LIGHTNING STRIKE Twin-turbo VC Valiant

Formula Blue is probably the most popular colour for the VK Commodore, made famous by one Mr P. Brock who introduced the colour on his SS Group A VK way back in 1984. Forgetting about the reworked bonnet for the time being, the body and paint (complete with the associated decals) is a tribute to those HDT cars from back in the day. The front spoiler, open-grille and lowline rear wing take you back to a time when carbs where controlling your cars diet, not yours. This car had already been fitted with the sunroof when Justin became the owner and the wildly shaped bonnet was all but completed too – a necessity to feed bucket loads of air into the two turbo’s jutting proudly from the engine bay. As they say, if you’ve got them, flaunt them! Originally, the wheels were black, but the switch to white (with white carbon-fibre centres) makes them much more obvious and really shows off the width of the rears!

The front spoiler, open-grille and low-line rear wing take you back to a time when carbs where controlling your cars diet, not yours.

Like the body colour, the interior is also a throwback to the Brock/HDT days with the Scheel interior fitted to the VK. The blue/grey trim flows through to the original door trims with the factory dash , console and steering wheel from the Group A also fitted. But that’s not to say it’s entirely a resto inside. The manual shifter is nowhere to be seen, and in its place sits a Hurst Quarter-stick attached to the ‘Glide underneath the tunnel. Back before electronics were used run your engine, Brock would have had no need for a MicroTech digital dash – but Justin does, so its mounted in front of where the factory analogue dials used to be in full view. Overall, the interior isn’t a bad place to be on a regular basis.

Since completing the build, Justin has had plenty of seat time and has taken the Commodore to a few events including the Queanbeyan All Holden Day where he scored Top Car Overall and backed that up with Top Standard Paint and Top 10 at the Springnats in Shepparton. This year he has plans to put some more miles on the LS3, attend a few more events and maybe even take part in Drag Week – but before he tackles that event, there will be a few necessities added including a roll cage and parachute and no doubt a couple of hundred more ponies…lol.

Justin is a hardcore car guy. He works hard at his job, and plays even harder.

By the time that is all done and dusted, Justin’s blown Camaro will be coming along nicely and if he can find a painter to do the job at hand, it may even be ready to rock and roll as well. For now though, Justin is content to cruise, show and eventually race his version of Brock’s VK Group A. Projects like this don’t happen without good people involved and Justin would like to thank Rob at CA Motorsport, Robbie Jnr and Steve Petrovski for their combined involvement and also a big shout out to “Digs” for selling him the car in the first place…

HOT ROD POWER TOUR_AUG 23-27, 2021

Words - Paul Beck Pics - Nick Flitcroft

Driving Pics - Michael T Rae Jr.

D’ FORCETour

Whilst here in Australia, we are dealing with all kinds of Covid-related disruptions to our lives, our car-loving mates over in the US are hittin’ the blacktop for the 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour.

The Hot Rod Power Tour is one of those events known around the world. Kicking off from where the previous year’s event finished, the multi-day cruise attracts thousands of entrants from across the US – many doing their own Power Tour to reach the starting point. It’s an event that brings together car enthusiasts from all genres. Street Machines, Hot Rod, Customs, Muscle Cars, Rat Rods, resto’s, run-down drivers and everything in between. It really is one of those events that everyone and anyone can enjoy.

Whilst the Power Tour is primarily a massive cruise, there’s plenty more to do each day including Drag Racing, dyno competitions, burnouts, trader stands and of course a show and shine.

This year’s event kicked off in Norwalk at the Summit Motorsports Park before heading to Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio on the Tuesday, Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis (Wednesday), World Wide Technology Raceway in St Louis, Missouri (Thursday) before finishing up at the State Farm Centre in Champaign, Illinois. Whilst the Power Tour is primarily a massive cruise, there’s plenty more to do each day including Drag Racing, dyno competitions, burnouts, trader stands and of course a show and shine.

Kicking off from where the previous year’s event finished, the multi-day cruise attracts thousands of entrants from across the US – many doing their own Power Tour to reach the starting point.

Thanks to Nick Flitcroft for the use of his pics, we are able to bring you a snapshot of the 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour just days after the event finished for another year. Now, who else is hyped up for the Performance Street Car Road Trip? I know I am…

WHAT’S ON WHERE?

SYDNEY DRAGWAY www.sydneydragway.com

Every Wednesday Night - Aeroflow Race 4 Real Nov 13/14 NSW All Ford Day Swap / Show

HIDDEN VALLEY DRAG STRIP www.hiddenvalleydrags.com No Events Listed at this Time

STEEL CITY DRAG CLUB www.steelcitydrags.com

SUNSET STRIP MILDURA www.sunsetstrip.org.au

Sept 18-19 Summit Racing Sportsman Sept 24-26 Sunset Strip Junior Nationals

BENARABY DRAGWAY www.benarabydragway.com

SOUTH COAST RACEWAY www.southcoastraceway.com.au

Nov 13 Chicago Shoot Out Dec 4 South Coast 5K Dec 11/12 South Coast Nationals

PERTH MOTORPLEX www.motorplex.com.au

Every Wednesday – Whoop Ass Wednesday

SPRINGMOUNT RACEWAY www.springmountraceway.com

WILLOWBANK RACEWAY www.willowbankraceway.com.au

HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED YET? GO TOwww.pscmag.com.au DO IT NOW! IT’S FREE!

