Innehållsförteckning för No 190 March 2021 från NZV8

Geographically, New Zealand is a small country. For most, there is a racetrack within a few hours’ drive, and for the average petrolhead, any sort of speed lust can be satisfied at these locations. But for a mad few, no local track will do. There is only one racetrack in their sights, and it just so happens to be some 7000 miles across the Pacific on the salt flats of Wendover, Utah, US. Those salt flats are a hot rodder’s ultimate proving ground, and there’s never been a shortage of Kiwis planning, designing, building, and tuning their own creations to ship over and run there. Right now, we know of close to 10 such projects, and no doubt there’s plenty of others we don’t know about. So, what is it…

Repco Moutere Hop 26–27 February Moutere Hill Community Centre, Nelson mouterehop.com $45 (pre-registered), $60 (on the gate) Few places in New Zealand can hold a candle to the Tasman region during the summer months, so what perfect timing to host the two-day Moutere Hop. Day one plays host to an evening cruise and drive-in movie, before the big show the following day. Held at the Moutere Hill Community Centre, the day two includes a show ’n’ shine, live music, rock ’n’ roll dancing, a pinup pageant, and a vintage market. Repco Beach Hop 21 24–28 March In and around Whangamata, Coromandel beachhop.co.nz Sold out Just when you’re probably starting to recover from the Covid-delayed 2020 party, right around the corner comes Repco Beach Hop 21, and it’s promising to be…

After 16 months of preparation, Squig Miles hit the track in the funny car for the first time at the IHRA Wellington Invasion in early January. Despite the team’s efforts, the car hit the track without the power grid, dash, and data-acquisition systems functioning. Fellow Group 1 racers Chris Johnston and Robin Silk did their best to help at the track, but the decision was made to run blind with no tacho or shift light. This meant leaving the line on what felt and sounded right, rather than a known rpm level. For most people, that could have ended in disaster, but most people haven’t done as many passes as Squig has! The car handled well on the first half-track pass, meaning it was all go for the next licencing…

Maybe you’ve seen a car listed locally as uncomplied, the existing rego has lapsed, or you’re a little more adventurous and you’ve found something overseas you’d like to import? Either way, in order to be registered for New Zealand roads, said vehicle will need to go through the vehicle compliance process to obtain a New Zealand VIN tag. It’s a process that can be scary for those having never been through it before, not helped by the number of horror stories floating around about those too-good-to-be-true, so-called steal-of-the-century buys turning into nightmare purchases. But the process is very black and white, and hopefully after reading this, you too will see it isn’t really that daunting, and as long as you’ve got a good safe car, and the paper trail to…

Don’t you feel good when your car is clean and all shined up? A well-kept car looks great rolling down the street or sitting in your driveway, and you’d swear it even drives better. But if you want to take your groom all the way, you should also address the dirt and grime under the hood. Even though the engine bay is not exposed to the elements — at least not from above — debris and dust creep in from openings around the hood and the vehicle’s front end. Cleaning your engine might sound daunting, but following these 10 steps can turn the job into a simple afternoon task, and a very satisfying one at that. Here’s how to clean your engine quickly and efficiently. STEP 1: PROTECT The first…

A surprising yet familiar name appeared on the entry list for the third round of the Napa Auto Parts Central Muscle Car (CMC) series. ‘Lupton’ is a name very well known in Grand Prix hydroplane racing circles, with Ken, his dad Warwick, and his brother Jack all competing both locally and internationally. Being fans of all types of horsepower, the trio have been regular spectators at motorsport events for many years, and have always been drawn to muscle cars. Around five years ago, when Greg Honor put his original Mustang up for sale, Warwick — who had always had a soft spot for that particular car — jumped at the chance to own it. After dabbling behind the wheel at events when the intensive hydroplane racing schedule allowed, he decided…

