ISSUE #27 - AUG 2020
600hp CORTINA STREETER
PUa sRs aEc r e M
Pro-Street HK Ute set to
Unleash Hell! QLD POWERPLAY - SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE STREET CAR - SUMMERNATS 18 TUFF STREET
NITROUS SL/R TORANA
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3 BLOWN HEMI ‘7 CHALLENGER
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4 TWIN TURBO ‘3 FORD ROADSTER
From the Desk
THEY SAY A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY, AND SEEING THAT A HOLIDAY ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN FOR A WHILE, I THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE SOME CHANGES… If you’re like me, you get bored with things relatively quickly. I’m constantly looking at ways to upgrade, streamline and make subtle changes to Killer Rides to keep it fresh and interesting. By now, you’ve probably noticed that I have changed the masthead a little. A slight change in fonts and colours comes into effect from this issue. Hope you like it… Another new addition to this issue is the Killer Klassifieds section. This will be the perfect place to advertise your special car or parts to an audience of likeminded people. It’s just $20 for two issues and includes a pic too! It’s all about making Killer Rides the one-stop hub for car enthusiasts around the country. If you have something you want to offload, check out our new section.
Please people, if you don’t need to go out anywhere, please stay at home and help us put an end to this damn virus that has all but crippled the modified car scene this year. Speaking of being nationwide, I am launching Oz Cruise - a Nationwide Charity Cruise to be held by Car Clubs to support a local charity of their choice. Check out the ad in this Issue and then head to the official Oz Cruise Facebook page. This is going to be huge and is set to happen on Sunday, September 12th, 2021. More details will follow next Issue. As I write this month’s Editorial, the next wave of Covid-19 infections are becoming more evident around the country, but no more than in Victoria. We are at the point where borders have been closed again, just as I was looking forward to making a trip interstate to shoot some feature cars. Please people, if you don’t need to go out anywhere, please stay at home and help us put an end to this damn virus that has all but crippled the modified car scene this year. Hopefully, we can get through this without too much problem and we can get back to enjoying our cars in a group environment just like those “good old days!”
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With that said, I hope you enjoy Issue #27 of Killer Rides. See you on the street…
Paul
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ISSUE NO.27 Aug 2020
CONTENTS REGULARS
03 EDITORIAL From the Desk 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest
26 Blown Injected Big Block HK Ute
18 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think 20
COMING ATTRACTION 6.4-litre Hemi-powered AP6 Wagon
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AGAINST ALL ODDS Powercruise smokes out Queensland Raceway
6 72 ULTIMATE STREET CAR SEARCH All the action from Atlanta Raceway 92 BLAST FROM THE PAST Tuff Street at Summernats 18 110 KILLER PIC Outlaw Cruisin!
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38 Qld Raceway Powercruise
82 Pro-Street Challenger Street Car...
50 600hp Pro-Street TD Cortina
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60 Nitrous Chev-powered Torana
100 Twin-turbo LPG Big block ‘34 Roadster
112 PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Quick Find Ad’s 114 KILLER KLASSIFIEDS Buy, sell, swap. 120 PARTING SHOT Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!
FEATURES
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FAT BLACK Sometimes its OK to be a Heavyweight
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READY-MADE MUSCLE 418-cubes of tough-street TD Cortina
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STRAIGHT SHOOTER Nitrous-sucking, big cube, small block Torana
Blast from the Past - Tuff Street 18th Nats
82 IN THE LIMELIGHT Pro-Street Hemi-powered Dodge Challenger 100 CANDY CRUSH Twin-turbo big-block Ford ‘34 Ford Roadster
Don’t forget to Subscribe at www.killerrides.com.au
HERE’S WHAT WE OFFER!
e v i t a v o n n I Get with your g n i s i t r e v d A
EXCEPTIONAL RATES! GLOBAL AUDIENCE! ONLINE 24/7! VIDEO ENHANCED AD’S! ALL AD’S LINKED! NEW PRODUCT PROMOTIONS! For more information on advertising in Killer Rides, please contact; Paul Beck 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au
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PUBLISHING EDITOR
Paul Beck paul@killerrides.com.au Phone 0432 795336
MAILING ADDRESS
PO Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529
WEBSITE
www.killerrides.com.au
VALUED CONTRIBUTORS
Lauren Jade @ Xposed Photography Tim McCormack @ Sweet Aussie Rides Chad Silvey @ Pics by Chaddo Leisa Bonnici @ Fordgal Images Blake Williamson @ Insane Grunt Photography Stephen Taylor @ The Motorsports Project John Antoniw @ 9000rpm Photography Jimmy Tee Photography Greg ‘Beach’ Ball - Joe Crispin - Jason Lowe Luke Hunter @ Hunter Media Charlie Sant @ Pro Flo Performance
WHAT’S HAPPENING HOT ROD DRAG WEEK AND POWER TOUR CANCELLED FOR 2020 Due to wanting to keep their entrants and spectators safe from the Covid-19 virous, the Hot Rod Magazine management have decided to cancel both events for 2020. That leaves hundreds of entrants disappointed to miss out on what were always two huge events. I think it’s time to call 2020 off and concentrate on next year…
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED YET? GO TO www.killerrides.com.au AND DO IT NOW!
RANGE ROVER SVR – CARBON EDITION TO APPEAL PERFORMANCE CAR DRIVERS
We all know just how good the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is – it’s the worlds most powerful SUV. Now, the Range Rover executives have decided to take some wind out of the Trackhawk’s sails by offering up their hot new Carbon Edition SVR Range Rover. Powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 producing 423kW and propelling the SUV from 0-100km/h in just 4.5-seconds, the SVR may just be the perfect alternative to those looking at purchasing a Trackhawk. Though its around 100kW’s less that the Jeep in the power department, there’s no denying the Range Rover has an distinctive refinement unmatched by others, making it an attractive proposition for those wanting performance and luxury. Rolling on special 22-inch wheels and ultra-sticky tyres, the SVR Carbon Edition features unique body enhancements with carbon-fibre details along with a carbon-fibre bonnet, grille, vent surrounds, mirrors and engine cover. Range Rover’s most powerful vehicle ever has a hand-tuned suspension system thanks to the engineers at the Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations in Germany. Inside, it’s all about high-quality appointments from the perforated Windsor leather to the 19-speaker Meridian surround-sound, 825-watt sound system. It’s all high-end luxury.
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Will the SVR Carbon Edition be available in Australia? The short answer is yes! No news on the price as yet, but expect a hefty price tag non the less. But, at the end of the day, you get what you pay for, and here, you get what an awful lot…
KILLER KLASSIFIEDS LAUNCHES
If you have a garage full of parts you no longer need, or want to sell your car, you can now do so through Killer Rides Killer Klassifieds. Open to private advertisers only, Killer Klassifieds gives our readers the opportunity to buy, sell or swap their cars and parts to like-minded people in the modified car scene. Each ad will include one photo (bus card size) and up to 40 words for two issues. The cost will be $20. If you got something you want to offload, now’s the time. Car ad’s will be required to include the rego number (if applicable) and all ad’s must include a phone number and/or email address. Check out the details on pages 114 of this issue!
