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 contents JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025

12

012 SILENCING THE LAMBS — PSYCHO 1000HP CAMARO

038 PINK PASSION — PINK PANTHER PLYMOUTHS
074 FORGED IN FIRE — DANIEL CARTER INTERVIEW
080 ONE TO RULE THEM ALL — SHOW-SPEC DRAGSTER
092 RAT SALAD — V8 FORD PREFECT

38

80 92
4
 08

64
The Other Stuff
006: FROM THE ED.
008: NEWS
010: EVENTS
026: KAIKOURA HOP
050: DRAGGED UP
052: NZ’S QUICKEST
054: AEROFLOW RACE DIARY
058: BURNOUT FILES
064: CHURCH OF SPEED
070: STRAIGHT TALK
104: IN THE BUILD

104 74 106: DECADE AGO

108: CARGO
110: DIRECTORY LISTINGS
112: SOCIAL SCENE

26
 from Rixsta
the ed. Sammons

ISSN 1176 - 9920

SUBSCRIBE NOW
Six months (three issues), $35
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ONLINE nzv8.co.nz/subscribe
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A
nd just like that, it’s December! Christmas and with a serious twist. You’ve got to see it! EDITOR Rixsta Sammons, rixsta@nzv8.co.nz
the New Year are just around the corner. They As always, there’s plenty more inside, but I’ll let
SUBEDITOR Sarah Beresford
say time flies when you’re having fun, and you dive in and check it all out. Being our final issue
that’s certainly been the case for me this year. for the year, I want to take a moment to thank you PROOFREADER Odelia Schaare
Looking back on 2024 at NZV8, it’s been one hell all for your incredible support. Whether it’s through SENIOR DESIGNER Mark Gibson
of a ride. We kicked things off in March with Repco emails, phone calls, or just sticking with us, your MEDIA SALES Mark Everleigh,
Beach Hop 24 — my fourth consecutive Beach Hop passion keeps print media alive — and we couldn’t mark.everleigh@viamedia.co.nz
— and it was an absolute blast. Over the year, I’ve do it without you.
CONTENT PRODUCER Deven Solanki
shot countless cars and written endless stories, If you’re still hunting for Christmas gift ideas,
especially for Readers’ Rides. It’s been awesome to don’t forget about our Volume 1 and Volume 2 DREAM TEAM Aaron Carson, Cam Leggett,
see how much that section has grown, highlighting posterbooks or some NZV8 merch. Let’s be honest, Daniel Carter, Danny Wood, Hayden Wilby,
some of the underdogs and their wicked builds. getting that under the tree would beat socks any Leo Batger, Liam Dijk, Matt Elliot, Morice McMillin,
The demand for posters saw us release Volume 1 day of the week. The motoring enthusiast in your Rixsta Sammons, Rod Dunn, Shane Wishnowsky,

and Volume 2 posterbooks — and both have been a life will love it! Simon Dudding, Todd Wylie, Tony Johnson

hit with readers. Till next year — be safe, drink plenty, and
On a personal note, I’ve spent a fair bit of time eat heaps. Have an amazing Christmas and a
refining my custom candy and flake work this year. Happy New Year!
I’ve also put in some solid effort on my car. Sure,
there was a point when I got pissed off and put it up NZV8 MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY
for sale (we’ve all been there) — but now I’m not so
sure about selling it. Money talks, right? Regardless, EMAIL contact@viamedia.co.nz
the smiles per mile are worth it, and that’s all that MAIL PO Box 82,045, Highland Park, Auckland 2143
matters. Meanwhile, my wife picked up an XY BUSINESS DIRECTOR Michael White,
Falcon, which is in storage for now. Next year, we’re michael.white@viamedia.co.nz
selling up and looking for a new home. If I get my
GENERAL MANAGER Simon Holloway,
way, it’ll have the perfect garage-to-house ratio —
simon.holloway@viamedia.co.nz
more garage than house, of course!
This issue is packed with some absolute beauties SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Liz Brook
from across the country. Gracing the cover is RETAIL DISTRIBUTION Are Direct 09 979 3018
Warwick Garth’s ’68 Camaro, packing a procharged
598ci Dart Big Chief big block and plenty of go-
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS
fast bits to match. Keep an eye on this one — big Via Media uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine,
things are coming. We’ve also got a pair of pink but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes, misprints, omissions, or
typographical errors. Via Media prints advertisements provided to the
Plymouths: a ’70 AAR Cuda and a ’72 Plymouth publisher but gives no warranty and makes no representation to the truth,
coupe, both owned by Cathy Willemsen. It’s a cool accuracy, or sufficiency of any description, photograph, or statement. Via
Media accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person
story with a tonne of character. who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph, or
Then there’s Gary Crook’s latest build — well, statement contained herein. Via Media reserves the right to refuse any
advertisement for any reason. The views expressed in this magazine are not
‘latest’ might not be the right word, as it’s been necessarily those of Via Media or the editor. All material published, gathered,
in the works for years. ‘Cleopatra’, his ’63 Chev or created for NZV8 magazine is copyright 2024 Via Media Limited. All rights
reserved in all media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any
Corvette C2, is a stunner — as much a show car as
form without the express written permission of the publisher.
it is a drag car. And to round things off, we’ve got a
Ford Prefect 100E. A what? Yup, one of those, but

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 news
CHECK NZV8.CO.NZ FOR REGULAR NEWS UPDATES

REPCO KUMEU CLASSIC CAR & HOT

ROD FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2025
G et ready for the Kumeu Hot Rod Festival,
happening 17–19 January 2025 at the
Kumeu A & P Showgrounds in Auckland. This is
just soaking up the vibes, there’s something for
everyone — 100-plus trade stalls, rare car parts,
a rad vintage caravan park, and a Kids Hot Rod
for the best deals! Parking’s easy, but if you’re
cruising in, head to Gate 6. Tickets are available
at the gate, but snag them early online for a
the ultimate weekend for car lovers, with over Racing event. sweet deal.
1000 classic cars, hot rods, and vintage gems Plus, you can catch drag racing displays, live Don’t miss out — this is one festival that’s
on display. music, and all the best food options. It’s the all about good times and great cars. For more
Whether you’re into collecting, cruising, or perfect family-friendly event, but get there early information, visit kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz.

MURICA
Y ouTube has become a powerhouse platform for
car builders and enthusiasts, offering endless
content to learn from and enjoy. One standout
personality making waves in the V8 scene is
Cleetus McFarland, whose high-octane projects are
grabbing global attention.
His latest build, a Pro Mod Camaro dubbed
‘Eagle’, is turning heads everywhere. Unveiled on his
YouTube channel, Eagle is a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
built in collaboration with Cameron Johnson Race
Cars. This beast is designed for five-second quarter-
mile runs and features a twin-turbocharged Pro Line

TORQUE TO SPEC
ave you joined NZV8 magazine’s
Hemi engine capable of cranking out up to 5000hp.
The Camaro recently smashed a four-second
eighth-mile shakedown pass and made its

H All Torque Facebook group yet? It’s

the ultimate spot for Kiwi car enthusiasts to
Jump in today and be part of New Zealand’s
passionate V8 community. We’d love to see
what you’re working on, hear your stories, and
competitive debut at the Haltech World Cup Finals at
Maryland International Raceway, where it achieved
an incredible five-second pass at over 240mph!
connect, share builds, swap stories, and talk talk shop about everything happening in the This project showcases the exciting intersection
everything V8. Whether it’s burnouts, drag world of NZV8. Join the group and get involved! of online automotive culture and high-performance
racing, restorations, or cruising, All Torque has Search for ‘NZV8 Magazine — All Torque’ racing, continuing to engage car enthusiasts around
it covered. on Facebook. the world.

8
 Events GUIDE
EMAIL YOUR INFO TO: EDITOR@NZV8.CO.NZ

22–25 January 2025 Don’t miss the Miss Retro Motorama and live

north Cruise Martinborough

entertainment. For more info, check out the
Yankee Haulers Facebook page.

ISLAND Join us for the annual Cruise Martinborough,

a hot rod, classic, and muscle car event 20–24 March 2025
showcasing vehicles from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and
17–19 January 2025 before. Enjoy four days of cruising, car shows, live Repco Beach Hop 25 —
Kumeu Hot Rod Festival
music, and great food — open to all American,
Australian, V8, and generally cool cars. 25th Anniversary
Kumeu Showgrounds Registrations open now; entry is $139 per vehicle. Whangamata
For more information, visit www. It’s the big one! Repco Beach Hop is celebrating
Get ready for one of New Zealand’s biggest
cruisemartinborough.co.nz or contact info@ 25 years of rock ’n’ roll, hot rods, and classic cars,
classic car and hot rod events! The Kumeu
cruisemartinborough.co.nz. and this year promises to be the biggest yet. From
Hot Rod Festival is back, bringing a weekend
the nostalgic sounds of the ’50s and ’60s to the
packed with everything from over 1,500 classic
8–9 February 2025
incredible show of over 1000 cars from all around
cars and hot rods, drag racing displays, and
New Zealand, this five-day event is an unmissable
live Kiwi rock ’n’ roll bands to hundreds of
trade sites and swap meet stalls. There’s even
a vintage caravan park for those who want to
Morrinsville Motorama
Get ready for the annual Morrinsville Motorama,
celebration of retro culture. Beach Hop kicks off
with the usual jaw-dropping classic car convoy,
plus themed events like the Retro Caravan Show
truly soak in the atmosphere. hosted by the Yankee Haulers Hot Rod Club.
and Miss Beach Hop competition. There’s live
The weekend’s highlights include the crowd- The weekend kicks off with a Mystery Cruise and
music, vintage markets, and even a drive-in movie
favourite drag car fire-ups, where you can drive-in movie on Saturday, followed by the big
night to top it all off. Make sure you’ve got your
experience the raw power of nitro firsthand, automotive show and swap meet on Sunday at
tickets and join the celebrations for this milestone
and plenty of prizes up for grabs in various Morrinsville Recreation Ground. Open to all hot
25th anniversary! For details and tickets, head over
categories. rods, classics, muscle cars, vans, caravans, bikes,
to www.beachhop.co.nz
For tickets and more details, visit www. and trucks. Prizes up for grabs include Best Bike,
kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz Best Truck, Top 5 Choice, and Best Caravan.
22 March 2025
Mamaku Community Car
Show Fundraiser
Mamaku Youth Park
Get ready for the 2nd Annual Mamaku Community
Car Show Fundraiser at the Mamaku Youth Park
(Domain) in Mamaku, Rotorua. Open to all makes
and models, this event promises a fun-filled day
for the whole family. The show kicks off at 10 AM
with a Show & Shine featuring some incredible
vehicles. Public entry is free, and vehicle entry is
just $10 (vehicles must be show-worthy). Gates
open for vehicles at 8 AM, so arrive early as all
vehicles need to be parked by 9 AM.
Editor’s Pick KUMEU HOT ROD FESTIVAL For more info, visit the Mamaku Car Show page
on Facebook.

22 February 2025
south Hanmer Motorfest
ISLAND Hanmer Springs Domain
Get ready for the 10th Anniversary of Hanmer
Motorfest, hosted by the Falcon Fairlane Car
16 February 2025 Club of Christchurch. This special milestone
event promises a day packed with incredible
Top of the South Motor cars, community fun, and entertainment in the

Show 2025 scenic setting of Hanmer Springs Domain. Open

to a wide range of vehicles, including hot rods,
Waimea College, Richmond muscle cars, and modern classics.
Gear up for the annual Top of the South Motor Keep an eye out for ticket details, coming soon. Editor’s Pick TWIZEL SHOW ’N’ SHINE
Show! Taking place at Waimea College, this event For more information, visit www.
showcases the region’s finest hot rods, classic falconfairlaneclub.co.nz
followed by the main event on Saturday at the
cars, muscle cars, and motorbikes. With a variety
Combined Services Club on Ohau Road. Entry
of vehicles on display, live entertainment, food
stalls, and prize giveaways, it’s the perfect day out
March 21–23, 2025 is free for visitors to admire a fantastic lineup of
cars.
for car enthusiasts and families alike.
Proceeds from the event go toward supporting
Twizel Show ’n’ Shine
The Twizel Show n Shine is set for March
This family-friendly event offers activities for
everyone, making it a must-attend for car
local charities, so bring the whole crew and enjoy 21–23, 2025! Join in for a weekend celebrating enthusiasts. For more details and updates, check
a day of motoring fun! vintage and classic vehicles against the stunning local event listings!
For more information, check out top-of-the- backdrop of Twizel. For more information, check out Twizel Show n
south-motor-show on Facebook The fun kicks off with a Friday night cruise, Shine on Facebook

10
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1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO

BIG BLOCK POWER, BIG EXPECTATIONS, AND ONE HELL OF A JOURNEY

WORDS: SHANE WISHNOWSKY PHOTOS: LIAM DIJK

12
14
 HE “WANTED dding his name to the long list of previous
caretakers, Warwick Garth certainly has big
shoes to fill, but he assures us that he’s well and

SOMETHING
truly up to the task of keeping the spirit of this
Camaro alive.
The Gisborne-based Garth family’s journey
starts at The Toy Shed in Rotorua, where Russell and

DIFFERENT”. A Glen were building Warwick a ‘show-and-go’ Holden

One Tonner. The ute featured a set of seriously narrowed
frame rails, air suspension, and a set of 15x10-inch wide

TAME SMALL meats on the rear.

The team were quickly getting to the ‘we need an
engine now’ stage of the build, and Warwick said that

BLOCK WAS
he “wanted something different”. A tame small block
was definitely not on his radar, so the hunt was on for
something a little more substantial to fill the empty hole

DEFINITELY
up the front of the Holden.
While looking for a suitable power plant, the team
stumbled across a 1971 Chevrolet El Camino that was up
for sale. The two-seater American pickup was fitted with

NOT ON a big block Chev and was force-fed by an F2 ProCharger

centrifugal supercharger, which certainly ticked the
“something different” box. The ‘Elco’ was quickly snapped

HIS RADAR up and delivered to Russell and the crew at The Toy Shed
to have the heartbeat removed and transplanted into the
eagerly waiting One Tonner.
 SPEC
1968 CHEVROLET
CAMARO
ENGINE: 598ci Dart Big Chief big
block Chevrolet, Dart Big Chief block,
Callies crank, Oliver rods, Diamond
pistons, Jesel belt drive, Johnson
dry-sump set-up, custom solid roller
cam, Jesel shaft-mount rockers, Dart
Big Chief heads, Dart Big Chief intake
manifold, APD full billet 1350cfm blow-
through carburettor, non-intercooled
F2 ProCharger, ProCharger Pro Race
relief valve, MagnaFuel ProStar 500
fuel pump, MagnaFuel fuel-pressure
regulator, Aeromotive billet fuel-pump
speed controller, MSD 7AL-3 ignition
box, MSD crank pickup, custom headers
with 2½-inch primaries and five-inch
collectors (HPC coated), custom
radiator, custom plumbing, inner guards
removed, lightened genuine steel front
end, custom radiator support panel
DRIVELINE: Chuck Mann refreshed
TH400, 5000rpm stall converter,
transbrake, SFI bellhousing, trans blanket,
Dana 60 diff, Pro gears, solid Moser
centre, Mark Williams 40-spline axles
SUSPENSION: (F) Standard,
adjustable shocks; (R) custom four-link,
QA1 coilovers, custom sway bar
BRAKES: Standard pedal box,
standard master cylinder, JFZ callipers,
lightweight rotors front and rear
WHEELS/TYRES: (F) 15x4-inch
Weld Prostar wheels and Hoosier
front runner tyres; (R) 15x14-inch
Weld Prostar wheels and M&H 32-inch It was at this stage that Russell suggested that maybe of sedately cruising the streets was an old memory,
drag slicks the Garths might want to take their recent purchase having been transformed into a pretty stout strip weapon
CHASSIS: Back-halved, tubbed, north to Meremere to have a bit of a play on the running a best of 9.58 seconds at 137.68mph. Warwick
chassis connectors quarter-mile to see just what the American ute could do and son Samuel were hooked!
INTERIOR: Sparco Evo XL seats, before they ripped the engine out and stabbed it into its At the end of their successful debut season, Warwick
Motion Raceworks steering wheel,
Australian cousin. trudged back to The Toy Shed and sat down with Russell
Motion Raceworks operator shifter,
MSD-controlled CO2 air shift, The bench seat and column change were definitely and Glen (no doubt each with a cold beverage in hand)
Motion Raceworks parachute handle, not drag strip appropriate, so out they came. They and went over their report card. The idea of building
Holley 12-inch Pro Dash, custom
were replaced with buckets and a floor shifter, and the the show-and-go Aussie ute was quickly abandoned
roll cage
El Camino hit the strip. Over the course of the season, in favour of building something much more obnoxious
PERFORMANCE: 1000hp
(soft tune) the force-fed streeter got faster and faster thanks to for the drag strip. Just to make sure minds were not
some diff and transmission upgrades. An air shifter was changed, the One Tonner was hung in the roof of the
also installed, and by the end of the season, the idea Rotorua workshop and retired forever.

16
 Restoration to customisation. Mild to wild. The team at The Toy Shed have
a passion and reputation for honest advice, dependable workmanship, and
high-quality craftsmanship. With custom body and chassis fabrication,
performance engine and carburettor rebuilding, dyno-tuning, and LVVTA
certification all under one roof. Whether it’s just a minor modification, or a
ground up rebuild.