AUSTRALIAN TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 CALENDER RELEASED

The newly formed team behind the Australian Top Fuel Championship have locked in the dates for the 2022 season, with rounds being shared around the country with the exception of Qld and SA. Kicking off on Jan 21/22 at Sydney Dragway, the Top Fuel Show then head to Calder Park (Feb 5/6) before making the long haul to WA (Mar 5/6). The cars then head to Heathcote Raceway where they will no doubt attract a huge regional crowd over the weekend of April 9th and 10th before heading back to Sydney Dragway for round 5 on May 6/7. The Grand Final has yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more information…

https://www.facebook.com/TopFuelAustralia

NAME: Johnny Habib

OCCUPATION: IT Delivery Manager

VEHICLE: LH Torana Sedan

DRIVELINE: 588ci BBC, Nitrous, 2-speed Rossler T400, 9-incg, E85 fuel

BEST ET & MPH: 7.6@185mph (with 632), 7.9@172mph (with 588)

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN RACING:

Multiple wheelstands at various events. APSA Mod Street wins.

FIERCEST COMPETITOR:

All the Turbo Teddies!

FAVOURITE PLACE TO RACE: Sydney Dragway & Willowbank

FAVOURITE CLASS TO WATCH:

Pro-Street, Pro-Street and more Pro-Street! Radial is pretty cool as well.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT:

Being the leader of the APSA in its most successful years. Great friends, great people and amazing racing!

FUTURE PLANS: No Prep Racing and to get faster!

1/8 MILE - OUTLAW

1. Wade Wagstaff 3.790 @ 200.26mph 2. Kyle Hopf/Terry Seng 3.831 @ 204.94mph 3. Steve Ham 3.837 @ 205.63mph 4. Joe Gauci 3.850 @ 201.00mph 5. Perry Bullivant 3.860 @ 202.61mph 6. Craig Burns 3.890 @ 192.92mph 7. Daniel Szabolics 3.890 @ 190.00mph 8. Harley Hamilton 3.940 @ 197.00mph 9. Ben Bray 3.959 @ 201.76mph 10. John Ricca 3.964 @ 199.49mph

1/8 MILE – 275 TYRE

1. Farrugia/Androutsos 4.155 @ 186.12mph 2. Stu Henry 4.196 @ 176.80mph 3. Tim Cross 4.290 @ 178.95mph 4. Tony Webb 4.347 @ 177.42mph 5. Michael Kalaitzakis 4.363 @ 186.02mph 6. Sam Metro/Maatouk 4.422 @ 175.25mph 7. Steve Bezzina 4.436 @ 171.71mph 8. Sean Muscat 4.437 @ 168.22mph 9. Matt McCarthy 4.450 @ 168.75 mph 10. Varun Sharman 4.470 @ 16.736 mph

¼ MILE - OUTLAW

1. Joe Gauci 6.052 @ 241.50mph (315) 2. Sam Metro/Maatouk 6.472 @ 219.94mph (275) 3. Farrugia/Androutsos 6.557 @ 215.93mph (275) 4. Daniel Nunziante 6.580 @ 228mph 5. Dom Luppino 6.600 @ 230mph (315) 6. Profab/Forster 6.620 @ 192mph (315) 7. Perry Bullivant 6.670 @ 217mph (315) 8. Mark Leake 6.700 @ 220mph (315) 9. Steve Bezzina 6.723 @ 208.88mph (275) 10. Harley Hamilton 6.782 @ 168mph (315)

¼ MILE – 275 TYRE

1. Sam Metro/Maatouk 6.472 @ 219.94mph 2. Farrugia/Androutsos 6.557 @ 215.93mph 3. Steve Bezzina 6.723 @ 208.88mph 4. Varun Sharma 6.790 @ 212.16mph 5. Tim Cross 6.800 @ 214.00mph 6. Nader/Maatouk 6.840 @ 209.00mph 7. Joe Gauci 6.850 @ 215.00mph 8. Robert Marjan 6.868 @ 204.20mph 9. Frank Tarabay 6.940 @ 204.00mph 10. Danny Busbridge 6.940 @ 199.64mph

92

Whilst Peter Nusser’s XR Falcon Ute looked so damn tough with the big blower and carbs hanging out the bonnet, it’s streetability suffered somewhat.

So Peter made the hard decision to ditch the blown 363-cube Windsor, in favour of a big horsepower, turbo six-pack. Work is well and truly underway with a goal of having it ready to take on Drag Week.

THE BRO

CODE

Brothers Vince and Anthony Cipri share a passion for though cars. They also share one of the toughest – a nitrous 426 Dodge Dart!

The brothers bought the Dart back in 1996 from a drag racer whose sole purpose for the car was to get down the quarter mile as quickly as possible. Vince and Anthony continued to race the Dodge for the following couple of years before life duties got in the way, which saw both guys get married, start families and generally concentrate on everything but the stored Dodge. Then, three-years ago, the pair decided it was time to take the one-time race car out of storage and make the transition back to a tough-as-nails streetcar. It was never going to be a regularly daily driver, so the boys decided to push the limits and make their Dart a prostreeter capable of performing both street and strip duties. I spotted the Dart at the 2019 Chryslers on the Murray event where I awarded it my Editors Choice pick.

THANKS TO: Greg Banks for all the fabrication work and the huge effort he put into the build overall. Mario and Vince Gulisano for their help in putting the car together from the fuel cell to the radiator upon its return from the paint shop. Gerry from Bonnyrigg Smash for the paint and panel work. Warren and Stu from Norwest Engine Centre in Castle Hill. Victor and Stel for the tune and sorting out the electricals. Keith Clews for always being there to help out with all of our builds. To Dad for his inspiration. And last but not least, our wives and kids for all the late nights and weekends we spent in the garage.