SUPERCHARGED 5.0LTR V8 423KW 0-100 - 4.5-SECS
WHAT’S HAPPENING PRO-STREET ICONS SET TO RETURN
Two of the most iconic Pro-Street cars are currently being readied for a return to the seen in a big way. Anyone who has been in the scene for a while, will remember the PRO-ST1 LC Torana from South Australia, whilst those in NSW can look forward to seeing the new version of the WOG007 Cortina. Hold onto your hats people, these two cars are going to be epic!
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KILLER
Video
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CRUISING AT THE 2019 STREET MACHINE NATIONALS, ST. PAUL MINNESOTA
WHAT’S HAPPENING VALE FRANK ZAGARI
The modified car scene lost another one of its good guys, when Adelaide Race Car Fabricator, Frank Zagari succumbed to a long battle with his illness. Frank was a hugely talented chassis man and leaves behind not just plenty of mates and loving family, but a legacy of tough cars in the SA scene. Frank will be remembered as a hard-working guy that loved his family, his mates and of course the car scene that he had a huge passion for. Whilst he may no longer be amongst us, he will always be remembered each and every time a tough, tubbed street and strip car rumbles by. RIP Frank. Gone but never Forgotten‌. 12
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WHAT’S HAPPENING ENTHUSIAST INSURANCE LAUNCH SUNDAY DRIVER The team over at Enthusiast Insurance are obviously car guys and girls and their new video series, Sunday Driver, proves it. The first episode was released recently and showcases Andy Colalillo and his slick ’34 Ford Roadster. Check it out by clicking the image below...
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FREE MAGAZINE OFFER
AUTO RUMBLE MORUYA
With the South Coast Nationals no longer happening in Moruya, Lee and Debbie Pearce are holding a new, low-key event over the weekend of October 16th -18th called the Auto Rumble. Held inside the Riverbreeze Tourist Park, the event will feature lots of Drag Cars, Street Machines and Hot Rods on display as well as cruising the park, live music, engine start-ups and more. To be part of this event is simple, enter when you arrive. It’s all about the entrants! For more information, give the guys a call on 0419 845890.
TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TECHNICAL PERFECTION
TO GET YOUR FREE COPY
CLICK HERE
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INCLUDES CASE STUDIES & ARTICLES OF ONE OF A KIND PRODUCTS
Mailed to your home or business
HAVE YOUR SAY Got something to say? Send it to paul@killerrides.com.au or message us from the Killer Rides Facebook page.
KILLER MIX
G’day Paul, Man, what a great Issue number 26 was! Killer Rides is getting better and better with each new Issue. The mix of old and new styles of horsepower and the range of cars featured was the best I’ve seen. Keep that stuff coming. Great work! Steve P Via Messenger. Hi Steve, Thanks for your kind words mate. I go to great lengths to get variety into Killer Rides, and yes, there’s more of the same coming. Hope you enjoy #27 as well. Thanks for the support.
LOOKING FOR A CLUB 18
Hi Paul, I have just moved to Australia from the US and am now living in Geelong, Victoria. I have noticed that there’s a huge car scene in the area and see tough cars cruising most weekends. In the US, I was heavily into modified cars with a ’71 Charger as my weekend cruiser. I would love to get back into the scene and am on the lookout for an XW/ XY Falcon as my “Aussie Cruiser”. With that said, where would I find a listing of car clubs to check out? Steven G Via Email Hi Steven, Welcome to Australia! Mate, you couldn’t have picked a more expensive Falcon to look for, but there are bargains out there if you’re looking for a project to build. In regards to Club listings, check out the Australian National Street Machine Association website – www.ansma. com.au Good luck with it all.
CLUB FUN
Hi Paul, I look forward to reading each Killer Rides from front to back, and always enjoy your Editorials. I read with interest about your view on Car Clubs. I agree that Clubs seem to have disappeared somewhat over the years, but I have to say, some of the best times I have had in the car scene have been with car clubs. Whether it’s going to car shows together, going on club runs or just attending meetings, they were really good times. But with family taking my priority of the Club, I just lost contact with everyone and eventually moved out of the area. I think more people should look into the club lifestyle and enjoy their cars with likeminded others. Terry S Via Messenger Hi Terry, It’s a shame, but peoples priorities do change. Having said that, I had a conversation the other day with one of the guys behind a new club that has been formed in Sydney. At their first outing, no less than 70 car loads of people rocked up, proving the Club scene is still there, it just needs the right people behind them to make them happen.
KILLER FEATURE
G’day Paul, Being a burnout fan, I was very impressed to see Issue #26 front cover showing UNFAZD doing a big skid! That’s one of my favourite burnout cars, and your feature on it was awesome. I never realised just how nice that car was. It’s a credit to Todd and those involved. Can’t wait to see it smashing tyres again. Thanks for keeping us burnout guys happy! Chris T Via Messenger Hi Chris, It’s a killer car and thoroughly deserves it’s place on the cover doing its thing. It’s amazing just how nice burnout cars are these days. Gone are the cars that have multi-coloured panels, worn-out engines and just a torn seat for an interior. Today’s burnout cars wouldn’t look out of place at any car show. I’m sure there will be more coming in Killer Rides soon…
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COMING ATTRACTIONS
e n o G Way
AP6
6.4-LITRE HEMI 8-SPEED AUTO
WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - PRO STREET RESTORATIONS
PRO-STREET RESTORATIONS AP6 VALIANT WAGON
Forget the slant six, this AP6 long roof is getting 6.4-litres of late model Hemi for a much needed power upgrade. At any one time, the Pro-Street Restorations workshop is overflowing with full-tilt builds, where Greg ‘Beach’ Ball and his team have taken them all back to the bare bones and one by one, put through a well-rehearsed process that ensures every part of the vehicle it repaired, restored and sorted before assembly takes place. This slick AP6 Valiant Wagon is no different. The owner obviously loved the old school shape, but wasn’t too fussed on the technology of the time. This car had been in storage for 22-years in his mother’s garage, and when she passed away, a decision had to be made about it’s future. I reckon he made the right one…
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S K R O W S I S S A H C SOUTHERN D N E T N O R F T N E INDEPEND
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18X7 & 18X
10 BILLET W
HEELS
This car had been in storage for 22-years in his mother’s garage, and when she passed away, a decision had to be made about it’s future. I reckon he made the right one…
PRO-STREET RESTORATIONS DESIGNED / FABRICATED 4-LINK & COIL-OVERS
That won’t be a problem now though. The tired old front end has been given the flick and is destined to show up at a swap meet somewhere. In its place sits an independent front end (complete with tube a-arms and coil-over shocks) sourced from Southern Chassisworks and installed inhouse at Pro-Street Restorations. Down at the rear end, Beach installed one of his own designed, four-link set-ups along with coil over shocks and a sheet metal diff. The body will sit low over a set of 18� billet wheels.
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i m e H W k 0 5 6.4-litre 3 The engine bay is being subjected to plenty of work to ensure that when the new engine and trans combo is slipped into place, it will become the main focus when the bonnet is lifted.
