ISSUE #41 - OCT 2021
p i r T d a Ro
UPDATES
548ci CAMARO
BIG CUBE
STREETERS
Special Issue!
434ci Torana
440ci Valiant
604ci Pro-Touring Falcon
540ci HJ Holden
600ci F100
From the Desk WHAT’S THE BEST TIME YOU’VE HAD IN THE MODIFIED CAR SCENE? With the world full of doom and gloom at the moment, most people have too much time on their hands and when that happens, you tend to reminisce about past times – and for car guys and girls, that means reliving memories of the fun had with a bunch of like-minded mates at an event, out on the road, or hanging out in someone’s shed tinkering with one or more cars. It’s no secret that I have been part of the modified car scene from the early 80’s, when I was subjected to my brothers mates and their Panel Vans. It was the start that was to consume much of my life, both personally and professionally. Whilst finishing off Year 10 in 1984, I helped Rod form “our” first Car Club – the imaginatively named South Coast Street Modifieds. They were great times. We were just a bunch of kids but damn we had some good times. Together, Rod and I formed a few more clubs including Wollongong Street Machines, winner of the Rare Spares Car Club of the Year in 1994. There’s simply no way I could cull the good times down to even a Top 50 – there’s been that many over the years. From our club run to Wagga and being subjected to our first real taste of Burnouts in the middle of the night out past the airport with some local Wagga car guys, to many cruises into Sydney City on a Saturday night and many trips to be shows including the early Summernats, Street Machine Nationals and MotorEx events. More recently, my time is taken up producing the magazine, but my family and I still get out and have fun, with plenty of cruise nights, coffee and cars events and hanging out with our car mates still happening – or at least it did until Covid kicked in and put paid to everything. As we head towards the end of 2021 (and another year of cancelled events) there does seem to be a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. I have no doubt that when given the green light, the modified car scene is going to explode and we can all set about making some more great memories to look back on in years to come. Stay safe everyone. See you on the street...soon!
Paul
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Issue No.41 October 2021
CONTENTS REGULARS
03 EDITORIAL From the Desk 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING News, views and things of interest.
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Nitrous Big block Camaro
18 HAVE YOUR SAY Tell us what you think. 20
COMING ATTRACTION Spotto one blown, injected 57 Chev. .
38 MY FAVOURITE PHOTO One fat, slammed Willys! 82 ON ANY SUNDAY Fryday at Queensland Raceway 88
FULL PIT ACCESS Motorsport News.
104 KILLER PIC Pro-Street Legend: KV’s Camaro
40 600ci Show Stunner F100
72 Rammed 440ci Pro-Street Valiant
50 Big block Tuff-Street HJ Holden
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60 604ci Pro-Touring XYGT Tribute
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106 PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Quick Find Ad’s. 108 WINDOW SHOPPING What’s New. 124 PARTING SHOT Flamed Commodore at the 2004 Easternats
FEATURES
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BOTTLED UP ANGER Big Block Nitrous Camaro
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PICK UP ARTIST Street Elite 600-cube F100 Super Truck
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SUDDEN IMPACT Big block HJ Holden Streeter
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BOLT FROM THE BLUE Injected 604ci Pro-Touring XY Falcon
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TUNNEL VISION 440-cube Valiant ramming home the point
FRYDAY invades Queensland Raceway
SEVEN YEAR STRETCH Pro-Street 434-cube Torana
Don’t forget to Subscribe at www.pscmag.com.au
Pro-Street 434-cube LS Torana
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October 17th - 22nd, 2022 REGISTRATION DAY - Wollongong, Sunday 16th Oct
DAY ONE: DAY TWO: DAY THREE: DAY FOUR: DAY FIVE: DAY SIX:
Australia’s Only Rolling Car Show!
WOLLONGONG - GOULBURN - CANBERRA CANBERRA - GUNDAGAI - WAGGA WAGGA WAGGA WAGGA - ALBURY / WODONGA WODONGA - SHEPPARTON - BENDIGO BENDIGO - DAYLESFORD - BALLARAT PRESENTATION / SHOW N SHINE BALLARAT
www.pscmag.com.au
PROUDLY SUPPORTING GOTCHA4LIFE www.gotcha4life.org
TRAVEL PERMIT T22/01
WHAT’S HAPPENING
A BIG YEAR AHEAD FOR PSC EVENTS!
Whilst there have been plenty of cancelled events during 2020/2021, 2022 is shaping up to be a huge year for modified car events - including four events of our own. Starting with the Late Great Chev Convention in May, with follow that up with Killer Rides Live #4 in August, the biggest event of 2022 then happens in October, the PSC Road Trip and finally finishing off with the Hot Rod & Harley Expo in November. You can check out all of these events within the Performance Street Car website. Jump onto www.pscmag.com.au now to get all the details!
MOTOREX RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 30/MAY 1, 2022
It’s been three years since the Melbourne Showgrounds hosted hundreds of cars that form MotorEx. The Covid pandemic has caused havoc amongst the car scene and once again, MotorEx has fallen victim with the Victorian Government needing the venue to continue testing for Covid.
“Melbourne Showgrounds have asked us to assist the VIC Government’s vaccination roll out by moving MotorEx so the venue can operate as a vaccine and testing hub until the targets are met. This helps our VIC mates get their jabs asap and meet those vaccination targets. It also gives the Victorian Government plenty of time to present a clear and fair roadmap for events like ours – because they simply haven’t done that yet.” Mark the dates in your diary now - this is going to be one huge event! For regular updates check out - www.motorex.com.au
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED YET? XY GT HO PHASE 3 FETCHES $1,300,000 AT AUCTION!
Whilst it may be great for owners of classic Aussie muscle cars when they decide to sell the pride and joy, those looking to get into the market will need to have either a healthy bank account or a very understanding Bank Manager! This Phase 3 HO sold at the Lloyds Auction last month for a staggering $1.3 million dollars! If only you had a shed full... 10
GO TO www.pscmag.com.au
DO IT NOW! IT’S FREE!
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UPDATE
CALLING ALL STREET CAR LEGENDS
Whilst we want everyone to feel welcomed at the first PSC Road Trip, how cool would it be to cruise with some of the scene’s most well-known Street Machines, Hot Rods and Customs? Dare I include former show cars into the mix? Here’s the perfect opportunity tp prove that whilst the car may have been built to win trophies, it can still take a cruise through the countryside! Who’s game? 9
SPONSOR OPPORTUNITY
Would you like to join the team at Lovells Suspension by taking up sponsorship of one of the Road Trip days? It’s not as expensive as you think and the benefits are varied and many. Not only will you have your logo added to the event advertising, t-shirts and signage on the displays, but you’ll also get the opportunity to have a trade stand and have the day named after your Company - just like the Lovells Automotive Day One! There’s also spots available for associate sponsors. Why not check out all the deatils on the webpage at: www.pscmag.com.au/road-trip
www.pscmag.com.au
CONDITIONAL REGO PERMIT NUMBER
Thanks to the guys and girls at the Australian Street Rod Federation, members of the Association can now take part in the Road Trip on their Conditional Rego, without having to use up any of their 60days. The ASRF Travel Permit number is T22-01 and features on the event flyer.
KEEP UP TO DATE AT THE OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE - CLICK THE LOGO! 12
Gary Myers - Burnout Legend!
