! K O O L T S R I F
ISSUE #22 - MAR 2020
SYDNEY POWERCRUISE BATHURST AUTOFEST PPG SHOWDOWN #9
T E E R T S F TUF R A C C E S 7 STREET
k c a P x i S o b r u T p h 400
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BLOWN SMALL BLOCK BROUGHAM - PRO-STREET 383ci LJ TORANA CUSTOM HARLEY ROCKER - LSA BLOWN 6-LITRE VH COMMODORE PLUS - SPOTLIGHT ON FORD’S MIGHTY MUSTANG!
From the Desk WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH FUEL PRICES INCREASING 50-CENTS A LITRE OVERNIGHT?
I reckon the fuel companies are the only business in the world where they can get away with changing their prices as erratically as they do. Can you imagine the outrage if the local take-away store, or K-Mart or any other business for that matter, increased their prices that much in one hit? Their collective doors would slam shut for good in no time! But the fuel companies know they we need what they have. Like a drug load peddling their substances, these guys are sitting back laughing knowing full well that without their product, we simply can’t survive. And where is the ACCC whilst this is happening? Aren’t they the ones who declared war on the antics that these companies have been getting away with for far too long? To me it seems the fuel companies and the Banks are a law unto themselves and can do whatever they please. Maybe they are trying to make the most of a dwindling marketplace? It’s no secret that there’s a huge push towards electric vehicles currently happening. All the major manufacturers have at least one on their fleet and even Harley Davidson now offer a “plug and go” bike! The only problem I can see here, apart from the fact that the noise we all love from a tough engine may be lost forever, is that the electricity companies will start the rorting in the same fashion as their fuel counterparts. We are already seeing many custom shops in the USA playing with electric motors in traditional muscle and custom cars, which may signal the eventual death of the fuel engine. I just hope it happens after I am ready to retire and sit by the ocean dangling an electric fishing line while watching the news in 3D on a hologram platform… See you on the street, while we still can…
Paul
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HIGH CRANKING HIGH CAPACITY
HIGH PERFORMANCE 1972 LJ Holden Torana, Dubbo NSW Recommended battery: Fullriver HC70
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cycling
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ISSUE NO.22 Mar 2020
CONTENTS REGULARS
03 EDITORIAL From the Desk 08 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest 16 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think 20
CYBER CRUISIN’ Rat Rod build in 30-days!
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MOUNTAIN OF POWER 2020 Bathurst Autofest
26 1400hp Turbo 6 XD Falcon
60 WET AND WILD Powercruise #80 at Sydney Motorsport Park
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82 SHOWCAR SHOWDOWN 9th PPG Showdown 102 IN THE SPOT LIGHT Ford’s Muscle Car - the Mustang! 7
120 KILLER PIC The Ultimate Man Cave 122 WINDOW SHOPPING What’s new and from where! 124 SHOWTIME What’s on, where and when.
38 Bathurst Auto Fest
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60 Powercruise #80 - Sydney
72 Home built LJ Torana
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110 Tubbed, blown VH Commodore
Pro-Street Brougham
126 PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Quick Find Ad’s
FEATURES 26
6-PACK TO GO A 7-sec, 1400hp, turbo-6 XD Falcon
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TOUGH LUXURY Blown Pro-Street Brougham
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MY GARAGE RULES Pro-Street LJ Torana OFF YA ROCKER Custom Harley Rocker Chopper.
110 GENERATION NEXT Tubbed VH Commodore with LSA-BLOWN 6-litre.
Don’t forget to Subscribe at www.killerrides.com.au
Fat-As Harley
WHAT’S HAPPENING FULL THROTTLE CUSTOM GARAGE OPEN DAY
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Full Throttle Custom Garage held a massive open day recently showcasing their brand new facility and the work they are able to perform. Around 6000-people visited the shop during the day and were treated to an impromptu car show featuring not just a bunch of cool Muscle cars, Lowriders, Street Machines and Bikes, but also some famous touring cars including a pair from Dick Johnson Racing - the Greens Tuff Mustang and the new retro XD Falcon – both a hit with those in attendance. Steven Johnson was there with the cars and was kept very busy signing autographs and posing for pics. Also taking part in the celebrations were Beyond Blue, on hand to chat with people about mental health issues. The day also included a Texas-style BBQ, Limo rides, paint demonstrations and dyno runs! You’ll find Full Throttle Custom Garage located at 2/10 Yangan Drive, Beresfield in the greater Newcastle area of NSW. Check out the cool video below and visit their FB page and their website for regular updates on what the team has happening! www.fullthrottlecustomgarage.com.au
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WHAT’S HAPPENING
PRO-STREET SUNDAY POSTPONED
After months of work behind the scenes, I am devastated to have to announce this, but due to the lack of entries, the first Pro-Street Sunday has been postponed until a later date. Instead of dropping the thousands of dollars required to hire the venue, have all the food outlets in place and have just 30-40 cars on display, the decision was made to can the event for March and look at alternatives so we can make it happen…eventually! Stay tuned…
D E N O POSTP 10
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KILLER
Video
NITRO FUNNY CAR PEDAL FEST!
Phil Burkhart vs. Cruz Pedregon
WHAT’S HAPPENING
TRANS-AM 2 SERIES PITCH BIG THREE AGAINST EACH OTHER
With the future of V8 Supercars currently up in the air in regards to the cars from 2022, interest has spiked in the Trans-Am 2 series that was kicked off in Adelaide at the V8 Supercars round. Pitching Ford Mustang against the Chev Camaro and Dodge Challenger is a winning formula – especially for fans of the big three! I guess the only downside for most is that all three brands are powered by a control LS-engine package. If those in control of the future of the V8 series are stuck for idea’s – the answer is right in front of them! Just please, keep the cars powered by their own brand engine!
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WHAT’S HAPPENING
FREE MAGAZINE OFFER
HOLDEN CLOSING UP SHOP WITH A SALES BANG
By now I guess we are all over the shock news of GM closing Holden down for good. But on a positive note, if you’re in the market for a new car, Holden have announced big discounts on their remaining stock to clear out all of the vehicles left sitting at dealerships and in holding yards around the country. Never before has a buyer had so much power to negotiate a killer ride on a brand new car. Hmmm, always wanted a Colorado… 14
HSV ENDS CONVERSION OF SS CAMARO!
The news that the Camaro has ended its run at HSV’s Melbourne facilty is another kick in the guts for GM fans. But not all is lost. Whilst General Motors and Walkinshaw work out a deal for the future, the company is still producing the ZL1 Camaro and if all goes to plan, HSV are hopeful the Corvette will be coming through their doors as well. Stay tuned for some (hopefully) good news next issue!
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.
MOPAR OR NO CAR!
G’day Paul, I just finished reading the new Issue of Killer Rides and I have to say, it’s the best yet! That Dodge Dart is one tuff street car! The only thing I reckon that could have made it better would have been a Hemi V8! Apart from that, I reckon the two brothers got it absolutely spot on. And that Falcon – man, that’s tuff! I’m loving everything about Killer Rides. Can’t wait for the next one. Ben J via Email. G’day Ben, Being a Mopar fan myself, I am very happy to be able to get the exclusive first feature on the bother’s tough Mopar. In fact, we’d been trying between us to make that happen for near on 12 16 months, but we got there in the end. And yes, that Falcon is tough, just like the HZ, Harley and 57 Chev also! Thanks for the support.