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The engine bay is being subjected to plenty of work to ensure that when the new engine and trans combo is slipped into place, it will become the main focus when the bonnet is lifted. The new combo is nothing short of 6.4-litres of fuel injected Hemi producing around 350kW in standard form – more than enough to liven up the old AP6! Beach talked the owner into it and is really the logical choice for power and reliability. Backing the engine is an 8-speed auto. To fit the engine into the space available, Beach has changed the oil pan from rear sump to front allowing him to fit the motor back as far as he needs to. Ditching the factory cast exhaust manifolds, the plan is to use Hooker headers designed to fit a Gen 3 Hemi into an early Barracuda.
INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION Ford F100 48-52 & 53-56 & 73-79 Chevrolet C10 63-72 & 73-87 LH/LX/UC Torana and more to come !
PROJECT VEHICLE’S STREET MACHINE’S MUSCLE CAR’S HOT ROD’S 24
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CUSTOM CAR BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ENGINE BUILDERS FOR 40+ YEARS Chev - Holden - Ford - Mopar Specialising in Turn Key Packages
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Body wise, the old Valiant has been taken back to where it all began, with the AP6’s skeleton being repaired where needed and treated before the panels are fitted back up and prepared for paint. The project is still a long way off, and we will bring you regular updates as they happen!
AUTO TRANSMISSIONS & CONVERTORS Custom Built to suit all Horsepower.
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FAT BLACK
A chance meeting with a partially completed, Pro-Street HK Ute saw Dean Lucas spend twoyears creating a Monster built to haul arse!
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DEAN LUCAS - HK HOLDEN UTE Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck Underside Pics - Charlie Sant / Pro Flo
When Dean spotted this unfinished Ute on eBay looking for a new owner, something inside him urged him to take the build on to completion. At this stage, the rear end had been finished off, with the tubs, remodelled load area, narrowed diff assembly, four link and coil-overs all done by Pro-Flo Performance. With the work that had already been done, Dean sat down with Paul Sant, worked out a plan of attack and put the wheels in motion to create Australia’s wildest HK Holden Ute. In no time at all, the Ute was shipped back to ProFlo for Paul and his team to finish off what they had started. The fabrication continued inhouse at Pro-Flo with the HK’s engine bay scoring a flat firewall and a pair of tanks that surround the engine itself. The bonnet was relieved of a huge chuck of steel for the planned engine hardware, with the bonnet itself now opening
on a pair of billet hinges with gas rams. To accommodate the larger tyres, the wheel arches have been stretched considerably. The tailgate had already been welded shut and is now part of the main body permanently. The lower section of the tailgate has seen the spare wheel door placed in the bin, with the opening modified to allow the wheelie bars to protrude through once Dean decides the time is right to punt the Ute down the quarter. The body work wasn’t what you’d call pristine, but you wouldn’t know that now. Thanks to good mate Damien Butcher, the HK’s sliced and diced sheet metal has been smoothed out and covered in a coat of GMH Flat Black. It’s hard to imagine this Ute any other colour really. It’s sinister look and don’t f@#k with me attitude is enhanced big time by the colour choice!
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It’s sinister look and don’t f@#k with me attitude is enhanced big time by the colour choice!
Inside, it’s strictly business. Dean discarded anything and everything that didn’t serve a purpose. The covered Kirkey alloy seats feel more at home now than the tired old Holden bench seat could have ever been, and the removal of the door trims and centre console show its true intentions. Pro-Flo fabricated the roll cage and tied it into the chassis to stiffen the Ute up, and in stark contrast to the body colour (which flows into the cabin), the cage has been rubbed back to clean, bare steel and then clear coated – just to be different. An Al’s Raceglides shifter sits alone on the newly installed trans tunnel, with just a few important AutoMeter gauges in close proximity to the standard Issue HK steering wheel. Looking up from the driver’s position reveals the control box that houses switches for the engine start, pumps, and other duties. The button for the fire-suppression system and parachute leaver are also located overhead for Dean to reach quickly and easily if the need arises.
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Inside, it’s strictly business. Dean discarded anything and everything that didn’t serve a purpose.
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Whilst the fabrication was taking place, Dean had Sam at Westend Performance piece together a power plant that suited the style and attitude of his Ute. That meant big cubes, blower and injector hat. Wanting a cubic capacity north of 500-cubes, Sam kickstarted the engine build with a Dart Big M block which he added a rotating system comprising of a Callies Magnum crank, Callies Ultra rods and JE forged pistons. The camshaft is a secret-spec mechanical roller working in with the Crower Hippo roller lifters. From there, a pair of suitably modified Brodix BB3 alloy heads with PSI springs wrapped around titanium valves joined
the party along with an Indy intake manifold and the piece d’resistance, the TBS 8/71 blower and monster carbon fibre mechanical injector hat. A full complement of MSD ignition gear fires the 510-cuber into life, feeding gallons of methanol through the fuel system before burning the fuel and sending it out into the open via a pair of fabricated headers that flow into dual 4-inch stainless pipes that exit just before the rear wheels. A Moroso 3-stage dry sump system keeps the internals well lubricated. On the dyno, Sam tuned the engine to 15-lbs of boost resulting in 1450hp…so far!
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On the dyno, Sam tuned the engine to 15-lbs of boost resulting in 1450hp…so far!
THANKS TO: Sam at Westend Performance. Paul Sant &
Gretchy at Pro Flo Performance. Damien Butcher for the body work and paint. Mark Sant at Ontrack Auto Electrical. Scrapper and Mick for their ideas and input. My wife Gina and kids for their love and support.
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Backing the powerhouse is a Pro-Trans built, Pro-Mod spec Turbo 400 auto that uses a ‘bolt-together’ Coan converter to handle the pressures coming from up front. The Pro-Flo built diff has all the right gear to ensure there’s no embarrassing moments when Dean plants his right foot and turns those rear tyres to smoke. Speaking of those massive tyres filling the equally massive tubs, are 33x22” Mickey Thompson’s fitted to 15x15” Weld Magnums. The fronts are just a fraction of that width measuring just 15x4 Magnum Pro with M/T front runners. Wilwood cross-drilled and slotted discs and calipers are fitted to each corner and easily handle the normal cruising. There’s no doubt that when Dean decides to hit the quarter mile, a parachute will play its part too. Helping keep the Ute from rocking and rolling all over the place are Viking coil over shocks added to each corner. The front end now features tubular control arms and rack and pinion steering.
Dean sat down with Paul Sant, worked out a plan of attack and put the wheels in motion to create Australia’s wildest HK Holden Ute.
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Dean’s realistic when it comes to the Ute’s future. Rego is definitely not going to happen, so he is fine with the HK being an ‘event-only’ car and can’t wait to get it out to Powercruise, Summernats and maybe even the Red Centre Nat’s where he will be able to cruise the streets and do the mandatory Macca’s run without fear of seeing any blue and red flashing lights in the mirrors.