! gs rin Sp lls ve Lo e us I y wh ’s at th , rs ca y m in s rt pa st “I only use the be ” o! to e oic ch ur yo em th e ak M ! rs ye M am Te r Lovells are the ONLY choice fo
www.lovellsauto.com.au
WHAT’S HAPPENING KILLER
Video
Best Of Drag Racing Wheelstands Video By Urban Hillbilly Action Video
2021 EXTREME AUTO EXPO IS GO!
Without doubt, the Adelaide-based Extreme Auto Expo is South Australia’s most prestigious car show, with several halls jam-packed with all the colour, chrome and horsepower you can handle, and this year is to be no different. It all happens within the Wayville Showgrounds on Friday night 12th November and then all day Saturday 13th November. To have your car or bike included to the entry list, got online quickly to avoid missing out.
www.extremeautoexpo.com.au
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WHAT’S HAPPENING
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT – PRO-STREET 1962 RAMBLER
It’s not often you’ll see a Rambler given a full-tilt Pro-Street treatment like Bill & Carrie Brautigam have given their humble Tudor. Built from the ground up including a full tube chassis, big block Chev power and an interior that resembles a race car, this is one Rambler that certainly deserves a closer look. And if the Pro-Street styling doesn’t draw you in closer, the eye-catching pearl Orange Paint will...
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INCLUDES CASE STUDIES & ARTICLES OF ONE OF A KIND PRODUCTS
Mailed to your home or business
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HAVE YOUR SAY Got something to say? Send it to paul@pscmag.com.au or message us from the Performance Street Car Facebook page.
STREET MACHINE NATIONALS WHEN, WHERE, WHAT IF?
G’day Paul, I was looking through some old magazines and saw a feature on the Street Machine Nationals that you held at Rosehill Racecourse. It looked like a great event. Are there plans to bring that event back? For me, the Summernats has gone away from what it was originally about. I want to go back to where it was all about the cars. So how about it, will the Street Machine Nationals make a comeback? Will B via Email
Hi Will, Yes, the Street Machine Nationals was a great event at Rosehill. We had so many sections there but it did lack some cruising etc. The next year, 2011, we made the move to Sydney Dragway where, at the time, there was a huge maquee in the pit area that we had show cars in and we set up the APSA to run their first ShootOut. They were good times, but at the time, with events like Summernats and Powercruise making huge inroads in the scene, it just didn’t make sense to continue with the Street Machine Nationals. Who knows what may happen down the track… 18
GETTING READY FOR THE ROAD TRIP
G’day Paul, Like so many others, I can’t wait for the Performance Street Car Road Trip to happen. My wife and I are planning to have our LS-powered HR Wagon ready to roll with everyone. We are going to treat this event as a family holiday as we have never been to many of the places the Road Trip travels through. Just one thing though, will you have a list of fuel stations where we can fill up along the way? We are so looking forward to hitting the road with a bunch of cool cars. Bring on October 2022! Andrew and Tania Via Messenger
WHEEL TUBS AND REGO IS IT POSSIBLE? Hi Paul, I have just purchased a well-worn HQ sedan and want to add a 600-plus cube Chev and I also want to tub the rear end to fit at least a pair of 15x12-inch rims and 15-inch Mickey Thompsons. The only issue I have is keeping the car legal to drive on the street. I have been told so many different stories from “you can’t fit bigger than 10-inch rims legally” to “ my 15x15’s are fully engineered and legal.” I want to be able to drive my car anwhere I want without the fear of getting a defect. Any ideas? Love the mag by the way, keep up the great work. Simon W via Messenger.
G’day Andrew and Tania, Good luck with the build on the HR, here’s hoping you get it finished in time to make the cruise from Wollongong to Ballarat. In regards to fuel stops, each registered entrant will receive a daily schedule showing not only the cruise route but also each fuel stop and amenities stations along the way. We won’t be driving hours between each fuel stop so even those with horrendous fuel economy should still be OK. I’m with you – bring it on! G’day Simon, Whilst that sounds like BARRA THE WORLD? I DON’T THINK SO! the ideal, tuff-street Hi Paul, HQ, I reckon you’ll have First we had the “LS the world” where everyone decided to put those engines some rego issues with into anything they could, from Corolla’s to Cadillacs, and now, it seems the the tubs and maybe “Barra the World” guys are making inroads with the humble Ford six-pack even the size of the engine. At the end of the day, now the weapon of choice. What are we coming too? Commodore’s with the certified engineer is the only person you should Falcon powerplants? Whatever happened to the Holden vs. Ford rivalry? OK, probably be listening to. If you’re lucky enough to they make power, but so does a 20B and we don’t see those being shoved find an engineer that will pass those specs, let me into Torana’s, Mustangs and others. Come on guys, keep you Ford all Ford know, I’ll buy my old Studebaker back for a street and you Holden all GM! car. At the end of the day, you can still build a Reg N Via Email tough HQ by the book that will allow you to cruise anywhere, anytime. Good luck with it all… G’day Reg. As they say “Each to their own!”
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COMING ATTRACTIONS ADAM ‘CHEV SLED’ GRICE - 1957 CHEV TUDOR WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - OWNER
N E V A E H 57 BLOWN / INJECTED K C O L B L L A M S I C 7 2 4 T DAR s r o t c je in lb 0 1 1 x 8 h Joe Blo EFI wit
TUBE CONTROL ARMS DISC BRAKES COIL OVERS DROPPED STUBS 20
For many, the ’57 Chev is the ultimate street car. It’s classic styling, ability to house any engine and overall appeal to all types of people, ensures this US icon will remain a mainstay in the street car scene… Like most builds, Adam’s ’57 started off more like a wreck than a rescue. It had seen much better days and only those with some foresight would have considered a long-term restoration over a short trip to the dump. Thankfully, Adam knew the car had potential and committed to taking on what has turned out so far, to be a massive rebuilding process.
4 Bucket Seat Interior Billet Tilt Column AutoMeter Dash
3.9-GEARED STRANGE 9" DIFF FLOATING 35-SPLINE AXLES TRIANGULATED FOUR-LINK COIL OVERS DISC BRAKES
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As soon as the once Blue Chev was towed from its resting place, Adam got stuck into stripping the body of all its removable parts before separating the body from the chassis. The body shell was the only part Adam was planning on keeping, and that has been subjected to many hours of work, removing rust and years of use and abuse. Every panel that could be replaced has been, with both rear quarter panels, the bootlid, both
doors and guards along with the entire floor section including the boot area, rocker panels and sills being shipped in and fitted to the now rejuvenated body. Even the front valance panel is new! It’s been a huge task, but even with the body now in primer, it’s all been worth it. When the new colour goes on in the new year, Adam will fit up all of the new chrome work he has amassed over the years to complete the exterior makeover.
It had seen much better days and only those with some foresight would have considered a long-term restoration over a short trip to the dump.
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The interior couldn’t be further from the 50’s in its style, colour and execution. There will be a quartet of stylish bucket seats, a billet, tilt steering column and matching wheel and appropriate sized stereo system that will provide the cruising tunes if Adam ever gets bored with the whine of the big cube, blown small block. Adam is keep the US-spec dash and has filled it with AutoMeter dials. The reshaped door trims will feature more billet accessories. 23
Whilst the body will remain almost as the factory had intended, Adam did take out a small piece of steel from the bonnet to allow the EFI injector hat to hang through and the old door handles will be replaced with Kindig It Design billet items. That little engine teaser lets you know there’s no stock 283 powering this cool Tudor. That hat is connected to a big blower pushing plenty of air and fuel into a 427-cube small block that features a Scat crank, H-beam rods, JE Extreme forged pistons and a sizeable Lunati solid roller cam inside the
Dart block. Dart 230 allow heads have been added after being fitted with Pac springs and Scorpion roller rockers. The engine pushes the power through a Hugo’s Raceglide with a 4500rpm converter, to a narrowed Strange 9-inch diff with 35-spline axles, floaters and a 3.9-geared Detroit locker centre. The frame has been completed renewed with the front suspension scoring tubular arms, dropped stubs, disc brakes and coil-over shocks. Down the back, there’s a triangulated four link, disc brakes and coil-overs as well.