TOO MANY COMMODORES
Hi Paul, I just returned back from the Sydney Powercruise and I have to say, they need to make that event Pre’88. The show and many others like it, are being over run by bloody Commodores! I am sick to death of seeing LS-powered family cars with 20-inch Simmons wheels dominating shows everywhere I go. Leave the damn things in the spectator car park where they deserve to be. What happened to the good old days when you’d see any number of cool, steel-bumpered tough street cars smoking the tyres and impressing everyone? By the way, I am not anti-Holden, I am just sick of seeing Commodores at shows. Tony G Via Text. Hi Tony, The good old days… Look I guess back then, the HQ’s and XB’s were everywhere. Torana’s and Capri’s were the weapon of choice and were just as, if not more popular than the Commodore is today. The fact is, those cars that you and I grew up admiring are worth their weight in gold. Can you imagine a 20-year old going to the bank and asking for a loan to buy a $75,000 ’72 HQ Holden, the bank manager would be able to stop laughing long enough to show you the door. But ask for the same amount to get a new Commodore or Mustang and they couldn’t sign you up quick enough, even though the value halves the moment you drive out the door! It’s just the way it is. People can jump into a Commodore, do basic mods to the LS and have their idea of a street machine. I guess it’s something we just need to accept. I guess it won’t be long before we’ll be having this conversation about electric cars too…
ADDED VIDEO AWESOME
Hey Paul, Whilst the features within Killer Rides are always great, having video as well makes the world of difference. Being able to see the car or bike in action and hearing the engine brings the feature to life – I love it! Hearing the idle on PRO XT gave me goose bumps and when he smoked the tyres, it sounded so damn tuff! Keep up the great work. Colin M via Email. G’day Colin, I guess having the video embedded into the features is our point of difference and whilst they’re not feature film length, they do offer more of an insight into the feature car or bike. More to come..
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CAR & BIKE ENTRY BY INVITATION ONLY! ALL NEW CARS AND BIKES ON DISPLAY FOR 2020!
4 # E V I L
NEW FOR 2020
REVEALS!
AUGUST 15-16, 2020
ILLAWARRA HOCKEY CENTRE, UNANDERRA
www.killerrides.com.au
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON: CAR & BIKE ENTRY TRADE STANDS & SPONSORSHIP Please contact Paul Beck @ Killer Rides (0432) 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au or Via Facebook
STREET MACHINES HOT RODS DRAG CARS CUSTOM BIKES TRADE STANDS & MORE!
CYBER CRUISIN’
UP FOR THE
e g n e l l a Ch
Dubbed the Krusty Rusty, this build was always going to make the critical deadline. Kenny’s hard workers simply don’t like to be defeated! With a staff of talented rod builders willing to go that extra mile, it’s no wonder Kenny’s Rod Shop is well known in the industry for building slick Hot Rods and Customs. And whilst the Krusty Rusty isn’t as shiny as most of the cars that leave the shop, it’s no less of a head turner and certainly no less impressive. So how did the challenge to build a wild rat rod in such a short period of time come about? Well, one of their great customers, Kevin Amar, decided to purchase the ’40 Ford Pickup project that was languishing in the shop. But being a fairly technical build, it didn’t ooze that Rat Rod style Kevin was after. He then proposed to the KRS team that they try to build him a car from scratch in just 30 working days. With Justin in the lead position, the team rallied and got to work on the rusty, ’29 Model A body that Kevin had come across. With the clock ticking away, the team eagerly got into the build process.
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When someone throws up a challenge of building a cool Rat Rod in 30 work days, shops like Kenny’s Rod Shop grab that opportunity with both hands, all the while keeping an eye on the clock…
KENNY’S ROD SHOP_BOISE IDAHO - MODEL A RAT ROD WORDS - Paul Beck PICS / VIDEO - Lane Absire / Kenny’s Rod Shop
Needing to keep the build relatively simple, a rail chassis was fabricated and in no time at all, the Speedway axle was added to the front, suspended with QA-1 shocks. A fabricated floor was added, offering a stable base for the team to work off. The driveline and fuel tank were then added, with the supporting structure now in place to ensure the body didn’t rattle itself inside out. Speaking of the driveline, there’s a 600hp, 6/71 blown LS3 up front with dual carbs for that traditional look. Backed by a Turbo 350 auto and ending with a 9-inch diff, the driveline suits the theme beautifully. With the running gear in place, the team were soon adding details such as the fuel system, wiring, radiator and mounting the seats.
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He then proposed to the KRS team that they try to build him a car from scratch in just 30 working days.
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With time running low, the team decided to add Kenny’s old Drag Racing wheels and tyres to the ’29, giving it a whole new, nasty attitude! With the Model A now running, and the details such as custom artwork and bead-rolled interior door panels completed, the ’29 not only scored some personality, but provided a cool experience not often available for such a busy shop. The KRS crew gave their all in 30-days building this killer ’29 Ford – meeting the proposed deadline and in the process, handing over one really cool Rod for one really cool customer! For more builds that the KRS team have completed or are currently working on, check out their website: www.kennysrodshop.com 24
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K C PA O G TO
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After running low numbers with an aspirated big-cube V8 up front, Marcus Cripps decided to downsize the capacity and up the entertainment!
MARCUS CRIPPS - XD FALCON WORDS -PAUL BECK / PICS - JIMMY TEE PHOTOGRAPHY / RACE PICS - GRANT STEPHENS
Marcus Cripps life revolves around performance cars. During working hours, he runs Speed Pro - a performance parts specialist dealing in all kinds of “go-fast” and “look good whilst doing it” products. Being surrounded by all that gear day in day out, Marcus uses a wide selection of what he sells in his own cars. Over the years, he has spent plenty of time running down the quarter mile in tough Falcon’s, starting with a quick XB sedan before moving onto the XD you see before you. Initially though, there were two more cylinders up front in the form of an aspirated, 461-cube small block Windsor. With the big cube small block providing the power, Marcus drove the Falcon through the traps at a shade over 9-sec’s, all the time keeping the cars streetability intact. But being a hardcore car guy, Marcus wanted to go faster and upgraded that combo with news heads and a nitrous system. Making around 1250hp on the dyno, the engine was sold to a customer before the Falcon made a single pass.
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Manufactured by Precision, the 88/91 series turbo is exactly what the engine needed to achieve their collective goal of dipping into the seven-second zone.
With an empty engine bay and a wad of cash waiting to be spent, there were plans in place to go with a twin-turbo V8 combo, and whilst that engine was being built, Marcus decided to drop in basic Barra turbo 6 to keep the Falcon going. And by basic, Marcus was looking for around 1000hp! But, when you have people like Frank from Dandy Engines and Jason from Tunnel Vision in your corner, nothing was ever going to be basic. In no time at all, thoughts of the twin-turbo V8 were forgotten and the focus was turned to building a full-tilt, 4.0-litre turbo Barra package.
With the racing rubber and parachute removed, the XD is road ready and wouldn’t get a second glance from those wielding the defect books. 30
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The project engine was taken to Tunnel Vision where Jason put the plan in motion. The factory block was stripped and relieved of all the gear that wasn’t up to the task. There’s now an Aus Crank billet crank installed with SPS forged pistons and ACL bearings. The cylinder head copped some better valves and springs to handle the higher revs the Barra would soon be seeing. The intake is a custom item fabricated by Tunnel Vision and fitted with Siemans 2433cc injectors. The exhaust gasses are expelled by a custom stainless 4-inch system with a Magnaflow muffler. They also added an external Savy single stage oil pump for more oil pressure up top.
Another first for this type of package is the engine control system used. The boys opted for the Fueltech FT600 which does everything they need and more! A Waterman cable driven fuel pump ensures the Barra is fed plenty of VP Racing X85 fuel. Keeping the charge cold is a Plazmaman Pro series intercooler, while the Race Radiators radiator fitted with Spal fans see the engine temps at an acceptable level. Speedflow hoses and fittings have been used exclusively throughout the car. Without doubt, the hero of this engine package is the sizeable turbo. Manufactured by Precision, the 88/91 series turbo is exactly what the engine needed to achieve their collective goal of dipping into the seven-second zone. Which they did first time out with a 7.96@172.98mph on its third full pass. With those times in mind and with the XD weighing in at just over 3500lbs, the engine is producing in excess of 1400hp!