07 348 5314 / THETOYSHEDV8@GMAIL.COM / 106 RIRI STREET, ROTORUA

 Always being a fan of first-gen Camaros, the search
was on for a suitable example for the boys. Anyone who
has visited a drag strip in the past couple of decades
would be well aware of the Herb Morgan Camaro and
its bone-jarring, aggressive, wheels-up launches. When
it came up for sale, Warwick just had to have it. With
previous owners including Gary Taylor, Steve Wells,
and Clarke Fiddes (we featured the Camaro in Issue
No. 1 when Clarke owned it), back then, it had an
aspirated 1100hp 515-inch big block and a five-speed
stick shift, and ran a best of 8.76 seconds at 156mph.
So, any number that didn’t start with an eight would be
unacceptable to everyone.
The unmistakable Camaro had been undergoing a
rebuild. It came with its customary coating of black paint
and had a brand-new 560-cube Dart big block, a tunnel
ram, and dual quads. With the engine only having dyno
miles on it, everyone was unsure as to what times it
would do down the strip. However, even with the large
list of new go-fast bits, it was totally devoid of wiring or
any plumbing, so it was by no means a turn-up-and-
run-eights kind of deal.
Russell and crew rolled up their sleeves and readied
the car for its maiden season in the ownership of the
Garths. To give the car a bit more personality, they
added the red stripes and decided on the name
‘Hannibal’. In hindsight, though, Warwick says, “maybe
this was a bad omen, as it all went downhill from there”.

18
ANY NUMBER THAT DIDN’T
START WITH AN EIGHT WOULD BE
UNACCEPTABLE TO EVERYONE

The newly finished car was rolled out of the trailer

at Meremere for its first outing. After a few shake-
down tests, it was time to run it out the back and see
what numbers would be on the board at the end of
the quarter-mile. Sadly, though, on its first full pass,
the brand-new engine had a rod hanging out of it,
leaving an expensive trail of smoke and chunks of
metal in places they shouldn’t really be, resulting in
a big mess and an engine beyond repair — heads,
camshaft, crank, block, all destroyed in less than
10 seconds. Damn!
It was back to the drawing board for everyone, and,
not wanting to give up on their mission, a new plan
IT HAD BEEN
was devised. There was a pretty much brand-new 600ci along with a matching manifold from the same parts
all-aluminium engine sitting back in Russell’s shop that catalogue. Methanol and compressed air from the
would be a perfect replacement for the old 560-cube centrifugal charger are crammed into an elaborate array
engine that had been turned into a paperweight. It had of piping straight into a billet APD 1350cfm blow-through

RECENTLY been recently removed from a jet boat, was looking for
a home, and was at the right price, so Warwick snapped
it up. The 600-cuber was already a tough engine, but
carburettor. No intercooler is used, as methanol’s
self-cooling properties are more than adequate for the
planned short eight-second bursts of excitement. Not

REMOVED at 10.5:1 compression and a single carb it wasn’t really

suitable for what was in mind. Remember that F2
ProCharger off the El Camino that we mentioned earlier
wanting to repeat the process again, and with oiling the
most important part of keeping an engine alive, the boat
also donated its dry-sump system to make sure that all

FROM A JET (that you’ve probably all forgotten about)? Well, it was
time to dust it off, bolt it up to something, and go fast!
The Dart Big Chief block is filled with a Callies crank.
the parts would stay inside this time. Once the combo
was all bolted and screwed together, it was attached to
the Camaro and run up on the dyno, netting 900 horses

BOAT Attached to it are eight Oliver rods topped with Diamond

pistons. A pair of Big Chief heads handle the breathing,
at the treads on a soft tune.
The necessary upgrades were completed just

20
 GATES OPEN: 7.30AM
TRACK OPENS: 9.30AM
ADMISSION
Adults $30 Family Pass $90
(2 adults, 3 children 12-17)

Under 12 years FREE

www.napaautopartsdragway.co.nz
 in time for the last event of the 2023 season at of procharged goodness and exploded, resulting in a
Meremere dragway. The Camaro was loaded onto grenaded set of diff gears and a hurt transmission.
the trailer and taken to the track to see what the new Over the off-season, Chuck Mann went through the
combo could do. After a long, smoky burnout, Warwick trans and replaced what needed to be replaced, while
staged the car on the transbrake and waited for the Les at The Toy Shed sorted out the diff just in time for the
lights to drop. Once he saw the last amber, he released opening test-and-tune meeting of the 2024 race season.
the transbrake button and all hell broke loose. The Warwick says, “This thing is a beast, hence the name
Dana 60 decided that it didn’t really like 600 cubes ‘Hannibal’. At the test and tune, the first run was a big

DRIVER
WARWICK GARTH
AGE: 49
OCCUPATION: Contractor
PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS:
1971 El Camino, 1967 327 Camaro,
HQ Premier, Holden VK Commodore,
Chevrolet SS ute, HSV GTS Monaro
DREAM CAR: Black 1969 Dodge
Charger
WHY THE CAMARO? Needed
a faster drag car after racing the 1971
El Camino and I like the gen-one
Camaros
BUILD TIME: 18 months
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP:
18 months
THIS CAR’S HISTORY: Imported
from the US, raced in New Zealand
THANKS: East Coast Thumpers,
Russell Lowe, Glen Eggleton, The Toy
Shed Rotorua

22
THE DANA 60 DECIDED THAT IT DIDN’T
REALLY LIKE 600 CUBES OF PROCHARGED
GOODNESS AND EXPLODED
 “WE HAVE SOME BIG
wheel-stand followed by a close look at the wall. We
repaired the wheelie bars and refitted them for Sunday.
It ran an 8.82, then an 8.80, and finally an 8.33, still on
the soft tune, only then to be rained off after qualifying
(which gave us extra time for a few coldies). The car is

SHOES TO FILL AND A finally making some awesome passes, and driving back
in the trailer in one piece is a plus. We have some big
shoes to fill and a reputation to uphold with this car.
We have also come a long way to get to where we are

REPUTATION TO UPHOLD
with the great help and advice from Russell Lowe and
Glen Eggleton from The Toy Shed, who gave up their
weekends and numerous hours to see Hannibal return
successfully to the track.”
With the bugs beginning to be ironed out and with

WITH THIS CAR” some promising numbers already being run, it can only
get better for this iconic New Zealand race car. We look
forward to seeing what Warwick and his family can add
to the story of this well-known and proven vehicle.
Good luck.

24
2024 KAIKOURA HOP

KAIKOURA HOP IS THE PERFECT RECIPE OF CLASSICS, PEOPLE, AND

LOCATION ALL COMING TOGETHER FOR FOUR DAYS OF ENJOYMENT
WORD AND PHOTOS: ROD DUNN

s we step out of winter and into spring, we look rugged mountains and the sea, making it one of the most
forward not only to the hotter weather but also to picturesque locations for such an event. The event is based
the start of the car event season. One of the first out of the Kaikōura racecourse, with all activities either centred
shows to mark the start of these warmer months on the grounds or leaving from them.
here in the South Island is the much-anticipated For those arriving early in the week, the hop kicks off with the
Kaikoura Hop. Held over 18–22 September this year, popular Early Bird Quiz night on Wednesday evening, held at
the event has grown from its humble beginnings to be one The Whaler bar. It’s a great way to start a fun-filled weekend.
of the must-do events on the car enthusiast’s calendar. Thursday began with cars gathering at the racecourse in
Kaikōura is situated on State Highway 1, nestled between the morning before heading over the hill and parking up in

26
 the centre of town for the Scavenger Hunt. With such a
stunning morning, it attracted quite a large group, some
taking part in the hunt, others using the time to catch up
with mates and check out the mini Car Park Carshow.
After lunch, cars headed north out of town, driving
part of the beautiful coast road, where a visit to a
local’s sheds had been arranged. Again, it was a great
opportunity for entrants to enjoy a catch-up and to look
through the collection of a Kaikōura local, viewing his
finished cars and the projects he had on the go. There
were definitely some wild and weird creations hidden
away. The trip back to town was taken at one’s leisure,
This custom 23T was a father–son project. Owned by Ben Edwards, this cool little ride was put together making for a fun but relaxing afternoon.
with help from dad Don. Starting with a basic frame by Flat Out Engineering, the Edwards fitted an As usual for Thursday night, there was a drive-in
I-beam front with an HQ steering box, while out back sits an AU Falcon nine-inch. All the fibreglass work movie, with a large group parking up to watch Back to
was done by the duo, which included widening the body six inches. Don was responsible for not only the
the Future Part III.
fibreglass work but also the final paint prep and the paint job itself. Power for the bucket is from a 283
Chev, which transfers the power to the rear via a TH350 Friday saw entrants take part in the Poker Run. Split
into four teams, groups travelled to their first location,

Another standout, if not for the colour but the

unique body style, was Steve Kelly’s stunning
1963 Dodge D100 Ram Power Wagon, built over
18 months by the owner in a one-bay car shed.
The pickup has a long list of modifications,
including the cab being channelled 80mm, a
new floor, and the deck shortened by 12 inches.
Motor is a 2.4-litre turbo diesel intercooled
unit with six-speed auto. Front and rear ends
are 4WD Dana. The golden beauty rides on
Ridetech Shockwave HQ-series air springs.
Paint is Honda Acura four-stage Tiger Eye Pearl

28
KAIKOURA HOP TOP 10
BRENDON BEYERS 1972 VALIANT CHARGER
JOHN FRAIDER 1936 FORD COUPE
ALLEN CAMPBELL 1955 CHEVROLET BEL AIR NOMAD
RUSSEL EDDY 1938 FORD BARREL-NOSE PICKUP
DAVID REID 1973 HOLDEN TORANA
S A SONAL 1966 MKI CORTINA
STEVE KELLY 1963 DODGE RAM D100
ALAN EDGER 1928 FORD COUPE
ROSS CAMPBELL 1934 FORD V8 COUPE
STEVE COLDCUTT 1965 C10 CUSTOM PICKUP
Palsie, aka ‘Mad Dog’, owns this stunning 1956 FJ Holden ute. Sitting on a modified VS Commodore
chassis, it has been narrowed 100mm each side, 200mm from the front, and 225mm from the rear. The
which was printed on their cards, where an hour had been
tight confines of the engine bay reveal a 304 V8 and four-speed auto. The attention to detail is simply
outstanding, and the longer you look at it, the more custom bits you will find allocated for each group to take part in different activities.
Once completed, the next destination was revealed. It’s
a great way to spend a few hours, filled with laughs and
seeing some awesome parts of the region.
The later part of the afternoon saw entrants
participate in the Southern Rumble Parade, a cruise
through town and outlying areas.
A new event this year was the Twilight Light Up
Cruise, held at 7pm. Going beyond the usual LED lights
fitted to the underside of cars, owners were encouraged
to decorate their rides with twinkling lights, much like
a mobile Christmas tree, and the turnout was fantastic,
with close to 100 cars taking part.
If one word could describe Saturday, it would be
‘massive’. Cars began rolling in nice and early, with
Rod Benders from Christchurch helping out with
parking duties, directing entrants where to park. The
show had the usual trade stalls and sponsors displaying
their wares and services, because, let’s face it, without
these guys coming on board, a lot of events simply

30
 REFLECTION
SEEKER

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nut-and-bolt restored classic, our range of car care products will have your ride protected from
bumper to bumper, roof to tyre tread, inside and out.
With a specific product for every surface and application, trust Autoglym to clean, condition and
protect your ride before the next cruise or show, and make sure it looks as good as it goes.

Get yours from Supercheap Auto, Repco, and all good auto stores.

Search Autoglym New Zealand to see more of the range and where to buy.
 wouldn’t happen. A large market was also trading,
selling all manner of things, and the kids weren’t
forgotten either, with a number of fair rides helping
to entertain them. For those needing a hot drink or
something to eat, a number of vendors had that taken
care of. South Pacific Helicopters (SPH) was once again
offering 10-minute flights out from the racecourse and
was kept busy all day. We must thank the guys and gals
from SPH, along with the hop team, who took us up
for a flight, giving us the opportunity to shoot the show
from the air. Even though it was later in the day, and
a number of day-pass holders had gone, it still gave a
great indication of the scope of the show and the huge
number of vehicles that were on display.
As with previous years, a number of North Islanders
had made the trip down to support the event, which
certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. Events of this magnitude
will always have a large number of returnees, and
Kaikoura Hop is no different. And then there are the

NESTLED BETWEEN RUGGED MOUNTAINS

AND THE SEA, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST
PICTURESQUE LOCATIONS FOR SUCH AN EVENT

32
Ian Douglas has built himself one very cool pickup with his 1934 Vauxhall named
‘JILOPY’. Parts from 12 different models of car were used in its construction.
Starting with a 1934 four-door saloon widened 180mm at the windscreen, front
suspension was kindly donated from a 1995 Toyota Hilux, while a 1995 Commodore
gave up its rear end. Power comes from a Rover SDI V8 and the wheels are 1935
Ford. The beautiful paint came from the gun of Shane at Custom Colours, and
Fenemors Upholstery was given the job of stitching up the interior
Alan and Glenys Eagar were down from the North Island attending the event in their beautiful
1928 Ford Model A Sport Coupe, purchased at Pleasanton swap meet while on tour in July
2014. Sitting on a TCI chassis, the all-steel body now wears a fibreglass rear, 350 Chev crate
motor, and TH350 trans with Lokar shifter, and nine-inch rear. The coupe is sporting coilover
shocks on all four corners, with 15x7-inch wheels at the front and 15x9 at the rear

34
new cars, of which there were plenty this year.
Steve Kelly and his ’63 Dodge D100 Ram Power Wagon
was certainly a head-turner no matter where it went
over the weekend, and it attracted a big crowd on
Saturday. Another standout was ‘JILOPY’, a very cool
little ’34 Vauxhall pickup truck that was put together by
Ian Douglas. It was also great to see several past NZV8
magazine feature cars, proving that they were built
to drive.
Rocker-cover and Hot Wheels racing took place
at lunch time, and 2pm saw the Miss Kaikoura Hop
pageant take place, always a very popular event for
both entrants and spectators, with Cheska Pasco being
crowned Miss Kaikoura Hop 2024. With this year’s event
theme being Western, there was also a category for
best-dressed cowgirl and cowboy.

A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A FEW HOURS,

FILLED WITH LAUGHS AND SEEING SOME
AWESOME PARTS OF THE REGION
Attitude is a 1971 XY Ford Falcon. The 351 Cleveland is fitted with a Scat stroker crank, with Scat rods and pistons punching
the engine out to 393. Under the rear sits a Ford nine-inch and custom drop tank, and the trans is a Ford C4. Disc brakes are
fitted at all four corners, and wheel choice is Foose, 18x8 and 18x9. That eye-catching pink paint has a mix of GT stripes and
’90s graphics, and the Falcon wears a full custom interior, including AutoMeter gauges and JVC and Alpine audio. Featured
by NZV8 about five years ago, Thea Haggitt has recently taken over ownership and is enjoying getting it out and about

Prize-giving took place at the conclusion of the

pageant, when the Top 10 winners were announced,
and, with the high calibre of cars this year, it was no
easy task thinning out the herd.
On Saturday night, the Rock N Roll Dance was held,
with the band Sha-Low providing the tunes for the
evening. This has always been one of the highlights of
the weekend and is always sold out, so if you plan to
attend next year, get in early.
Sunday was very low key with only a pre-booked
breakfast put on before hands were shaken, goodbyes
said, and people headed for home after a great and
enjoyable weekend.

36
1970 PLYMOUTH CUDA AAR & 1972 PLYMOUTH COUPE

CHRYSLER WAS THE AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATOR OF THE ’70S, LEADING THE

SCENE WITH CARS IN EYE-CATCHING COLOURS WITH MEMORABLE NAMES.
CATHY WILLEMSEN IS BRINGING BACK THAT ERA
WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: CAM LEGGETT

38
 DRIVER
CATHY WILLEMSEN ith colours with names such as
Plum Crazy, Go Mango, Sublime Green,
loyalties shifted. It shouldn’t be a surprise that, with just
36 AARs produced in the striking colour back in 1970,
CAR CLUB: AMCC and Green Go, the marketing team at Cathy had never seen one in person.
AGE: 59 Chrysler was anything but boring. While If you’ve met Cathy, you’ll know she’s not really
OCCUPATION: Sales rep the company used different names for one to shy away from a challenge, so she made it her
PREVIOUSLY OWNED CARS: the same colours across its Dodge and mission to try to get her hands on one. With such a
1970 Mach 1 Mustang Plymouth divisions, there’s one colour that perhaps small number produced, that would be no easy task
LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: sticks out from the pack — Pink Panther — which though, and the hunt revealed that there were only
7.5 years (Cuda), 2.5 years (Plymouth
in the Plymouth line was known as ‘Moulin Rouge’. 14 known to still be in existence. While most people
coupe)
Whichever way you look at it, it’s eye-searing pink, and would have accepted that the only way forward
DREAM CAR: Daytona/Superbird
Taranaki’s Cathy Willemsen is in love with it. was to build or buy a replica, Cathy doubled down
CATHY THANKS: Blane Hannah
at Restorations Unlimited Whanganui;
That wasn’t always the way though, as her early years and enlisted the help of Chuck Etherington from
Haydon Klenner Paintworks as a member of the American Muscle Car Club (AMCC) Chuck’s Restoration Supplies. Chuck loves a good
New Plymouth; Connor Watt at saw her behind the wheel of a ’70 Mustang, and her challenge and has more car contacts across the States
Attraction Signs; Bryan ‘Raz’ Rasmussen,
for endless weekends taking the car
heart was devoted to the Blue Oval. It wasn’t until she than almost anyone else. Despite telling her politely that
apart and rebuilding it was at a friend’s house picking up a Scalextric Mustang she was dreaming, six months later, he found a lead.
that she spied a Moulin Rouge AAR Cuda and her A collector had purchased an AAR for his wife, but she

40
 SHE MADE IT
HER MISSION TO
TRY TO GET HER
HANDS ON ONE
had ended up losing interest in it. Chuck got a contact
to inspect it to confirm that it was a genuine, numbers-
matching AAR, and, before long, it was in a container
headed down under.
As the inspection had largely focused on what was
wrong with the car, meaning the most Cathy had seen
were lots of close-ups of minor imperfections, she wasn’t
quite sure what to expect, but in contrast to what most
commonly occurs, the car was far better than expected.
While E-body Cudas are some of the best-looking
muscle cars ever produced, the AAR moniker puts
true muscle into the shape. Of the 14 known AARs,
half of are automatics and Cathy’s falls into this group.
The340ci small block is backed by a TorqueFlite three-
speed transmission.