The team at Mike’s Engines in Whangarei are nearing the end of an extensive build on this Chev Apache for a long-time customer. Imported from the US by a previous owner, it was the original patina that sealed the deal. From the outset, the plan was for a twin-turbo LS, airbagged chassis, and to keep what years of neglect and searing sun in the US gave it. The original chassis has been retained, although it’s now boxed and plated. Included with the purchase was a Heidts independent front end, which they soon found would not be a simple bolt-in, as it didn’t get the truck as low as needed. The result is Z-notched front rails, while the rear has also been kicked up with a large C-notch. The diff is…

After years of racing superbikes, and a few crashes, Daniel Hendy has hung up the leathers, but not the helmet — just yet. Deciding to purchase a project car to try his hand at burnout comps, the family, including his one-year-old son, flew to Queenstown to pick up a ‘74 Belmont before driving the length of the country home. The project has progressed rather rapidly as one thing led to another following the initial upgrades which included a new nine-inch diff with Truetrac LSD and 31-spine axles, to having now just completed an entirely new engine combination. The intention is to compete in burnout comps, and throw down some big power skids, while still retaining the ability to take the family for a drive. Engine Specialties have pieced together a…

New Zealand motorsport had its first taste of the MARC II platform during the 66th New Zealand Grand Prix, one that certainly raised a few eyebrows up and down pit row. Collins Motorsport was the first in New Zealand to purchase one, which it did off the back of a stellar season in 2020 with its own Roush Yates–powered Mustang. With a plan to step up from the one-hour to three-hour races in 2021, the team went shopping for a purpose-built endurance car. “We were looking at buying a GT3 machine, but just could not find anything as good value for money as the MARC machines,” explained team principal Paul Collins. Engineered specifically for endurance racing, what the MARC II Mustang may lack in brute power and straight-line speed from…

Jesse James’ famed TV show Monster Garage, which aired from 2002 to 2006 on Discovery Channel and here in New Zealand on a free-to-air network, has returned after a 14-year hiatus. The premise of the show was following five car builders who worked alongside Jesse to transform a car in five days. Succeed, and they would receive a prize; fail, and the project would be destroyed in spectacular fashion. For the most part, the show was devoid of all the Hollywood drama other similar shows that followed seemed to prescribe to, although it would be cancelled due to low ratings. Reviving the show some 14 years on in a new workshop, and with a much older and much more famous and outspoken Jesse, it will be an interesting watch for…

QUALITY CONNECTIONS When it comes to AN fittings, all are not created equal. Do the job once and do it right. Speedflow is Australian-based (started and owned by a Kiwi) and renowned for its race-proven quality. The company’s extensive range covers everything from fuel lines and fittings to power-steering hoses, adaptors, tube nuts, banjo fittings, and more. So if you’re plumbing up a fuel or steering system, or in need of quality hose ends, adaptors, weld-ons or caps, injection lines, or inline filters, call the team at Kruzin Kustoms Rod & Kustom Shop. Kruzin Kustoms Rod & Kustom Shop is located at 39 Kelvin Grove Road in Palmerston North. Ph. 06 357 5017, visit kruzinkustoms.com, or email sales@kruzinkustoms.com. STAY COOL Our beloved classics often have cooling systems that would have…

There’s no denying that, over the past few years, Dave Gauld’s ‘Nightmare’ fuel altered has been wild to watch. It’s the type of car that draws people to the fence line any time it hits the strip. That’s with good reason, as the combination of a nitromethane-powered engine in a short-wheelbase package always makes for a wild ride. Somehow Dave had managed to tame the car and, while still putting on a good show, regularly ran times in the low seven-second zone. Sadly, the car’s power proved all too much at the IHRA Wellington Invasion meet at Meremere in early January. A pass that started promisingly saw the car turn right at half-track, hitting with enough force to knock Dave unconscious, which in turn left the throttle wide open as…

Monday, 4 January 2021 saw the return of the world famous (in New Zealand) Classic Cover Insurance Jalopy Dust Up, which was, as we all know, the first event in New Zealand to bring hot rods and other old jalopies back to the dirt track for “racing as it should be”. The brainchild of Noddy Watts, it started out a low key event back in 2009 and ran for five years before the decision was made to have a few years off. The few years off turned into seven, and, while it was back for 2021, albeit delayed by a day due to weather, it is obvious that the support for this event has not waned. Set at Waihi Beach Dirt Track above the quarry on the way from Waihi…