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Marcus’ XD has found the perfect balance between street and strip! From running a 7-second pass, to doing a shop run for some milk, this mega-tough Falcon can do it all...
To handle that sort of power, especially in race trim, Marcus didn’t want to take any chances with the driveline and fitted a ProTrans built Turbo 400 auto, using a Torque Power adapter, SDE converter, transbrake and B&M Stealth shifter. Just as tough is the narrowed, 9-inch diff with suitable gears and 35-spline axles. All Race Fabrications setup the rear end with the full array of Gazzard brothers suspension components, split-mono leaf springs, anti-roll bar, and traction bars along with a pair of their custom double adjustable shocks helping the XD hook up. It works so well, that it now runs 1.23-sec in the 60! The XD’s front end scored a Gazzard retro-fit double adjustable coil over shock and spring kit. A full compliment of Wilwood disc brakes have been added to the Falcon along with a Wilwood master cylinder. Covering the brakes are Billet Specialties new Win-Lite rims measuring 17x4.5” and 15x10” and wearing appropriately sized Mickey Thompson rubber. 34
Despite its on-track achievements, the XD had to keep its streetability, so the interior is still capable of keeping the racing authorities satisfied; Marcus safe when in race mode, and the family happy when the need for Marcus to take his girls to Netball arises or maybe just some cruising during the summer months! Sure, there’s a roll cage and a pair of RaceTech bodyhugging seats up front (with Racequip belts), as well as the cool FT600 dash, but that doesn’t stop the XD from handling any type of street use with ease.
Initially though, there were two more cylinders up front in the form of an aspirated, 461-cube small block Windsor.
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Externally, the XD looks factory fresh. The cowl bonnet from its V8 days has been replaced with a standard issue item, and it sports a shiny coat of the factory appointed Red paint from the talented Jason Hoctor. With the racing rubber and parachute removed, the XD is road ready and wouldn’t get a second glance from those wielding the defect books. Marcus’ XD has found the perfect balance between street and strip! From running a 7-second pass, to doing a shop run for some milk, this mega-tough Falcon can do it all...
www.raceradiators.com.au www.gazzardbrothers.com
0416 753011
03 9793 2798
03 90774811
0450 559454 Find Us on Facebook! 36
THANKS TO:
Jason & Dave at Tunnel Vision. Frank and the boys at Dandy Engines. Nathaniel at Fuel Tech. Scott at Gazzard Bros. The boys from All Race Fabrications. Chris at Race Wires. Paul at VP Fuels. Race Radiators. Peter from SDE Converters. Fred from Pro Trans
www.fueltech.net
DO YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE, BUT ONLY HAVE A SMALL BUDGET? YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BUSINESS LISTED HERE FOR CHEAPER THAN YOU THINK! CONTACT PAUL FOR MORE DETAILS - 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au
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BATHURST AUTOFEST - MOUNT PANORAMA, BATHURST - MARCH 6-8, 2020 PICS – PAUL BECK & TIM MCCORMACK WORDS – PAUL BECK
MOUNTAIN ower! Of P
No matter which way you turned your head, you saw high levels of horsepower scattered around the pit area of Australia’s most famous race track. From midafternoon on the Friday, they arrived in droves. Car after car overflowing with shear grunt lined up at scrutineering to get the once over from the organisers and those hanging around to see just what cars had entered one of Australia’s mostanticipated motoring events. With Bathurst just a couple of hours of easy driving from Sydney, owners of all kinds of cars headed
towards Australia’s Motorsport capital and each one of them eager to get proceedings started early on Saturday morning where the program included not just a show and shine, but also the Grab-a-Flag, Super Sprints, Autokhana, Heads-up go to whoa and of course, the Burnouts. The program offered entrants plenty of time behind the wheel to put themselves and their cars to the test in front of a sometimes-vocal crowd. I even spotted a few Victorian and Queensland number plates amongst the entered vehicles which is great to see.
The annual Bathurst Autofest once again bought more horsepower to the Mountain than any other event before it!
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With the threat of impending wet weather, the drivers put in a big effort early, just in case the wet stuff fell possibly putting an end to them being able to put on a show. Some pushed a little too hard though with one particular Falcon six-pack with its blower and injector hat force-feeding the engine, not taking too kindly to the constant high-revs, which resulted in a couple of rather large holes in the block. We heard tales of woe that included fried transmissions, snapped tail-shafts and rear-ends just letting go. Of course, no burnout comp would be complete without some cars being engulfed in flames and this year, several cars rear ends suffered third degree burns – much to the delight of those watching on from the sidelines! Such is the life of a burnout competitor!
From the top of Mount Panorama, it must have looked like the complex had several fires happening...
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From the top of Mount Panorama, it must have looked like the complex had several fires happening, with hard fought action on the main straight offering up the opportunity to lay some rubber, with more of the same happening in the massive burnout pad that took over a quarter of the huge pit area. Even though the main straight events were more about getting your car to hook up and get to the other end first, some saw it as the perfect chance to lay a couple of thick black strips down that famous straight. No one cared though as it added to the spectacle and as long as no one did anything too silly, it was “smoke ‘em if you can!�
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The program offered entrants plenty of time behind the wheel to put themselves and their cars to the test in front of a sometimes very vocal crowd.
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Other cool stuff on display included some low-riders, more Commodores than you could poke a Chevy-bowtie badge at and plenty of tough, old-school, power-packed monsters.
Whilst the high-reving engines were doing their thing in the various driving events, the show and shine was happening both under cover in the pit garages and also outside in the expansive pit area. The Bathurst Autofest is really two shows in one, with the EJ-EH Holden Nationals also taking place at the venue at the same time, bringing the early model Holden’s out in force from all parts of the country. For the EJ/EH fan, Bathurst was the only place to be and the cars on display ranged from custom rat rods to full tilt show cars and everything in between. This side of the Bathurst Autofest will continue to grow in leaps and bounds as words gets out amongst those owners what a great event it is to be a part of.
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With the threat of impending wet weather, the drivers put in a big effort early, just in case the wet stuff fell possibly putting an end to them being able to put on a show.
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Other cool stuff on display included some low-riders, more Commodores than you could poke a Chevy-bowtie badge at and plenty of tough, oldschool, power-packed monsters. There were some dedicated race cars sprinkled amongst the mix, some cool muscle car resto’s and plenty of oddities including a convertible HK Holden sedan, and an EH onetonner that had its six-pack topped with a blower and no less than three Stromberg carbs! It also became obvious that people are now trying to find oddball cars to jam a LS-engine into. We spotted a Corolla, a Mini, several Hilux minitrucks and even a Gemini or two! LS the world? Definitely seems to be the case!
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This is Mt Panorama, so it was always going to be that mega amounts of horsepower were going to reign supreme! There were plenty of blown cars entered and many opted for an EFI-equipped injector hat, whilst those not up on technology stuck with a pair of big carbs to fuel the fire. Whatever the case, it was great to hear all that horsepower being unleashed upon the Bathurst compound. Its no secret that Autofest brings more horsepower to the mountain than that annual roundy-roundy race, and got that reason alone, we’ll keep coming back to Bathurst each March to soak up the annual power party!
For a full list of who won what, check out the Autofest website
www.autofest.com.au
WAYNE MCFADDEN_1968 HK BROUGHAM WORDS / PICS / VIDEO – PAUL BECK
TOUGH xury
Even when you’re not in the market for a tough new ride, fate has a way of convincing you otherwise.
