Innehållsförteckning för No 217 September - October 2023 från NZV8

Reading these magazines many years ago, every two months for some reason I had it in my head that Parkside Media was a mega media company, resembling something like The Daily Planet. Inside my head, that’s what I imagined it to be like — a place with designers, printing machines, writers, and photographers bustling around, walls adorned with amazing photos and covers. I have no idea where I got this thought from, but the inner workings of Parkside Media were almost a secret, hidden away from the customers and readers, left to the realm of the imagination. It wasn’t until my first year as a contributor for Parkside Media, which included NZV8, NZ Performance Car, and New Zealand Classic Car magazines, that I started to learn more about the inner…

Get ready for an exciting and unforgettable weekend at the Kaikoura Hop 2023! From 13 to 17 September, classic car enthusiasts, music lovers, and families will gather in the beautiful coastal town of Kaikōura for a celebration like no other. This event is all about the cars, the music, and the vibrant culture that defines New Zealand’s automotive scene. The Kaikoura Hop is not your ordinary car show. It’s a full-blown experience that immerses you in the world of passionate car enthusiasts and music aficionados. Get ready to be amazed by a dazzling display of classic cars, hot rods, and custom vehicles. Whether you’re a fan of vintage beauties or powerful muscle cars, you’ll find something to admire and appreciate. But the fun doesn’t stop at the cars. The Kaikoura…

When is an old car not an old car? Or, when is a new car not a new car? These questions can be harder to answer than you’d think, as is the answer to why Ian Kenyon took a 2016 Hellcat Challenger and combined it with a 1969 Dodge Coronet. “There’s absolutely no logic to it at all,” he laughs when he answers our questions about how this madness all began in his well-known Pommy accent. But, despite that statement, there kind of is; in fact, there’s a whole lot of logic to combining the two vehicles that can’t be argued with — assuming, of course, you’re not the one paying the bills. Ian purchased the 2016 Hellcat from the South Island, complete with front-quarter accident damage, without any real…

“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates” — yep, that famous movie line is true, of which Palmerston North–based couple Andrew and Lisa Brown are all too well aware. That awareness isn’t just due to them buying a type of truck they were never initially looking at, but also from their experiences in the 17 years since they took ownership. Back as a young couple in their early 20s, they both agreed that they needed a truck in their lives. They liked the look of the late ’40s / early ’50s Ford jailbars, so that’s what they started searching for. Although it was the iconic thin-slatted grille of the jailbar that Andrew was seeking, somehow he ended up checking out a ’46 Chev instead. The big face-mask-esque…

JASON SLEEP 1971 FORD FALCON XY UTE LOCATION: WAITARA, TARANAKI In the world of automotive enthusiasts, there are those who seek something extraordinary, something that sets them apart from the rest. Jason Sleep, a dedicated motorbike and mountain bike rider, had a vision — to find a ute that would not only transport his beloved two-wheeled companions but also reflect his unique style. This involved an arduous two-year search, and Jason went to great lengths — even enlisting the help of a friend in Australia — but, unfortunately, their efforts didn’t yield any promising results. As fate would have it, one day a curious encounter unfolded at Jason’s friend’s workplace. Walking past his computer desk, a captivating screensaver caught his eye: an image of a beautiful XY ute. Intrigued, he…

My intake manifold has finally arrived, and while I’m very happy with how it fits and looks, it has brought with it some more work in the form of a new firewall. The old one clears fine, but the cutout I had for the old blower set-up looks a bit strange now. So, here’s how I go about fixing the ‘issue’ (I’m probably being a bit fussy, but I want to be 100 per cent happy with the car, so it takes whatever it takes). Cardboard is your friend! With the old panel out of the way and effectively a clean slate, I started cutting some template card to shape. I buy this 200gsm A2 paper/card online from a couple of different sources. It’s one of the handiest tools in…

Do you use Instagram? Do you want more exposure for the photos you post? Upload your photos to Instagram and use the hashtag #NZV8 to tag us. In each issue, we search Instagram for your photos and print them on the pages you see here. Look it up, use it, and thrash it! We’ll keep an eye on it and pick out a selection of hashtagged posts each month to print right here.…