SPEC
1972 PLYMOUTH
COUPE
ENGINE: 360ci Chrysler small
block, Hughes cam, Edelbrock intake
manifold, 750cfm Edelbrock carb,
electric fuel pump, custom exhaust
DRIVETRAIN: Chrysler A833
three-speed overdrive gear-box,
McLeod clutch, American Powertrain
hydraulic throw-out bearing, billet
reservoir, 8¾-inch diff, Sure Grip head,
3.73:1 ratio
SUSPENSION: Torsion-bar front,
leaf-spring rear
BRAKES: Ram Man booster, Wilwood
proportioning valve, Ram Man front-
disc conversion, stock drum rear
WHEELS/TYRES: 15x6-inch and
15x8-inch Cragar SS wheels, 195/65R15
and 255/55R15 tyres
EXTERIOR: Candy Pop Pink
INTERIOR: 1973 Duster seats,
custom cluster, custom retrim, pistol-
grip shifter, stock steering wheel,
Autometer gauges
PERFORMANCE: Untested
 SPEC
1970 PLYMOUTH
CUDA AAR
ENGINE: 340ci Chrysler small block,
six-pack carbs, twin side-exit exhaust
DRIVETRAIN: TorqueFlite three-
speed transmission
SUSPENSION: Stock torsion-bar As you’d expect with a rare numbers-matching car, it’s
front, stock leaf rear
mechanically stock, but as that includes being fitted with
BRAKES: Stock front disc and
rear drum
side-exit exhausts and six-pack carbs, Cathy wisely had
WHEELS/TYRES: 15x6-inch
it on a dyno to ensure that it was running correctly. After
wheels, F60x15 Polyglas tyres all, the last thing she wanted was to find out that it was
EXTERIOR: Stock running lean by a rod being punched through the block.
INTERIOR: Stock Impressively, it made 285hp at the wheels, which is in
PERFORMANCE: 290hp,
line with the 1970 factory figure of 290hp.
14.4-second quarter-mile With the car having undergone a full restoration in
2002 and travelled minimal distance since, it remains in
remarkable condition. Of course, with that and the car’s
rarity come the issue that it’s a bit too precious to be
clocking up too many miles in.
Thus, Cathy decided the best solution was to pair the
car with something a bit more drivable. This was 2021,
and by this time, her love of Fords was a thing of the
past, and she was now living by the moniker ‘Mopar or
no car’. Wanting something a bit out of the ordinary, she
set her eyes on a Dodge Dart Swinger, intending to find
a tidy driver that could be used for the occasional club
drag racing event and for driving around the country
without too much stress. The only other requirement
was that it had to be pink.

42
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 After posting an advert on the American Dart Facebook
group, she received a reply from a gentleman in Canada
saying that he had a Plymouth Scamp, and it was the
right colour. In typical Mopar fashion for the time, the
Scamp is essentially a rebadged Dart Swinger with mild
cosmetic differences. The car, despite being a factory
Green Go variant, had been restored and repainted in a
2010 Challenger pink. It looked tidy in the photos and
reportedly had no rust, so a deal was done and it landed
in New Zealand in January 2022. This time around
though, it wasn’t all pink glitter, as the car was flagged at
the border for questionable panel work, and rightly so.
Cathy holds no grudges against the seller, as he
simply had no idea of the hoops that she would
need to go through to get the car on the road here.
That turned into a two-year process that was started
by an Auckland panel shop clearly out of its depth.
Thankfully, while the shop believed the vehicle was
beyond repair, Blane at Restorations Unlimited was
surprised by how good the car was and was happy to
take on the job. Sure, it was going to take time and
money, but it was nothing that couldn’t be handled.
The other legend that Cathy had on her side was her
partner, Bryan ‘Raz’ Rasmussen. Raz is no stranger to
long hours in the shed, and he played a critical part in
the build, taking care of all the assembly, disassembly,

SHE WAS NOW LIVING BY THE

MONIKER ‘MOPAR OR NO CAR’

44
 A CUSTOM
COLOUR
THAT’S BEEN and mechanicals. The first item on his list was to strip
the car down to a shell so that Blane’s team could
in that name is definitely relevant, as under even the
dimmest light, the colour comes alive. Understandably,

NAMED replace the floors and torsion-bar crossmember.

During this process, the scope crept somewhat from
low-stress cruiser to something that wouldn’t be out of
Raz was under strict instructions not to scratch anything
when dropping the engine back in, so you can imagine
the reaction when Cathy suggested that it needed to be

‘CANDY POP place in the show halls. This meant that the body was
caressed back to perfection before being dropped to
Haydon at Paintworks. Ironically, Cathy mentioned that
pulled back out for the block to be repainted. Needless
to say, the response was a short one, and she ended
up hand painting the block while it was in the car. The

PINK’
she almost shied away from pink at one stage in the fact that the engine had been sitting out for the past
process, but thankfully returned to Plan A with a custom 18 months should probably not be talked about …
colour that’s been named ‘Candy Pop Pink’. The ‘pop’ The 360ci small block is reasonably stock with the
simple addition of a Hughes cam, Edelbrock intake
manifold, 750cfm Edelbrock carb, and an electric fuel
pump. The rest of the mechanicals have also been kept
relatively simple, with a McLeod clutch and American
Powertrain hydraulic throw-out assisting the A833
three-speed gear-box.
While the suspension retains the stock torsion-bar
front end and leaf-spring rear, the brakes have been
upgraded with a Ram Man front-disc conversion kit.
To finish off the exterior, Cathy chose to keep things
classic by sourcing a set of 15x6-inch and 15x8-inch
Cragar SS wheels wrapped in 195/65R15 and 255/55R15
rubber. The interior is a little less classic though, as it
needed a bit of sparkle to match the exterior. White vinyl
was applied by Attraction Signs to hide the original faux
wood grain, but it’s the hot pink panels on the door

46
 THE
cards that attract attention. The rhinestone adornments
were a last-minute addition made just before the car’s
debut at the Levin Chrome n Custom Auto Festival in
October this year.

CREATIVITY There, the car was met with great adoration

from most, even if a few blokes struggled with their
insecurities a bit too much to admit that pink can look

OF THE
amazing. Those reactions are mirrored out on the street,
and, since it’s not as precious as the Cuda, there’s a very
high chance that’s where you’ll see it, as Cathy attends
events around the country.

MARKETING Now she has the perfect pair, each perfect in its own
different ways — one exactly as the factory intended
it back in 1970, and one as she dreamed of it in 2022.

FOLK AT They’re the same, but different, and show that the
creativity of the marketing folk at Chrysler was on the
money, as the cars are anything but forgettable! Maybe

CHRYSLER
that’s why Cathy’s recently landed a ’67 Dart to fulfil her
original aim!

WAS ON THE
MONEY

48
 dragged up DRAG RACING NEWS
PHOTOS: LANCE FARROW, GLYNN HENDERSON

DOUBLE OR NOTHING perfection. While Trev Jr is aware that getting

T revor Smith Racing (TSR) have been
teasing us with talk of a two-car team for
many years now, one for existing driver Trevor
behind the wheel will be a gigantic step up
from his days of racing junior dragsters, he’s
Smith Sr and another for his son Trev Smith more than ready to take on the challenge, and
Jr. Well, that plan is now very close to reality all going to plan is keen to end up side by side
thanks to plenty of assistance from Team Bray with Trev Sr.
in Australia. Although TSR previously had a Sr’s infamous ‘Old Yella’ Holden Statesman
different chassis in mind, when the chance has also been undergoing plenty of changes
came up to grab the sister car to Ben Bray’s since it last hit the track too, the big one being
1979 Corvette, it was a no-brainer. The ’Vette the new four-link set-up pieced together by
was driven by Frankie Taylor for a season- Jackson Bray. Fellow drag racer Squig Miles has
and-a-half before TSR purchased it minus helped out with plenty of carbon-fibre work
motor in 2019. From that time onwards, both inside and out, and the whole car has
largely in secret, they have worked with the just received a fresh coat of paint, so should
Brays to put together a 514ci BAE complete be looking, and performing better than ever
with PSI D-rotor blower and Pro 600 coil pack before. Both Sr and Jr mentioned to us how
ignition system. That mega motor is backed fortunate they are to have assistance from the
up by a B&J three-speed transmission with Bray family whose experience and knowledge
a lock-up quick-drive converter and Mark is simply unmatched. All going to plan, both
Williams 12-inch diff. The combo is really cars will be on track sometime next year, and
the best of the best, and the team have been when they are, you can guarantee they won’t
sure to not rush anything in the quest for be there just to make up the numbers!

50
 SMALL
TYRE KING
GOES BIG
D aniel Southall bucked the trend by getting
to the pointy end of the NZ’s Quickest
Streeters List with an untubbed car. Eventually
though, he’s had to admit that the best way to
make the most of the power from the twin-
turbo 406ci small-block was to get some bigger
rubber under the rear end. Already running a
PB of 7.95 at 182.59mph, there’s no denying the
car has the top-end speed to show it’s making
the power. The rear end, which was previously
a very well-sorted leaf spring set-up that’s been
developed over the years with thanks to Gazard
Bros in Australia, is now a thing of the past,
though. The replacement back-half chassis set-
up is currently being sorted by Grant Downing
and includes a new roll cage along with full
floater sheet metal diff. This time around it’ll
work in conjunction with a four-link on Santhuff
coilovers and a CJRC Big Johnson anti-roll
bar. The 33x18.5x15 Quick Time Pro tyres are
a massive change from the tyres that it was
previously running and are sure to help drop the
car’s current PB 60-foot time down further.
The plan at this stage is to get the work
completed in time to be on the start line at Napa
Autoparts Dragway on 11 January 11, and we
can’t wait to see it!

NZ’S QUICKEST STREETERS

NAME VEHICLE TIME (S) MPH ENGINE TRIM AS RACED
REECE FISH 1956 CHEV BEL AIR 7.12 205.40 540CI BBC TWIN-TURBO E85, ET STREETS
BEN MORRIS 1969 CHEV CAMARO 7.17 197.79 550CI BBC PROCHARGER SC AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
AARON JENKINS 1977 HOLDEN TORANA 7.70 185.21 540CI BBC TWIN-TURBO E85, DOT HOOSIERS
BRENDON SHEARING 1971 HOLDEN HQ MONARO 7.84 185.84 509CI BBC TWIN-TURBO C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
DANIEL SOUTHALL 1969 CHEV CAMARO 7.95 182.59 406CI SBC TWIN-TURBO E85, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
STUART GOLDSWORTHY 1969 CHEV CAMARO 7.97 183.54 540CI BBC TWIN-TURBO E85, DOT HOSSIERS
KERRY STEWART 1923 T-BUCKET 8.27 165.17 454CI BBC SC C16, DOT HOOSIERS
MIKE CARLTON 1973 CHEV CORVETTE 8.32 167.49 540CI BBC SC AVGAS, NITROUS, DOT HOOSIERS
WAYNE FOWLER 1967 CHEV CAMARO 8.49 160.81 454CI BBC SC AVGAS, DOT HOOSIERS
GARY BOGAART 1975 FALCON XB COUPE 8.61 158.56 395CI SBF NITROUS C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
MIKE BARI 1971 CHEV CHEVELLE 8.70 158.97 598CI BBC NITROUS C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
TONY RICHARDSON 1946 FORD JAILBAR 8.79 155.82 555CI BBC TWIN-TURBO PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIERS
ROGER BINNEMA 1968 PONTIAC FIREBIRD 9.09 149.98 540CI BBC NA C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
JUSTIN WEIR 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER 9.16 156.34 6.2L SC E85, MT RADIAL
TANIA BINNEMA 1968 PONTIAC FIREBIRD 9.17 146.95 540CI BBC NA C16, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
ALECK LOVELL 1986 FC RX-7 9.32 150.68 1UZ TURBO E85, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
DARREN RICHES 1954 FORD POP 9.43 141.71 540CI BBC NA PUMP GAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS
SCOTT STINSON 1986 FORD ECONOVAN 9.46 145.86 20B TURBO E85, FULL EXHAUST, MT RADIAL
JAY SINGH 2016 HSV GTS 9.49 144.72 427CI SC E85, ET STREETS
WAYNE GRIMMER 1973 PLYMOUTH CUDA 9.50 142.90 588CI HEMI NA AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, ET STREETS,
Yellow text denotes a new entry or bettered ET.

ROBERT CONLON 1972 CHEV CAMARO 9.51 142.58 540CI BBC NITROUS E85, ET STREETS
DAVID VEA 1965 CHEV IMPALA 9.58 145.00 532CI BBC E85, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIER
SAMUEL GARTH 1971 CHEV EL CAMINO 9.58 137.68 572CI BBC PROCHARGER SC E85, ET STREETS
SCOTT WOOD 2018 AUDI RS3 9.64 144.30 2.5L TURBO PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIERS
ASH AZAD 1991 NISSAN SILVIA (S13) 9.69 146.38 RB25 TURBO PUMP GAS, DOT HOOSIER
MARK HUDSON 1973 FORD CAPRI 9.72 139.83 379CI SBF AVGAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, MT SLICKS
CRAIG WALL 1972 CHEV CAMARO 9.74 144.80 400CI SBC SC AVGAS EXHAUST REMOVED, NITROUS
ASHNIL KUMAR 1995 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R (R33) 9.75 149.70 RB26 TURBO E85, DOT HOOSIERS
JAY MAKA 1979 HOLDEN SUNBIRD 9.87 133.98 572CI BBC NA PUMP GAS, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
SHAHAD KHAN 1998 FD RX-7 9.94 141.95 13B TWIN-TURBO E85, DOT HOOSIERS
GRANT FINN 1996 EL FALCON 9.96 141.13 323CI TURBO LS E85, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIER,
HARLEY DOUGLAS 1968 CHEV CAMARO 9.97 137.01 582CI BBC PUMP GAS, NITROUS, EXHAUST REMOVED, DOT HOOSIERS
 Drages NZ’S 100 QUICKEST V8 DRAG RACERS
Ti m 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 SPONSOR VEHICLE ET MPH
Michael Franklin Nitro FC 5.71 260.70
Murray Smith NAPA Nitro FC 5.96 248.80
TOP ALCOHOL SPONSOR VEHICLE ET MPH
Tamara Silk Lucas Oil Dragster 5.78 250.00
Jordan Robertson Hutt City Autoworld Dragster 5.85 232.53
Shane Lodge RPM Automation Dragster 5.98 233.00
Wayne Curry ’27 T-altered 6.15 229.07
Bryan Norman FE Dragster 6.16 223.87
Simon Fowke Funny Car 6.20 226.10
Squig Miles Segedin Truck and Auto Parts Funny Car 6.29 233.96
Bill/Clint Minchington Trident Homes/Auto Trans CHCH Funny Car 6.56 207.00
Andrew Curry T-Altered 6.81 199.52
TOP DOORSLAMMER SPONSOR VEHICLE ET MPH
Barry Plumpton Chev Camaro 5.92 237.42
Gavin Green ’68 Pontiac 6.07 236.90
Nigel Dixon C&R Developments Ford Falcon 6.08 243.00
Trevor Smith Trevor Smith Racing Holden Statesman 6.23 226.00
Kane Douché KND Electrical ’55 Chev 6.33 225.00
Prestney/Dobson Pirtek Taranaki Pontiac Grand Am 6.34 223.00
Steve Carlson Wairarapa Automotive & Engineering Ford Falcon Sprint 6.48 221.74
Benjes/Dillon LA Wellington Shipping ’67 Mustang 6.51 229.65
Johnny Burkhart Fasthouse ’70 Plymouth Duster 6.67 204.00
Bert King ’57 Chev 6.76 203.61