To date, the rebuild has been a massive job, but it’s at a point now where things are happening quickly and the finishing date is within sight. With the paint due to flow onto the body early in 2022, Adam is hoping to be cruising the Chev as much as he can later in the year.
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BOTTLED UP
ANGER!
Is there anything nastier than a wheelstanding, bottle-fed, big block black Camaro? Paul Paterson doesn’t think so…
WORDS - PAUL BECK 26
PAUL PATERSON - 1967 CHEV CAMARO RS PICS - LAUREN @ XPOSED PHOTOGRAPHY 27
Actually, this story could have been so much different if things had worked out just how Paul had planned. After cruising the streets in a 383ci EK Holden and big blocked ’66 Fairlane, Paul headed to Queensland to check out a Pro-Street ’57 Chev that Roly Leahy bought in from the US. But, upon entering the workshop, Paul spotted a blue with black vinyl roof ’67 RS Camaro for sale and something inside him said “screw the ’57, get the Camaro!” Now it may very well be a guy thing, but once the Camaro was back on Victorian soil, Paul was working on a plan to change the Camaro from what it was, to something very different. Can we ever leave things alone? Probably not – but that’s a good thing, right?
Whilst the Atlantis Blue paint was in fair shape, Paul knew that the Camaro would look so much tougher in black. Before too long the Camaro was relieved of its vinyl roof and the blue paint was just a memory. For Paul, the original colour scheme made the car look like a resto, he wanted his Camaro to stand out. Thanks to Troy Favor, the PPG Jet Black and satin RS stripes have transformed the coupe into the tough street car Paul had envisioned. The Cowl Induction bonnet and boot spoiler are the only non-original additions to the exterior. Paul even had the original mouldings and badges refitted to the now glistening body. Bolting on the satin finish Centerline Auto Drag wheels (the rears with beadlocks) completed the external make-over and Paul was now sporting a grin from ear to ear.
There’s no stereo in the Camaro and why would you need one when you have a 1200hp, nitrous-sniffin’ big block providing the tunes? 28
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The Camaro’s interior has bene updated to continue that tough street car feel. The low back bucket seats that were fine in the 60’s didn’t make the cut and have been replaced by a pair of sports seats that have provision for the Pro-Force harness belts – a necessity when Paul hits the drag strip. Likewise, there’s now a chrome-moly four-point cage with a drivers intrusion bar just in case the unthinkable
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happens. Unfortunately, that puts an end to any rear seat passengers, but you can’t have everything. The factory dash has been complimented with an AutoMeter tacho with shift light with several more gauges added to the centre console and at the opening of the bonnet scoop. You can never have too much information… A wood-rimmed Grant steering wheel gives a 60’s feel.
In aspirated form, the stout Chev produced 897hp, but with a tickle of the gas, that number soured to a neck-snapping 1200-ponies!
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There’s no stereo in the Camaro and why would you need one when you have a 1200hp, nitrous-sniffin’ big block providing the tunes? Built by James Melmoth at MCE Melway Competition Engines, the 548 cube big block Chev is not just a regular runner at the track, but also on the street. James knows just what it takes to keep that street and strip balance and kicked engine build off with a new Chev Bowtie block, adding a suitable crank and Compstar H-Beam rod combo, forged pistons, and a custom roller cam. The Dart Pro 1 heads have been modified to breathe much better than they did out of the box and provide the platform for the Victor Junior intake and single 1050cfm Quick Fuel Dominator that gets plenty of
E85 pushed through it via an Aeromotive 1000 EFI pump with return. A pair of custom headers flow the gases through four-inch collectors and a dual 3.5-inch exhaust system after the Crank trigger ignition system puts the fire into the belly of the beast. In aspirated form, the stout Chev produced 897hp, but with a tickle of the gas, that number soured to a neck-snapping 1200-ponies! A reverse-pattern Turbo 400 with 9.5-inch, 5800rpm Nitrous converter feeds the power through a three-inch tailshaft to the tough nine-inch diff that features 31-spline Moser axles and a 4.11-geared centre. To date, the driveline has proved to be up to the task of dealing with the Camaro’s power – even on regular trips to the track!
THANK YOU: Paul wanted to thank some people who were involved in the Camaro’s build process and also for helping keep it a regular competition at race meets as well as on the street. They are Mikes Pipes, James Memoth at MCE Melway Competition Engines, Wayne Cartledge at Racecomp Motorsport, Danko at Addicted Performance, Burko for the transmission and of course the family – his wife Carolyn and kids Jesse and Jorgia for being patient while he plays cars… 32
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It’s one thing to have heaps of power under your right foot, but another to be able to get it to the ground in an effective way. More often than not, races are won or lost on the start line. Sending your tyres up in smoke it pointless unless you are in a burnout comp. Paul has put plenty of work into the underside of the Camaro to help it hook up when that green bulb flashes. The front end has been kitted out with “stored energy” Moroso springs and Competition Engineering 3-way adjustable shocks along with VT Commodore cross-drilled discs and AU Falcon calipers. Down at
the business end, there’s a pair of 1-inch lowered split-mono Calvert leaf springs and 9-way adjustable Calvert shocks. HQ drum brakes provide the stopping power on the rear. As you can see, there’s plenty of adjustments both ends to suit any track condition Paul is faced with. Check out the track shots and tell me that this Camaro doesn’t hook up! Those pics were taken on an airstrip! Paul said he tends to get attached to the cars he builds but with that said, he isn’t ruling out the possibility of selling the Camaro if something catches his eye in the future. Maybe a Pro-Street ’57 Chev?
Paul isn’t ruling out the possibility of selling the Camaro if something catches his eye in the future. Maybe a Pro-Street ’57 Chev? 34
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MY FAVOURITE PHOTO
Paul Bennett has built plenty of cool cars over the years - some for himself and some for customers. This 5.4-litre Ford powered 41 Willys started out as a customers car, but ended up a personal project when the customer decided he wanted out.
Paul Beck
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Some car builds are so extreme and taken to the next level that they really do become rolling works of art. Case in point, this stunning ’56 F100…
PICK-UP Artist
DAVID AQUILINA_1956 FORD F100 WORDS / PICS - PAUL BECK 40
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This fat Ford pick-up had been subjected to an extensive eight year, show car build, yet it sports a 900hp, 600ci Steve Schmidt big block Ford, chop top and over-thetop wheel and tyre combo. Yes, it almost too good for regular street use, but as owner Dave Aquilina sees it, if you’ve got it, use it! Can’t have all that engine going to waste! Dave’s a car guy having owned plenty of cool rides over the years, most of which wore the blue oval
badge including his current project, a John Goss Falcon Coupe that he is restoring. As a young guy just getting into cars, he remembers drawing many different cars, but it’s the early F100’s that have stuck in his mind. So, when the opportunity came to purchase this F-Truck, the desire to live out a child hood dream was just too strong to ignore. The truck was built in Queensland, which is where Dave picked it up from at 782 Motors.