Lu
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In 1968, the Brougham was as good as it got in the Holden range. Considered the flagship of the marque for that year, the luxurious four-door sedan offered unparalleled comfort and styling in the Australian car market. If you had one parked in your driveway, it told everyone else in the street that “you’ve made the big time!” Fast forward a bunch of years and the Brougham is still sought after but for a very different reason – they are just damn tough! Wayne McFadden wasn’t looking for any car when he stumbled across something under a cover in a shed he was
fitting a roller door to. After chatting to the owner, who revealed it to be this slick HK Brougham that he had owned for 47-years. Wayne checked it out and left – not really considering that he’d like to own it. But the thought of that car was constantly playing on his mind and eventually got the better of him, so he made the call, made an offer and made his way back to the house with a wad of cash. When the cars’ owner looked at the crisp notes lined up on his kitchen table and then looked at the car sitting in the garage, he decided to part company with the HK.
Sometimes, it’s not about wringing every last bit of power from the engine! 52
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The car is still basically how it was when Wayne purchased it, though he did change the wheels from Simmons to the much cooler 17x4.5” and 15x10” Weld Aluma Stars – the rears using bead-locks and wrapped in 275/50 Mickey Thompson Drag Radial rubber. The rear of the Brougham has been mini-tubbed to accommodate the pro-street wheel and tyre combo. Apart from the 9-inch diff conversion (with 3.5-gears) and disc brakes added to the front with Outlaw twin-piston calipers, the underside of the Brougham is pretty much all HK Holden.
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Oh, did I mention that the car is 100% legal and engineered too? Yep, even the blower and carbs... Whilst the blown small block was already mounted into the engine bay, it did get a freshen up and is now ultra-reliable – even when dealing with that annoying Sydney traffic! The centrepiece of this tough small block is obviously the polished Hampton 6/71 blower and twin, 650cfm Quick Fuel Blower carbs that feed plenty of air and 98-octane fuel into the 30thou over 350ci Chev. The alloy AFR 195 heads have been set up with all the good gear and form the perfect platform to accommodate the intake and blower set-up.
The GM block was cleaned and prepped in the usual fashion before scoring a steel crank, JE pistons with Moly rings, tougher rods and Trend pushrods. The cam is perfectly suited for what Wayne needs – good usable power and is totally streetable. An MSD ignition system fires the engine into life and the gases are sent packing via custom headers and a three-inch dual exhaust system. The engine doesn’t make 1000hp and it doesn’t need to. Wayne is more than happy with how it performs and is impressed with its drivability in any condition. Sometimes, it’s not about wringing every last bit of power from the engine! A built-Turbo 400 auto sends the power through to the rear end.
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When the cars’ owner looked at the crisp notes lined up on his kitchen table and then looked at the car sitting in the garage, he decided to part company with the HK.
Fast forward a bunch of years and the Brougham is still sought after but for a very different reason – they are just damn tough!
It’s hard to believe but the body and paint haven’t been touched since they were done many years ago. The paint still looks great today – a testament to the quality of the workmanship lavished on the Brougham back in the day! The black vinyl roof keeps the cars heritage alive and looks great against the white paint. Inside, its pure 1968. Well, almost. Sure, the centre console is from a later model HQ, but the seats, steering wheel and instruments are era correct, but were added from a GTS to give the Brougham some sportiness. In amongst the faux-timber inclusions on the dash is a cassette player, graphic equaliser and a couple of extra gauges. The door trims are still the factory-spec items attached in 1968!
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THANKS TO: Jay at Gear Exchange for being there from the day I bought it. John Spinks for his help. Rob at Bam Bam Towing. Mark Hinson at EZE10S.
Wayne feels like he has done what he wanted to with the Brougham and is now offering it for sale. So, if you’re in the market for a tough, genuine street car, call me here at the mag and I’ll get your details through to Wayne. Oh, did I mention that the car is 100% legal and engineered too? Yep, even the blower and carbs, so Wayne (or the new owner!) can cruise confidently that there will be no defect sticker added to his windscreen any time soon. So, what has Wayne got planned once there’s an empty space in his garage? He’d like to buy a ’55 Chev four-door wagon. Or maybe a Hilux? Why not both Wayne? One for work and one for play! Until that day comes where Wayne watches the HK drive away from his house, he’ll continue to enjoy the Brougham as much as time allows, taking it to a few events and doing plenty of cruising!
POWERCRUISE #80 - SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK - FEB 20-23, 2020 PICS – TIM MCCORMACK WORDS – PAUL BECK
WET &
d l i W
Powercruise is like no other event on the planet. When it rains, instead of pulling the pin, promoter Gup simply sends the cars out onto the track for a whole lot of action!
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Most show promoters have the weather app on speed dial. The closer their event gets, the more they seem to be checking out the weather, all the time praying that the wet stuff stays away. For Powercruise head-honcho Gup, the wet weather isn’t that much of a concern, the Powercruise will happen rain, hail or shine!
As we’ve come to expect, the Sydney-leg of the Powercruise series always attracts a huge number of entrants with cars ranging from lowered V6 Commodores to all-out, 1000-plus HP tyre-fryers. While there seems to be a huge mix of car makes and models, there seems to be a growing contingent of Commodores entered into the event. People need to understand that older cars are getting out of reach financially, for people to purchase and then modify. The banks certainly aren’t interested in lending money for a HQ Holden, but will gladly hand over as much as you need for a late-model Commodore or Falcon. That’s just life and why we are seeing more and more at events like the Powercruise. Mind you, they were all pretty tough and able to smoke the bags with the best of them – probably while having the air-con on…lol.
The Powercruise isn’t so much about being a car show as much as it is a driving event. I reckon Gup could hand over a piece of string nailed to a board with a Powercruise keyring attached to it for a trophy and no one would care. Most people go to Powercruise to give their cars hell on the track! And by the amount of spent rubber littering the track for four days, that’s exactly what happened! There’s been plenty of people vocal about the excess rubber left on the track during the cruise sessions, and I’m sure it’s something that will be rectified for the next event.
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For Powercruise head-honcho Gup, the wet weather isn’t that much of a concern, the Powercruise will happen rain, hail or shine!
The Cruise sessions are what makes Powercruise so popular. With a couple of threehour long sessions happening each day (20-hours in total!), the sessions give the entrants the chance to drive their cars as hard as they can, and sometimes for the unlucky ones, a little further than their talent allows. This year was no different to past years as plenty of smoke was made at every part of the circuit, with lots of tyres were sent to an early retirement. With the rain falling, lots of people were drifting the circuit too, whether it was intentional or not. Those fortunate enough to have a Pitt Lane pass could enter each cruise session at any time, but those with just a general entry had to line up and wait for their turn – which frustrated some, but with the number of cars entering the event this year, a long wait was always going to be part of the deal.
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Whilst it’s more about driving the wheels (well tyres!) off your car, the Powercruise does have a show and shine area, and combines with a Dyno comp (with Brendon Watson recording the highest figure of 1193.1hp from his Turbo 6 ’08 Falcon!), to offer those something more than cruising and other tyre-frying activities. With so much on the program, it’s no wonder why Powercruise is as popular as it is. Check out their Ad in this issue to see the full list of events planned for 2020. You can even enter online through the website – www.powercruise.com For now, enjoy reliving the Sydney event as seen through Tim McCormack’s camera lens…
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At the final round, the country team was in the lead by five race wins. But in a true, underdog fashion, those representing the City won seven of the remaining eight races, effectively taking the overall win!