GROUP TWO/THREE QUICKEST VEHICLES

Tony Marsh Marsh Motorsport Ford Maverick 6.38 211.49
Bronson Dunne Chickenhawk Motorsport Holden Monaro 6.40 214.89
Grant/Adrian/Nicole Rivers Blu’s Brothers Racing Dragster 6.48 216.80
Craig Griffith Buck Engineering Dragster 6.52 208.36
Stuart Goldsworthy Premier Workshop 63 Corvette 6.59 216.33
Dave Tunnel TPE Racing Dragster 6.63 209.70
Roger Binnema Camaro 6.66 191.48
Raymond/Trent Smyth FE Dragster 6.77 204.14
Alan Hartley New Zealand Home Loans Altered 6.84 187.45
Grant Briffault Tax Time Accounting FE Dragster 6.90 195.09
Dion Crook DB Racecars FE Dragster 6.91 201.10
JD Shepherd FE Dragster 6.94 201.22
Ian Deboo Mayhem Racing Altered 6.96 192.17
Graham Carter 05 Jaguar XKR 6.96 205.22
Ross Brown G.A.S Parua Bay FE Dragster 6.97 197.70
Dean Scott Chev S10 6.98 206.50
Sam Leviene Altered 7.02 192.00
Darren Hayes Funny Car 7.04 198.17
Jason Robertson Altered 7.04 165.00
Adam/Graeme Bates Haltech / SGR Engineering ’66 Vauxhall PC Cresta 7.07 197.89
John Hooper Peko Contracting Chev Nova 7.13 194.99
Graham Carter 05 Jaguar XKR 7.13 182.77
Steve Milliken GSS ’36 Chev 7.13 193.00
Brent Whittingham ’69 Chev Camaro 7.16 191.92
Gary Bogaart Bran Roberts Towing Ford Falcon 7.16 195.20
Vanessa Lilly Rib Rattler Racing 23 T Bucket 7.17 188.25
Shane Ryland Holden Torana 7.18 200.00
Aidan Crook HT Holden Ute 7.21 193.68
Richard McCarthy Altered 7.23 176.86
Gary/Nic Bogaart ’23 T-Altered 7.25 181.52
Gary Sinkinson ’63 Chev Nova 7.25 198.12
Tania Binnema Cylinder Head Services Honda Accord 7.26 194.86
George McCutcheon ’55 Chev 7.27 200.53
Gary/Casey Cawthra Macauley Metals XA Falcon 7.28 168.95
Graham Christison FE Dragster 7.28 179.11
Bobby Owens ’64 Ford Falcon 7.30 190.24
Wayne Tangney Dragster 7.35 181.13
Mark Gapp Pro Parts Willys Coupe 7.42 182.00
Peter Schimanski Altered 7.44 178.00
David/Trevor Tynan ’66 Impala 7.44 187.55
Darryn Hayes ’84 Corvette 7.46 189.04
Kurt Goodin Kurt Goodin Artworks Chev Nova 7.49 182.07
JD Sheppard VW Beetle 7.50 180.29
Baylee Goddard Dragster 7.52 178.00
Andrew Neiman Dragster 7.54 168.00
Benji Sneddon All Fleet Services Willys Coupe 7.60 176.11
Neil Morgan MJH Engineering T-Altered 7.62 174.38
Stuart Henley-Minchington Anthill Mob/Garden City Movers Altered 7.64 172.00
Michael Franklin Pontiac GTO 7.67 179.10
Reuban/Jack Beaumont Team Sonic Altered 7.69 171.49
Robert Shearing Chev Camaro 7.72 176.70
Dylan Deboo Mayhem Racing ’55 Chev 7.73 180.55
Pete Lormans Remarkables tools & Safety FE Dragster 7.76 170.49
Dave Mason A1 Exhaust FE Dragster 7.78 161.88
Neville Gadd Dragster 7.78 175.44

s
Rueban Beaumont FE Dragster 7.80 169.00

t
Mike Wilson Balclutha Automotive Services Ford Capri 7.82 177.24

i s
Ces Miller ’59 Impala 7.90 166.87

al
Bruce Riddick Altered 7.92 163.91
Gavin Green 68 HK Monaro 7.93 168.85

c i
Murray Hartley Ford Mustang 7.94 168.00

e
Kevin Ericson FE Dragster 7.95 176.12

p
Bobby Owens T-Bucket 7.99 167.50
Craig Wilson Evolution Painting & Decorating Holden HT 8.03 174.22

S
Cory Silk Otaihanga Speed Shop Dragster 8.07 164.34
Janelle Lawson Dragster 8.13 165.94
Doug/Daniel Jefferies T-Altered 8.18 160.10
Mike Cload Chev Camaro 8.19 166.85
Pete Lormans FE Dragster 8.22 157.40
Scott Tolhurst Toyota Soarer 8.29 163.92
Graham Carter ’68 El Camino 8.29 155.83
FREEPHONE Neville Smith
Warwick Garth
Altered
68 Chev Camaro
8.32
8.33
150.82
158.92

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 aeroflow morice
Race Diary mcmillin

NEW SEASON,
NEW SETUP
A BOLD NEW COMBINATION, A WORLD-CLASS TRACK, AND PLENTY OF CHALLENGES —
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE NDRC XPRO FUNNY CAR CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER

expect too much and that if we made it down

T he start of any season is pretty damn exciting,
and for the first round of the NDRC XPro
Funny Car Championship, I have to admit I was
into this event we had not only thrown away
our data from last season but also from the test.
I had decided to go with a completely different
one out of five times over the weekend, it would
probably be a success. Let me tell you, I don’t
pretty pumped. We headed down to the dragway way to manage how the car runs. So yeah, we think I’ve been so nervous getting into a race car
at The Bend Motorsport Park in Adelaide for the basically ran the fastest pass outside of the US for with no idea what it’s going to do in a long time.
opener. Anyone who has seen the new dragstrip a Funny Car on the last pass of the season, and Well, a 4.02 at only 276mph was an incredible
knows how incredible this venue is. The facilities for the first qualifying session of the new season, start and enough to be in the No. 1 qualifying
and the racing surface are both world-class. we were starting again with a whole new setup. position. It was a pretty exciting place to start.
If you remember the last column, I talked Some would say that’s not smart; some would The second run was set to be under lights, and
about testing and trying a new combination. Well, say that’s how you learn. I think it’s probably a bit I was starting to think we could have a serious
with what we had learned from the test and from of both. crack at going pretty fast.
talking to some of our friends in the US, going I said to the boys going into the event to not Well, in the crazy world of Nitro Funny Cars,

AFFORDABLE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE

PROFESSIONAL FLUID TRANSFER SYSTEMS
AND PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
54
AEROFLOWPERFORMANCE
 THE SMOKING TYRES WERE THE
these things are so unpredictable, and basically,
I underestimated the track. The car went into
tyre shake, and after a quick pedal, the Aeroflow
Mustang just wouldn’t hook up again. Our run

CHUTE TRYING TO PULL THE REAR

from Q1 was enough for us to keep the No. 1
qualifying spot heading into race day.
After studying plenty of data overnight, I was
starting to feel like we could have a pretty good
race day. We were up against Adam Murrihy
in the first round. The car left really well, but
at about quarter track, something felt strange.
The motor sounded good, the car was still
accelerating, but it just felt off, and I couldn’t
OF THE CAR OFF THE GROUND
figure out what it was. At about three-quarter
track, the Mustang smoked the tyres, which at
that point of the track is really weird. I pulled the
chute lever, and as I slowed, I sat in the car trying
to figure out what had just happened. When the
Aeroflow boys got down to pick me up, they said
the chute had come out at quarter track. It all
started to make sense — the smoking tyres were
the chute trying to pull the rear of the car off
the ground. The crazy thing was we still got the
round win!
In the second round of the all-run format,
we had Adam again. This time, at quarter track,
I knew what I was feeling as the car stopped
accelerating and I figured the chute had once
again come out. I kept my foot in it to try to get
the round win, but it wasn’t to be, as once again,
at three-quarter track, the car smoked the tyres
with the chute out.
Unfortunately for us, it was off to what they
call the B final — or realistically, the 3rd and 4th
place race. The boys jumped on trying to sort out
the chute issue while I concentrated on trying to
make the car as fast as possible for the last round.
A problem was found with the chute, so fingers
crossed, we were good to go. I hotted the car up
to really try to have a shot at a decent number.
 Well, as the car left the start line, I was like,
“Wow!” as it left super fast. Unfortunately, again,
I thought I felt the chute come out, but the car
was still pulling, and I couldn’t see our opponent,
Justin Walshe, out in front. I started to think
maybe it hadn’t come out. At three-quarter track,
when it smoked the tyres again, I will admit I got
a little pissed off, knowing we had made the same
mistake again — until I looked at the scoreboard
as I went past and realised it had run a 4.16 at
only 220mph. And that was with the chute out
from quarter track!
While super disappointed with the result, I
think we may have found something with this
combination.
After The Bend, it was back to the shop and
time to take Gareth’s car back out for a skid. In
my last column, I mentioned how we managed
to get Gareth and Brooke their first 6-second
pass, and I had hoped by the next column I could
say they had done 200mph. Well, we can now
officially say the Kiwi’s overseas 200mph club
has another member in it. Doing it in a short-
wheelbase altered certainly wasn’t the easiest
way to do it, but man, it’s cool and so deserving!
And not just that — they ended up winning the
event in Boosted Outlaws, in a final that was run
at 11:15pm.

IT HAD RUN A 4.16 AT ONLY 220MPH. AND THAT

WAS WITH THE CHUTE OUT FROM QUARTER TRACK!

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 BURNOUT HAYDEN
FILES WILBY

BURNOUT
DREAMS AND
DEADLINES
n this issue of The Burnout Files, we head to With two Summernats Pro Burnout Series test out new gear, try something different, or
I AutoFest 2024, win a ticket to the Summernats
Pro Series finals, and score ourselves a ride
tickets, two wildcard tickets, a spot in the
Burnout Masters game, and one of the kings of
just burn through a few sets of tyres — without
the pressure of the crowd or the flood of videos
to Australia! Sounds awesome, right? Well, it Australian burnouts, Jake Myers, here to award hitting social media critiquing every move.
is — until you realise you’ve got less than four a very cool trophy for the sickest tip-in, the Saturday was game day, with more than 60
weeks to prep your car before it gets packed team at Downtime had once again proved their competitors going head-to-head for burnout
into a container and shipped off to Sydney. And commitment to the New Zealand burnout scene. glory! Everyone has their own goal when it
the kicker? You won’t see or touch your car One of the coolest additions this year was the comes to events like this. Some were on a
again until the day before the biggest burnout closed practice session for burnout competitors mission to claim the top spot, get their name
competition in the world! on Friday night. It gave everyone a chance to engraved on the Jenn Ireland Memorial Trophy,

58
and earn a Summernats Pro ticket. Others
were determined to prove they were one of
the baddest wheelmen in the country, with the
sickest tip-in. Then there were those just eager
for the chance to compete against the best and
see where they stacked up.
After chatting with countless competitors
leading up to AutoFest, I found that even the
slightest chance of having their car featured in
the Burnout Masters game was one of the biggest
goals across the field. To qualify, all you had to do
was make the top 20, and the Burnout Masters
team would choose from there. The Burnout
Masters game is a business, so they’re on the
lookout for something unique, interesting, and
exciting — something that’ll get people to spend
their hard-earned cash. And let me tell you, the
New Zealand burnout scene has all of that and
more. Having your car in the Burnout Masters
game isn’t just a win — it’s a prize that keeps on
giving, as you earn royalties every time someone
buys your car in the game!

OTHERS WERE
DETERMINED TO
PROVE THEY WERE
ONE OF THE BADDEST
WHEELMEN IN THE
COUNTRY
‘SICKBRO’. I
As for me, my eyes were set on that Jenn places like Chrome and AutoFest. There would
Ireland Memorial Trophy. Throwing it back to be no NUTOUT if it weren’t for her. I’ve met so
2017, Jenn was the driving force behind the many people, built a burnout family across New
New Zealand Burnout Championship. I truly Zealand and Australia, and done some incredible
believe that’s why burnouts are where they are in things — all thanks to Jenn’s passion for

HAVE TO SAY, New Zealand today. The NZBC was a dedicated

burnout series with leaderboards, prizes, and
adventure! Jenn elevated burnouts from just a
sideshow at other events to the main event at
burnouts. So, getting my name on that trophy?
That’s a goal I’ll chase until it’s done!
Sadly, in the week leading up to AutoFest, my
mother-in-law passed away after a battle with

THIS MAN
cancer. With the funeral scheduled for Saturday, I
knew I would miss most of the day and wouldn’t
arrive until the afternoon. Everyone was made
aware of the situation, and in a kind gesture, an

IS A BEAST
olive branch was extended to me in the form of
being given spot 21 in the finals without having
to qualify. I know this might have sparked some
talk, but I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who
made this possible. If it had taken a spot away
from someone else, I would have never agreed
to it, but because they added an extra spot just
for me, no one missed out. There was never any
doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t qualify, and it’s
something I would have accepted for anyone
else in the same situation. I just wanted to clear
this up for those who might not have seen me
skid earlier in the day.
By the time I arrived in the afternoon, the
qualifying session was nearly over. I’d like to
give a huge shout-out to the South Island crew,
especially Brendan Hibs and Shane Dallas, who
jumped into action to help me unload the car and
get it ready for scrutineering, as I was flying solo
on this trip.
Once the car was signed off and good to go,
I headed straight to the burnout pad just as the
Light ’Em Up lane was about to kick off. I was
lucky enough to catch Jake Myers doing a demo
skid in Warren Shircliff’s Sunbeam Rapier that
was renamed ‘SICKBRO’ for the weekend. I have
to say, this man is a beast — he jumps into a car
that’s nothing like his Mustang and absolutely
nails it! All I can say is, thank goodness it wasn’t
a judged skid, or us Kiwis might have been in
trouble.

60
 Another thing worth mentioning about major be the Feejoa Boys putting the LS-powered
events like Chrome and AutoFest is the high Subaru and the LS-powered Cortina to work.
level of judging. With so much on the line, special Another highlight was, once again, Ryan Shircliff
judges from Australia are flown in to ensure in VIOLENT showing us why he’s the tip-in king
fairness and consistency. These judges have here in New Zealand.
no preconceived ideas about who should win I roll into the entry chute nervous as hell,
what — they aren’t affiliated with anyone in New stand on the gas, and let the 6.0 sing! I focus on
Zealand, and they judge purely on what they see keeping the RPM consistent, nail my tip-in, then
and how you perform. hit all the corners before sending the tyres off.
Light ’Em Up Lane gave me the perfect With my new exhaust setup, I get plenty of smoke
opportunity to test my freshly rebuilt coverage, but the downside is — plenty of flames
transmission. I get the thumbs up, hit the loud too. I’m lucky I’m able to drive through and put
pedal, and blast down the lane with massive the fires out without losing too much in the way
wheel speed, smoke, and flames! She was loving of smoke scores. The skid felt awesome, but my
it! After that, it was back to the pits to change the downfall, as always, was not heading back up
tyres and get ready for the ball draw. I ended up to the tip-in. For me, the risk always outweighs
being second to last, which gave me the chance the reward! But in the end, this is probably why
to watch most of the burnouts and get a good Shaun’s name is on the cup and not mine — he
feel for what needed to be done. used the entire pad, including the tip-in.
It was truly awesome to see Bryn in SYCOVL Top spot went to Shaun Jury in BARELY,
putting his newly blown combo to work! Fraser followed by myself in NUTOUT. Wild Card spots
Mac in DEVILSCHILD was absolutely destroying were awarded to MRRLPH and TAINTED. The
tyres, eardrums, and rims — unlucky not to land Sickest Tip-In went to VIOLENT, and after a few
one of the top spots, but I put that down to the days of eager anticipation, VIOLENT was also
excessive use of the limiter, which you either awarded a spot in the Burnout Masters Game.
love or hate. One of the fan favourites had to See you at Summernats!

I GET THE THUMBS UP, HIT THE LOUD PEDAL,

AND BLAST DOWN THE LANE WITH MASSIVE
WHEEL SPEED, SMOKE, AND FLAMES!

62
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 CHURCH AARON
OF SPEED CARSON

INJECTION IS NICE, BUT

I’D RATHER BE BLOWN
(AND MAYBE INJECTED TOO?) THE STORY OF AL SHADWICK & AL’S BLOWER DRIVES
PHOTOS: AARON CARSON / AL SHADWICK COLLECTION

oldiers returning from World War II not only These days most kids can’t use a spanner. As for decades and his enduring reputation as the
S brought the passion and desire for freedom
and a new life back from their military experience
the real craftsmen get older, there just isn’t a
group of younger people picking up the mantle.
best in the business is no surprise. A lifetime
of curiosity, attention to detail, a passion for
– they also brought skills. Mechanical, design, Look at the American company who recently precision, a man of skill, a great guy and a
fabrication, and technical skills resulting from a decided to make a complete high-quality boot legendary drag racing career of his own provide
period when the future of their country relied entirely in the USA — they had to ask old dudes all the ingredients for why Al Shadwick’s business
on the military industrial machine moving at to come out of retirement to start the process is thriving more than ever.
speed and with precision. That’s quite apart from because America has lost the ability and almost Al’s father was an ex-locomotive guy, fireman
the fact more rudimentary versions of these the knowledge to make a shoe. and then builder. Born in Paeroa in 1953 and
engineering skills were simply part of going to So, with fewer of these geniuses around, moving to Auckland in 1959, Al relocated to Glen
school in those days. people like Al Shadwick are even more important Eden in 1959, and in 1969, Al’s father got him
And the abundance of these skills was a than ever. The 471 supercharger was developed an interview at the Ministry of Works for a diesel
catalyst for the birth, evolution, and growth of in 1938 for industrial applications, and by the mechanic.
drag racing, salt-lake racing, and revolutionary ’60s production of the 671 roots GMC blower for Al actually wanted to be a mechanic but feels
OEM vehicle design and manufacture. It also Detroit diesels had ceased. he acquired more skills as a diesel mechanic
created many small businesses operated by There are certainly more aftermarket products in retrospect. He worked on bulldozers at
skilled engineers, designers, and fabricators available off-the-shelf for the vehicle enthusiast, the Fanshawe Street depot before moving to
making specialty products for all kinds of niche but not all applications are ‘off the shelf’ and not Newton–Grafton gully depot. Bulldozers had
markets like hot rodding, radical boat racing and everyone wants to buy new. Buying parts is one diesel engines and diesel engines had Detroit
motorcycles. thing, making them all work together is another diesel engines, which in turn had GMC Roots
The boys were back in town, they had a dollar story! superchargers. See where this is heading?
in their pocket, they’d learned their skills and Al, owner of Al’s Blower Drives, has been the Like so many guys who grew up in this era,
wanted to have fun! go-to guy for superchargers in New Zealand Al had consumed a diet of war comics, which

64
sparked a keen interest in Jeeps for him and his

AL TOOK THE LEAP AND STARTED

brother Bru. They ended up rebuilding two.
One day, after rolling one of the jeeps, the very
next morning, they started making a new chassis
for it and a plan was hatched.