The engine is a Steve Schmidt-built big block sporting no less than 600 cubic inches! Say it slowly and its even more impressive! 42
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What sealed the deal for Dave was that mega-cube Ford engine. Having a Chev powering it just wouldn’t have the same appeal for Dave. The engine is a Steve Schmidt-built big block sporting no less than 600 cubic inches! Say it slowly and its even more impressive! Based in Indianapolis, Steve Schmidt Competition Engines have a huge reputation for making lots of horsepower in aspirated form. Dave’s big block relies on a single Quick Fuel carb that sends the fuel through the Trick Flow intake for the big bang to happen down below. Dave’s not too sure of the engines internals, but we can tell you it uses Trick Flow alloy heads, fabricated headers that
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flow into a dual 3.5-inch stainless system and a cam that scares little old ladies when stopped at pedestrian crossings. The most important part of this engine build is the horsepower and this one makes plenty. Thank god the F100 has a big engine bay, because there’s more than 900 ponies hiding under that big bonnet! It doesn’t look half bad either! Backing that big lump of an engine is a purpose-built Turbo 400 auto designed to handle the power being pushed through it with ease. The converter has a stall speed of 3500rpm. The third member of the driveline trio is a narrowed Race Productions 9-inch diff using tough axles, a four-link and Watts link assembly.
THANKS TO: My understanding wife Kerry. She is such a huge supporter of everything I do and encourages me to follow my dreams. My good mate Carl for helping with some paint touch ups, buffing and polishing. Andy at Andy’s Restoration for his advice and help. Wayne at A1 Automotive for his invaluable help. Matt King at Kings Customs for the body and paint. Tyler at Rewire Australia for the expert wiring. Chris at BMV Engineering for the custom metal fabrication. Peter Delaney at Diamond Valley Old School for the initial mechanical work. Cameron Hayward at North Coast Custom Trim for the Interior work. 45
The chassis has had many hours put into it to, to offer a much better ride than it did in 1956. Both ends now rely on Accu-Air suspension to supply a smooth drive and also get it slammed down low when not on the move. The wheels of choice are Billet Raceline measuring a huge 22x10-inches on the front (with 255/30 Kumho tyres) and an impressive 24x12-inches on the fat rear end wrapped in 305/35 Kumho’s. As wide as they are, those big rear bags can’t cope with the gobs of torque the big block pushes at them. Wilwood discs and calipers handle the braking. It’s almost a shame to cover that detailed bright red chassis, but when you have a body like this F100, it needs to be shown off! Chris at BMV Engineering handled the initial metal work including the roof chop that saw 150mm of height removed from the roofline. Whilst noticeable. The new roof line doesn’t look out of proportion. The sheet-metal has been smoothed off with all mouldings, badges and bumper bars now a distant memory. Moving rearward from the reworked cab reveals a tray that is simply a work of art. Keeping the F100’s original-styled rear guards, Chris reshaped the tray to include
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the wheel tubs and clearance for the rear end when the air is let out of the bags. The stamped tailgate is no longer operational, not that you’d want to lower it to put stuff in the back now anyway! The complete rear of the truck is now smooth and has a recessed MORTAL numberplate, LED brake lights and a trick centre-mount exhaust opening. Matt King at Kings Customs in Kunda Park in Qld, finished off the metal work and applied the silky-smooth Titan Silver from the Honda colour chart.
Thank God the F100 has a big engine bay, because there’s more than 900 ponies hiding under that big bonnet!
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In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been restyled and covered in a mix of Red Elmosoft leather and Alcantara suede that now covers the big bench seat, door trims and headlining. The Mercedes square weave carpet blends in nicely with the material and internal metal that has been coated in Nissan Red. The standard issue dash facia now holds a bunch of late model gauges and was sourced from Dakota Digital. The tilt billet steering column is topped by an old school wheel in black and to keep the floor space uncluttered, a column mount shifter has been used. Dave reckons that even with the roof chop, there’s plenty of space inside the cabin, even for his sixfoot frame! Cameron Hayward at North Coast Custom Trim handled the top shelf stitch work.
In stark contrast to the body colour, the interior has been restyled and covered in a mix of Red Elmosoft leather and Alcantara suede... It’s obvious that there was no expense spared in the build of this custom truck. Vehicles like this rarely get offered up for sale, and Dave wants to send a special thank you to his wife Kerry for encouraging him to do what makes him happy. When Dave showed Kerry the F100, she pushed him into buying it, despite the hefty price tag. Good work Kerry! Though spare time is at a premium for Dave, he tries to get the truck out occasionally for a cruise. There’s a couple of show appearances coming up including Killer Rides Live #4 in August. But for Dave, it’s not all about driving it and showing it. He did admit that he enjoys cleaning it and just looking at it. Much the same way you would sit and stare at a prized piece of artwork in a gallery. 48
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SUDDEN
Impact
You don’t throw a 780hp big block engine at your car and paint it Pearl Orange if you don’t want to stand out in a crowd!
GLENN PHEGAN - HJ HOLDEN WORDS / PICS - PAUL BECK 50
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Some people crave the limelight, needing to be the centre of attention all the time. And then there’s guys like Glenn Phegan would would rather sit back and let his over-powered, retina-burning HJ Holden do all the talking, no make that shouting! When Glenn found this car in Sydney, it was basically a roller - a 80’s style roller with Dragway wheels, velour interior and tinted windows. For Glenn, it was the perfect start. “It was in pretty good condition, and I ended up filling the engine bay with a blown 383ci small block Chev. It stayed that way for a year or so whilst I enjoyed cruising
it.” Glenn explained. “Then, while removing the tinted windows with a heat gun, I accidentally melted part of the trim on the back seat. That incident was the catalyst for the cars first major rebuild.” When the HJ re-emerged onto the scene, it was a much better car. Glenn had the right people do the right job and the end result was an absolute head-turner. But still, there were issues with running that blown motor on the street. After more defect notices, Glenn decided enough was enough and opted to replace the pumped small block for an aspirated big block. Enter the ex-drag 509-cuber.
After more defect notices, Glenn decided enough was enough and opted to replace the pumped small block for an aspirated big block. Enter the ex-drag 509-cuber.
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Whilst the 509 had all the right credentials, it proved to be way too unreliable as a street engine and was beginning to be a right pain. A trip to see Grant Watt at Grants Performance was all that was required for Glenn to give Grant the green light on the new engine combo. Grant went through the old gear and managed to re-use just the intake manifold and carby. Starting with a virgin Dart block, Grant upped to cubic capacity to 540-inches and filled the bottom end with the right gear
to provide plenty of performance, with a focus placed on being reliable. The forged crank, Oliver rods, JE forged pistons, Crower cam and lifter kit and Mellings oil pump form the basis for a stout short engine. From there, the Brodix alloy heads were bolted down along with the CNC-ported Super Victor intake and 1250cfm Dominator carb. A pair of custom headers feed the spent gases into a dual 3.5inch exhaust system and eventually out to play havoc with the atmosphere...
The HJ has been rebuilt twice since Glenn has had his name on the rego papers, and by far, this time around is the most impressive.