We all love summer — hot days at the beach, holidays over the Christmas period, and time to just kick back and relax. Getting the classic car out to drive that has been worked on or rebuilt over the winter is usually high on the priority list as well, with a large number of cool events to attend. Covid may have played havoc over 2020, but with the new year comes new hope for things to remain ‘normal’ — or at least as normal as possible. With the Christmas madness out of the way and people getting back into work, a new kind of madness takes over the North Canterbury town Rangiora every January that is the mainstay of the events calendar down in these parts. Muscle Car Madness (MCM)…

Mention the name Tony Baya around hot rod circles and you’ll often get the same reply about how talented he was as an engineer, the type who’d strive to find the possible in the impossible. As the owner and proprietor of Limitless Engineering in West Auckland for nearly a decade, his handiwork can be seen in action on many hot rods that pound the local streets. You’ll easily spot those parts, too, because they’ll nine times out of ten be expertly carved from billet, and, more often than not, they’ll be so cleverly engineered that you’ll have to pretend you know how it works — but you’ve really got no idea. This is no accident; Tony spent his life perfecting his craft. Hailing from Zimbabwe, he was conscripted into the…

When we asked Andrew Sinclair to come up with another concept — this is not his first cover car — he didn’t want a repeat of his last effort, as apparently it was not too well received. Not to worry; the man he entrusted to build his land-speed Charger — the talented Mike ‘Bic’ Anderson from Sonic Race & Machine — was handed the reins to share his little salt-racing dream. For someone who has lived a life building highend race machines, Bic’s take is an interesting one, and not what you’d expect. This is more a concept than something he actually dreams or plans to build. As the story goes, in the late ’60s, some young Cali kid decided that he’d like to give racing on the salt flats…

CMC got the welcome addition of another Torana for the third round of the series. Both the driver Dave ‘The Texan’ Sturrock and the car will be familiar to long-time followers of the series, although both have been absent for some time. Dave first built the car in 2002 and had great success with it before other commitments forced its sale to John Colebourne in 2007. Through Dave’s time without it, he’s continued to hone his race craft behind the wheels of various cars, most notably the immaculate 1967 Chev Camaro that he built for Historic Muscle Cars. However, knowing that Colebourne hadn’t competed with the car since 2014, Dave and his brother Ken worked on a deal to bring it back into the family, and took ownership once more…

It looks like GM’s signing of Holden’s death warrant is going to become a big payday for those who stashed away rare and collectable models of the Australian manufacturer. Since its closure, prices have soared, with the likes of the HSV GTSR W1 sedan near doubling in value. But the one that has grabbed all the headlines is an uber-rare unobtainium Holden HSV GTSR W1 Maloo ute that, at the time of writing, has a leading bid on Australian auction site Lloyds of A$1,050,000 with two days to go. Whatever it sells for, the winner will have to pay a 7.5-per-cent buyer’s premium on top, which, at its current bid will easily push the cost to over the A$1.1 million mark. So what makes the Maloo worth so much? Yeah,…

When you set out to build the ‘fastest road car on earth’, with an aim to top 500kph (311mph), the build spec will undoubtedly be something pretty special. American-based Hennessey Special Vehicles has set out to do just that with its Venom R5, which was first released to the public in 2017 as a concept, with the production version being released in December 2020 ahead of a global release later this year. Unlike previous Venoms, the F5 was designed from scratch by Hennessey’s team, including John Heinricy, former head of GM Performance. The starting price is US$2.1 million and there will only be 24 units offered. The body is all carbon, as is the carbon monocoque chassis, with a big focus on weight, resulting in a 1359kg curb weight, which…