AL’S BLOWER DRIVES IN 1984

Al did his apprenticeship under Croydon
Thompson, who was known for his custom ’55
F100 with dual headlights and ’65 Impala two-
door Super Sport. Croyden left the Ministry of
Works and started Thompson Performance and
then built a front-engine dragster called Pure
Heaven that ran a 671 blown two-carb small-
block.
Al bought a 283ci small-block from Croydon
and set about adapting a 471 supercharger
that had been thrown in the bin at the MOW
workshop because it was gouged inside the
case. Al repaired the case and at the time
closely followed a story in Popular Hot Rodding
magazine called ‘Project ’32’ that featured a 471
blown 327ci small-block (the monthly feature
would be a big inspiration for Al.) The blower
manifold was sourced from Segedin’s in ’73. The
327 grenaded and Al bought a real Chevy Z28
302 block and crank and made his own blower
drive — as no one was offering a 471 blower drive.
He started doing jobs for guys while still at the
Ministry of Works, and the next best idea as far as
Al, brother Bru, and cousin Paul were concerned,
was putting the 471 blown small-block in the
Jeep.
Remember Al was 22 years old at this point!
The Jeep was a riot but they couldn’t keep blower
belts on it. After pressing on the valve springs one
day, Al’s intuition told him they were too soft so
they were replaced with stiffer beehive springs
and the Jeep did an 11.95 in the quarter-mile. A
little-known fact is that this Jeep, which is part
of New Zealand drag racing history, had to have
the chassis lengthened from 80 inches to 82
inches to meet the class requirements of the B
Street Rods division, which was all heads-up style
racing.
 Mazarella (who worked for Strange Engineering),
Don Hampton, Brooks Blower Drive Services,
Tom ‘The Mongoose’ McEwen, Nick Arias and
Ed Iskederian. No one was particularly interested
until Al met Don ‘Big Daddy’ Garlits.
Al soon realized that once Garlits won he didn’t
want to stay at the track long so he had to pick
his moment. He approached Garlit’s crew chief
Herb Parks, and “Go see Don, Go see Don,” was
the reaction he got. Hands shaking and holding
a book of pictures, Al finally got a moment with
Garlits: “We want to make these things and put
your name on it.” Garlits flicked through the
document and pointed at the faux injector scoop:
“That’s a good product,” said Don, and agreed to
meet in Florida to try and nut out a deal. At first,
Garlits tried to palm Shadwick off — Don was
a hard-nosed businessman brought up in the
Depression, and the meeting wasn’t going well.
Feeling like the possibility of a deal was slipping
away Al became rather animated, raised his voice
somewhat, started gesticulating and pointing at
Other major names and inspirations running for four months and the business’s future was the images of his new scoop design and pointed
in faster classes at the time were guys like Roger in serious trouble with no income due to Al’s out that “nobody has done this before!” Garlits
Murray, Peter Dore, Gary Taylor, Garth Hogan, injuries. Luckily Al was already casting various was convinced enough to do a deal, and things
Erol Mclaughlin, and Chris Ward, while much of items like scoops etc., and one day Bru did a were in motion. Let’s put this into perspective for
the action was captured by photographer Richard drawing on the back of an envelope of a design a moment — a young guy from West Auckland
Neil. for a scoop that looked like a fuel-injection scoop with an idea and the balls to back it up flies
After a while at the drags, the Jeep was but actually sat atop regular carburetors. across the world to talk the king of drag racing,
converted back to a 4x4 sand machine — the Al headed to the States with this new product Don Garlits, into putting his name onto this new
blown engine was sold to Ivan Jujnovich and design and started talking to foundries to get product and actually pulls it off. Australian Top
promptly installed in his ’56 Chevy. prices for production and set up meetings to Eliminator Champion Graham Withers once told
Next up brother Bru and Al started building try and garner interest with people like John Al that he was the only person he’d ever known
Bru’s straight axle Nova, which started as a basket
case but was soon a 350ci, 471 then 671 blown
car that they then built a proper race engine for.
Al took the leap and started Al’s Blower Drives
in 1984, just as the Ministry of Works motorway
developments work was winding down. The
supercharged Jeep had really been Al’s best
promo tool and word was spreading from the
jobs he’d been doing on the side while still
employed at the MOW.
You have to remember that at this time if you
wanted to set up a blower, your options were
limited when it came to people who knew how
to make it happen in New Zealand. Pete Lodge
(builder of Baloo), was already doing blowers via
his business Service Engineers, Peter Dore, and
then Al, then Gary Peterson RIP.
Al started the business in his father’s basement
in Maioro Street. He wasn’t just focusing on
superchargers, he built many engines (including
the powerplant for Kevin Forgeson’s ’67 Camaro,
and even did transmission repairs.)
Things were nearly over before they began
when Al got caught in a lathe, spun around
and was lucky to survive due to his wife luckily
walking in and isolating power to the lathe in the
nick of time. This meant Al was out of business

66
to have a long-term business arrangement
with Garlits. As I’ve said before in this column,
sometimes the only difference between dreams
and them coming true is the persistence never
to give up.
Bru got photos of Garlits and the scoops,
and Al then went to all the major publishers, like
Petersons, with the products. To advertise in
Hot Rod magazine in America at that point cost
$25,000 for one insertion and a further $22,000
for 12 insertions, and no matter how good this
volume incentive discount was it was more
than Al had, and so the new Garlits-endorsed
products were advertised in less expensive
publications like Popular Hot Rodding and Street
Rodding. Interested customers would contact
the publications who would in turn pass the
enquiries on to Al. Garlits did an install article of
the scoop in Street Rodder magazine in a Willy’s
coupe with ex-pat Kiwi Kevin Perry.
In 1984 Shadwick opened his first real shop in
Mozelle Ave, Henderson. He continued to do all
manner of performance work including building
an engine for Wayne Grimmer for the Raw Deal
altered.
In the early days the original 671 blowers were SOMETIMES THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
plentiful but as time went on this became less so.
Necessity breeds creativity and Al says he learned
a lot working for guys with limited budgets BETWEEN DREAMS AND THEM COMING
like Ray Peterson and Cub Roberts. Cub once
turned up with an RC and a Mooneyham Blower
and asked, “Can you build a race blower out of
these?” And then other people started to come
TRUE IS THE PERSISTENCE NEVER TO GIVE UP
to Al for race blowers. of a first-gen Camaro from Mike Nola (actually, The Camaro debuted in ’94, the night before
Before long Al needed more room and wanted brother Bru paid for it). Right around this time, they had had the engine out of the car on a stand
a better shop so he moved to Henderson Valley Joe Nowocinski got out of racing and Al bought at 3.30am, yet they still made it to the track by
Rd, which is where most people will remember his SBC from the Warsaw Express car. The engine 9am. That certainly got noticed immediately,
Al’s Blower Drives from best. He did all kinds of was based around an aluminium Rodeck block there is an amazing video of that debut outing
work — chassis building, engines, and headers. and Al paid a cool $10K for it including a Crower which features the screaming blower as an
Garth Hogan was just one top racer getting Al to crank and Brodix heads. Al and Bru built the audio backdrop while the car went completely
do all his blower work. whole chassis for the Camaro and it appeared sideways in the burnout — Al was so tired that
Once Al really started getting going, on the cover of NZ Hot Rod magazine with Al he didn’t react quick enough before it got away
competitors like Peter Dore stopped. In 1990 included in the photo — only one of two people from him. The Camaro went on to become a
Al bought the back-half, roof and rear-quarters ever to appear on the cover of that magazine. part of NZ drag racing history with Al winning top
 I NEVER LISTENED TO ANYONE
it was a major job relocating — and subsequently
deciding to build a workshop at home — Al
says it was really a blessing as it brought down
overheads and forced efficiency and best use

WHO SAID ‘DON’T DO THIS!’ IF

of space. In fact, he wishes he had done it 10
years earlier! With a dedicated polishing room,
a full machine shop and an almost completed
expansion, Al’s Blower Drives is still very much

THEY COULDN’T BACK IT UP alive and thriving. I got to know Al better through
the process of him doing a GMC 671 Hilborn
alcohol-injected supercharger for my own car,
and the guy is such a gentleman, incredibly
skilled, and a wealth of knowledge. Let’s put
racer in ’97, and he won the Nationals with two he wanted to invest in something they could all it like this, while it’s never going to be cheap
broken piston pins! Al was really making a name enjoy as a family, so he bought a jet boat and his supercharging your project, you could waste a
for himself and, when Clay Tocker ran a 7.89 in own racing went on hold. lot of time and miss out on a lot of potential from
his Fiat tuned by Al, Graham Berry himself said, In 2005 Al got to know Eric Lion from The your set-up by not involving him. Al says these
“Three cheers for Al’s Blower Drives.” Blower Shop. “Eric really looked after me,” says days there seem to be lots of customers with
The Camaro was sold to Mark Bardsley in the Al. The standard deal was you had to buy four kits money who want work done but don’t know how
early 2000s after Mark sold his street-driven to get OEM pricing but Eric halved that threshold to do it.
’68 Camaro to rugby giant Jonah Lomu. Al says for Al — as it turned out by the time he placed his Perhaps the best quote from my chat with Al
Lomu actually gave the cheque for payment first order he already had four customers wanting was this: “I never listened to anyone who said
directly to brother Bru as Bardsley had just passed kits. ‘Don’t do this!’ if they couldn’t back it up. In
it on. In 2019 the owners of the Henderson Valley Rd racing, criticism comes from envy, ignorance, or
Round about this time Al’s kids were of the age shop sold the building and Al had to vacate. While experience. I’d listen if people had specifics.”

68
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 straight tony
talk johnson

END OF
FIRST-TERM REPORT THE NEXT RUNG OF THE LADDER

S o then,” many people ask me, “what’s it like

to race a V8 muscle car?” I figure any of us
who like fast cars or have harboured the notion
exciting as it was to lap Levels Raceway in a
V8 race car, that first race meeting was also
something of an anticlimax. All I’d really figured
of my motor racing journey. Like starting out
as a baby in nappies, becoming a toilet-trained
toddler, and then suddenly finding yourself back
that we might want to have a go at circuit racing out at the end of it was that instead of simply in nappies and shitting yourself uncontrollably all
one day, will have a bit of an interest in what stepping up the next rung of the ladder as I over again.
goes on, and what it’s like. I’ve spent a lifetime expected, it was in fact more akin to starting The transition might have been easier if I was
wondering about all this and have finally started out all over again. Sure, I knew the track this one of those incredibly fortunate people who
to learn a bit about it first-hand just these past time around, but I was utterly bewildered by are genuinely happy to just go and have a bit of
eight or so years. the extent of differences in the new car, and fun; participate; do your thing; simply get a buzz
I tried to give a sense, a few years back in frustrated that I was so shit at driving it. I’d from the speed; call it what you will — but sadly,
these pages, of what it’s like to start at the become what I’d describe as ‘comfortable and I’ve learnt since I began circuit racing, that I’m
bottom rung of the motor racing ladder, and confident’ in the Toyota, very happily finishing actually quite a competitive character. We all say
undertake (for me, quite late in life) a circuit second in the South Island 2KCup Championship we’re not worried about winning, and we’re just
racing ‘apprenticeship’ in a basic four-cylinder in my fourth and final season in it, and really here for the fun of it, but for most of us — me
Toyota Levin within a South Island championship expected to step into the Commodore and included — that’s bullshit. We want to give a
called 2KCup. It’s essentially a ‘hot hatch’ class, continue to do OK. But the reality was quite good account of ourselves, which I’m sure, is at
but without the ‘hot’. Relatively slow, but close different. Instead of maintaining my feelings of least in part because of that primal alpha male
racing, enormous fun, and a great way to learn ‘comfortable and confident’ as I stepped into my thing that goes on in our stupid egotistical male
how to go around corners, and slow down new race car, I was immediately plunged back minds. Chances are, if you’re reading this, the
quickly without the use of a parachute. to the feelings of ‘hanging on and hoping’ like same applies to you. It’s how we’re wired up — if
The last time I talked about this enlightening those I experienced at the start of my time in the we were the type of people who didn’t push the
new journey, I’d finished my fourth and final Toyota. envelope a bit, we’d all be happy with a stock
season in 2KCup, sold the Toyota, and had 600 horsepower compared to 150, rear- standard Toyota Camry, right?
just experienced my first race meeting with drive compared to front-drive, non-boosted
my big-boy trousers on in my new VN Holden brakes compared to boosted brakes, lots of END OF FIRST-TERM REPORT
Commodore race car. I’d felt at the time that I mass compared to much less mass, and slicks So anyway, here’s something of a ‘end of first-
was ready to step up into a proper car — which, compared to road tyres, all conspired to ruin any term report’ (part one in this issue is mostly
of course, had to be V8, rear-drive, and of hopes or expectations that I’d transition well. about ‘what it costs’, and part two next issue is
American or Australian descent. However, as It felt like I was thrown right back to the start more about ‘what it’s like’) after my first season

70
 CHANGING GEARS
The first harsh and expensive lesson in racing
a rear-drive car that I experienced was that,
yes, you do have to learn to heel and toe when
downshifting, especially when you run a fully
locked diff. In just my second time out in the
Holden I snapped the main shaft of the race-
prepared Richmond Super-T10 dog box, then
spent $3000 to get it rebuilt, and then snapped
the new main shaft in the freshly rebuilt gearbox
just three meetings later. Part of the problem
is that these gearboxes live a relatively happy
life behind a 400 horsepower 308 engine in an
NZV8 Touring Car, but with 600 horsepower,
they’re immediately in fragile mode — meaning
that if you don’t drive them perfectly, they’re not
going to work with you. Compression-locking
the rear tyres during down-shifting because you
can’t heel and toe immediately removes any
incentive they might have for staying together.
A good driver — such as Rhys Mountford, who
owned the car before me — made the gearbox
survive multiple seasons. I couldn’t make it last
three meetings.
As it turns out I’ve learnt to heel and toe, but I
could’ve wrecked a few more Super-T10s during
the learning curve, and the days of those old
Richmond dog boxes are numbered anyway
because of the scarcity of parts for them now.
And so, this was one of the first major
realisations that I was living in a different world to
when I raced the Toyota. After one $700 gearbox
rebuild because of ageing synchromesh rings
during season one in the Toyota, that gearbox
didn’t get touched again save for an oil change
each winter. By harsh contrast, there was only
one solution to the gearbox problem in the

TO FINALLY GO CIRCUIT
Holden (or should I say, in my driving), and it
was called a G-Force. A G-Force gearbox (still
a basic four-speed H-pattern gearbox) is the
modern iteration of the ‘Tex’ or ‘Jericho’ boxes
developed for NASCAR, and almost every fast

RACING AT AGE 55 HAS car in Mainland Muscle Cars and Central Muscle
Cars use them — they’re pretty much the only
thing that will reliably put up with well north
of 600 horsepower. The cost for one of these,

BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST

with clutch and shifter, I learnt, was around
the $15,000 mark. “Bloody hell!” I thought,
“What am I doing playing in this sandpit?’ I kept
my clutch and shifter, and was lucky enough
to find a great deal on a brand-new G-Force

CHALLENGES OF MY LIFE
here in New Zealand for exactly $10K — thank
you, Todd Stewart. Todd bought it when he
developed a problem shifting the G-Force in his
PDL2 Mustang race car, and then straight after
purchasing it resolved the problem in his existing
gearbox by getting a screwdriver and flicking a
racing the Commodore in the Classic Motor do, the more I’m in awe of those who do it well,” stone out from the shifter mechanism! If only all
Racing Series in the South Island, and then and now, after three seasons of trying to come mechanical problems were so easily and cheaply
two seasons running in my spiritual home, the to grips with something much faster, I stand by resolved!
Allied 24/7 Fuel Mainland Muscle Cars Series that statement more firmly than ever. Old mate I’ve now done two seasons with the G-Force
(previously known as the Mobil 1 Mainland Arthur ‘Camp’ Stanley in America, an avid and and it’s been perfect. But — just to maintain
Muscle Cars Series) also based in the South one-eyed drag racer, says, “Any dumbarse can some perspective between the different words
Island. tie a dog to a stick and make it run around in of a near-standard Jappa and a V8 muscle
I have to say right up front that ‘coming circles.” He’s a great bloke, but I really have to car — the 20 litres of special oil the G-Force
out’ from a lifetime of (on and off) drag racing disagree with him! requires, which has to be replaced every one or
to finally go circuit racing at age 55 has been Bear in mind throughout this ‘report’ that my two meetings, cost more than the rebuild on the
one of the biggest challenges of my life — but Commodore isn’t a powerful or fast car within Toyota gearbox …
despite all of the hurdles, difficulties, frustrations, the context of muscle car racing. After a bit
and high cost, it’s also been one of the most of experience on my part, the Commodore is THE COST OF HORSEPOWER
rewarding things I’ve ever done with my 63 years mid-pack at best within the Mainland Muscle And then there’s the engine. If you have a decent
of life on this earth. I guess, the tougher the Cars series, and I wouldn’t be able to claim even engine, and you don’t like gambling, you’ll
climb, the greater the sense of achievement if that when comparing my lap times to those in want to do a preventative maintenance freshen
you get there. the staggeringly fast Central Muscle Cars field in every winter, or every second or third season,
One of the comments I made after my four the North Island. So, what I’ve experienced, and depending on how hard you run it. I’ve had three
seasons in 2KCup was, “The more circuit racing I spent, is nothing compared to the big dogs. completely trouble-free seasons on my Tony
Marsh Holden engine (a 308 out to 355 cubic grand per pair) last three to four meetings, front Most of us run 275/40x17” race slicks, and
inch) because I’ve been running the engine at brake pads (almost another grand for a front the costs vary on the brand you run, and how
around 1500rpm less than what it was built to set) last two meetings. The front wheel bearings long you elect to run them. At one end of
do. There was little point in beating the heck out have to be repacked after each meeting, and the two extremes are the front guys who run
of the engine while I’m learning to drive the car, then replaced after every third meeting. The on good quality slicks which cost between
so all of my upshifts have been at 6200–6500 $800–$900 per corner, and fit a new set at the
rpm instead of the 7800 rpm Tony built it for. start of every meeting. Their tyre budget for the
That was something that old mate Grant Rivers season is between $16,000 and $22,000. At the

MY TYRE COST
told me to do from day one, and it proved to be opposite end of the spectrum is me! I buy the
sound advice. one-meeting-old used tyres from the fast guys
Having done three seasons, the engine is for $50–$100 each, fit them to my car and get
with Grant now, getting a freshen up; likely another two meetings out of them — so my
comprising of crack-testing, the usual rings and
bearings, and some valve train components
that only have a certain lifespan. Even with the FOR A SEASON tyre cost for a season is about a tenth of the
budget of the big boys.