With 540 cubic inches of Chev ready to go on the dyno, Glenn was getting anxious to see what the new combo had produced. Knowing that Grant’s dyno is as accurate as they get, he was beside himself when the engine produced an impressive 780hp on Premium 98-octane pump fuel. Sure, it might be over the top for a street car, but who decides what is enough, and when does it become to much? Not Glenn, that’s for sure. The engine was built three years ago and was recently given a freshen up. All that was required was a set of bearings. Now that’s a reliable street engine! A fullmanual Turbo 400 auto backs the big block and feeds the power through to the fabricated 9-inch diff that holds 4.11-gears and 35-spline axles. 54
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When Glenn melted part of the seat, it gave him the perfect excuse for a complete interior makeover. The team at Resurrection Trim re-padded and retrimmed the factory seats in black leather with cool Ostrich inserts. The double Orange stitching adds a nice contrast to the all-black trim and brings the body colour indoors. The Isotta steering wheel sits just forward of the GTS dash that is complimented by an array of AutoMeter gauges. A custom centre console was also added and is formed around the B&M ProRatchet shifter and Accel ignition control pad. A complete Kenwood sound system was added to compete with the 780 wild ponies running from the engine bay.
The fact is, even the Pope himself couldn’t compete with Pearl Orange when it comes to taking centre stage.
The HJ has been rebuilt twice since Glenn has had his name on the rego papers, and by far, this time around is the most impressive. Just check out that colour! You’d be forgiven for thinking that Glenn is an attention seeker. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, even the Pope himself couldn’t compete with Pearl Orange when it comes to taking centre stage. You may not be able to see them, but there’s Ghost flames laid onto the HJ’s flanks to compliment the body colour. But before the colour was added by the guys at Kingpins Kustom Paint & Panel, the body was stripped back and had years of neglect massaged from its panels. GTS guards were added along with a large cowl scoop. Not making a return this time around were all the badges and mouldings for a much smoother look. The 19x8 and 20x10 polished Intro Billets match the body colour perfectly. 56
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Glenn now has the HJ right where he wants it to be. Its got plenty of grunt, is reliable as he needs it to be and its not to bad on the eyes either! So for now, that car is done. Time to enjoy it more with lots of cruising, showing and generally having a good time in it. That’s not to say Glenn has finished building cars. He has just purchased a windowless HX Panel Van and will be getting stuck into it soon. He has firm plans on what he wants with the Van and intends on doing the job just once this time. Trust me, this one will be spectacular when its completed! Stay tuned...
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BOLT
FROM THE BLUE!
An incident in the home garage kick-started a rebuild that was only ever going to be a repaint. Yep, we know how that story goes!
RAY & ANGUS PIROTTA - 1971 XY FALCON WORDS / PICS – PAUL BECK 60
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More often than not, car enthusiasts need only the slightest excuse to make some upgrades to their weekend cruiser. Sometimes you have to go looking for a reason to justify the time and cost, and sometimes fate plays a part – and that’s what happened to Ray and Angus Pirotta with their XY Falcon. The father and son duo were more than happy cruising in their GT-inspired Falcon with its 351 running sweet and the Electric blue paint glistening. Ray had grown up around this era of tough Falcon’s with his father sharing the same taste in cars. In fact, Ray had owned this car since he was 18! After some shelving dislodged in the garage and found itself taking out the side of the once pristine Falcon, Ray was forced with having to have the Falcon’s body
and paint fixed, but as seems to be the case for those with high-octane fuel running through their veins, the desire to take the Falcon to the next level took over and before too long the XY had been stripped down to its birthday suit in preparation for a host of upgrades and a whole new Pro-Touring attitude.
Whoever said size doesn’t matter obviously never got to drive a 600-plus cube classic muscle car! 62
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Whilst the 351 Clevo engine was no slouch, the need for more horsepower saw Ray opt for a A460ci ‘Eliminator’ big block. The team at Winmalee Car Care in the NSW Blue Mountains were given the task of building a very special engine combo that would grace the Falcon’s engine bay like a piece of jewellery in a box. Obviously, the hero piece of this engine is the trick injection set-up manufactured by Shaun’s Custom Alloy. The eight throttle-body set-up supplies ample amounts of Premium pump fuel to the Trick Flow alloyheaded big block below. Most people would be expecting to see
the Shaker when the bonnet is lifted, and with the bonnet down, that’s what you’d expect. But the Shaker is a permanent fixture to the bonnet giving the Falcon that classis GT look whilst hiding the real heart of the engine combo. Now sporting an impressive 604 cubic inches, the over-sized bottom end features a 4.5” crank and 4.625” rods to achieve the goal. Whoever said size doesn’t matter obviously never got to drive a 600-plus cube classic muscle car! Although the engine hasn’t been dyno’d, those in the know reckon there’s a conservative 800-plus horsepower on offer.
In keeping with the Pro-Touring theme, the big block has been backed with a 6-speed Tremec Magnum box that features the power rearwards to the full-floater Race Products rear end. If you can take your eyes off the gorgeous Rushforth wheels for just a moment, you’ll notice the large Pizza sized disc rotors and 6-spot VTTR calipers front and rear. There’s also a host of RRS gear added to the Falcon’s underside including the master cylinder (under the dash), front struts, rear custom coil overs and a complete rack and pinion steering assembly. Lowered King springs have also been added. The Falcon now handles and brakes as well as it performs!
The boys drive the wheels off the Falcon so the interior is more about practicality than anything else. 64
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After changing so much of the Falcon’s driveline, Ray and Angus thought a change of colour was on the cards. The boys spotted this cool custom blue on a Mustang at SEMA but when Ray contacted the owner, he wasn’t interested in sharing the paint code. Option two was for the then 15-year old Angus to write an email saying he was building a Falcon and really loved the colour. Long story short, the owner was happy to help Angus out and sent the paint code which PPG then mixed for Glen at the Repair Shed to lay onto the smoothed-
out body. GT-spec black outs and cool 604-GT striping complete the body and paint. Opening the doors reveals what appears to be a pristine GT Falcon interior. Certainly, the black leather, GT-badging and woodgrain highlights indicate as such. The boys drive the wheels off the Falcon so the interior is more about practicality than anything else. The stereo has been updated with a retro-digital head unit and better quality speakers for when the boys get tired of listening to the sound of those trumpets inhaling copious amounts of air!
This isn’t the only cool car in the Pirotta stable with a blown ’57 Chev and elites-styled LC Torana also taking up space in the garage.
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This isn’t the only cool car in the Pirotta stable with a blown ’57 Chev and elites-styled LC Torana also taking up space in the garage. With more additions happening soon, this Father and Son team are building quite a collection of toys. You know what they say, the family that plays together, stay together. Good thing they have a common interest in tough street cars…
After changing so much of the Falcon’s driveline, Ray and Angus thought a change of colour was on the cards. 68
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E E S O T T N A W U DO YO R A C T E E R T S E C PERFORMAN BACK IN PRINT? I am looking at putting together a printed version of Performance Street Car Magazine every two months. The digital version will still be available free of charge online every month. If this is something you’d like to see, click on the link and check out all of the details and register your interest. www.pscmag.com.au
Y L N O N O I T P I R C S B U S s t n e g a s w e N in le b a il Not Ava Only $77.70 per year! . le b a il a v A s ie p o C d e it Lim
LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN - IT’S UP TO YOU!
TUNNEL
VISION
Theo Sterg had just one goal in mind – to own one of the toughest AP5’s in the country. Mission accomplished!
