. After lunch, many of the rodders gave the school kids a ride in their cars. Saturday night,…

EIGHTY entries lined up for Competition Meeting #5, the last of the annual Comp Series meetings for 2023. The fastest speed and quickest ET of the meet, plus the number one qualifier in Top Comp class, went to Roy Bingley's 1923 T Altered powered by a Toyota 3.2 litre 2jz inline-six engine. Roy posted a 7.058 - 184.07mph pass but came home with the runner-up trophy. Drew Gilbert broke the National Record with an 8.714 - 153.84 pass on his Competition Bike.…

WHEN Dave Webster purchased his ’37 Ford Coupe, it was fitted with its stock factory dash painted hot rod flat black and retrofitted with a set of Autometer gauges. It was a straightforward and logical solution to replace the old Ford 6-volt gauges, but you'd have to say it was very uninspiring, given the creative platform of a modern street rod. So Dave decided to revitalise and redo the entire interior, and the centrepiece would be a recreation of the stylish Lincoln Zephyr waterfall dash of the era. Starting from scratch, Dave fabricated the skeleton and finished it with a set of Classic Instruments. The result is outstanding and has totally transformed the interior, making it a delight to open the door and head out on the highway.…

DUE to her husband, Paul's connection with their local club, Greymouth Rodders, Diane has become increasingly involved in the local rodding scene. She really comes into play with the organisation of their famous two-yearly run. Paul already had a nice collection of cars when he spotted a very nice black 1958 Chevrolet Impala sports coupe that he was keen on at Highline Motorsports in Le Habra. At the same time, Diane was casually checking out the company's other inventory and spotted this “Lil Deuce coupe”. So you guessed it, they both walked away with two near-perfect black cars - one each. This was back in June 2016. Before the final purchase, the Deuce was inspected by Kiwi Steve, who had his hot rod shop in Le Brea and is originally…

THE rules are simple. Grab three mates with a Pre ‘90s non-Jappa with rego, WOF, street tyres and two throttle return springs and head to Meremere. Previously known as the NZ Hot Rod Magazine Club Champs, it has been opened up to those who are not a member of an NZHRA-affiliated club. Many people have had their first taste of drag racing at a Club Champs or teams racing event, and this year was no exception. It doesn't matter how fast you run, and looking at the results that some first-timers ran, it would be fair to say that they have got off to a very good start in drag racing. If you had the appropriate car, you could have had a full weekend of racing if you had entered…

AS most car enthusiasts know, General Motors’ high-end’ marque was the Cadillac. Their main opposition was the Ford Motor Company, and they also had their opulent brand for the “rich and famous”; this was the Lincoln, and these cars made their mark in the late 1920s. The Lincoln Zephyr production ran from 1936 until 1942. They were bridging the gap between the Ford V8 Deluxe and the Lincoln Model K (in both size and price). In 1942 the line was dropped, and the new Continental was introduced. Only a handful of Lincoln Zephyrs, which had a factory VI2 flathead engine, were imported into New Zealand, with the majority being 4-door sedans. The worldwide production figures on the threewindow coupe was a mere 2,500 units; however, Garth Hogan still has his…

THE 5th Annual Ian Hooper Memorial Rod Run featured old-school camping, a great beachside location, an entry fee that is just triple the minimum wage, and a bunch of early-model hot rods & custom cars. Where and when was it? The 5th Annual Ian Hooper Rod Run was at the Kai Iwi Holiday Park and hosted by Wanganui Road Rodders. The venue is located in a beautiful coastal setting just 10 kms north of Wanganui. Entrants could bring their tents, caravans & camper vans or rent out one of the Holiday Park cabins for the weekend. Some entrants had close links with fellow hot rodders who had a spare bed & room in their houses, all at the same location. Registration was held at the Mowhanau Hall from 4 pm…

THIS ’41 Willys coupe saw drag strip action in the ‘50s and ‘60s in Alabama before being tamed and transformed into a street rod, running a smallblock Chev/Muncie combo. In 2005 Greg Haliday purchased the car out of Fayetteville, 40 miles from Atlanta. He had already decided to take the relatively mild street rod and return it to its racing roots whilst retaining some degree of street running manners. To kick the project off, parts were gathered. Eric Livingston of West Auckland Engine Reconditioners sought out Ray Barton Racing Engines to build a race-inspired blown and injected Hemi based on one of RBRE's iron 426 Hemi race blocks, alloy heads, and utilising a 4.150” stroke crank to produce 472ci. Livingston also supplied and built a 904 TorqueFlite transmission with reverse…

AFTER attending the NZHRA Rod Run Nationals in Christchurch, a run was organised to The Pre 49 Street Rod Nationals held immediately after. It left on the morning of Monday, 10th April, and when we arrived after the fairly long drive, we went straight to registration at The Gate Hotel, where most of the Rodders were staying for the weekend. Incorporated in the Hotel was The Five Stags restaurant, where the meals and entertainment were held for the entirety of the event. That evening was a casual catch-up, and settle into our rooms or motels and relax after a long day's drive. On Tuesday morning, after a superb breakfast, we assembled at the gate for a sightseeing/activities day, then proceeded on a rod run of sorts out into the country.…

IT'S been 21 years since the inaugural Hot Rod Blowout, and it was a refreshing change to see it staged at NAPA Autoparts Dragway after council red tape prevented it from being held at the previous venues. It was the first car show ever held at the dragstrip, and from all reports, it was a smash hit. An additional plus was that it was right around the 50th anniversary of the dragstrip. Featuring on the program was the attendance of ex-pat Kiwi Scrounger club member Kevin Perry and his wife Mary, who travelled from Ventura, California. It was the first time in many years all Scroungers were together in one place. Also featuring was the attendance of legendary engine builder Mike Gearing, plus Baloo and Hombre, created and raced by…