best mates-rates applied, I need to be setting

aside $8000 to $10,000 for this ‘preventative
maintenance’ freshen-up. Even for a budget- IS ABOUT A SPEED COSTS — HOW FAST DO
YOU WANT TO GO?
What I’ve learnt thus far is that speed really does

TENTH OF THE
minded guy like me, there’s no choice on this cost, and you have to figure out how fast you
— if you don’t do that, sooner or later, a valve can afford to go. I know how fast I can afford
component will cry enough, and then you’re to go, and it’s a whole different ballgame to the
suddenly looking for a whole new engine. And guys who are at the top of the tree in Mainland
there’s no engine out there that will keep one of
these cars even in the mid-pack for under $30K.
The cars at the fast end of the field BUDGET OF THE Muscle Cars. Those cars, if any of them were
to come up for sale would start in the $150K
region for an absolute bargain, and then rise up

BIG BOYS
in Mainland Muscle Cars have 800-plus well north of $400K for the best of them. And
horsepower on board, and the cost for those then there’s no point running a top-level car on
engines goes up exponentially. A second-hand a shoestring budget. To get the best from it, you
‘spare’ engine (worth around 800 horsepower) have no option but to spend cubic dollars to
changed hands in the Mainland Muscle Cars pits keep it at the front and have assured reliability.
at the November Wigram Revival event for $60K. DNFs cost any chance of a championship.
only brake fluid that copes with the heat — The cost for me to run my mid-pack
EVERYTHING ELSE MATTERS Castrol SRF React — is over $200 per litre car (including entry fee, travel, budget
The power and mass of these big cars hammer and that lasts two or three meetings because accommodation, race gas, fluids, consumables,
the shit out of everything. In my case, the Tilton you have to bleed the system between every replacement parts, and a contribution toward
clutch (at the cost of a grand) needs to be meeting. Engine oil and filters are replaced freshen-ups) is, on the conservative side, in
replaced every winter, and the diff gets serviced every second meeting, at around $250 per the region of $5000 per round ($25,000 for a
each season. Front Wilwood brake rotors (a drain. five-round season). The stories about the costs
for the front-running cars vary, with some eye-
watering figures bandied about, but it’s safe to
say that many of the fast guys spend quite a bit
more for each meeting than my total budget for
a season.
There’s real irony in amongst all of that. On
one hand guys like me are happy to be out
there racing, but on the other hand it’s difficult
not to feel just a touch of envy at what some
are able to do. The bottom line — and what
most of us have to remind ourselves of — is that
wonderful sentence in ‘The Desiderata’ which
says ‘Never compare yourself to others lest you
become vain or bitter, for there shall always
be greater and lesser persons than yourself’.
Personally, I happily liken my station in life to a
great line in a song called Long Road to Bama
by a band called Bishop Black, which, in the
chorus, goes “I ain’t rich but I ain’t ashamed”.

72
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INTERVIEW DAN CARTER

FROM BLOWTORCHED MASTERPIECES TO HIGH-END CUSTOM BUILDS, DAN

CARTER PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES OF CREATIVITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP,
BLENDING FIRE, METAL, AND VISION INTO ONE-OF-A-KIND WORKS OF ART

74
NZV8: Hi Daniel, let us ask you, who are you, and what’s NZV8: You’ve painted some incredible builds at Matamata
your background in automotive spray painting and custom Panelworks, but we hear you’ve worked with other shops
art? How did you get started in this world? too. Can you tell us a bit about those experiences and
Daniel: I am Dan Carter, the visionary behind Desire for where else your talents have been showcased?
Creation, New Zealand’s only artist specialising in blowtorched Daniel: After my time at Casey’s, I worked at Evans European,
artworks, as well as a project manager and spray painter by learning how to repair high-end exotic cars to strict
trade, specialising in automotive bare-metal restoration and manufacturer standards. I also worked at a number of high-
custom high-end turnkey builds. turnover crash shops, such as Shield Bros, before chasing
Across the last 20 years of my career, I have been lucky the custom painting dream down to Muscle Car Garage
enough to work alongside NZ’s most talented automotive alongside Dan Hill in Cambridge. Together, we restored
tradesmen, learning, teaching, and managing teams as we impressive muscle cars to the highest show-quality standards.
obsessed over pushing the limits of perfection in every aspect Challenging experiences would include two XB GT coupes
of the custom automotive world. with factory and racing-spec two-tones, and a ’69 Dodge
I started off inspired by watching Boyd Coddington and Chip Charger painted gloss black with the General Lee decals
Foose, with humble beginnings as an apprentice doing crash ghosted in three different coloured pearls. At certain angles,
and restoration work for Casey Car Painters in Auckland. Three the flag and numbers would disappear and reappear. These
years in, I attended a full-time airbrush and special effects paint cars and many more have all featured in NZV8 over the years.
course at the PPG Training Centre. It was after that my passion Afterwards, I went to work for Malcolm Sankey at Matamata
became an obsession, painting mates’ cars and learning loads Panelworks, specialising in restoration. The cars we built
of secrets from Dr Bob, best known for his award-winning were on another level. If you have not seen the detail the
custom paint jobs with Steve Levine in the early 2000s hot-rod team put into every build, it can be difficult for some people
and 4 & Rota scenes. to fathom how $800-plus K can be spent on a car. It was
 an amazing experience working alongside the highly Daniel: Alongside my automotive career, I have always

I MUST SAY, talented team. My position evolved over the years at

Panelworks to include more custom stripe designs,
colours, airbrushing, customer services, sales, problem-
been challenging myself artistically to continue
growing my airbrush skills. Over time, this evolved into
commissioned artworks where I would paint any image

I LOVE THE solving, and designing all sorts of car modifications

with hand-drawn sketches. Customers would then sign
off on these designs before fabrication commenced.
requested — on cars, bikes, canvas, and large signboard
installations, through to large wall murals for businesses,
schools, sports clubs, and councils.

CHALLENGE Multiple designs of mine are still being built by Matamata

Panelworks, and I’m excited to see them completed.
More recently, I have been project managing full-turnkey
One night, I had this strange lucid dream that I was
painting with fire. The next morning, I was inspired and
went to buy a blowtorch. I must say, I love the challenge

THAT USING A builds at Compas Kustoms, a high-end restoration and

custom shop in Warkworth, Auckland. It has been a
privilege collaborating with the owners, Jack and Tracey
that using a destructive force like fire brings to the table.
You only have one shot, and you must stay mentally alert
across thousands of individual burns that make up an

DESTRUCTIVE Torrington, and the incredibly talented team building

multi-award-winning show cars, including my most
enjoyable customer requests and interactions to date.
artwork. Stall or burn slightly too long, and the artwork
can erupt into flames at any moment. Over the last five
years, I have continued to hone my blowtorch skills on

FORCE LIKE
Compas Kustoms has already produced a large number commissioned requests of anything you could ask for
of NZV8-featured cars, with many immaculate classic — portraiture, animals, fantasy, race boats, motocross
cars currently in the build, so keep an eye out for more bikes, and now cars!

FIRE BRINGS
of my custom body and paintwork!
NZV8: As an airbrush artist, what’s your favourite
NZV8: Your art style is truly unique, especially with type of project to work on? Is it cars, standalone art
your Desire for Creation pieces. What inspired you pieces, or something completely different?

TO THE TABLE to start using a blowtorch on wood, and how did

that evolve into creating art featuring cars and other
subjects?
Daniel: I enjoy each and every request but definitely
prefer creating larger-scale artworks with minimal prep
work. Airbrushing cars is all about enhancing or working

76
with the flow and shape of the vehicle, and it’s pretty NZV8: The Corvette Stingray you’re working on is
cool that it can be driven and displayed anywhere. Wall a masterpiece in the making. Can you tell us more
murals and fine art are interesting in a different way. You about the car and the story behind the commission?
are often trying to bring a sense of depth or meaning How did you approach this project?
to a generally flat, plain, or uninviting space, which is Daniel: The story starts with Dan Oliver, owner of
where I have had a lot of opportunities to experiment Next Gen Autos located in Silverdale, Auckland. He
with 3D effects and photorealism. was first introduced to Dave after a callout regarding
a fancy lawn mower with a fault. After quickly solving
NZV8: We’ve seen some jaw-dropping paint jobs the issue, Dave asked Dan if he would be interested in
come out of Matamata Panelworks and other doing a restoration job on his ’64 Corvette. A couple of
shops you’ve worked at. What’s been your most weeks later, the plan was set to build a restomod while
challenging or rewarding project so far?
Daniel: My blowtorched artworks are super rewarding,
as I get loads of awesome feedback from customers.
I’ve even received videos of people in tears of joy after
receiving artworks that are truly sentimental to them,
created by me. I really enjoy the challenges involved
with using fire, and I’m grateful that my artworks have
been sent all over New Zealand and internationally.
Automotive-wise, I am really enjoying the challenges
involved with project management of multiple high-
end turnkey builds at a time, ensuring they are built as
efficiently as possible and to the highest quality, while
making sure no detail is missed. Collaborating with
customers to turn their dreams into reality has been
incredibly rewarding.
 A DIGITAL
keeping the car looking standard from the outside. Dan NZV8: When you’re painting or creating artwork, do
came up with the idea of getting a custom manifold you have a specific process or ritual you follow? How
handmade with cross-flow individual throttle bodies. do you get into the zone?

CONCEPT IS AN
The car was fully stripped back, all the underneath parts Daniel: For commissioned artworks, I always follow a
were sandblasted, suspension bushes were replaced, process. A digital concept is an absolute first step to
and an aftermarket hyperbolic spring was fitted. Sway ensure customers can clearly understand my artistic

ABSOLUTE FIRST bars were added, and all the suspension and brakes were
upgraded.
Next, the freshly rebuilt motor, gearbox, and diff were
vision for their piece. From that point, I can relax and get
into a creative zone, jamming some good music and just
enjoying the process of creating my vision in my own

STEP TO ENSURE dummy-fitted, and all universal joints were replaced.

Everything was pulled back out to undergo full paint and
bodywork, then refitted with a freshly wired loom and
style — hopefully without burning my eyebrows off!

NZV8: Your ability to blend automotive work with

CUSTOMERS Link ECU. Lastly, it was fully tuned at Engine Specialties.

After the lengthy process of building the ’64 Corvette,
Dan decided to get Dave something unique and
fine art is amazing. Do you see these two passions
overlapping more in the future, or do you like
keeping them as separate creative outlets?

CAN CLEARLY memorable as a thank-you for his business with Next

Gen Autos. He decided the best way to do that would be
Daniel: I really enjoyed blending my two passions on the
’64 Corvette piece, and I’d love the opportunity to create

UNDERSTAND MY
to contact me for two blowtorched artworks. I created more commissioned automotive art and airbrushing.
digital renderings for Dan to choose from, including a I’m already imagining blowtorched artworks featuring
new 3D style I’ve developed with floating wall mounts. classic cars with a custom twist. I’m thinking lowriders

ARTISTIC VISION The 2320mm x 1190mm artwork of the ’64 Corvette

was freehand blowtorched into existence, cut out, and
glued to its floated wall-mounting plate. The artwork then
received a laser-engraved certificate of authenticity on the
hopping out of the frame into your living space, or a
burnout car coming out of the frame towards you.
I’ve always been good at taking a standard car and
reimagining it in the same way Chip Foose or Dave
back, hand-signed by me. Finally, the artwork was cleaned Kindig might. It would be really interesting to combine
and oiled to bring out the colour of the wood and protect this form of automotive design with my airbrushed wall
it from UV rays before being delivered in person. murals and blowtorched artworks.

78
NZV8: What’s the most unusual or unexpected
request you’ve had for a custom paint job or
artwork?
Daniel: The Motorhead-themed custom audio display
we created at Compas Kustoms recently was the most
unusual. None of us had ever built anything like that
before, but with our incredibly talented team, we knew
anything was achievable. Everything was hand-drawn,
hand-fabricated, and with every solution came the next
challenge to solve. The end result was something truly
special for the customer.
For me personally, that’s what it’s all about —
challenging yourself mentally, pushing the limits of your
skills further, and growing with every new job, whether
automotive or fine art-based.

NZV8: If you could work on any car in the world

— past, present, or future — what would it be, and
why?
Daniel: After building hundreds of custom cars over
the years, I’ve truly been spoiled. I’ve had all the fun of
building these amazing cars without having to foot the and custom paint, or send that CV into those custom
bill.
However, I feel as though I haven’t even scratched
the surface of what I’m capable of. Because of this, I’d
shops. Focus on a growth mindset towards upskilling.
Talents will only take you so far without patience,
discipline, and the quest for knowledge. I WOULD
go for a ’62 Impala coupe and go wild on a custom
lowrider-themed paint job with airbrushing like you’ve
never seen before. Another favourite would have to be a
NZV8: Finally, what’s next for you? Are there any
exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon LOVE TO
CONTINUE
slammed ’69 Torino Fastback restomod with full custom that we should keep an eye out for?
bodywork and fabrication throughout — a build I’ve Daniel: After five serious spine surgeries, I will need
been dreaming about for years! to step away from the tools and the heavy physical
role of restoration. If possible, I would love to
NZV8: Your work on wood is strikingly different from
painting cars. How do the challenges and rewards of
these mediums compare?
continue designing and project managing high-end
turnkey custom builds, focusing heavily on business
development, further refinement of processes, team DESIGNING
Daniel: Working with fire is remarkably similar as a
medium compared to paint via airbrush and spray gun.
Both must be applied with distance and overspray in
training, and quality control.
Definitely keep an eye out — there are still loads
of custom cars I’ve designed elements for, project AND
PROJECT
mind — if you’re too slow with a blowtorch, it will catch managed, and custom painted that are yet to be
on fire; too slow with paint, and it will run. released through media and magazines like NZV8.
Although I do enjoy working with colours and all For my art and all things associated with Desire for
things paint — be it cars, airbrushing, or murals — fire Creation, I want to push the limits of what I can
is exceptionally clean. My blowtorched artworks are
environmentally friendly, which is very refreshing
after 20 years spent using hazardous chemicals in the
create even further. I’m pursuing more large-scale
blowtorched artworks and murals associated with my
passion for automotive art, as well as anything else
MANAGING
automotive trade.

NZV8: Looking back on your career so far, what

customers might dream up.
If you have a project car that requires design work,
airbrushing, or wall space for a blowtorched artwork or HIGH-END
piece of work are you the proudest of and why?
Daniel: I am proud of every individual step that has
brought me to this point. At age 15, as a school dropout,
mural, don’t hesitate to contact me.
You name it, I’ll create it!
TURNKEY
CUSTOM
if you had told me I would be where I am today, Thanks for chatting with us, Daniel!
achieving everything I could dream of at that age, I Your creative mind and passion for automotive art,
wouldn’t have believed it. custom work, and art in general are truly inspiring.
Automotive-wise, I am proud to have built some of New It’s been a pleasure diving into your insights and
Zealand’s top show cars alongside talented teams and
helped turn customers’ dreams into reality. I have also
enjoyed passing on the knowledge I’ve picked up to
other up-and-coming tradesmen so they too can grow
hearing about your journey.
If anyone is interested in Daniel’s incredible artwork,
you can follow his Facebook page at facebook.com/
Desire.for.Creation or send him an email at desire.
BUILDS
and find enjoyment in life. for.creation.artist@gmail.com.
But nothing makes me prouder than what I’ve been
creating for myself and my customers through Desire
for Creation, now located in Auckland and servicing all
of New Zealand.

NZV8: With your blend of traditional and

unconventional techniques, what advice would you
give to someone looking to break into the custom
paint or art world?
Daniel: At school, I was told, “You’re good at art, but art
will never take you anywhere.” Then, as an apprentice, I
was told, “You’ll never be a show car painter.” Well, I just
want to say — follow your dreams. Only you know what
you’re capable of, and life is about finding enjoyment.
If your dream is to become an artist or custom painter,
actively follow those dreams. Seek out courses for art
1963 CHEV CORVETTE C2

CLEOPATRA WAS ONCE THE MOST POWERFUL WOMAN IN THE

WORLD. GARY AND JO-ANNE CROOK’S CORVETTE THAT GOES
BY THE SAME NAME HAS PLENTY IN COMMON WITH HER
WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: DANNY WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

80
GARY GOT HIS FIRST TASTE OF
DRAG RACING BY SHARING
THE DRIVING OF HIS
BROTHER VIC’S ROADSTER

82
 SPECS
1963 CHEV
CORVETTE C2
ENGINE: 556ci Sainty three-
valve, Ross pistons, GRP rods,
custom billet Sainty crank, custom
Sainty ground cams, Whipple
R980 supercharger, carbon
hat, Waterman fuel pump, MSD
Pro Mag 20 ignition, zoomies
DRIVELINE: Lenco three-
speed transmission, converter
drive, nine-inch 35-spline axles
SUSPENSION: Custom strut
front, four-link rear
BRAKES: Wilwood all round
WHEELS/TYRES: 15x4-inch
and 16x15-inch Mickey Thompson
wheels, Hoosier 25x4.5x15 and
34.5x17x16 tyres

ost people who know Gary and Jo-Anne taste became a passion and, in turn, an obsession that EXTERIOR: PPG Renault Jaune
Paille metallic
Crook know them as diehard Holden would ultimately become a way of life for the whole
CHASSIS: Twin frame-rail
people, but, more than that, they are family. The brothers Crook used to be regulars at street chromoly
amazingly dedicated to their family — sons meets around the lower North island, and made the odd
INTERIOR: Aluminium seats,
Dion and Aidan and, in recent years, a jaunt to Thunder Park as well. RPM dash and data logger
collection of grandkids. Through Vic, Gary and Jo-Anne were introduced to PERFORMANCE: The best is
However, although Gary has a deep love of Holdens, Vince and Barbara Borowicz, who were well-known yet to come
his dream car is actually a 1963 Corvette, and he’s very at the time for their escapades in a Holden Caprice
lucky that Jo-Anne doesn’t mind them either. How this Wild Bunch car. As happens in these instances, Gary
particular car — now known as ‘Cleopatra’ — came to was soon lured into crewing for them alongside another
be in their lives is a long story, and for that we need to familiar drag racing name, Rod Benjes.
rewind back to when Dion (now aged 33) and Aidan After a few seasons of hard graft, Vince and Barbara
(now aged 30) were just little nippers decided to step back from racing, and offered Gary and
Back then, Gary got his first taste of drag racing by Jo-Anne the opportunity to campaign the car, which
sharing the driving of his brother Vic’s roadster. That they did for a few seasons. When Vince decided to sell
it, obviously they were first in line, although the catch
was that it came without running gear. It was at this
time, though, Dion and Aidan were getting into junior
dragsters, and a tough decision was made to sell the
Caprice on to help fund their racing.
That set the scene for what has effectively continued
for the last few decades, as Gary and Jo-Anne have
supported the boys at the expense of their own cars
and progress. No matter what, the boys have come
first, and through that strong family support, Dion and
partner Zara now campaign a blown big block–powered
front engine dragster (FED), while Aidan and partner
Stevie have a wild bunch HT ute. That’s not to say that
Jo-Anne hasn’t had her fun in the hot seat too, as,
between the junior dragsters and the current cars, the
family campaigned and each had a turn at driving a
Commodore super sedan.
Of course, it’s a full family effort to get each of the
current cars to the track and keep it running, so,
even though the Corvette was purchased back
in 2020, it’s taken a back seat until recently.