THEO STERG - 1964 VALIANT AP5 WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - LAUREN / XPOSED PHOTOGRAPHY RACE PICS - MICHELLE / BRIGHT DESIGN 72
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Not many people can say they kept their very first car, let alone attest to creating a mechanical monster with it. It was 1985 when a young Theo handed over $250 for the AP5 that was part of a deceased estate in Melbourne. Whilst it was treated as every day transport for a while, Theo longed for the day when his Valiant could sit amongst other tough cars in the Melbourne car scene. Fast forward a bunch of years and the once-stock sedan had seen various levels of modification. Theo now has the Valiant at a stage where he is almost at the point of considering it finished. The desire to transform the Valiant from family cruiser to hardcore Pro-Streeter saw Theo prefer to spend his hardearned dollars on the mechanicals rather than modifying the body. The factory sheet metal was in relatively good condition when the transfer of ownership took place, so very little work was needed to get it back to a stage where it was ready for a new coat of Dulux Jet Black that was laid on by Andrew Giahtsidis at ESP. Theo kept the stock look with the only change made being a piece of bonnet steel removed for the induction to poke through.
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Theo’s intentions for the Val were obviously straight-line speed, so it comes as no surprise to see some basic steering, suspension and braking upgrades.
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The interior was starting to show its age, so Theo had Terry’s Motor Trimming recover the VF Valiant bucket seats, factory rear bench in black cloth whilst the door trims remain untouched. The AP5 dash facia now holds an array of AutoMeter gauges that sit just behind the original steering wheel. A Pioneer sound system was added to the dash and the factory shifter has made way for a more practical TCI Outlaw shifter that has been adapted to the centre console. The boot area now holds the fuel cell, pump and battery. Sure, the mini-tubs filled with 15x10 Aluma Stars and matching 17x4.5inch front runners give the Valiant a tough look, but looks alone will only get you so far. For Theo, a tough driveline was always on the cards. Theo consulted with Con Sagiaris at Pro Race Engines about piecing together a big horsepower Mopar small block that matches the tough stance the Valiant has taken on.
On the dyno, the engine produced an impressive 703hp!
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Starting with a Mopar Performance R3, Con prepped the block and added a Scat crank, Scat H-beam rods, Diamond pistons, high-volume oil pump and a custom camshaft with a menacing idle – just what every tough street car deserves. The tough bottom end now sports a capacity of big block proportions – 441cubic inches! Con then added a pair of Edelbrock alloy heads and filled the gap with a Weiand tunnel ram and twin Quick Fuel 750cfm carbs to feed the fire below with ample amounts of 98-octane fuel. An ICE ignition system provides ample spark to burn the fuel. The exhaust system starts as a pair of snug fitting headers and flows through no less than four mufflers. On the dyno, the engine produced an impressive 703hp! An everpopular two-speed Powerglide has been adapted to the back of the rammed small block and uses a 5600rpm TCE converter to help send those stampeding ponies through to the TruTrak 9-inch diff fitted with 35-spline axles and full-floaters. Street car drivelines don’t get much tougher.
Not many people can say they kept their very first car, let alone attest to creating a mechanical monster with it. Theo’s intentions for the Val were obviously straight-line speed, so it comes as no surprise to see some basic steering, suspension and braking upgrades. The Torsion bar front end remains, but has been updated considerably with the fitting of the VC Commodore steering rack, Moroso Competition front shocks and Nolathane bushes. The rear-end scored a Gazzard Bros mono-leaf slide link, Moroso shocks and again, Nolathane bushes. Pulling the big Val up after a quick hit down the quarter is a quartet of disc – PBR on the nose and Wilwood on the rear, with the Wilwood master cylinder controlling all four. 78
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Theo is quite content at the moment with how the AP5 is looking and running. For the time being, he is happy to cruise the car as much as possible and get a few runs down the quarter when the time allows. That is of course, until he decides the AP5 needs some more power. Will that include a Procharger to replace the tunnel ram and twin fours? Time will tell…
The AP5 dash facia now holds an array of AutoMeter gauges that sit just behind the original steering wheel.
THANKS TO: My family for all their help, support and long hours during the build. Con Sagiaris and Andrea Murphy from Pro Race Engines. Alex Kasidiaris, Con Giatrakos, Steven Maheras, Andrew Giahtsidis from ESP. Tony Kamarinos from TJ’s. Race Radiators. Daniel and the boys from All Race. Michael from Ice Ignitions. Speed Pro. Michael Sironic. Jim from Terry’s Motor Trimming. Castlemaine Rod Shop. Barney’s Exhausts. Addicted Performance for the dyno and Custom Engines. 80
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FRYDAY_QUEENSLAND RACEWAY WORDS /PICS - HI-OCTANE MOTORSPORT & PHOTOGRAPHY
THANK GOD IT’S
There’s always something about heading to the track that gets the adrenaline pumping. Even more so when you get to take a day off work and replace it with some tyre-slaying, methanol-burning action at Queensland Raceway!
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The newest kid on the block to hit the event scene is Fryday, and if any of the early reviews are anything to go by, it’s set to turn into one of the Must-attend events on the Queensland calendar! With a multitude of different sessions within the event itself, such as Powerskids, Roll racing, Drifting Fryday Thrash Sessions, & Family cruise sessions, where kids aged 5 and up are allowed to jump in with mum and dad in their track car for a few laps cruising around the QR Paperclip circuit, it covers all bases for anyone wanting to get out and enjoy their rides while getting maximum track time bang for their buck.
You see, the way the event is structured gives everyone guaranteed amounts of time on the track, through their group allocation system. 84
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You see, the way the event is structured gives everyone guaranteed amounts of time on the track, through their group allocation system. This system has been used successfully in Time Attack & Sprints style events previously and has been adopted by the organisers to ensure a smooth & fair way to make sure that no one leaves the event wishing they had more time on track! Previous events have seen each entrant guaranteed a minimum of 4 hours of cruising time for the day, with all the extras such as burnouts, powerskids, roll racing and drifting thrown in on top of that! The biggest complaint so far is that entrants didn’t bring enough fuel and tyres to last the day. That’s not a bad problem for the promoters to have!
...if any of the early reviews are anything to go by, it’s set to turn into one of the must-attend events on the Queensland calendar! 86
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If Burnouts are your thing, then Fryday has you covered. Every Fryday event at QR promises that the burnout pad is open all day! This ensures that anyone who wants to, can skid all day until their hearts content (Or they run out of tyres to destroy!). Another feature of the event is the Fryday Thrasher demos, where some of Queensland’s TOUGHEST Pro-burnout are cars hand selected to put on a show on the main straight for some spectator eye-candy. These are always a hit, guaranteeing that no matter where you are standing along pit wall when these demos start, you’re sure to get a great view of some incredible high speed tip in action!
Fryday #4 is coming up on Friday, November 19, and with a MAXIMUM of 250 cars permitted for any event, entries are selling fast! Drivers entries start at $160 for the entire day, with gates opening at 7:30am through to 5:30pm and can be purchased online from the Hi-Octane Motorsport & Photography website. For all info about the event, and how to enter or purchase spectator passes, head to www.Hi-Octane.com.au and click on “Event Tickets”
The biggest complaint so far is that entrants didn’t bring enough fuel and tyres to last the day. That’s not a bad problem for the promoters to have! 88
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FULL PIT ACCESS 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
GRUDGE KINGS MOVES TO DECEMBER 11TH 2021
It seems like forever since the last Grudge Kings event filled Sydney Dragway with all the noise and horsepower its rekown for. The Covid pandemic has not been kind to Po and his Grudge Kings team, having to postpone the event several times because of Government issued restrictions.