For many people, 2020 was promising big things! Mandy Sinclair was one such person, having decided that after visiting the salt flats of Bonneville a couple of times, 2020 would be a perfect year to return, via Las Vegas where she and husband Andrew could renew their wedding vows. Andrew, being the loving husband he is, agreed to that idea … as long as the wedding was at the drive-through with a land-speed car on the trailer. Being equally as car mad as him, Mandy agreed, and plans were set in motion for the trip of a lifetime. Of course, there’s a long back story about why Andrew had his heart set on building a machine that he could hit 200mph in across the Bonneville Salt Flats in that well…

Long-time race fans may have done a double take when Mark Gemmell rolled out his freshly completed 1968 Camaro at the end of last year. While the car’s colour wouldn’t have been familiar, the body is none other than that originally used by the Shadwick brothers many moons ago. That car was eventually sold to Mark Bardsley, who years later replaced the body with a carbon-fibre one. Mark jumped at the chance to purchase the original body. That was way back in 2008, and the build of a Chassis Engineering chassis kit started in 2009 — a build that, impressively, was completed at home in a two-car garage. Dealing with health issues at the time, Mark says work on the chromoly chassis was very slow in the early years, something…

If you’ve been involved with motorsport from the pit side of the safety barriers, you’ll understand just how much time is involved in keeping a car up and running week in, week out, especially when that sport is based around a avgas-drinking dirt-slanger. For Matamata’s Tony Heuvel, it was the saloon car ranks that consumed his time for the better part of two decades, and he might still be at it had it not been for some wise words from his mum. Tony explains: “We lost Mum around six years ago. One day, while she was in the hospital, she said, ‘Tony, I know you love your speedway, but you need to sell it up; it takes up too much of your time.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but what would I…

I’ve always raced cars,” Pete Hemi says. “And I’ve always loved the V8 Supercars — way back when they were running these — and I like the VK shape, so it was the right choice.” That should probably help to explain why his VK is every bit the race car dressed for the street. The big Group C bodykit isn’t just for show, and beneath it is some serious effort that Pete has directed towards outright speed — matched by his commitment to ensuring a quality finish on every last detail. “Once I got out of speedway, I bought a big boat and that didn’t last long,” he laughs. “I love fishing, and I’ve got a smaller boat now, but I just hunted and hunted until I found this one.”…

Surviving for over a quarter of a century is no mean feat for any event, but perhaps an even greater feat is surviving the trek around all 16 hectares, and some 350-odd swap sites under the scorching West Auckland sun every January. It’s one of those certainties of the Kumeu Classic Car & Hot Road Festival you can simply count on like clockwork. Seriously, we can’t recall a single Kumeu Saturday that we weren’t seeking sunscreen, cold refreshments, and a sombrero by 10am if we were to have any chance of taking everything in. Such is the size of the Kumeu show, it’s almost hard to believe that the first event had only 40-odd cars on display. This year, vehicle attendance was estimated to be well into the triple digits…

While most of 2020 saw many shows and events cancelled or postponed, towards the end of the year things started to return to something resembling normal, which was awesome for us car guys. And while other countries are still suffering from the impact of Covid-19, 2021 has started well in New Zealand, with many regular events going ahead as usual. A mainstay on the Central Otago events calendar is the Cromwell Classic Car & Hot Rod Festival held on the third Saturday in January each year. Previous years have seen the event competing with the Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert, not only putting pressure on accommodation in the area, but also keeping people away from the car show due to having to make the decision on which event to attend.…

Regular readers might recognise this Blue Meanie VK from these very pages — Issue No. 137, to be exact. Originally built by Dale Williams, who carried out a bare-metal resto some four years ago, the LS-powered machine has since changed ownership to Ryan Dunn, who is stepping things up. The first order of business has been to get the VN LSD shortened by Steel Surgeons to accommodate new custom-ordered big-dish 20x9-inch Simmons, which match the existing fronts. Other changes include a full interior swap to genuine Group A Brock Scheel seats, and a stage-three detail. Next on Ryan’s to-do list is adding some form of boost to the 500hp LS, which will be delivered by a belt-driven compressor of some to-be-decided form. Given how tough the car already was, we’re…