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Burnouts obviously play a big part of the Powercruise deal. And if the multiple cruise sessions didn’t produce enough smoke, there was the official burnout competition held on the unused part of the main straight. Many more tyres were sacrificed, much to the delight of the assembled crowd. After each car did their thing and added more clouds to the Western Sydney skyline, Ross Heasley in his blown HQ Monaro coupe was declared the overall winner, with Best Tip In going to Shane Barnard (XY Falcon) and the Crowd Favourite being Nathan Fell in his blown VK Commodore! 66
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Apart from the cruise sessions, there’s quite a few other driving events happening throughout the weekend, including the City vs. Country No Prep Street Outlaws Racing. Taking place on the main straight, the hardfought battle for bragging rights saw plenty of racers lining up for a chance to win for their region. At the final round, the country team was in the lead by five race wins. But in a true, underdog fashion, those representing the City won seven of the remaining eight races, effectively taking the overall win! Whilst not racing for such high stakes, the general Off-Street Racing was also well subscribed and provided lots of close (and some not so close) racing in front of the power-hungry crowd. In the final it was Tristan Triccas (Ford Capri) taking the win over James Caltabiano in the ’68 V8 Escort.
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One innovation from Powercruise this year was the Powercruise Taxi service! Available for spectators to jump in and do some laps for the first hour of each cruise session, it’s a great addition to give those who came for a look, the opportunity to see what it’s like to cruise the track. The Taxi left from the Powercruise stand all weekend making it a very popular spot to hang out!
With the rain falling, lots of people were drifting the circuit too, whether it was intentional or not.
One of the more popular events on the Powercruise program is without doubt the Powerskids. It’s the chance for entrants to show just how much horsepower their car is packing. Fail and the crowd will let you know, but cover the front straight in tyre-smoke at full noise and you’ll be shot to hero status in no time. In 2020, previous winner, Trent Smith had his Torana Hatch on song to out smoke the fierce competition.
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The man behind the 1320Video brand, Kyle Loftus, made the trip from the USA to take in his first Sydney Powercruise – and what an event he chose to be at! Sure, it rained on and off, but that didn’t stop some of the wildest cars making their way to Powercruise to put on a show for Kyle and 1320Video!
Jake Myers - Burnout Champion!
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www.lovellsauto.com.au
My
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Having owned a few early Torana’s in the past, Chris Haddon couldn’t pass up this LJ GTR he found in the Trading Post. After ten-years inside his home garage, the Torana emerged ready to mix it with the best Pro-Street rides in Adelaide!
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CHRIS HADDON_1972 LJ GTR TORANA PICS BY – 9000RPM PHOTOGRAPHY WORDS BY – PAUL BECK
Chris described the LJ as “a good 10ft car!” It was good from far and far from good, having had the sheet metal mixed with more bog than should be allowed in one car. Still, that didn’t deter Chris from swapping a pile of cash for 74 his new project, a deal that would see him spending plenty of time at home – or more particular, in the garage! But at least he was home I guess. The first job Chris did after dragging the LJ GTR home was to stock the fridge with his favourite Beveridge, knowing full well that he was going to spend a lot of time getting to know the LJ inside and out – and let’s face it, that can be thirsty work! Being handy with the body shaping tools, Chris took on the job expecting to be replacing plenty of the Torana’s original steel. And he
wasn’t disappointed. Chris replaced the lower sills, and both the front and rear beaver panels. The remainder of the body that wasn’t replaced was repaired – a tiresome job, but one that needed to be done so that when the paint was to go on, the platform Chris offered up was the best it could be. After all of the rust repairs were completed, Chris turned his attention to stretching the rear wheel arches and adding a 4-inch reverse cowl that now has the LJ bonnet swage line incorporated into it. The rest of the body remains just how the General designed it. The mini-tubs (and the diff fabrication) was the only time the Torana left the safety of the home garage and these were completed by Frank at Zagari Engineering.
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The first job Chris did after dragging the LJ GTR home was to stock the fridge with his favourite Beveridge... With the body as smooth as it could be, Chris decided to lay the colour on himself, at home in the family garage that was now converted to a spray booth! Chris mixed up his own colour creation for the GTR using PPG’s range. Dubbed “Indy Orange”, the custom mix flowed from Chris’ gun onto the awaiting Torana. Once dry, the familiar black-outs were then added along with the GTR-XU1 decals to each guard and the boot spoiler. When it rolled from the booth for the first time, the LJ absolutely glowed – almost as much as Chris! With the chrome work fitted up and the necessary body parts reattached, the GTR was starting to look like a car again.
Just like the exterior, the interior is part 1972 and part 2020! The original style seating is still in place, albeit retrimmed in Black Roebuck by Steve at Cools Auto Trimmers, with the standard issue GTR steering wheel also being kept in place. But that’s about where the nostalgia ends. The centre console has been given the flick to make room for the B&M Pro-Stick shifter and the GTR dash fascia is now full of AutoMeter gauges to keep an accurate reading of the Torana’s vital stats. There’s also a row of switches added to control pumps, fans etc. The interior plays homage to the GTR’s history, but also now houses the necessary gear for Chris to cruise or race the Torana when required. Chris is one of those guys that can do just about anything. He handled the body and the paint work on the Torana, and just to rub salt into the wounds of anyone who can’t do those two things, he also built the engine package. Come on Chris, there’s no need to show off! The single carb small block Chev sports no less than 383-cubic inches, making around 490hp on the engine dyno. Combine that with the Torana’s light weight and you know there’s a whole lot of fun to be had when Chris jumps on the accelerator!
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The damage saw Chris strip the paint back and recoat the Torana yet again.
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The Mercury block used in this tough Chev was serving duty in a speed boat when Chris spotted it. Inside there’s a steel Scat crank, I-Beam Scat rods, Speed-Pro forged pistons with moly rings with a hydraulic roller cam that keeps the small block symphony playing a wild beat. The alloy heads are Dart Sportsman II that have been fitted with Ferrea stainless valves wrapped in double Competition valve springs. A Pro-Systems 850cfm carb sits high on the Dart single plane intake with a two-inch spacer between the two! A full MSD ignition system (leads, distributor, Blasterer 2 coil and 6AL2 Programmable) puts the fire into the belly of the engine leaving the gases to make their way out via a pair of 1 and ¾-inch headers, with the four-into-ones flowing into a twin, 3-inch system…
Backing the stout small block is a built Turbo 350 that is like a burger with the lot! Connected using an SFI-certified Ultra bellhousing, the internals include a full manual valve body, shift kit, transbrake and reverse pattern shift. The converter is a Coan item and stalls out at 4000rpm. No one can argue about the Turbo 350’s strength and as yet, has proven to be ultra-reliable and up to the task of sending the power back to the narrowed 9-inch diff – with just one incident to put a blemish of the boxes performance – but more on that later! Like the box, Chris hasn’t taken any chances with the rear end failing and promptly added a Detroit locker to the centre with 4.11-gears and 31-spline axles. Pro-Street styled cars don’t have a lot of high-tech gadgetry
built into their underpinnings and Chris’ LJ Torana proves it. Pedders springs with 90/10 shocks from the same catalogue were installed upfront, whilst AVO coilovers handle the rear end. Super Pro bushes were used exclusively, with the modified rear end scoring adjustable upper and lower control arms. The braking set up feature’s BA Falcon disc’s (with HQ pattern) and calipers on the nose with standard HQ drums on the rear. A Wilwood master cylinder is also in place. Keeping the whole lot off the ground is a quartet of satin finished Centerline Auto Drag rims measuring 15x3.5” on the pointy end and 15x8.5” where the power meets the ground. Known throughout SA as Adelaide Hub Caps, the true, pro-street style rim suits the GTR perfectly.
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With the body as smooth as it could be, Chris decided to lay the colour on himself, at home in the family garage that was now converted to a spray booth!