NATIONWIDE 2021
SUNDAY SEPT 12
Having previously owned many cool rides such as an LJ Torana, HR Holden, HK Brougham and a desirable HK Monaro, the two-year build of the Ute has Dean once again thinking about a cool street car. It’s obvious the HK Monaro was a favourite, as he is on the lookout for another to call his own. While that search happens, his focus remains on the Ute and getting to relieve those big Mickey T’s of some tread…
CALLING ALL CAR CLUBS! WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF AUSTRALIA’S ONLY, NATIONAL ONE-DAY CHARITY CRUISE? IT’S EASY TO BE A PART OF IT...
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ORGANISE A CRUISE ROUTE IN YOUR LOCAL AREA CHOOSE A LOCAL CHARITY TO SUPPORT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON SUNDAY 12TH SEPT 2021 FULL DETAILS ARE AT THE OZ CRUISE FACEBOOK PAGE For More Details - Contact Paul Beck @ Killer Rides paul@killerrides.com.au 0432 795336
T S N I AGA
POWERCRUISE POWER PLAY_QUEENSLAND RACEWAY_JULY 18 2020 WORDS -Paul Beck PICS – Malaka Media
S D D O L AL
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If anyone was going to buck the trend of cancelled motoring events around the country, it was going to be Powercruise head-honcho, Gup. His huge Powerplay held at Queensland Raceway gave the middle finger to Covid-19!
Anyone that knows Gup, will tell you that when someone says it can’t be done, he will just smile and make it happen.
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Anyone that knows Gup, will tell you that when someone says it can’t be done, he will just smile and make it happen. 2020 will be remembered as the year of very few motoring events. Those that have been cancelled almost weekly, won’t have the Powercruise listed beside them when we look at events that have been missed during this year. Thanks to Gup and his team, the Powercruise event gave power-hungry car owners somewhere to cut loose. Queensland Raceway is the spiritual
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home of Powercruise, holding many smoking events since the concept was launched. The venue is quite unique in the fact that from the main-straight, spectators can see every part of the circuit so there’s very little chance of missing any part of the action. And we all know the Powercruise provides plenty of on-track action! Spectators are also welcomed to park around the outer edge of the circuit to witness those doing their best to put on a show.
Dubbed the Qld Freedom Festival, the July 18th Powerplay was always going to attract a big entrant list...
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Dubbed the Qld Freedom Festival, the July 18th Powerplay was always going to attract a big entrant list, all overdue to smoke some tyres, take their engines into the red zone and generally give their cars the use and abuse they have been sorely missing. That meant that those coming through the gates to get their fix of the high-octane action that Powercruise is well known for. Due to Covid Safe Plans that needed to be adhered to, spectator numbers were limited to a maximum of 10,000. 42
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One by one, the over-powered, under-tyred cars took to the pad and did their best to send the ‘burnout gods’ a smokey message of respect.
As will all Powerplay events, the action happens over just one full-on day. Kicking off at 6am for entrants to arrive and get ready for the day ahead, the on-track stuff started at 8am with a half-hour of drifting that was followed by three full hours of cruise session, giving everyone plenty of track time to go and show-off their cars potential. Whilst the cruise session was in full flight, the Burnout practice session was happening on the pad and the show and shine was dominating the pit area.
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Due to Covid Safe Plans that needed to be adhered to, spectator numbers were limited to a maximum of 10,000.
Two of the most anticipated parts of the Powercruise bought every spectator to the main straight viewing area. First up was the Off-Street Racing that saw competitors go head to head in a battle to find the one last survivor who was going to get some massive bragging rights! Soon after, it was time for the Powerskids. This event isn’t for the fainthearted, or for those lacking somewhat in the power department. If you’re game enough to line up on the main straight lined by thousands of hardcore car guys and girls, you’ve got to be sure you’re packing enough power to smoke the hell out of that straight to ensure the crowd don’t let you know how disappointed they are.
The smoke continued with the second practise session for the Burnout guys and girls, all hoping to make a huge impression when the actual competition started later in the day. As the smoke show was in progress, the second cruise session took to the track, again lasting three hours between 2pm and the events trophy presentation at 5pm. Finishing off the events program was the hard-fought burnout show held on the pad and watched by thousands. Like most events of this type, the burnouts are one of the most anticipated attractions of the Powercruise, and with good reason. One by one, the overpowered, under-tyred cars took to the pad and did their best to send the ‘burnout gods’ a smokey message of respect.
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If anyone was going to buck the trend of cancelled motoring events around the country, it was going to be Powercruise head-honcho, Gup.
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After the last car skidded, the burnout winners were awarded their trophies, bringing to an end another successful Powercruise event. As some of the country deals with the second wave of Covid-19 infections, there is still an air of uncertainty surrounding events right around the country. But if Gup can find a way to bring on the next lot of Powercruise events, you can be he will. Keep an eye on the Powercruise website for regular updates on the state of play. www.powercruise.com
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e d a M Ready
Arthur Spiropoulos - Cortina Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck
MUSCLE
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After owning a 900-plus horsepower Procharged XW Falcon, Arthur Spiropoulos wanted something a little more sedate to cruise the overcrowded streets of Sydney...
This Cortina’s story starts in Melbourne, where well-known Cortina nut, Jason Hoctor took a stock, six-pack TD and did his thing with the body and paint. Jason took plenty of time to rid the Cortina’s sheet-metal of any sign of years of use and abuse, getting those panels pristine before laying down the bright yellow base coat with cool, black stripes. The bonnet scored a popular reverse-cowl that gives the Cortina a look that’s more back street bruiser, than stock family cruiser. The black Weld wheels complete the external visuals.
When the Cortina rolled into Jason’s workshop, the body was in relatively good condition – but the interior was still as new. Open any door and you’re smacked in the face with pure 1975 in all its elegance. From the brown vinyl covering the seats and door trims, to the AM radio, original steering wheel and basic shifter sitting inside the equally basic centre console. Even the venetian blind in the rear window has a certain level of coolness about it! Sure, it’s stock, but that just adds to the cars appeal. The tough-street exterior obviously struggles with the interior in a Jekyll and Hyde type of battle – good versus evil, if you will! If someone was restoring their TD Cortina back to factory-spec’s, this interior would be perfect. In stark contrast, lifting the boot lid reveals a fully-painted boot area that is dominated by the alloy fuel cell.
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Open any door and you’re smacked in the face with pure 1975 in all its elegance.
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One area that couldn’t be further from stock is that stout Windsor under the reshaped bonnet. Initially starting with just six cylinders in the engine bay, that lowly inline factory-fitted six-pack was ripped from the mounts and placed in the corner of the shop – destined to become a boat anchor. Cortina’s powered by tough V8’s are nothing new and we’ve seen all kinds of combo’s jammed between the inner guards. By far, the most popular fit is the small block Windsor. Even with 302-cubes, the lightweight, small Ford becomes a handful, but when you stretch that cubic capacity up to a more impressive 418ci, things get serious…
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Making around 600hp on a strict diet of 98-octane pump fuel, the tough stroker small block is still user-friendly, keeping everything below the scoop line with a single 750cfm carb mounted to a highly-polished alloy intake manifold. A pair of alloy Pro-Comp heads, topped with detailed Ford Racing rocker covers, complete the top end of this aspirated Windsor. Down below, the factory Ford block has been prepped and readied for the Scat stroker crank and rod combo along with forged pistons and a roller cam and lifter package that lets the secret out that the engine package under
Even with 302-cubes, the lightweight, small Ford becomes a handful, but when you stretch that cubic capacity up to a more impressive 418ci, things get serious…
the bonnet is far from ‘just’ a basic-build engine. When the MSD ignition fires up those cylinders, the custom fabricated headers sends the spent gases out into the atmosphere through the dual 2.5inch exhaust system. A manualised C4 auto fronted with a TCE converter, backs the tough 418-cuber and sends the power through to the 3.5-geared nine-inch diff. It’s then left up to the 15x10 Weld wheels shod with 275 radial tyres to get that power to the ground. In comparison, the front wheels are just 3.5-inches wide, giving the Cortina a true Pro-Street look.
