Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i NZ Hot Rod

THERE’S no denying that we love our cars, and this magazine makes a point of featuring them, but just as important are the people: us, you and me, who have the passion to be different from the mainstream masses. As time changes, we change too, and thankfully, we have Allan Porter’s 57year archive to draw on to publish and reminisce on the way we were and perhaps on who we are now. This mini-series flashes back to the good old days, and in Part 1, we visit the Kopuku drags to a meeting held on 3rd December 1967, and the crowd gathered at Kerrs Rd in Wiri to a street drag meet held there on 29th November 1970.…

IN October last year, Rotorua’s Neilsen ‘Sku’ Skulander and Matamata’s Dave Green ventured over to California to take in the Nostalgia Drags at Bakersfield’s Famosa Raceway. They met up with ex-pat Kiwi Brett Parkinson, ex-Kaikohe, who now runs Kiwi Rod & Custom in Albion, Arkansas. The trio also visited Peterson’s Car Museum, the NHRA Drag Racing Museum in Pomona, Hollywood Hot Rods in Burbank, Kugel Komponents in La Habra, the private museum of Don Redding in Santa Clarita, Classic Performance in Placentia, Lions Automobilia Museum in Carson and the Huntington Beachbased concern of Classic Industries. All this was done over a whirlwind eight days.…

TARANAKI, 21-24 FEBRUARY AMERICARNA - THE PEOPLE THE 16th Annual Americarna event was held in New Plymouth from 20th - 24th February 2024. The naming rights partner for the 2024 event was Warner Construction, whose valued support for the event was a huge asset to the Taranaki Vehicle Events Trust, along with John Rae, Americarna’s Event Director, who put together one of the most, if not the most successful stagings of this event to date. Over 760 vehicles entered, with an average of three people per vehicle, which meant a huge boost to the Taranaki economy. Following on from previous Americarnas, the format was very similar, with the TSB Stadium serving as the hub and central gathering place each day. As always, John Rae welcomed everyone with a “Good Morning; I…

THE IHRA Nationals proved successful, with positive vibes and great reviews following NZ’s premier drag racing event. A good-sized crowd was treated to an excellent meeting under high overcast skies. The track preparation was superb, and the meeting ran like clockwork. The quality and presentation of the Racecars and crew have risen to a new level of professionalism, delivering good value to sponsors. We thank them for their commitment to their passion and the racetrack crew for putting on a superb show. The Winner's Circle The Best of the Rest RESULTS…

THE annual Waipu Car and Bike Show welcomed a blue-sky summer’s day for a record 3,500 attendees viewing the stunning display of 856 cars, 200 motorbikes and 23 trade vendors. Elvis was in the building leading the entertainment while Jenny Carr handled the microphone duties with aplomb. Most of Waipu’s local businesses chipped in with financial support and enjoyed the economic benefit of the one-day Hot Rod economy. When the day was done, funds were raised for the Northland Rescue Helicopter. Thanks to the dedicated Waipu Lions Committee and their hard-working team, sponsors, entrants and everyone who made this great day possible.…

JOHN & Arnya Goodall have all the makings of a wonderful life together, including sharing John’s passions, which he’s held from a young boy aged 11 laid up in the Wilson Home Private Trust (more on that later) to where they now reside in Te Aroha, some 62 years later. John served his time as a motorbike mechanic at his father’s business, New Lynn Motorcycles. Then he went out and worked for other motorbike workshops until 1971 when he went to the UK to race speedway bikes in the British Speedway League. For the next 30 years, he continued racing in NZ, the UK, Australia, and Western Springs, which became his second home. Eventually, John settled back in New Zealand and went from motorcycle mechanic to car mechanic, working parttime…

SUNDAY’S weather was cooler than the run of scorching hot summer days, which helped cool the track for a great day’s racing. Three 200-mile-per-hour runs were a treat, accompanied by the Vintage Gassers putting on a great show, linking speed, sound, and memories together in a spectacular display. Michael Franklin, in his Nitro Hoon ’57 Chev Funny Car, was assisted by ace AA/FC driver and tuner Morice McMillin. Michael kissed the wall on his first run, but luckily, it was just a paint scrape on the headers. He came back and made the fastest pass of the day when he went 260.76. The second 200mph pass was by Shane Ryland, who went 200.00 on the dot in his LH Holden Torana with a 427ci LS smallblock under the hood. Michael…

AT Hancock Park on Saturday 4th, March, the temperature was hovering around 25 degrees for the annual event. The beautiful weather ensured a huge number of spectators and exhibitors. That was great news for the Hospice, which is to receive the profits from the day. The weekend also saw Dunedin hosting the Corvette Nationals, so it was a logical move to park up an impressive array of these beautiful cars as an extra feature. Prizes were awarded for the Top 10 cars, Best Bike, Longest Distance Travelled, and Best Club Display which went to Conrodders R&CC.…

MODEL A Day has been organised for a few years now by Chris Hornblow and Shane Adlington. This year, attendance was down on numbers, but it was so much more enjoyable with a range of Model A from dead stock to fully modified. As always, people travel from all over the North Island to attend and enjoy the camaraderie along with the Trouble Bound prepared barbecue. As most events get too large or complicated, it is refreshing to have these informal gatherings on private property, enjoying the sunshine and refreshments. Thanks to all involved roll on next year.…

LEADEN skies, wet roads, and a grassed area at Ardmore greeted early spring swappers to the annual Papakura Swapmeet. Several bargains were available as another successful club event went into the books, marking the beginning of Spring.…

ONCE again, the annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show was a great success at the Pomona Fairplex, with strong contenders for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster and the Al Slonaker Award both supported by ARP. The show featured many new or recently rediscovered cars, such as the original Uncertain-T, The Cop Shop Coupe, and Rick Dobbertin’s Pro Street J-2000. This year’s theme hall was Street Machines - Then & Now featuring the most diverse array of iconic and influential street machines, pro street and pro touring styled, and everything in between. The Suede Palace was also of a high standard this year. Where else can you experience many halls of quality show cars, model car contests, vendors, pinstripers gathering, industry seminars, live music, rod & custom vendors and food…

LINDSAY Win of Christchurch’s East Coast Rodders is a petrolhead thru’ and thru’. Over four decades, he’s owned a couple of T-buckets, a Model A roadster, a ’35 coupe, a T coupe, and currently a ’29 A coupe and a ’26 T Tudor. Not to mention a rather cool (modern) Indian motorcycle and a wellgroomed beard shaped like the hull of a speedboat. Lindsay had a few seasons of drag racing action as well, until spinning out at Ruapuna’s finish line in a T-bucket at 100 mph, leaving Lindsay with the complexion of a compulsive blood donor. And Beach Hops in Whangamata? Lindsay and his lady Ronni have attended 13 of ’em. Although Lindsay doesn’t make a habit of bringing the topic up, Electric Vehicles tend to make him cringe.…