Ten years is a long time to wait to drive the completed project for the first time, and when Chris first got the chance to cruise the Torana, his widened smile was soon mouthing lots of expletives as copious amounts of transmission fluid found their way from the box to the hot headers, which almost burnt the GTR to the ground on its very first outing, frying the paint in the engine bay, on the bonnet and front guards in the process. The damage saw Chris strip the paint back and recoat the Torana yet again. He also had to replace all of the engine’s ancillaries. Though it could have been much worse, it was a lesson learned for Chris, to never leave his fire extinguisher on the garage floor. It’s now safely secure under the front of the driver’s seat! He also now checks the transmission lines for leaks regularly.
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Since being completed, the Torana has managed to win a few awards including 3rd Top Tudor at Summernats 33, Top Engineered and Top Car at the Show ‘n’ Shine at Extreme Horsepower! While Chris will continue to enter a few shows, he can’t wait to get the LJ onto the strip and see just how it performs. Until then, there’s plenty of cruising to be had. Though he has had thoughts of throwing in a sneaky turbo LS at some stage. Stay tuned!
THANKS TO: My wife and Kids who spent time with me in the shed helping out where they could! All Tyre Paints. Outlaw Speed Shop. Zagari Engineering.
CONTACT PAUL BECK FOR ALL YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS! (0432) 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au www.killerrides.com.au
SHOWCARS MELBOURNE SHOWDOWN #9 - MOONEE VALLEY RACECOURSE – FEB 23RD, 2020 PICS – CHAD SILVEY WORDS – PAUL BECK
SHOWCAR n w o wd o h S
#9
After 8-years of bringing some of the best cars and bikes together at Moonee Valley Racecourse, the Showcars Melbourne Showdown reached new heights in 2020!
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With more than 800 cars and bikes filing every available space inside and outside 83 of the racecourse, the ninth running of the Showcars Melbourne Showdown was, by far, the biggest event that Elvis Barbieri and his team have put together. The indoor entrants started arriving to set up on the Saturday, with the majority of the cars and bikes rolling in early on Sunday morning to find a spot and be prepared for when the gates opened to the awaiting spectators all chomping at the bit to get inside the grounds and check out the automotive artistry on display.
No matter which way you turned, you were greeted by cool cars and there was something for everyone...
With around 65 awards on offer, plus four Meguiar’s Superstars spots available as well, meant that the event dragged in some of the most revered show cars on the East Coast, putting on quite a show for the massive crowd that made their way to the Racecourse to check out what was on offer. The high-end of the show car entrant list included names like Maskell Custom Cars (EH and HK Monaro), Paul Caccamo (‘41 Willys and ’37 Slamback), Tony Wilson (’32 Tudor), Peter Olver (’33 Ford Coupe), Rob Gardner (EH Holden) and Steve Aldrick (32 Roadtser and XR Falcon Ute) to name just a few.
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With more than 800 cars and bikes filing every available space inside and outside of the racecourse, the ninth running of the Showcars Melbourne Showdown was, by far, the biggest...
Apart from the show cars, there were lots of cool, tough and interesting rides scattered around the display areas.
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Apart from the show cars, there were lots of cool, tough and interesting rides scattered around the display areas. Ray Gruppetta’s “STOCK7” 57 Chev (featured last Issue of Killer Rides) made a long awaited return to an indoor show and was kept in fine company with cars such as Michael Taranto’s nitrous big block Customline coupe, Jon Sandham’s BIGNLO blown Fairlane, the SYCKO Camaro, Greg Angus’ blown HT Monaro (Killer Rides #20) and many more. No matter which way you turned, you were greeted by cool cars and there was something for everyone, no matter what your taste in cars was or where your loyalty laid.
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The indoor entrants started arriving to set up on the Saturday, with the majority of the cars and bikes rolling in early on Sunday morning to find a spot and be prepared for when the gates opened to the awaiting spectators...
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To keep the crowds entertained, live music was being supplied by The Mighty Kings and when they were taking a break, DJ Lou and Sandra Horne were keeping every one informed of what was happening. And there was plenty happening with an array of traders on hand and lots of food outlets on offer.
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR NEW MAGAZINE?
ISSUE #1 OF SUPER ROD IS NOW ONLINE! Our man Chad Silvey had his camera working overtime at the event, giving me lots of pics to choose from. So kick back and enjoy the biggest, one-day show ‘n’ shine Melbourne has to offer – the Showcars Melbourne, Showdown #9!
HOT RODS + CUSTOMS + EVENTS
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a Y f f O
ROCKER!
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A bad bike accident left David Camilleri needing a break from two wheels, but we all know that time heals old wounds and he soon found himself ready to jump onto another custom Harley. Fate then stepped in…
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DAVID CAMILLERI - CUSTOM HARLEY ROCKER WORDS / PICS / VIDEO - PAUL BECK
As luck would have it, around the same time that Dave realised he needed to own another cool bike, Nick Ristevski decided he wanted to part ways with his recently completed, custom Harley Rocker. Was it fate? Dave couldn’t have cared less, all he was worried about was making that bike his and enjoying it every chance he could. As the company director of First Class Real Estate, Dave spends much of his
time selling houses. Like most estate agents, there’s every chance that weekends are spent at open houses, appraising possible listings and generally trying to get people into their dream homes. That leaves very little down time for Dave, but when he finds himself a quiet day, he jumps onto the bike for a ride around the stunning Illawarra coastline, before heading back to reality.
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The IMFAT plates have been on Dave’s previous bikes and suit this cool Rocker perfectly.
This isn’t the first custom Harley Dave has owned. Previously owning the keys to a couple of ’96 Heritages and no less than four softails (including two ’93 models, a 2006 and 2010 version) before taking time out from the bike scene, Dave fell in love with this Rocker as soon as he saw it. There’s no doubt it was meant to be. Nick has done quite a number on the one-time stock Harley. The most obvious changes are the wheels and fenders. The 26-inch front wheel and matching wide 18” version on the widened swing arm come from the Performance Machine catalogue and fit snuggly under the wrap around front fender and strutless rear fender – the rear sporting a fat 260mm tyre. Each billet wheel is contrast cut with polished alloy and black accents adding to the bike’s sinister looks. The rear fender sports a flush mount number plate housing incorporating a trick brake light and turn signal set up. The IMFAT plates have been on Dave’s previous bikes and suit this cool Rocker perfectly.
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The brakes also feature the Performance Machine logo. The front end has a six-spot caliper on the 13-inch disc, while the rear disc has a 4-spot caliper to provide ample braking power. On the other side of the rear rim is a matching pulley – again in machined alloy and black. The rear-end sits low, thanks to the addition of the Legend air suspension. Moving to the front, Nick added brand new Showa forks with progressive Patriot springs, HHI custom anodised billet triple tree with hidden fork stop, wrap around front indicators and black magnum braided lines. The Burleigh Bars and have billet controls, grips and mirrors also from Performance Machine, as are the forward controls.
Each billet wheel is contrast cut with polished alloy and black accents adding to the bike’s sinister looks.
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Underneath the Saddleman seat and Harley tank (complete with flush mount fuel gauge and filler) sits the 107ci S&S V-Twin power plant. Sporting more power than the HD factory had ever hoped for, the S&S engine gives Dave a buzz when he twists that billet throttle. Helping make a power difference are a pair of 89cc heads and roller 635HO cams (with matching roller lifters) that give the V-twin a nice rumble. Roller rockers were also fitted along with adjustable pushrods. An
HPI throttle body replaces the factory Harley unit with 4.9gsm injectors supplying plenty of fuel into the 107-cuber. The engine also scored an RSD turbine air cleaner, high-volume oil pump and a set of Vance and Hines slash cut, big radius pipes. Using a Screaming Eagle Super Tuner, the team at APL Performance Cycles strapped the Rocker onto the dyno and recorded a best figure of 135hp and 120ft pounds if torque at that wide rear tyre!