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The Cortina has the right stance now, thanks to the quartet of King Springs mated to Pedders shocks which also provides a much firmer ride. All of the rubber bushes have been replaced with a more durable Nolathane items to tighten things up. Upgrading the brakes was a necessity for rego when the V8 was installed, so the TD-spec front discs were swapped over for slotted discs clamped with VE Commodore calipers whilst the standard 9-inch drums are hidden inside the rear wheels. A Wilwood master-cylinder combines with a remote booster to handle the stopping power.
The tough-street exterior obviously struggles with the interior in a Jekyll and Hyde type of battle...
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THANKS TO: Jason Hoctor for the body and paint. Steve (DOG302) for putting the car together and for selling it to me! Con at Pro-Street Metal Craft for handling the Engineering process.
Arthur had very little to do to the Cortina when he dropped a whole load of cash onto his mate Steve’s kitchen table. Owning a tough Cortina himself, the well-known DOG302, Steve pieced together the TD to his usual high standard. Once in his possession, Arthur had Con from Pro-Street Metal Craft engineer the Cortina from bumper to bumper so full rego wasn’t going to be a hassle. After dealing with a few new-car-issues, Arthur jumps behind the wheel of the Cortina as much as he can, cruising to any number of tough-car meets in and around Sydney. And to top that off, he even occasionally takes it shopping! Don’t believe me? Check out the pic with the boot loaded with the weekly shopping. Now that’s a true street car! Arthur doesn’t consider the Cortina finished just yet though, with plans to fit a wind-back sunroof and a more potent, bigger cube aspirated engine. Bring it on…
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STRAIGHTSHOOTER 60
Paul Helmrich - 1975 LH SL/R Torana Words / Pics / Video - Paul Beck Drag Video – Fast Performance Video’s Powercruise Video – Deklan McConnell Race Pic - Grant Stephens / Cackling Pipes Powercruise Pics - Malaka Media
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Paul Helmrich is one of those guys that tells it how it is. Likewise, his nitrous small block Pro-Street Torana does exactly the same, usually whilst smoking the tyres...
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9.7@138
Aspirated
Paul makes no apologies for building his tough Torana the way he has. It’s all about getting as much power under the bonnet and unleashing hell through the rear tyres at will. He has zero interest in spending thousands of dollars painting the underside and chroming everything insight to win a dustcollecting “Best in Show” trophy. He also has little desire to take the Torana out onto the street every chance he gets. For our man Paul, it’s all about driving his Torana as hard as he can at events like Powercruise. In fact, just a few days prior to doing this shoot, Paul was at the Powercruise at Queensland Raceway showing off the Torana’s power on the main straight in front of the huge crowd!
Externally, Paul’s LH SL/R looks like a traditionally styled Torana with the familiar bolton flares, and front and rear spoilers. Paul added a Hornet scoop, instead of opting for the reverse cowl that was made famous by the Torana back in the day. A switch to LX headlights was made before Innov8tive Customs smoothed out the body and added the metallic blue painted, complimented by the SL/R 5000-spec blackouts. The colour flows into the engine bay was it surrounds the tough as nails small block Chev. Built by Norm at Kenthurst Service Centre and tuned by nitrous guru Simon Kryger at Innocent Motorsport, the 400-cube Chev relies on gear like a Scat crank, Carillo rods, custom JE pistons and secret-spec cam inside the Bowtie block to lay the platform for a power plant that would keep the smile on Paul’s face. The 13-degree Racer Pro heads scored titanium valve springs before being bolted onto the built bottom end. The Edelbrock intake soon followed as did the 1050 Dominator carb with a Wilson Pro-Flow nitrous plate jammed in between the two.
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For our man Paul, it’s all about driving his Torana as hard as he can at events like Powercruise. Paul uses a complete ICE ignition system to put the fire into the belly of the beast and when that happens, the custom headers and exhaust system fabricated by Gonzo, give an easy escape route for the gases. A Magnaflow 500 fuel pump sends plenty of gallons of QM25 fuel from the fuel cell to the engine with plenty of pressure and just for that extra hit when required, the Nitrous is pumped from the twin bottles to the plate before being sprayed directly into the engine – torturing those radial tyres at will. In aspirated form, the 400-cuber made 628hp and with the gas activated, that figure jumps to 886hp. To date, Paul has only run the Torana down the quarter in aspirated form with a best of 9.7@138 recorded, so it’s a genuine 8-second car when on the bottle. A purpose-built 2-speed Powerglide, fronted with an SDE Converter, is bolted up to the stout small block and handles the power on offer with ease. Down the back sits a 9-inch diff fitted with Dutchman 35-spline axles and 4.11-gears – the lot set up by Speedy Diffs
The underside specs can only be described is basic, but its horse for courses here. Set-up for straight line running, the front suspension relies on Pedders shocks and springs, along with Nolathane bushes to keep the ride doing what it should. Wilwood brakes live inside the 15x5-inch Convo-Pro wheels. Pedders springs feature down the back as well, as do Wilwood brakes, but the Convo’s increase to 12-inch wide and are wrapped in 325 radial tyres that do their best to cope with the punishment coming from up front.
Paul has plans to bring a new, nitrous 500ci small block out to play with the goal being to step back into the number one spot and claim his crown once again. 66
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THANKS TO: Norm at Kenthurst Service Centre for the engine and box. Simon Kryger at Innocent Motorsports for looking after the tune. Jack at Earl Performance. Kon at Wollongong Automotive Services. SDE Converters. Gonzo for the custom pipes. Innov8tive Customs for the body and paint. All my mates and crew that help out when required‌
As you’d expect, the interior is more race than street. The factory seats have been ripped from their mounts with RCI race buckets (equipped with Simpson belts) taking their place in the front, and a mass of roll cage and twin Nitrous bottles occupying the space where the rear bench once lived. The SL/R dash has been retained, but is now surrounded by enough AutoMeter gauges and shift lights, a host of necessary switches and the all-important Edelbrock Progressive Nitrous controller. An after-market steering wheel replaces the SL/R item. A B&M shifter lives between the seats. As you can see, this interior is all business.