4–6 August 2023 01 Chrome Expression Session Hampton Downs Chrome Expression session doesn’t need much introduction. It’s New Zealand’s biggest and baddest horsepower festival, offering a wide range of adrenaline-pumping activities. From cruising and roll racing to drifting, burnouts, grip sessions, powerskids, hardpark, and gymkhana, this event has it all. This year, there’s an exciting twist in the burnout section. Chrome has partnered with Summernats, who will give four of New Zealand’s finest burnout cars a chance to compete on the grand stage of Summernats in Australia. Official Summernats judges will be present at Chrome to select the highest-scoring cars. The weekend promises an unmatched experience. Join us or get your ride involved in the action by visitingchromenz.co.nz to book your tickets. Don’t miss out! 5 August 2023 02 Kruzin Kustoms Mid…

Set in a small village with towering mountains as a backdrop and surrounded by aqua green lakes and rivers, the Twizel Show and Shine has developed into a must-do event for any true car enthusiast. Founded in 1968 to house construction workers who came from near and far to work on the Upper Waitaki hydroelectric scheme, Twizel has become the largest town in the Mackenzie District. It now hosts visitors from around the world and serves as a popular hub for the area. While some of the homes are now used as holiday properties, there is a sizable community that has chosen Twizel as home — and why not? It is one of the most beautiful and scenic parts of New Zealand. SURROUNDED BY AQUA GREEN LAKES AND RIVERS, THE…

This club prides itself on its easy, laid-back atmosphere, vehicle diversity, and lack of rules, being a place where friends can be made for life. When it comes to the car scene in Canterbury, Cantabs are spoilt for choice when it comes to clubs. No matter whether your interests lie in hot rods, vintage tin, or single-brand models, the district has got you covered. With the Canterbury area being as vast as it is, club nights can involve a fair amount of travel if you live north of the Waimakariri River, and, over the years, several clubs have sprung up to cater for the North Canterbury region. In 1986, Graham Coates, or Grimm as he is better known, along with friends Rodney Cullen and Peter Childs, hit on the…

Many readers will remember Steve Hardcastle’s ‘37 Chev from the Thunder Park days, and while Steve is making great progress on his recreation of that car, Paul Cathro is doing his best to bring back the original. Paul’s owned the car for the last few decades, previously campaigning it with a 350ci small block alongside the likes of Paul Bloomesaat and Kevin Chapman. While the small engine may have been capable of doing some decent skids, Paul admits it never really had the power to match the car’s looks or reputation. After attempting to build his own more suitable chassis for the car, not just once or twice, but seven aborted times, he’s finally decided to get it done right. He blames long time racing friend John Dillion for forcing…

This year saw the sixth running of the ever-popular Rust and Dust event on the property of hosts Ben and Jaime Winter, at Sefton, a few kilometres out of Rangiora. Every year since its inception, the grapevine has worked overtime, spreading the word, with more and more people wanting to take part in this wickedly fun event at the adopted-named Redneck Ranch. Since the very first event, Rust and Dust has been by invite only, making it much more manageable for the hosts. That’s not to say that it’s impossible to get involved; on the contrary, fresh blood is encouraged, just as long as you have the right ingredients to fit in. WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO TAKE PART IN THIS WICKEDLY FUN EVENT MUD WAS NOW THE…

ANDREW STOREY — 1968 DODGE SUPER BEE It’s quite fitting that when we look back at what we ran in NZV8 a decade ago this month, it’s an orange B-body Mopar on the cover. However, that’s not the only similarity between this issue’s cover car and the one from Issue No. 97, as both cars were actually built by the same builder, although in very different styles. Since being built back in 2013, Andrew Storey has clocked up plenty of miles in his ’68 Super Bee. Although it’s been reliable, sadly, a rocker arm broke a while back, spurring an engine rebuild. During that time, the whole valvetrain was changed and a smaller, more street-friendly, cam was installed into the 496ci big block. With that done, Andrew has turned his…

Seventeen cars headed to the National Circuit at Hampton Downs over the first weekend in May for their fifth and final round of the 2022/’23 championship. The titles for both Group 2 and Group 1B had been decided before the start of the weekend due to both winners having a massive points advantage over their nearest rivals. Mike Oldham in his Mustang took the honours in Group 2, and Andrew Sinclair took the Group 1B title in the Chickadee Commodore. However, the battle for Group 1A was down to the wire, with five drivers all having a mathematical chance of winning the championship over the weekend. Championship leader Tristan Teki in the ‘Batmobile’ Camaro had a five-point lead ahead of Shannon Coker at the start of the weekend. Andy Knight,…