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Externally, the engine is finished in satin black, with show chrome and polished alloy – all combining to give the Rocker a “badder in black” theme complimenting the fenders, tank, frame and of course, the wheels. Dave is thankful for the job that Nick did on the Rocker, and he not only plans to enjoy it when he can, he also wants to add his own touches which may include the addition of either a turbo-charger or Procharger to the V-Twin. Stay tuned for a horsepower update! 135hp? You ain’t seen nothing yet…
BECAUSE LIFE IS TOO ! S R A C G N I R O B R O SHORT F
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
MUSTANG
Since the Mustang was unleashed onto the motoring public mid-way through 1964, its made a huge impression, and not just in sales across the world.
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From that day right through to the current models, the Ford Mustang has been one of the most popular brands amongst cover lovers around the globe. Here in Australia, there have been plenty of early model Mustang’s shipped in from the USA over the years, but it wasn’t until Ford made the decision to produce the latest shape in a RHD configuration, that Aussie’s could actually buy a brand new Mustang through their local dealership. That move from Ford made the Mustang a household name here and sent the Mustang to the top of the list of car sales in every market in which it was sold. At one stage, it was the biggest selling car in the world! In Australia, the Mustang has been a crowd favourite in all forms of motorsport, from
Drag Racing to circuit duties - most recently with the inclusion in the V8 Supercar series where they have been a dominating force. Of course, history shows that Allan Moffat took to the tracks around Australia in that impressive Coca-Cola Mustang back in 1969 which really kick-started the Mustang into motor racing folklore in this country. Dick Johnson spent plenty of time behind the wheel of the Mustang in the 90’s with the familiar green coupe terrorising his competitors. Fast-forward a bunch of years and there’s now more Mustangs the Holden’s in the V8 category – and Dick’s team is one of the front runners. For the 2020 season, the Mustang also takes part in the Trans-Am series on Australian soil.
Attend any car show, cruise night or breakfast meet in any town around Australia each weekend and you’re guaranteed to find a Mustang or five.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT In Drag Racing, the Mustang is prominent in all brackets from Super Street to Pro-Mod. There’s any number of street-legal Mustangs rocking up to street meets all over the country every week. In the quick categories, the drivers take advantage of the Mustang’s aero-dynamic shape to great effect. Guys like Rob Campisi, Dom Luppino, Craig Burns, Greg Tsakaridis, Joe Gauci and Carl Cox have the Mustang at the pointy end of their respective categories – and each has a different look to what Mustang lovers are used to – especially in Campo’s and Tsakaridis case – their ProMod’s are unique. In the high-end of the NHRA racing in the USA – the Nitro Funnycars in particular, the Mustang has been part of that scene thanks to John Force, though he has now switched to a Chev Camaro.
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In Australia, the Mustang has been a crowd favourite in all forms of motorsport, from Drag Racing to circuit duties - most recently with the inclusion in the V8 Supercars.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Another form of Motorsport where the Mustang has been in the public eye is the world of Burnouts. When you think burnouts and Mustangs, only one name comes to mind – Myers! When Gary made his debut on the burnout pad at the first Summernats, his then, all-black Mustang put on quite a show and he’s been doing it ever since. Gary has since thrown the keys to that car to his son Jake who has hit the pad with all cylinders firing, winning many events around the country, keeping the Myers name in the Top Ten list for years. The car has had several different looks over the years, but will always be recognisable as the Myers Mustang. Gary has built a couple more Mustangs including an elite level ’66 Coupe show car that featured a roof chop, wheels tubs and a double-blown Hemi for power. His other Mustang is a 2005 Pro-Streeter!
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As far as the modified car crowd go, they have fitted the Mustang with all kinds of power plants.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Attend any car show, cruise night or breakfast meet in any town around Australia each weekend and you’re guaranteed to find a Mustang or five. They dominate American-based events and the car clubs catering for the model are over-flowing with cars and die-hard owners. As far as the modified car crowd go, they have fitted the Mustang with all kinds of power plants. The small block Windsor is a factory fitted deal, but the car crafters out there have shoe-horned engines such as old-school Chevs – both small and big block, the late-model hi-tech Ford Coyote 5-litre, Chrysler Hemi’s and even the increasingly-popular Barra turbo 6!
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The Mustang will always be a huge part of car enthusiasts lives. Whether it be a restored rarity, tastefully modified street machine, over-powered street and strip stormer or a high-end, incredibly detailed show car, the Mustang is destined to be well represented no matter what you’re into.
JAMIE MICALLEF_VH COMMODORE WORDS / PICS / VIDEO – PAUL BECK
GENERATION
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Not all Pro-Street cars have to have a mountain of engine hardware hanging through the bonnet and roll on 15-inch wheels. The next generation of Pro-Streeter’s have arrived!
There seems to be a resurgence of VH Commodore’s at the moment. Being the last of the chrome bumper Holden’s, they have become the go-to vehicle for those who want an old school car that’s not too old. Jamie Micallef is one such owner. The VH Commodore is his weapon of choice, and with a tough driveline in place, it’s quite the weapon! With an LSA-blown 6-litre up front and monstrous wheels tucked in the tubs, Jamie Micallef has turned his once tired old VH SL Commodore into a Next Generation, Pro-Streeter! In its
standard form, you’d hardly give the VH a second glance. Jamie however, could see the potential, looking past the 253, Trimatic and Borg Warner rear end that was fitted at the factory. It was 1997 when Jamie drove the VH from the previous owner’s driveway and into his own. Knowing full well the current driveline was never going to cut it, it took just two-weeks before Jamie ditched the original engine for a built, 355ci based Holden. Instantly, it was a much better car! With that engine on board, the VH ran the quarter in 10.5-sec.
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In this basic, blown set up on 6psi boost, the engine made 532rwhp, but a swap of the blower pulley upped the boost to 10-psi resulting in an increase to 621-horsepower at those sizable treads.
The Commodore stayed that way for a little while, whilst Jamie saved his pennies to give the VH the make-over he had always wanted to. The upgrades included a full custom rear end set up and complete driveline change along with new wheels and tyres and a rethink on the interior. After speaking with Mick at Street Cred, the Commodore was soon in his workshop having the wheel tubs installed and a 9-inch diff narrowed and installed, but not before adding a Strange casing, full spool, 3.7-gears and 35-spline Moser axles. A fourlink assembly and custom control arms locate the diff with Strange coil-overs providing a firm ride. With the standard Ford drum brakes converted to HQ-pattern and fitted with 5/8” studs installed, it was time to fit the monstrous 20x11-inch polished FR20 Simmons shod with equally impressive 325/30 Dunlop rubber. In stark contrast, the front Simmons are 17x5-inch and roll on Mickey Thompson 165/70 tyres. With the Commodore back on its wheels, you could see just how serious Jamie was about making his Commodore downright nasty.
The 355 was by now, redundant. It was sold off to make way for some later-model technology. Jamie knew about how good the LS-series engines are and ripped the Holden engine from its mounts and dropped in an aspirated 6-litre L98. There’s no denying that, as a standard engine, the 6-litre LS is a damn good package. But Jamie needed more for his VH. Because he already had the engine done, he didn’t want to scrap it and just buy an LSA crate engine, so he did the next best thing and removed the factory intake and bolted on a brand-new Eaton 1900 supercharger that is standard fitment on the LSA engine. Apart from the blower install, the L98’s list of upgrades only includes a more suited camshaft, double valve springs, 92mm throttle body and 1000cc injectors. The rest of the engine is pure L98-spec. A pair of Pacemaker headers flow into a dual, 3-inch exhaust system comprising of a x-pipe, two mufflers, two resonators and two cats. In this basic, blown set up on 6psi boost, the engine made 532rwhp, but a swap of the blower pulley upped the boost to 10-psi resulting in an increase to 621-horsepower at those sizable treads. There’s lots of cool tricks under the bonnet, like the relocated coil-packs and the one-off custom idler pulley bracket that allows Jamie to run an electric water pump, making a huge difference in the cool temperature.