HIDDEN VALLEY DRAG STRIP www.hiddenvalleydrags.com No Events Listed at this Time
NAME: Wade Wagstaff
STEEL CITY DRAG CLUB www.steelcitydrags.com
OCCUPATION: Groundsman VEHICLE: 57 Chev
SUNSET STRIP MILDURA www.sunsetstrip.org.au Oct 30 Race Ya Mates.
DRIVELINE: Screw blown 521 Noona Hemi with Ty-drive lockup and 5-speed Liberty gearbox.
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
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RACER PROFILE
BEST ET & MPH: 3.79@200mph
But, with those restrictions gradually being lifted just as this mag went live, the decision was made to postpone the event until Saturday 11th December where it is hoped we can all get to see the biggest Pro-Street styled event in the country. For more information on classes, times and of course the big show and shine, head to www.grudgekings.net
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN RACING: Racing alongside the best in the World at No Mercy & Lights Out in the USA. FIERCEST COMPETITOR: Terry Seng / Kyle Hopf FAVOURITE PLACE TO RACE: Willowbank Raceway FAVOURITE CLASS TO WATCH: Radial Vs. The World. CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Qualifying 13th out of 50-plus cars in Radial Vs. The World at No Mercy. FUTURE PLANS: No big future plans as yet. Just keep chipping away on the combo at each Kenda round and having fun! WORDS TO LIVE BY: Live for Today! 91
FULL PIT ACCESS
OUTLAW DRAG RADIAL TOP TEN LIST
WILLOWBANK RACEWAY TURNS 36!
Thanks to many volunteers that put their time, effort, blood, sweat and tears into its construction all those years ago, Willowbank Raceway was ready to stage its first race way back in 1985. From that point on, the raceway has been a huge success and to this date, still stages the largest drag racing event outside of the USA – the Winternationals. Fans of Drag Racing owe a debt of gratitude to those individuals that not only had the foresight to start construction on the venue, but to those that continue to make the Raceway the success that it is…
VIDEO OF THE MONTH
TAKE A RIDE IN A NITROUS PRO-MOD CAMARO Video by TheRacingVids - Youtube
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1/8 MILE - OUTLAW 1. Wade Wagstaff 2. Kyle Hopf/Terry Seng 3. Steve Ham 4. Joe Gauci 5. Perry Bullivant 6. Craig Burns 7. Daniel Szabolics 8. Harley Hamilton 9. Ben Bray 10. John Ricca
3.790 @ 200.26mph 3.831 @ 204.94mph 3.837 @ 205.63mph 3.850 @ 201.00mph 3.860 @ 202.61mph 3.890 @ 192.92mph 3.890 @ 190.00mph 3.940 @ 197.00mph 3.959 @ 201.76mph 3.964 @ 199.49mph
1/8 MILE – 275 TYRE 1. Farrugia/Androutsos 2. Stu Henry 3. Tim Cross 4. Tony Webb 5. Michael Kalaitzakis 6. Sam Metro/Maatouk 7. Steve Bezzina 8. Sean Muscat 9. Matt McCarthy 10. Varun Sharman
4.155 @ 186.12mph 4.196 @ 176.80mph 4.290 @ 178.95mph 4.347 @ 177.42mph 4.363 @ 186.02mph 4.422 @ 175.25mph 4.436 @ 171.71mph 4.437 @ 168.22mph 4.450 @ 168.75 mph 4.470 @ 16.736 mph
¼ MILE - OUTLAW 1. Joe Gauci 2. Sam Metro/Maatouk 3. Farrugia/Androutsos 4. Daniel Nunziante 5. Dom Luppino 6. Profab/Forster 7. Perry Bullivant 8. Mark Leake 9. Steve Bezzina 10. Harley Hamilton
6.052 @ 241.50mph (315) 6.472 @ 219.94mph (275) 6.557 @ 215.93mph (275) 6.580 @ 228mph 6.600 @ 230mph (315) 6.620 @ 192mph (315) 6.670 @ 217mph (315) 6.700 @ 220mph (315) 6.723 @ 208.88mph (275) 6.782 @ 168mph (315)
¼ MILE – 275 TYRE 1. Sam Metro/Maatouk 2. Farrugia/Androutsos 3. Steve Bezzina 4. Varun Sharma 5. Tim Cross 6. Nader/Maatouk 7. Joe Gauci 8. Robert Marjan 9. Frank Tarabay 10. Danny Busbridge
6.472 @ 219.94mph 6.557 @ 215.93mph 6.723 @ 208.88mph 6.790 @ 212.16mph 6.800 @ 214.00mph 6.840 @ 209.00mph 6.850 @ 215.00mph 6.868 @ 204.20mph 6.940 @ 204.00mph 6.940 @ 199.64mph
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R A E Y
H C T E R ST
Robert Webster’s Pro-Street LH Torana is proof that nothing great happens quickly or without the help of some hardcore mates!
ROBERT WEBSTER - 1974 LH TORANA WORDS & PICS - PAUL BECK 94
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Seven years ago, Rob rolled a well-used LH Torana into his home garage with the intention of building himself a tough street car. Nothing over the top, just a nice streeter with a tough engine that he could cruise anywhere, anytime. Being a panel guy by trade, Rob took the job at hand in his stride and set about removing a huge amount of rust from around the windows, floors, sills and roof – which eventually got replaced due to the amount of rot that had set into the turret itself. Rob spent countless hours alone in the shed repairing the Torana’s body shell and hanging panels before high-filling everything in readiness for colour. Body mods have been kept to the very minimum with the rear wheel arches being stretched 3-inches to accommodate the bigger rubber and the bumper bars and bonnet replaced with fibreglass items. But before the top of the Torana was finished off, Rob had some changes to make to the underside. Knowing just how big the rear wheel and tyre combo was going to be, Rob started to tub the rear end after Red at Craft Diff’s supplied a narrowed nine-inch diff assembly. But like the top half, Rob had to replace the boot floor and part of the chassis rail section due to that dreaded rust. With the body working tools now packed away, the underside got coated in gloss black. The original coat of PPG Breeze Green colour was added by well-known Pro-Street racer Peter Pronesti, but after an incident at a roll-racing meet at Sydney Motorsport Park where the Torana got rear-ended in the staging lanes, Rob had Chris Harriot recoat the Torana after Rob had repaired the damage. It was at this stage that the G-Pak stripes were added to compliment the body colour.
A Pro-Street inspired Torana is not so tough if the engine bay houses a stock 253. There’s no fear of that here with a purposebuilt 434-cube LS small block providing plenty of power 96
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Inside, the Torana is all business. The 6-point roll cage was bent up by Rod Andrews and welded in by Rob’s Dad Peter. The standard issue front seats are long gone with a pair of lightweight RCI buckets taking up the same space. The 5-point harness belts are also from the RCI catalogue. The Torana rear seat has been modified to work in with the enlarged wheel tubs. Jason from J&S Trimming added the black and grey material to the seats and factory-styled door trims as well as the headlining. Though an original SL/R steering wheel now tops the column, the dash is anything but Holden based. There’s no less than six AutoMeter gauges occupying the custom facia with a shift light added to the steering column keeping Rob up to date with what’s happening with the Torana’s vitals. Keeping the Pro-Street theme going is a Hurst shifter. The boot houses part of the roll cage and all of the fuel system comprising of a fuel cell, surge tank, pump, filter and of course, the battery. If you’re a light traveller, you may get one suitcase in there – but it would need to be a very small one…
After a seven-year build, Rob enjoys nothing more than jumping behind the wheel and cruising the Torana.