We think that most people who have a love of American cars will have dreamed of cruising the famous routes of the US, checking out its iconic sights along the way and visiting hot rod and classic car shops plus amazing collections, some of which aren’t open to the general public. The challenge, however, lies in navigating the country, arranging flights, car rentals, accommodation, and deciding where to go and what to see for the ultimate experience. If you have ever had that dream and are looking for a stress-free way of making it come true, then look to one of New Zealand’s best event organisers, Noddy Watts, who, along with his fiancée Andrea, has been running self-drive tours through the US since 2010. They have taken 26 tours with…

Downtime Entertainment presents the exciting 2023 AutoFest, happening on 14-15 October at NAPA Auto Parts Dragway! Experience a thrilling weekend filled with automotive action as the venue transforms into a haven — dedicated to showcasing the best hot rods, classic cars, and street machines. It’s going to be a jam-packed weekend, kicking things off on Friday with an afternoon of track cruising at the legendary Hampton Downs. Then on Saturday morning, all entrants will pack into Meremere Dragway for two days of automotive heaven. AutoFest 2023 will feature a range of exciting activities throughout the weekend, including Show & Shine, Cruise Route, Retro America Miss AutoFest, New Zealand’s first Burnout Masters Burnout Competition, ‘Light ‘em up’ Lane, camping, trade stands, retro market, a spectacular fireworks display, and much more! For…

Ever since Rob Claridge was 10 years old, he has yearned for a 1969 XW Falcon. There was something about the boxy square lines of the big Aussie sedan that just appealed, and at that early age he decided one day he would own one. He and wife Lana have owned some pretty neat cars over the years, mostly modern Fords and Lana’s current daily driven 707hp Jeep Trackhawk – that’s some serious street cred right there! Rob’s desire to own something a little older, though, was still front and centre in his mind, and one day, while trawling through Trade Me’s listings for classic Aussie tin, he stumbled across a 1978 XC Falcon for sale in Christchurch. While the XC wasn’t his first choice for a classic Ford, it…

It’s not all that often we get blindsided by a new streetcar running into the nine second zone, as most commonly there are years or seasons of progression that build up to that moment. Warwick Garth and his 1971 El Camino came out of nowhere though and dipped well into the nines with a recent best of 9.69 at 143.20mph. There’s a reason why we hadn’t seen him progress though the seasons though, and that is that last season was Warwick’s first attempt at drag racing, but now he’s well and truly hooked! The El Camino was only purchased by Warwick for its procharged 572ci big block engine package, which he planned to drop into a Holden 1-Tonner show car he has in the build. When Russell at The Toy…

IT IS AS YOU’D EXPECT FROM 20 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP AND CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT Like grandad’s axe, Damien’s 1992 Toyota Hilux has little remaining that could be considered an untouched factory Toyota component. Although the Toyota parts bin has been well used for various donor parts, there is an equal number of fabricated and modified elements to this custom minitruck. It is as you’d expect from 20 years of ownership and continuous development, integrating new ideas from three distinct periods when you could have earmarked the build as being completed. Much like grandad’s axe, the changing tastes and ideas for development of ‘H4NGRY’ is what drives Damien to continue after all these years. The dream started with the American minitruck scene in the 1990s, a time well before the advent of…

Restomods have gained immense popularity for good reason. Combining modern drivelines with classic-style bodies, they offer the best of both worlds. You get the performance and reliability of a late-model power train while preserving the timeless body lines and curves we all adore from the past. And it is precisely this concept that Hotrod Heaven has embraced in its current restomod endeavour, working on none other than a twin-turbo LS-powered 1971 Hillman Hunter Super owned by Glenn O’Keeffe. The Hillman Hunter’s remarkable journey began in England, where it was acquired by Glenn over three decades ago. Originally destined to remain a stock example, this resilient car was saved from its impending fate. Glenn negotiated a deal, purchasing the Hunter for a mere £30 and having it delivered to his doorstep.…

THE ULTIMATE CONTROL IN YOUR HANDS Upgrade your vehicle’s throttle response with the Aeroflow Performance Electronic Throttle Controller (ETC). This compact device allows you to easily adjust throttle sensitivity, enhancing acceleration and traction on various terrains by increasing or decreasing your vehicle’s throttle response. The ETC is compatible with the majority of fly-by-wire throttle vehicles, effectively eliminating the delay often found in factory settings the moment your foot presses the accelerator. The device offers three road driving modes (normal, economy, and performance), including adjustable settings for different driving styles and conditions. With an anti-slip mode, built-in anti-theft feature, and easy DIY installation, this ETC is a must-have upgrade. Please note that the unit itself and the vehicle-specific harness need to be purchased separately. Take advantage of the current limited-time offer…