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With an LSA-blown 6-litre up front and monstrous wheels tucked in the tubs, Jamie Micallef has turned his once tired old VH SL Commodore into a Next Generation, Pro-Streeter!
Backing the pumped LS is a stage 2, Turbo 400 auto built by Shift Right Transmissions. Featuring a 4500rpm converter from Dominator, the box has, so far, handled everything Jamie and the blown L98 could push through it. Gear selections are done via a B&M Pro Ratchet shifter. Dealing with the stresses and strains 600-odd horsepower can develop, getting that power to the rear end is the sole purpose of a billet slip yoke, a 3mm thick wall tailshaft from Strange and some quiet words to the man above to ensure the power gets to those big Mickey Thompson tyres. The chassis connectors help no end as well. So far so good… The front end is more or less still how the general had intended it to be. Pedders supplied the heavy-duty shocks and springs that bolted straight onto the VH. There’s also upgraded brakes with drilled and slotted VT discs now living inside the narrow front rims.
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Being the last of the chrome bumper Holden’s, they have become the go-to vehicle for those who want an old school car that’s not too old.
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When the VH made the move to Jamie’s garage, the body and paint were fair, but in 2009 it scored a repaint by mate John and then again in 2018 when mate David added a new coat of the factory issue Golden California Metallic Brown to the almost original body. The most obvious change is the reverse cowl fibreglass bonnet, but did you notice that the aerial has been removed from the guard, as has the fuel filler from the quarter panel. And I bet you didn’t notice how Jamie had the rear beaver panel modified to accept the dual exhaust!
Inside, the VH has scored VK Calais trim including the door trims and rear seat, with the front seats being aftermarket items. The extra gauges in the centre console and the 5-inch AutoMeter tacho added to the dash reveal that this is no longer your average family sedan. Completing the interior makeover is a half cage, Sony sound-system and leather R-spec steering wheel. Lifting the boot lid reveals the entire fuel system, with the fuel cell, pumps, lines and fuel cooler taking up most of the available space.
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Jamie has dumped around $50,000 into the VH over the build period and you get the feeling he’s not done just yet. His first outing to the drag strip in the car with just 6-psi saw a 9.9sec et at 135mph. It’s now making around 100hp more now, so if all the stars align, Jamie reckons the VH should have a 9.3-sec ET in it. But it’s on the street where Jamie enjoys the VH the most and whilst he likes to tackle the quarter mile ocassionally, the VH will always remain a streetcar.
THANKS TO:
My twin brother Matt for helping with the build. Mick at Street Cred for the tub work and fabrication. Daniel Grima for the computer wiring. Steve at Shift Right for building the Turbo 400 box.
KILLER PIC
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Ron Pratt’s Car Collection is like no other. Included in his unbelieveable “garage” is Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Super Snake Cobra, the 1949 MGTC that was Shelby’s first ever race car, the GM Futurliner (rumoured to have cost more than $4m), Boyd Coddington’s legendary Chezoom to name just a few. In 2014, Pratt auctioned off 140 cars from his collection along with lots of memorabilia!
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PRE EVENT - TEST & TUNE FRIDAY 17th APRIL Racing from 5.30pm till late Entrant Fee $80 Spectators $25 Kids under 14 FREE (open to anyone) HOLDEN NATIONALS EVENT SATURDAY 18th APRIL Racing from 10am till late Pre Entries Only Via Facebook page (limited spots) Entrants $140 Spectators $25 Kids under 14 FREE NO EFT facilities on site
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SHOWTIME MAR - 2020
13-15 - VIC 28th Chryslers on the Murray Gateway Lakes, Lincoln Causeway www.chryslersonthemurray.com 15 - NSW Rich River Rod Run Perricoot Rd, Moama fbowles@aussiebb.com.au 20-22 - SA Adelaide Chrysler Festival Harts Mills, Port Adelaide www.cccsa.net.au/acf 21 - VIC All Holden Day - Western Victoria Pertobe Rd, Lake Pertobe Peter Dunn - 0400 638928 22 - NSW Killer Rides Pro-Street Sunday Fairfield Showgrounds 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au www.killerrides.com.au
To have your event listed here, send details to paul@killerrides.com.au
APR - 2020 5 - ACT HeartKids Hillclimb The Hill @ Fairbairn Park Motorsport Complex, Sutton Rd, Majura www.heartkids.org.au 5 - QLD Power Up Show & Swap Meet Nanango Sporting Association nsapowerup@gmail.com 5 - VIC Shepparton Motor Museum Show Goulbrn Valley H/Way, Kialla info@sheppartonmotormuseum. com.au 9-13 - NSW ASRF Regional Nationals Goulburn Showground alan.cooper.anu.edu.au 10-13 - SA 32nd Corvette Nationals Encounter Bay, Victor Harbour, SA tonybeersmith@gmail.com
22 - VIC All Commodore Day Caribbean Gardens, Scoresby www.allcommodoreday.com
10-13 - NSW Camaro & Firebird Nationals 2020 Tumut info@cfnats.com.au
28 - SA Old Skool New Age Car Show Morphett Vale Football Club autoshow@oyrp.com.au
12 -NSW Sydney Cars & Coffee Hubertus Club, Luddenham 2nd Sunday of the month 7am-11am
APR - 2020
18 - VIC Echuca Swap Meet Echuca RV Park, Campasie Esplanade echucaswap@outlook.com
5 - ACT All Clubs Show & Shine Canberra Greyhound Racing Club www.boostersgarage.com.au
18 - ACT Wheels of Wamboin Wamboin Community Hall, ACT president@wamboincommunity.asn. au 26 - VIC Gippsland Vehicle Collection Swap 1a Sale Rd, Maffra gippslandvehiclecollection.org.au 26 - NSW The Volkswagens Family Show Hovel Treet Park, (Albury) NSW vitsvw@hotmail.com Reece White - 0437 770503
MAY - 2020 2 - VIC Satelite City Rod Run Show n Shine Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga facebook.com/staelitecitystreetrodclub 3 - NSW 47th GM Display Day Museum of Fire, Penrith Gordon - 0409 677116 3 - NSW Old Car Social Car Club 16th Show Canley Heights RSL Club noel.1945@bigpond.com 3 - NSW Sussex Inlet Bowling Club Show St Georges Ave, Sussex Inlet danielle@sussexbowling.com www.sussexbowling.com
PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Advertise your business here from just $55 per month* * Based on 6-month Booking @ 1/8 page size.
Email: paul@killerrides.com.au for more info.
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ADVERTISE HERE
JUST $55 PER MONTH CONTACT PAUL - 0432 795336
www.prostreet.com.au
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Easter 9th-12th April
EASTER 2020
9th April - 12th April FOUR BIG DAYS OF HOT RODDIN’ FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! CRUISING - SHOW ‘N’ SHINE - SWAP MEET - MARKET STALLS PIN-UP COMPETITION - LIVE MUSIC - EASTER BUNNY FOR EVENT INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT RAY OR BARB - (03) 9761 6706 b/h STEVEN - (03) 57972062 Email: narranderarodrun@outlook.com Website: narranderarodrun.com.au
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All Chrome-Bumper Cars Welcome!
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e v i t a v o n n Get I with your Advertising
HERE’S WHAT WE OFFER! 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
PUBLISHING EDITOR
Paul Beck paul@killerrides.com.au Phone 0432 795336
MAILING ADDRESS
PO Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529 129
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 Grant Stephens - Cackling Pipes Danny Burke - Southern Bear Creative Solutions