84
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Gary always wanted to get back behindthe wheel of a
blown door car, and, understandably, the whole family
keeps an eye on what pops up for sale. Thus, when
the ’63 Vette popped up on Facebook Marketplace,
Jo-Anne was quick to book tickets for them to cross the
ditch to check it out, make sure they all fit in it, and learn
how to run it. They spent a few days in Rockhampton,
Queensland, doing all the necessary checks, imbibing
their own bodyweights in duty-free Jack Daniels, and
making new friends before loading the car onto a trailer
and heading back towards civilization.
Eventually, it landed in Auckland and was brought
home to Wellington, where Jo-Anne discovered the
seating was not as they’d been assured; so, much to
her delight, it was sent to DB Race Cars to have some
adjustments made. While at DB, plenty of other bits and
pieces were changed, modified, or added. Then, once
back at home again, the family team undertook some
fibreglass work before getting stuck into the fun task of
sanding and painting the chassis.
Eventually, following interruptions from the dragster
and ute, it was time to get the body up to the family’s
standard. This involved valuable assistance from Dean
and Darren Riches along with Dan Faisandier. Initially,
the team were just going to do a quick rub back before
painting it matte army green, but now that the body

86
 SAINTY
ENGINES ARE
HAND-BUILT
WORKS
OF ART
wasn’t so rugged, that wouldn’t have done the car final step, producing and printing the artwork, including
justice. Thankfully, Jo-Anne pulled rank and decided headlights, badges, and the grille, before Aidan and
DRIVER the car should be painted gold. Union hardware clearly Dion took on the unenviable task of applying it.
DRIVER: Gary Crook saw the potential and came on board with plenty of The final push over the last six months was meant to
AGE: Old PPG Renault Jaune Paille waterborne metallic, a colour just involve getting the car running but has resulted in
OCCUPATION: Fire that inspired the car’s name. Dan and Dion, both very making sure it’s of show quality as well. That includes
appliance fabricator fussy painters, ensured that the finished product was the car’s very rare and equally as impressive Sainty
PREVIOUSLY OWNED nothing short of flawless. Dzine Signs took care of the engine. While it’s really all about performance, finer
CARS: Wild bunch Holden
Caprice, Holden Commodore
super sedan
DREAM CAR: This is it
WHY THE CORVETTE?
The love of blown door cars
and C2 Corvettes
BUILD TIME: 4.5 years
LENGTH OF
OWNERSHIP: Five years
GARY THANKS:
DB Race Cars, Dzine
Signs, Upper Hutt Glass,
Union Hardware, Jo-Anne,
Dion, Aidan, Dan, Billy, Kurt,
Jordy, Grant
 THIS COMBINATION
SAW THE CAR RUN
INTO THE SIX-SECOND
ZONE BACK IN AUS

88
touches like the custom blower guard and rerouting
of all the lines make the motor itself really stand out
— as it should. Sainty engines are hand-built works
of art, and Gary has had plenty of discussion with the
Sainty family about how to get the most out of the
556ci combo. What makes the engines unique is that
they run an overhead-camshaft design with three
valves per cylinder. The block and piston chambers are
similar to a two-stroke engine where the chamber is
machined out of its own separate piece of billet alloy
and then bolted to the block that houses the crank,
with the heads separate again. Each component is
CNC machined out of billet aluminium and the engine
is timed through a series of nine front-mounted
gears (which also operate the oil pump and ignition).
It’s unusual, and complex, but clearly works. The big
Whipple R980 supercharger is topped with a carbon
hat and fed exorbitant amounts of methanol through
a Waterman fuel pump, while an MSD Pro Mag 20
ignition fires it into life. Good family friend and long-
time drag fan Grant Benvenuti was called on to wire it
all up and install a data logger and digital dash.
Thankfully, the drivetrain was somewhat less
complicated than the engine, consisting of a Lenco
three-speed with converter drive, backed up by a
very short driveshaft and nine-inch diff with 35-spline
axles. As you’d expect, the chromoly chassis itself is
supported by a custom strut front end and custom
four-link in the rear. This combination saw the car run
into the six-second zone back in Aus, and chances are
that it’ll do the same here once the team get to grips
with the unique set-up. Between the family members,
and those who’ve been on the receiving end of help
and support from the family and are now returning the
favour, they’ve got plenty of knowledge on their side.
Part of that means that they’re smart enough not to
come out and think they’ll set the world alight on the
first pass, but instead they’ll chip away at it safely and
enjoy the process.
This was evidenced by the first outing at
Masterton Motorplex recently, where they all took a
calm approach to getting to know the new machine,
and the boys were keen to flip the tables and help Gary
out as a driver. There’s no doubt that at some stage
they’ll each be lucky enough to have a drive, but the
reality is, regardless of results on track, they’re already
winning by having one of the best-looking cars out
there. The build is a testament to not only the family’s
knowledge but also to their family values of supporting
one another and really bonding as a team. In that vein,
the next generation of Crooks isn’t all that far away from
Junior Dragsters age, and given the family’s dedication
to the sport, we have no doubt that, before long, there
will be three generations out there on track, doing what
they love most. Given how impressive the rest of the
family’s cars are, we can’t wait to see what they show
up in!

90
1956 FORD PREFECT 100E

BLENDING A CLASSIC ENGLISH 1950S SILHOUETTE, RAT ROD

BUILD INSPIRATION, AND ENOUGH ENGINE SETBACK TO MAKE
A SALOON CAR LOOK TWICE, THE ANDREWS FAMILY HAVE
NAILED AN INSPIRING LOOK NOT OFTEN ACCOMPLISHED
WORDS: SIMON DUDDING PHOTOS: LEO BATGER

92
 aren Andrews and her family are no strangers Anglia to replace a pre-children daily driver that Karen
to the pages of NZV8. Karen’s Windsor V8– had owned many years ago. Partner Nigel first spotted
powered 1956 Ford Prefect is the fourth car it for sale and suggested a Prefect, as, for this era, they
from the family to feature between the covers. are essentially the same car aside from the interior trim
Three of those four were built in various design and the amount of doors. It was already a project
Ford assembly plants around the globe, and that someone else had begun, but the job had got too
the other is a pretty cool Ford GT40 replica kit car. big. What becomes too much for some can become a
Saying that the Andrews are an all-Ford family is an worthy challenge for others though, and after a quick
understatement — even the family business’s company look over, the Andrews family soon had a new project car
cars wear the Blue Oval badge. back in their workshop ready for renewed enthusiasm.
Originally built in the Lower Hutt assembly plant, The body had been somewhat modified by the
the family’s fourth feature car, this 1956 Prefect, went previous owner, and the firewall was notched for a
through eight owners before coming into Karen’s care V8 swap. All the parts were there, the engine was in
in 2012. It was found by chance while looking for a Ford place, but it would essentially be a complete build
 SPEC
1956 FORD
PREFECT 100E
ENGINE: Ford Windsor 302, Mahle
pistons, Mahle rods, ARP fasteners,
factory-ported two-valve heads by
Prescot Engines, Comp Cams camshaft,
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, from the ground up. The car was stripped to assess racking up a lot of points in debt on project Prefect. This
Holley 650cfm carburettor, Craig Davies
electric water pump (EWP), Aeroflow
the existing modifications, and it was decided that the was where the majority of the build time got eaten up,
distributor, Aeroflow Pro ignition work completed was OK, with just some tidying up to stored on the mezzanine floor of the workshop gathering
coil, custom fabricated headers, twin be carried out. Nigel and son Nick went to work and dust. But sometimes having an extended time to ponder
2.5-inch into single three-inch exhaust,
custom fabricated radiator and fan
fabricated a box chassis for the body at their workshop how to build a car is a good thing, as it turns out.
shroud, aluminium fuel tank with and worked through ideas until a road block appeared Moving forward eight years and having the GT40
integrated Aeromotive Phantom fuel- in the form of the GT40 kit car. Not only did the GT40 well and truly completed, a renewed drive to get the
pump assembly, Aeroflow fuel-pressure
regulator (FPR), twin-stack custom
sideline the Prefect, but Karen’s birthday was also missed English-bodied Ford was found, along with some fresh
air filters when partner and son drove across the country to collect ideas, albeit from other project cars on the go at the time.
DRIVELINE: Ford C4 automatic, shift the new car. Being sidetracked, the boys must have been In a world of engine-swapped orphans, Karen has kept
kitted and built by Kaspa Transmissions
Silverdale, B&M shifter, shortened
Ford XF Falcon BorgWarner 8¾-inch
differential, Beatty’s driveshaft
SUSPENSION: McPherson-strut
front with Bilstein coilovers, modified
shock towers, fabricated crossmember,
Wilwood hubs; heavy-duty reset leaf-
spring rear with Koni shock absorbers,
Nolathane bushes
BRAKES: Custom pedal, remote
VH44 brake booster, relocated twin-
circuit master cylinder, disc-brake
conversion, Wilwood Dynalite four-
piston callipers front and rear
WHEELS/TYRES: DTM Forged
Custom 17x6.5-inch and 17x8.5-inch
wheels, Nexen tyres
EXTERIOR: Bumper delete front
and rear, flared guards and modified
rear doors, flush-mount bonnet pins,
custom patina paintwork by Real Rides
CHASSIS: Modified and
strengthened 3mm steel rectangular
hollow section (RHS) chassis
INTERIOR: Original seats, custom
centre console, Speedhut gauges, custom
trimmed at Whangaparaoa Auto and
Marine Upholstery, Woodward steering
column, Racetech steering wheel, JVC
head unit, Pioneer six-inch speakers
PERFORMANCE: Estimated 280hp

94
 SOMETIMES HAVING
AN EXTENDED TIME TO
PONDER HOW TO BUILD A
CAR IS A GOOD THING
her 1956 Prefect an all-Ford affair. The North American–
built 302 Windsor engine originating from the other side
of the Atlantic Ocean is tastefully shoehorned into the
diminutive engine bay via the firewall notch that sees
almost half of the engine disappearing down the tunnel. A
new set of crossmembers was fabricated for receiving the
engine, front suspension, and transmission mounts at the
workshop. The control arms are modified and fabricated
to minimise bump-steer effects at the desired ride height.
Working with an LVVTA certifier, the steering was nutted
out to create good geometry that works well and doesn’t
dart across the bumpy back roads of New Zealand.
Suspension was dialled in with Bilstein coilover front
suspension on a McPherson-strut set-up and a more basic
leaf-spring set-up at the rear with Koni shocks. The quality
suspension parts are linked to the stiffer chassis with
Nolathane bushes wherever possible. The build was really
turning into an anything-but-ordinary makeover.
 Another family member to step in and have some XD Falcon. Scanning the wheel arch and creating a

ROAD GRIME influence in the build was Karen’s brother Barry. It

seems that having a self-proclaimed “neat freak” as a
sibling, Barry wanted to twist Karen’s arm towards the
computer model took any guesswork out of the equation
and revealed a couple of fitment issues. To create the
desired look, some additional bodywork was going to be

REALLY JUST dark side of bodywork and explore the patina look. A
few good examples of rat-rodded Prefects and Anglias
were found that appealed. Thoughts of shiny paint
required, both in the front and rear. This was because at
the wheel widths of 6.5 inches at the front and 8.5 inches
at the rear, the negative offset to keep the wheel strong

ADDS TO THE
were soon overwhelmed by the practicality of the had to be dished, interfering with the factory guards. To
finish. Road grime really just adds to the look, and when Nick and Nigel this sounded like a good opportunity to
you regularly drive around with dogs of larger breeds purchase some new sheet-metal tools and expand the

LOOK
on board, scratches become inevitable. Karen was skill set. The job was really looking like it was turning into
convinced — and, as it turned out, the choice helped a happy accident. After receiving the one-off custom
with the bodywork later on in the build. wheels, the bodywork was started. Cutting into the
After the engine position and suspension were guards was the easy bit, as the two boys discovered the
finalised, Nick had DTM come and 3D scan the wheel enormity of an on-paper ‘simple task’.
arches and hubs for both the Prefect and his own Ford Anyone who has done this modification knows that

96
 LATE-MODEL CHEV
, FORD, DODGE
TUNING FOR PO WER AND ECONOM
Y
NEW ZEALAND AUTHORIZED DEAL
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FOR PROCHARGER AND HOLLEY
EFI
SALES SERVICE KNOWLEDGE

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Fax: 09 273 4927
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

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Setbacks in projects come in various forms, and this
engine setback is a welcome one. With almost half
the spark plugs behind the cowl, it was a necessity to
fit the engine in but also adds to the custom look

IT DOESN’T
HAVE TO BE
PERFECT TO
LOOK COOL
the tricky bit isn’t in the outer metal work; it’s in the rear
door jambs and getting the whole lot to work together.
After the trial-and-error learning process, the sheet metal
was stitched back into place and came out looking great.
The new wider track has the car looking tougher, with
lines reminiscent of Mk1 Ford Escort forest flares. With a
newfound love of bodywork, the boys set into other parts
of the car. The dimple die was used to good effect in the
front of the car, and openings for bumper mounts filled
and smoothed to add to the rat rod look. The body isn’t
perfect, as Nick who did a lot of the work admits, but it
is straight. But that’s the point of patina and rat rods; it
doesn’t have to be perfect to look cool. Where the more
unsightly blemishes in the panels were fixed, some dents
were left in as signs of being an old car.
Next, the body was put into an initial primer at
the family business to seal it up and give the team at
Real Rides a good base to work from, before being
shipped off to Real Rides just a short distance down the
road for the top coats to be applied. Just as Nick and
Nigel had had to learn the ways of custom bodywork,

98
With perfectly filled guards, the Prefect
has a killer stance while being a sensible
height for easy daily driving. Looking as
it does, it’s hard to believe that the car is
essentially a daily driver and just at home
taking the dogs to the park as it is turning
heads at a car show

the team at Real Rides had to familiarise themselves with

something they don’t usually get asked to do. The shop
is renowned for its high-end paint- and bodywork, many
examples of which have graced these pages. Now they
had to learn the art of patina. Speciality paint products
were brought in from the US for the Prefect and the
car occupied the spray booth for three days straight!
The result is outstanding. The brief given to Kayton at
Real Rides was “make it look like it’s been sitting in a field
for 20 years”. The proof is in the pudding of how well
that went, and it’s fair to say that the car wears one of the
more realistic patina paint jobs in the country. It must have
been handy to have one of New Zealand’s top painters in
the same suburb!
Back at the workshop, the Prefect was reassembled
with a new brake set-up. The single-circuit system was
long gone, having been taken out about the time that the
firewall was removed and recessed by the previous owner.
A host of custom work was called on to set up the master
cylinder and brake pedal. The master cylinder is far from
the more common firewall position and has a remote-
mount booster to aid the car in being able to be daily

100
 New and old interior components are
combined to produce a tasteful look
that has minimalist old car design
with modern functionality

driven with ease. The four-piston Wilwood callipers on all

corners finish off the slowing-down department and give
the perfect amount of modern braking performance.
The interior of the car was next on the list, with
the Andrews family handing it over to the team at
Whangaparaoa Auto and Marine Upholstery for
retrimming the seats and panels. The weather seals
were replaced, since they are all available out of the UK
and make the car more comfortable to drive in poor
weather. The factory seats have been upholstered in
new, modern material but give a nod to the original
panel designs. The result is a functional interior that is
hard wearing enough for daily use while still looking
traditional in design. With the trim and upholstery
stripped, Nick took his chance to finish off interior jobs
such as wiring, installing a sneaky stereo system, and
fitting an LVVTA-approved collapsible steering column
from Woodward. This race-spec part was topped off
with a Racetech steering wheel. It’s a nice touch

“MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE IT’S BEEN
SITTING IN
A FIELD FOR
20 YEARS”
 to the interior, and if you happen to forget what
you’ve just hopped into, it reminds you that this is not
Nanna and Grandad’s old Prefect. Speed Hut gauges
grace the dash panel and fits in well in the factory
colour–coded dash. The B&M shifter takes pride of
place in the trans tunnel, which doesn’t look too out
of place since it’s hiding a rebuilt and shift-kitted C4
transmission beneath.
The 302 Windsor engine received a tasteful rebuild
without going over the top. Jason Prescott gave the
factory two-valve heads a tickle-up and warmed it over
with performance pistons and rods to make the engine
reliable and very driveable. At an estimated 280hp, it’s
not designed to tear strips off the road, as that’s not
what the car is built for — there are plenty of others in
the family shed for that. This car is built to be unique
and a one-of-a-kind daily driver. Karen has her perfect
custom Prefect, albeit probably with brownie points still
owed by Nick and Nigel.