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POWER CRUISIN’
use these days but that Paul’s Torana may not see a lot of Street wheels off it. Rating the doesn’t mean he doesn’t drive the in particular those held Powercruise as his favourite event, and of miles on the Torana’s at Queensland Raceway, Paul puts plenty of plenty of rubber during speedo and relieves those big radial tyres hlights at the most recent the course of each event. One of the hig bed to hell HQ wagon in event was lining up next to Gup in his tub rt, but a chase is a race and a battle of ego’s! Yes Paul jumped the sta Paul earned the bragging Gup was committed none the less, but rights…this time!
Paul has had the Torana together for many years now, and its constantly getting upgrades to keep it competitive. Since being part of the Powercruise event series, Paul and his trusty Torana have been Number One in the Street Outlaws in 2016, 17, 18 and then in 2019 he dropped a spot to be number 2. Not happy about the runner-up spot, Paul has plans to bring a new, nitrous 500ci small block out to play with the goal being to step back into the number one spot and claim his crown once again. Bring it on‌
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In aspirated form, the 400-cuber made 628hp and with the gas activated, that figure jumps to 886hp.
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THE SEARCH FOR THE
E T A M ULTI
STREET CAR
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Searching for the Ultimate Street Car By Jim McIlvaine Photos by Kaleb Kelley
The SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, is widely-regarded as the top show in the world for the automotive aftermarket. Builders and manufacturers from all over the globe converge on Sin City to show off their latest and greatest products, but with the world’s spotlight on those builds, questions often arise.
ANTHONY PALLADINO
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Cam Douglass of OPTIMA Batteries and Jimi Day of FM3 Performance Marketing saw many of these incredible-looking builds on display, but found themselves wondering if some of the vehicles were even roadworthy. In 2008, they decided to try and answer their questions by renting out a race track after the SEMA Show and inviting some of the SEMA show vehicles out to prove that their performance matched their good looks. That event became known as the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) and the wild success of the first year has resulted in the event becoming an annual tradition. BATTLING ON THE ROAD COURSE
DAYTON DE LA HOUSSAYE - 3rd GTC Class
BRET VOELKEL - 3rd GTV Class
By 2014, the demand to gain entry was so high, OPTIMA created a qualifying series that now runs at multiple tracks across the United States, with the OUSCI taking place on the weekend after the SEMA Show at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (the series will also return to Calder Motorsports Park in Australia in 2021). Winning cars have run the gamut, from an original owner Shelby Cobra to a Mitsubishi Evo and with six different classes qualifying for the OUSCI at each event, the fields always span decades, with entries coming from manufacturers all over the world.
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That event became known as the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational (OUSCI) and the wild success of the first year has resulted in the event becoming an annual tradition.
BRIAN JOHNS - WINNER - GTC Class
The tracks where the series runs are spread across the United States and they recently visited Atlanta Motorsports Park in Northern Georgia. Often confused with the more well-known, nearby tracks of Road Atlanta and Atlanta Motor Speedway, this two-mile circuit was designed by Formula One track architect Herman Tilke. It is a challenging and picturesque layout, featuring 16 turns and 98 feet of elevation changes, but in OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car series, the competition goes beyond the road course. KEVIN DUNN
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By 2014, the demand to gain entry was so high, OPTIMA created a qualifying series... GARRY WALSH - 3rd GTL Class HEATH PEMBERTO
SAROJA DAY
Each competitor also runs in the QA1 Autocross (set up on part of the road course at this locale), a cruise on public roads, the PowerStop Speed Stop Challenge, which is an acceleration and braking event and the Lingenfelter Design & Engineering Challenge, which evaluates the build quality, fit & finish of each vehicle. After all, the top contenders in this series all go on display at the SEMA Show. Those who balk at that final segment are also welcome to compete in the Outlaw Class, which has more generous aero rules, accepts professional drivers and doesn’t include the Design & Engineering element, but those cars are also not eligible to win the OUSCI title.
PAUL CURLEY - 2nd GTL Class
PAUL BULSKI
...in OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car series, the competition goes beyond the road course.
Points are awarded in each segment, based on finishing position, which helps highlight dominant cars that are able to gap their competition by several positions in each segment as they pursue the elusive “perfect” score of 500 points (100 points per segment). A competitor pursuing a regular season points championship can run in all seven qualifying events, but only their best three finishes will count toward their total for the year. In addition to wining entry to the OUSCI at these qualifying events, competitors can also earn their way to Las Vegas by accumulating enough
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points during the regular season. The end result is a highly-competitive series, where there are often “battles within the battle,” as competitors who may not be in contention for a class championship are fighting for every point and position that can move them one step closer to a trip to Las Vegas at the end of the year. This format also allows competitors who live on opposite sides of the country to effectively compete against one another, even if they don’t attend the same events. If they’re good enough, they’ll all meet in Las Vegas at the end of the year and find out who really has the ultimate street car.
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CHARLES DAVIS - WINNER - Spirit of the Event Award
LUKE VIGNEAULT - 3rd GT Class
DAVID HOLLIS
CARL ROEGER
CHRIS SMITH - WINNER - GTV Class
AARON PATRICK
DRIVERS BRIEFING
If the series is new to you, but you’d like to get up to speed, download the OPTIMA Network for Roku or Amazon Fire and you can watch all the events going back to the 2014 season, plus several of the OUSCI events before that. You can also learn more about the series, by visiting the website www.DriveOPTIMA.com
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IN THE LIMELIGHT
James Riley - 1973 Dodge Challenger Words - Paul Beck Pics - Stephen Taylor
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When you live in the spiritual heartland of Pro-Street, building something that stands out is a tall order. James Riley had a plan though‌
Seeing cars like this wild Dodge Challenger cruising the streets legally makes us hardcore car guys in Australia insanely jealous. Imagine being able to cruise with your mates, all equipped with similar fat-tyred, mountain-motored weapons without having to constantly look over your shoulder expecting to find flashing red and blue lights and the defect notice which would soon follow from a Policeman with a bad attitude towards modified cars. I guess we can only
dream…It was back in 1993 when James heard about a ’73 Dodge Challenger that was on the market through a friend of a friend. James had always wanted a cool car to fix up and when the Challenger became available, he knew this was the project he wanted to build his dream car. The rebuild didn’t kick start until 6 years later and for the next three or so years, James concentrated on building one of the wildest ’73 Challengers on the planet. So let’s check out the finished product.
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The unrestored coupe featured plenty of rust, but that didn’t bother James too much, as he could see passed the problems, only spying what the finished product could be.
It’s hard to ignore that tower of power heading skyward through the bonnet. The polished scoop, detailed dual 850cfm BG Demon carbs, direct-port nitrous lines and oh-so-shiny 8/71 Blower Shop supercharger are so in your face, that even with poor vision, you’d this thing coming from a mile away. And what that hardware tops is just as impressive below the bonnet line. So, the question begs, “Does that thing have a Hemi?” The short answer is sort of! In fact, it’s a 451ci Wedge big block built by James and his brother Howard with the focus being placed firmly on horsepower and impact – both equally impressive as the other. Sure, it’s probably one of the shiniest Hemi’s in existence, but thanks to a 71-model, 440ci bottom end featuring forged, stock crank, forged sixpack rods, 10:1 JE pistons and a custom grind, Cam Motion camshaft that gives the big-block and idle suited perfectly to the theme of the build. The heads are aluminium Stage 5 Wedge to Hemi conversion items that have been fitted with Manley valves and Comp Cams springs before being bolted down onto its new base.
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The custom headers start as 2.25” tube and unwind into dual 4” pipes that incorporate Flowmaster race mufflers. Starting the fire inside the hybrid Hemi is an MSD Digital 6-Plus ignition system with spark from the MSD Blaster coil. The distributor is a Mopar tach-drive unit. With ample amounts of VP C16 fuel pumped via a Barry Grant 400 pump from the fuel cell through the carbs, the boys estimate the engine produces around 750-800hp. Then there’s the shot of nitrous on top of that. 1000hp doesn’t seem too much of a stretch! An 18-spline, Hemi-spec 4-speed manual backs the pumped big-block and has an 11” Hayes race clutch to deal with the stresses coming from up front. Gear changes are handled with an old-school-cool Vertical Gate shifter. Forget the nine-inch diff conversion, this is Mopar country! James fitted a narrowed Dana 60, located with ladder bars and fitted with a 4.56-geared centre and supertough Dutchman axles.
The factory front end scored Competition Engineering adjustable shocks and Wilwood discs with matching 4-spot calipers. The wheels of choice are 15x3.5” Centerline Auto Drag that have been polished to a chromelike finish. There’s nothing stock about the rear end though, with the massive 33x21.5” Mickey Thompson tyres dominating the view from behind. Fitted to 15x15” polished Centerline wheels, the tyres tuck up inside the fabricated wheel tubs. The coil-over Koni shocks provide a firm ride, while 11” factory drum brakes help with the stopping power.
There’s nothing stock about the rear end though, with the massive 33x21.5” Mickey Thompson tyres dominating the view from behind.
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When James purchased the Challenger, it was in pretty ordinary condition. Whilst it was complete and driving, its best days were long in the past. The unrestored coupe featured plenty of rust, but that didn’t bother James too much, as he could see passed the problems, only spying what the finished product could be. Being fairly handy in regards to paint and panel duties, James and Howard stripped the coupe down to its bare bones and set about ridding the aging sheet-metal of the problems it has accumulated over the years. Any holes that weren’t going to be used in the engine bay were welded up giving the area around the engine a much smoother look. The rear wheel openings were stretched to allow the fitment of those huge 33” Mickey’s and the rear floor section has been diced and sliced for the wheel tubs. Externally, the Chrysler J5 Lime Green from the Dupont Chroma base range covers an almost stock body. The only other deviations being the rather large hole in the bonnet (for obvious reasons) and a wing on the lift-off boot lid. In true muscle car style, the bonnet is now flat black. Is there a better colour to grab attention?
Inside, as you’d expect, its pure Pro-Street. Painted in body colour, the 8-point roll cage is more than evident and wraps around a pair of Jaz Racing seats covered in black and lime green leather – the same combo being added to the door trims too. Looking passed the Grant steering wheel, you’ll find a multitude of AutoMeter gauges fed into the factory Dodge dash insert with the Monster Tach sitting proudly on its own on the dash top. It’s all business when you open either door, so it’s no surprise to see there’s no stereo installed – not that you’d ever hear it…
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As tough as the Challenger is, James still isn’t finished with it yet. There’s a new tubular front suspension assembly to replace the heavy old factory set up and there could be an increase in cubic capacity to somewhere around 540-inches and when that happens, James would love to fit a pair of Zoomie exhausts. Now that would be cool. Loud, but very cool none the less…
BLAST FROM THE PAST TUFF STREET - SUMMERNATS 18 - 2005
TUFF
STREET
This month we head back to 2005 and check out one of the most impressive Tuff Street displays in Summernats history.
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Summernats 18 will be remembered for many things. The huge amount of cool cars roaming the grounds, the drifting incident on the dirt oval on the Saturday night and of course, the first and last ever dual Grand Champions when the judges just couldn’t split Gary Myer’s Silver Bullet Mustang and Dave Ritchie’s stunning XP Falcon Coupe. But for me, it was Tuff Street and the best line up of cars occupying the carpark behind the grandstand.
Multiple carbs, blowers with injection (mechanical, not EFI!), wheelie bars, parachutes and roll cages were everywhere...
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BLAST FROM THE PAST TUFF STREET - SUMMERNATS 18 - 2005 For those with high-octane fuel running through their veins, Tuff Street has been and will always be one of the main attractions of the Summernats event. No matter where you look, you are surrounded by monster motors, wheel tubs filled with massive rubber and enough horsepower to outdo the Top Fuel ranks at any drag meet. It’s all about raw, unadulterated, hardcore horsepower! Multiple carbs,
blowers with injection (mechanical, not EFI!), wheelie bars, parachutes and roll cages were everywhere, and really, if your car didn’t have at least two or three of these necessities, you were told in no uncertain terms that this wasn’t the place for you to park. This area was reserved for the mechanical monsters that shook the ground as the rumbled into position, anything less was frowned upon.
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For us ‘oldies’, the early days of the Summernats will always remain the best years.
BLAST FROM THE PAST TUFF STREET - SUMMERNATS 18 - 2005
It was a time when the likes of Trick and Mansweto didn’t just have their own Capri entered, but several of their customer cars too – each one overloaded with naturally-aspirated horsepower. Mark Hayes had his LC0454 LC Torana there too, with the mega-cube, big block sporting more nitrous that the local hospital! Rick Thompson’s HYPO78 XC Falcon was wearing its blower proudly and Dave Andrew’s retina-burning green LC Torana was stuffed full of blown and injected small block glistening in the Summernats sun. Jason Waye had his blown HZ Holden Ute on display, all the way from Adelaide looking amazing as always, as did fellow SA entrant Danny Smith’s flamed Chevy C10 “SOLID”.
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For those with high-octane fuel running through their veins, Tuff Street has been and will always be one of the main attractions of the Summernats.
BLAST FROM THE PAST TUFF STREET - SUMMERNATS 18 - 2005
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For us ‘oldies’, the early days of the Summernats will always remain the best years. People weren’t afraid to do things a little out of the ordinary and the variety of cars entered were simply amazing. Have a look through this spread and see how many of these cars you remember…
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CONTACT PAUL BECK FOR ALL YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS! (0432) 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au www.killerrides.com.au
y d n a C
CRUSH
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With a 527ci, twin-turbo big block Ford providing the power, Craig Hurkett’s ’34 Roadster proves the theory that too much is never enough!