DRIVER
KAREN ANDREWS
THIS CAR IS BUILT TO BE UNIQUE AND A
CAR CLUB: Top Dead
Center Beer Drinking Team ONE-OF-A-KIND DAILY DRIVER. KAREN
HAS HER PERFECT CUSTOM PREFECT
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Company
director
PREVIOUSLY OWNED
CARS: Ford Escort,
Ford Anglia
DREAM CAR: This one
WHY THE PREFECT?
I had an Anglia when my son Karen, Nigel, and Nick. The
was born. We had looked for an family has a history of building
Anglia to build but the Prefect tough Fords; it’s probably safe to
popped up for sale and it assume that the Prefect will not
looked like a good project be the last custom build to leave
BUILD TIME: 12 years with their shed in Silverdale
an eight-year hiatus
LENGTH OF
OWNERSHIP: 12 years
KAREN WOULD LIKE
TO THANK: Nick, Nigel
and my brother Barry; Kayton
and the team at Real Rides;
Jason at Prescott Engines;
Tim at Whangaparaoa
Auto and Marine Upholstery;
Gavin, Brendon, and Fiona
at DTM

102
 A company of enthusiasts just like you

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 In The Build
WHAT’S UNDER CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE COUNTRY

HOP
BOUND
L ast time we checked in, Trev Halstead’s 1947–’51
custom Studebaker was deep in the works.
And if you know Trev, you’ll know that he’s not
one to hit the brakes. He’s been full steam ahead,
transforming the 1951 bodyshell into something truly
extraordinary. The car’s undergone a wicked four-
and-a-half–inch chop and channel, split screens
have been added front and rear — with a raked front
screen — and the side window body belts have been
dropped. Trev’s also pancaked and peaked the roof,
radiused all the corners, and opened up the fender
arches to give it a mean stance.
The bodywork is nothing short of insane. He’s
extended the bulkhead by two inches, added a peak
to the trunk to flow seamlessly with the roof and
bonnet, and built a tilt front end from 1947 panels.
But that’s not all — he’s also scratch-built the grilles,
including a custom-cast 1951 bullet nose set in an
Edsel-style opening. To top it off, the car is now
14 inches shorter than the original four-door sedan,
with doors re-crafted from the originals to fit the
new proportions.
Every detail of this build speaks to Trev’s obsession
with getting it just right. This isn’t just a car; it’s a
complete reimagining of what a Studebaker can be,
and it’s all coming together in true Halstead style.
And while the build is impressive on its own, Trev’s
got plans to hit the road with it. The Studebaker is
heading to Repco Beach Hop 25, where it’ll no doubt
be one of the standout rides of the event.

104
MODERN
W
FINS
hen you think of a ’59 Cadillac, you
probably picture classic American luxury,
disc brakes bring modern stopping power to this
heavyweight cruiser. The quick-ratio steering box
components fit seamlessly into this classic.
That includes adapting the radiator, fans,
those iconic fins, and plenty of chrome. But and Ididit tilt column add precision and comfort expansion tank, brake booster, master cylinder,
Paul and Heather’s four-door high-top DeVille, to the driving experience, with a Vintage Air AC and fuel system. Every detail has been carefully
currently in the build at Custom Street Rides, is system and a Dakota Digital dash ensuring that it’s thought out, ensuring that this Cadillac keeps
taking that timeless silhouette and packing it full as enjoyable inside as it is under the bonnet. its vintage soul while embracing the reliability
of modern muscle, tech, and style. The stance is dialled in with a full Air Lift and performance of today’s engineering.
Under the hood sits a C5 Corvette–sourced 3H set-up, featuring Viair compressors, As the build approaches the paint stage, the
LS1 engine paired with a 4L60 transmission. Slam Specialties bags, and a five-gallon floating anticipation is real. This is one DeVille that’s sure
Feeding that V8 is an over-the-radiator (OTR) air air tank. Shock relocation and clearanced to stand out in any crowd, blending old-school
intake complemented by a Holley accessory drive guards make room for the massive 20x9.5- and cool with cutting-edge upgrades. Keep an eye
kit. The exhaust? Full stainless, of course, to keep 20x8-inch US Rambler wheels, sitting low, on this space — Paul and Heather’s Caddy is
it sounding as good as it looks. A custom drop wide, and mean. Custom Street Rides has gone a cruiser that’s rewriting the book on luxury
tank takes care of the fuel supply, while Wilwood all-in with fabrication, making modern GM street machines.

C urrently taking shape at The Toy Shed in

Rotorua, this VL Commodore wagon is set to
be the ultimate blend of muscle and practicality.
Sporting a full Walkinshaw body kit with fresh
panel and paint, it’s bound to stand out wherever
it goes.
Under the bonnet, a 510ci big block Chev
packs serious punch, featuring a forged bottom
end, Hostile Comp Cams camshaft, Edelbrock
heads, Edelbrock Pro 4 multi-point injection,
a Billet Specialties serpentine kit, and custom-
built headers. With approximately 600hp at the
crank, this wagon means business. The power
is channelled through a TH400 transmission
with a 3000 stall converter to a BorgWarner diff
upgraded with a Truetrac centre and 31-spline
axle conversion.
Wilwood brakes all round provide ample
stopping power, while an 18x8-inch DTM wheel
package ties the build together. Inside, the focus
remains on retaining a clean and timeless style
that nods to its Commodore heritage.
The best part? This isn’t just a showpiece. The
wagon is being purpose-built to tow the owner’s
race car — a VL sedan with an RB30 turbo set-
up — to events around the country. Talk about
making a statement on and off the track!
DECADE ISSUES # 112 AND 113
²E§ÀEw Eª‫غ‬OCÀO Eª
AGO 2014

WHERE IS IT NOW?
FRAZER MCKENZIE — 1967 FORD MUSTANG
I t would be easy to say that Frazer McKenzie’s
all-steel Eleanor started a trend at Matamata
Panelworks, as it was the first of the custom-
shell he purchased was a bit of a disaster, so it
was replaced for a Repaired / Rebuilt using many
reproduction items. Onto that went the fibreglass
fabricated Eleanors to come out of the business. parts and into it went an AU Falcon XR8 motor
While the team at Matamata did the hard work, and T5 transmission. With RRS steering and
Frazer, who runs a building company by day, suspension in the blue car, he knew he wouldn’t
made it easy by providing a full build plan for be happy to settle for anything less in this one.
it, including various renderings and covering Being built almost entirely at home, right-hand
intricate details. That build plan was something drive, and with a Link ECU calling the shots, the
he had spent plenty of time finessing, and likely grey car is easy to hop in and drive without too
the reason why, since completed, the car hasn’t much fear of damage or disaster.
needed anything changed on it at all besides a Now with that car on the road, and the love of
battery. That’s a huge compliment to the builder the build process, Frazer is into his next creation,
and designer, given the level of custom work an XY Falcon ute project complete with 600-plus
involved in the build. horsepower Barra turbo setup.
Following the completion of the car, Frazer Given his dedication to planning the builds out,
and family showed it at various events and we have no doubt it’ll be another quality build.
were regulars in it around the Waikato region. As for the original car, with business, family
As the bodywork was crafted in steel, he had a and other commitments, it hasn’t been out as
previously purchased fibreglass Eleanor kit in the much in recent years as it could have been, but
shed at home, so rather than sell it, he decided it’s set to come out again for Repco Beach Hop
to use it, with the plan being to build something 25, where we’re sure it’ll get as much adoration
less custom and less precious. Sadly, the first as it did when it was revealed a decade ago.

106
WHERE IS IT NOW?
GREG KROON — PONTIAC VENTURA
E ven with the number plate ‘NOT A’ with
Nova underneath, Greg Kroon’s Pontiac
Ventura still gets confused for its sibling, a
Diamond 600cfm carbs. From there he moved
to a FiTech injection system which helped the
car to run a PB of 11.23 seconds at Meremere
Chev Nova. The car has come a long way since Dragway.
featured, and not just in terms of miles it’s After eight years with the FiTech system he
clocked up. Being a hands-on type of guy, and changed back to the carbs again, and noted
a keen drag racer too, Greg has chipped away that while the FiTech was definitely more
at the car over the last decade and still loves it responsive, the carb system gave more peace
as much today as he did back then. of mind, given he did end up stranded a few
One of the key changes to it in that time has times with the injection.
been adding more power; this started with a Visually the car has changed to run black
custom grind roller cam that was fitted along steel wheels which he prefers over the Riddlers
with a tunnel ram and pair of QuickFuel Black that were on the car when we featured it.

AND
I
THE REST
t’s always interesting looking back a decade
ago, and these issues are no different with a
It’s not often we feature a car from Japan, or
more accurately in Japan, but Daichi Shimizu
mix of hot rods, muscle cars and late-model San’s ’57 Nomad was blowing up our social feeds
machines all finding their way into our pages. On at the time, so we decided to track him down so
the tech side of things, we put our new staffer we could grab a closer look.
Connal Grace through his paces by getting him We also feature Mark Bardsley’s well-known
to put together the ultimate diff buyers guide Camaro Top Doorslammer as it debuted its new
followed by an equally as intensive transmission Smits Group livery and Doug Campbell’s ultra-
buyer’s guide. Kevin Shaw had the time of his life tough ElCamino streeter. With so many high-end
on a Route 66 trip and managed to document it cars being featured, it was definitely a time when
for us too. the scene was alive and well!
 CARGO THIS ISSUE’S
MUST-HAVES

MEGUIARS G230416 HYBRID CERAMIC

TIRE SHINE 473ML
Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Tire Shine renews dull-looking tyres with premium gloss enhancers,
darkening the appearance and adding gloss. Advanced Hybrid Ceramic technology provides
durable protection that keeps shining even when exposed to water! Plus, it bonds well to tyres,
reducing the likelihood of sling.
• Amazing gloss: Long-lasting high gloss shine
• Durable and lasting: Durable tyre shine that’s also resistant to water
• Superior bond: Advanced formula bonds well, reducing the likelihood of sling
• The right amount of shine: Get a high gloss shine or medium shine, depending on your
preference
• Hybrid ceramic protection: Advanced SiO2 Hybrid Technology delivers both durability
and shine
For more product or stockist info, freephone 0800 227 422, or visit smitsgroup.co.nz and
search code product G230416.

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, Mount Shop, or
conveniently order online at tuffmounts.com.au. Upgrade your
Commodore VT–VY with ease and precision!

NEW PRODUCT ALERT!

Rare Spares NZ is now stocking power-steering pumps for Holden HQ, HJ, HX, HZ, WB,
VB, and VC six-cylinder and HQ, HJ, HX, HZ, WB, VB, VC, VH, VK, and VL V8 engines.
Search part number H1453 and shop online at rarespares.net.au/rsnz, stop by our
showroom at 43 Shands Road, Hornby, or give the team a call on 03 366 5982.

108
SUPERPRO
Superpro is an innovative Australian manufacturer of
automotive polyurethane suspension bushings, control arms,
sway bars, and other suspension components for both 4x4 and
performance vehicles. Engineered to outperform, Superpro’s
specially formulated, high-quality components are designed to
create suspension solutions for better stability, handling, and
control in both on- and off-road applications.
Superpro is available through Mount Shop.

DIGITAL IGNITION
CONTROLLER
The Aeroflow Performance digital ignition controller is a
microprocessor-controlled capacitive spark discharge device. It
increases the voltage across the spark-plug gap to produce a high-
powered spark that ensures complete combustion of the fuel mixture.
This provides a clean, smooth idle and improved performance on
any street car. This ignition control box can be installed on any four-,
six- or eight-cylinder engine equipped with a 12V electrical system and
distributor. The wiring harness is routed out of the control box through
a sealed and locking connector, which is also available separately. The
rev-limiter is located right on top of the housing for easy access to the
two rotary dials to set the limit in 100rpm increments.
For more information and your nearest distributor, visit
aeroflowperformance.com.

AEROFLOW PRO STREET

ALUMINIUM RACING SEATS
Aeroflow Pro Street aluminium racing seats are a lightweight seat option
that provides added strength and safety for your race car. Constructed
from 2.5mm thick 5052-grade aluminium with offset rolled extrusion
around the entire seat and reinforced headrest, the strategically positioned
contours on the exterior are TIG welded, while the inside is MIG welded,
which results in improved structural rigidity and a more comfortable ride.
Each seat features moulded rubber guards around double shoulder belt
openings and lower belt openings to accommodate most racing harnesses
— plus, there are snap fasteners around the seat for a cover to clip on to.
These race seats are offered in a range of hip sizes from 15 inches up to
20 inches, with the 18.5-inch and 20-inch sizes having longer bottoms, the
belt openings moved forward, side bolsters, and raised rear belt openings
to accommodate larger drivers. Options for both a raw alloy finish and
black finish are available, with a cover and seat mounts sold separately.
Available at aeroflowperformance.com or Rocket Industries,
rocketind.com, or your nearest Aeroflow distributor.
 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE
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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

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MUTHA
MAGNETOS
SPECIALISING IN VERTEX, MALLORY & MSD
REPAIRS AND UPGRADES WE BUILD YOUR DREAM Covering all types of mechanical services
including race car fabrication, Warrant of
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING Fitness checks, car servicing and much more
STEVE MOORE PANEL, RUST REPAIR & PAINT
P: 021 216 3148
E: muthamoore1@hotmail.co.nz
FULL BUILDS & RESTORATIONS 04 297 0600
WWW.HOTRODHEAVEN.CO.NZ 23 Hinemoa Street, Paraparaumu
WWW.MUTHAMAGNETOS.CO.NZ 48 Custom Street Ashhurst • 06 354 54595 • hotrodheaven@xtra.co.nz www.tmsracing.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

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COMPONENTS &
WHEEL BEARING FROM THE LATEST TO THE
SPECIALISTS HOTROD INTERIORS & OLDEST, WE CAN REBUILD IT
CUSTOM MOTORBIKE SEATS
09 571 2429
WWW.ABDGROUP.CO.NZ • 0800 ABD GROUP Nick Horwood 2 Botha Road, Penrose, Auckland
HEAD OFFICE: 11 SATURN PL, ROSEDALE AUCKLAND 027 209 3223
enginerebuilders.co.nz
OTHER BRANCHES: AVONDALE, WIRI, NEW PLYMOUTH, nick.actioncanvas@hotmail.com
ewan@enginerebuilders.co.nz
HAMILTON, CHRISTCHURCH, TAURANGA, WHANGANUI. 15C CYPRESS STREET, JUDEA, TAURANGA

Falcon, Holden Stocking and

& Valiant importing
American cars
We also buy all and parts, new
of your unwanted We value modified vehicles, hot rods,
and used
Aussie vehicles rat rods, classics, also during the stages
of the restoration process. 03 208 9480
Aussie Spares 07 847 3323 carvaluation.nz 11 Charlton Lane, Gore
12 Woodward St, Frankton, Hamilton Charltonautoimports
0800 500 040 info@carvaluation.co.nz

Classoric T&riCmm
ustom
M ot ers Engine builders to the
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Specializing in classic cars and hot rods Providing a comprehensive vehicle
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chris@carupholstery.co.nz painting service
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 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

1955 CHEVROLET
@CHRIS_CERCE_CUSTOMS
Man, this ’55 Chevrolet has it all and is
one tough street machine. Starting with a
Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis to get the
handling and stance sorted, it was fitted with
the best components from Baer Brakes and
Strange. Power is via a Dart block LS3-based
engine that is boosted with a Whipple 4.5-litre
supercharger pushing 1050rwhp. Rolling
stock is via Forgeline, with 19x10-inch and
19x12-inch wheels. Super cool!

1966 CHEVROLET NOVA

@SLICKSIXTYSIX
It is amazing to see the level of custom that people
are still bringing to car builds these days. This Nova is
based on a Roadster Shop frame complete with a Currie
rear end and Baer brakes, which, along with custom
Forgeline wheels, complete a sweet roller. Power is via
a Whipple-boosted LS engine that sounds insane at full
boost. Finally, 3D printing was used extensively in the
interior and also in the engine bay, with custom ducting
and bonnet vents created.

1970 CHEVROLET C10

@BARRYS_SPEEDSHOP
When a customer comes to you wanting to
build a C10-based autocross machine and the
budget is large, then this is what you end up
with — one crazy-looking truck that has been
smashing records since debut. TCI Engineering
was instrumental in the build, creating a
custom frame based on a production unit and
using C7 Corvette parts and geometry. Power
is via a supercharged LS-based unit, with the
cooling system rear mounted to assist with
weight distribution. Carbon fibre was also
extensively used to keep the weight low and
the bias in the right place. Wild!

1972 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE

@CINGELGORAN
It’s always cool seeing muscle car builds from
places you do not expect, and this Chevelle build
in Croatia is yet another example. Based on a
stock frame, the stance and handling have been
given a boost with Aldan American shocks and
components. Power is via a traditional 454ci big
block that has been warmed over. The brakes
have been replaced with Wilwood units and
rolling stock is via some American Racing wheels
— one sweet ride.

112
 Shock Absorbers

Shock Absorbers

Lowering Springs

BALL JOINTS KONI SHOCKS SUSPENSION BUSHES

BODY / SUBFRAME MOUNTS KYB SHOCKS SWAY BAR BUSHES
BUMP STOPS PITMAN ARMS SWAY BAR LINKS
COUPLINGS RACK ENDS TIE ROD ENDS
ENGINE MOUNTS SILICONE HOSES WHEEL HUBS &

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HARMONIC BALANCERS SPRINGS WHEEL BEARINGS

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H&R SPRINGS STRUT MOUNTS

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IDLER ARMS SUPERPRO BUSH KITS
KING SPRINGS SUSPENSION ARMS
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