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Craig Hurkett - 1934 Ford Roadster Words / Pics - Paul Beck
Sometimes, when you’re looking for something specific, fate has a way of helping you out a little. Craig had decided that he wanted a Hot Rod to park beside his tough, XW Falcon sedan. He put the word out to a couple of people in the know, and one of those lead him to a well-known Hot Rodder / Drag Racer in Sydney that was looking to sell his ’34 Roadster. After a short trip up the highway, Craig met up with the owner, checked out the ’34 and took it for a drive. It was now time to negotiate a price. Craig had a figure in mind, so did the owner, who offered up his deal first. Surprised, Craig thought it was a fair price and after a handshake, the deal was done and Craig had bought himself a cool new ride…
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Fed a strict diet of LPG through no less than four carbs, the engine is capable of producing around 1000hp on 15lbs of boost! It’s obvious the engine is the hero of this build. It’s not often you see a big block Ford used in Hot Rod builds, and it’s even rarer to see one with this much going on in the open engine compartment. It wasn’t like this when Craig checked it out originally though. It was a naturally aspirated big block then, but the owner had told Craig that the engine had been built to run with twin-turbochargers. With that in mind, Craig had one stipulation when the deal was done – that the engine was to be fitted up just how the owner had intended to do, which he agreed to do. Craig couldn’t have been happier!
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The engine started as a basic 460cube Ford big block, but thanks to the inclusion of a stroker crank and rod combo, the capacity has been increased to a staggering 527 cubic inches. Craig doesn’t have many of the engine spec’s as it was built by someone a little while back, but we can tell you the factory cast heads have been fitted with bigger vales and stronger springs, and have been port-matched to the custom intake manifold. Topping the engine are two T3/4 custom-built Garret turbo’s mounted via custom headers that flow into custom stainless mufflers that are incorporated into the dual system. Fed a strict diet of LPG through no less than four carbs, the engine is capable of producing around 1000hp on 15lbs of boost – currently set at 7lbs. Craig will soon pay the engine some attention –
both aesthetically and internally to get it not only performing how it should, but also to look sensational doing it! A manualised C6 auto features a TCI converter with a 2500rpm stall speed backs the tough big block and sends the power back to the narrowed, 4.11-geared, mini-spooled diff that uses 31-spline axles to get the bulk grunt to the tyres. There’s been plenty of work done on the boxed, original chassis too, with an independent front end added that incorporates coil-over shocks, XD Falcon discs and calipers and 15x6-inch Weld Draglite wheels. The steering has been set up using a collapsible, 5-position tilt column. The rear end sees a custom four-link locate the diff, also using coil-over shocks and the same discs and calipers as the other end. The wheels increase in size to 10-inches on the rear.
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Covering the chassis work is a fibreglass body that has been covered in PPG Candy Red and looks great in amongst the polished alloy, chrome-plating and interior colour. The body changes are kept to a minimum with the custom windscreen added along with custom side indicators, LED taillights, highmounted 3rd brake light and the relief holes for the exhaust to run through – for obvious reasons. We don’t see Candy Red as much as we used to, and that’s a shame. The colour is the original head-turner in the custom car world and it’s great to see it used on this Roadster. Craig would love to give the body a new lick of colour and that will happen after the engine makeover is done and dusted. To compliment the body colour, which flows across the dash and custom, fulllength centre console, the low-back seats, door trims and seat top have been covered in dark tan leather to great effect. The dash features a catalogue-worth of AutoMeter gauges covering every aspect of the build and looks great when combined with the stereo head unit, speakers, switches and Lokar shifter mounted in the console. The billet column is topped with a cool 106 billet wheel and there’s also retractable seat belts and 6-point roll cage hidden from view and tied into the chassis to help cope with the monstrous torque produced by the big-cube engine.
Sometimes, when you’re looking for something specific, fate has a way of helping you out a little.
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As Managing Director of his company, Craig spends a lot of his time travelling, leaving little time to get the ’34 out cruising as much as he would like. But when the downtime arrives, and the weather is looking favourable, Craig is out and about, showing off one of the more unique Roadster’s currently on the street. Craig needs to do a big shout-out to his brother Steve for helping out with the build, including all the fabrication he did on the car to get it fully legal and engineered, but also for getting the turbo’s working right after he fabricated the intake setup and of course the turbo manifolds and many other little jobs that he sorted out. Cruise on…
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KILLER PIC Photo by Paul Beck
OUTLAW CRUISIN! Mick Perry - Supercharged Outlaw - LJ Torana
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When you’re out of beer and the boys are heading over for a BBQ, you need to find the quickest way to get to the Bottle shop and back.
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Open to Private Advertisers Only. Cars are only to be specialty and/or modified cars / bikes only. Parts are to be performance parts and accessories only. Cost is $20 for one photo and upto 40 words. Ad will run for 2 issues. All Ad’s are to include price, phone number and/or email. Ad’s can be emailed to: paul@killerrides.com.au and direct deposit details will be sent for payment. All enquiries to Paul Beck - 0432 795336
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FOR SALE - 1968 CAMARO DRAG CAR Roller, no engine or transmission. Weld Racing wheels all round. New Hoosier slicks. 1 Pass rear, front MT tyres are new. Full roll cage. Full fibreglass front clip.and boot lid. Tank, lines and fuel pump in place. MSD 10AL. Set up for SBC/BBC. Front engine plate. 12-bolt diff and tailshaft. This car is set-up ready to race, just drop an engine and trans in and you’re on the track! $27,000 Contact Ricky Boske - Qld Phone 0488 777412 Email: rb@boske.com.au
FOR SALE - HQ HOLDEN PREMIER Dandy engines built, supercharged LSA, 500rwkw, turbo 350 auto, 31-spline 9-inch diff, 3.7-gears, 9.8-sec quarter mile with more left in it, split rear tubs, genuine Centrelines, good body and paint, tan interior, AutoMeter gauges, B&M shifter. Great street and strip HQ Holden. $75,000 ono Phone David - 0412 570898 Melbourne Vic. FOR SALE - LJ TORANA COUPE LC Grille and lights, twin 66mm Garret turbos, 377ci Chev, bowtie block, 2-speed Powerglide, 9-inch diff, all new interior, nice clean street car, has modification plate, needs minor work to finish. Any questions, please call. $90,000 - Qld Phone 0413 942139
FOR SALE - BLOWN / INJECTED BBC Fresh built BBC with 14/71 Mooneyham blower and New Powerglide Transmission Contact for more details. $47,000 Contact Ricky Boske Phone 0488 777412 - Qld Email: rb@boske.com.au
FOR SALE - 1974 HQ GTS MONARO Genuine Monterey Green Metallic with Doeskin/Chestnut interior. Original 253, now a 350 engine. B&M shifter. CD player in glovebox, original books, and pictures of the car on the Holdens production line. Great driver..excellent investment! Rego - SGO791 $97,500 Phone 0404 066318 - SA
FOR SALE - 1967 XR FALCON SEDAN 363ci Windsor, Dart block, AFR heads, Hughes C10 rated at 900hp, transbrake, TCE converter, shortened 9-inch, 35-spline billet axles, full-spool, too much too list. Genuine Enquiries only. See full feature in Killer Rides No.8 - Jan 2019 Rego - FLO-93D $79,000 - NSW Phone 0418643266
FOR SALE - 1973 CAMARO Split bumper model, mild 350ci, manualised Powerglide, remote control stereo, New TruTrac 10-bolt diff, new suspension, master cylinder, new 18” & 20” Showwheels and tyres, no rust or damage, registered, selling as is! $59,200 Phone Bill 0406 481747 - VIC
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