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A Pro-Street inspired Torana is not so tough if the engine bay houses a stock 253. There’s no fear of that here with a purpose-built 434-cube LS small block providing plenty of power for the lightweight Holden. Built by Jenkins Engines, the NextGen Dart block houses a tough as nails rotating system that forms the perfect platform for the West Coast heads and Holley EFI intake manifold complete with 102mm throttle body that gets its feed from a flash-tuned standard Commodore ECU. The over-the-radiator air induction gets plenty of fresh air into the LS-stroker. A pair of custom headers eventually unwind to flow into a dual 3-inch
exhaust system that runs through no less than four mufflers that do their best to keep the sweet noise to an acceptable level for street use. After Gerald Reid at Springwood Car Care provided a tune, the EFI fed 434-cuber made an impressive 503-horsepower at those sizeable rear treads on the dyno. Transferring that power to the modified rear end is a two-speed Powerglide that has full manual internals and a TCI converter that tops out at 5000rpm. The diff uses a 3.77 Richmond geared centre and 35-spline Mark Williams axles to deal with the stresses and strains being sent through it. That’s one pretty serious driveline…
Though an original SL/R steering wheel now tops the column, the dash is anything but Holden based. 100
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Finishing off the build is a set of rarely-seen big and little Centerline Convo wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson rubber - the rears measuring a whopping 15x29x12.5-inches! Hiding behind the wheels are Wilwood discs on the front and HQ drums on the rear that do their absolute best to slow the Torana down when needed. Helping the Torana handle as best it can under the circumstances are Bilstein shocks and coils on the front and Strange coil-overs on the bum. It may be considered basic, but it works for what Rob needs. After a seven-year build, Rob enjoys nothing more than jumping behind the wheel and cruising the Torana. Even though the engine is tough as hell, it is still very streetable and even in 40-degree days, the temperature doesn’t creep past 180! As he always intended, Rob can cruise the Torana anywhere, at any time. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Thanks to: Jenkins Engines. Red at Craft Diffs. Rod Andrews. Peter Pronesti. Justin Doyle at Sunnyholt Electrical. Jason at J&S Trimming. Domanic Pelle for the gearbox. Gerald Reid at Springwood Car Care. Chris Harriott.
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The EFI fed 434-cuber made an impressive 503-horsepower at those sizeable rear treads on the dyno.
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KILLER PIC
Pro-Street Legend Peter “KV” Sanderson - Camaro
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PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Advertise your business here from just $55 per month* * Based on 6-month Booking @ 1/8 page size.
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WINDOW SHOPPING FULL RIVER HC BATTERIES AT R&J BATTERIES
The new look Fullriver HC Batteries are available at R&J Batteries. The slick black design replaced the original yellow casings to highlight their High Cycle, High Cranking and High-Performance capabilities. The range features advanced AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology that avoids corrosion and makes them inherently safer.
These batteries are built to provide a genuine no-compromise, high output solution for both starting and cycling applications. Fullriver HC batteries are perfectly suited for classic cars, performance cars & motorsport. Available in sizes from 100 up to 1400 CCA, visit rjbatt.com.au for more information.
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BORGESON STEERING COMPONENTS AT SUPERFORMANCE
If you’re looking to upgrade your cool old streeter’s steering assembly, you simply can’t go passed a new steering box assembly from Borgeson. With a wide range available to suit all kinds of left-hand drive American vehicles, your car will steer better than ever in no time. I just fitted a power steering unit to my ’62 Chev, updating the manual steering to power. The company also supplies shafts, knuckles and anything else you may need. Superformance stock a wide range of Borgeson products and if they don’t have what you need, they will get it in quick smart. www.superformance.com.au
JADA LOONEY TUNES WILE E. COYOTE & 1970 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER 1/24 SCALE DIE-CAST NOW AT PRIZED PIECES
This 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner takes its styling cue directly from the Looney Tunes character, Wile E. Coyote. Featuring a die-cast body, rubber tires, opening hood, doors, and trunk. Also included with the truck is a 2.75” collectible Wile E. Coyote die-cast figure and this is sure to be a standout in any vehicle collection! Get yours now from Prized Pieces. Just $50! I’ve got mine - don’t you miss out. Contact Matt now - 0413 112682 or jump online at www.prizedpieces.com.au
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COMING EVENTS OCTOBER 17 QLD - HARRIGANS ROD & CUSTOM SHOW Harrigans Lane, Jacobs Well fueleddesignsaus@gmail.com
DECEMBER 5 NSW - SUNDAZE CRUISE NIGHT Guzman V Gomez, Penrith 5pm-9pm 11
NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS Wetherill Park - Permit No. T21/46
12
VIC - LYGON STREET BREAKFAST Kingpin Kuztums - 7am-12pm
18
NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS Wetherill Park - Permit No. T21/46
26
NSW - SUBLIME CARS Sublime Point, Buli Tops 11am-2pm
17
NSW - WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL CAR SHOW. 9am-1pm Doug - 0407 296125
17
NSW - BERRY MOTOR FAIR 185 Strongs Rd, Jaspers Brush
24
NSW - NSW ALL CHRYSLER DAY Museum of Fire, Penrith
24
NSW -REDS BIG BREAKY Luddenham Showgrounds
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MAY NSW - EAST HILLS CHARITY CAR SHOW 13-15 NSW - LATE GREAT CHEV CONVENTION Kelso Oval Panania Shellharbour & Surrounding Areas
NOVEMBER 7 NSW - STEPHEN SHORT MEMORIAL CAR SHOW Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill Henry - 0467 705456 13 14
2022
www.pscmag.com.au/lgcconvention
AUGUST 13/14NSW - KILLER RIDES LIVE #4 Illawarra Hockey Centre Unanderra www.pscmag.com.au/killer-rides-live
NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS Wetherill Park - Permit No. T21/46 OCTOBER 17-22 NSW / VIC- PSC ROAD TRIP NSW - NSW ALL FORD DAY Wollongong to Ballarat Charity Cruise Sydney Dragway www.pscmag.com.au/road-trip
NSW - CARS UNDER THE STARS NOVEMBER Wetherill Park - Permit No. T21/46 12/13NSW - HOT ROD & HARLEY EXPO Illawarra Hockey Centre Unanderra 26-28 VIC - SPRINGNATS www.pscmag.com.au/hot-rod-harley-show Shepparton Showgrounds www.autofest.com.au Please check closer to the day to see if any of these events have been cancelled due to Covid 19. 110 20
CRUISING SHOW AND SHINE SWAP MEET
Late Great Chevy
CONVENTION 1958 - 1964
RESTOS CUSTOMS RACE CARS LOWRIDERS PROJECTS
TRAVEL PERMIT T22/03
MAY 13-15, 2022 - SHELLHARBOUR, NSW
For more information, contact Paul 0432 795336 - paul@pscmag.com.au Check out the website - www.pscmag.com.au/lgcconvention
Magazine
4 # E LIV
www.pscmag.com.au
TRAVEL PERMIT T22/02
STREET MACHINES HOT RODS DRAG CARS CUSTOM BIKES TRADE STANDS & MORE!
AUGUST 13-14, 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON: CAR & BIKE ENTRY TRADE STANDS & SPONSORSHIP Please contact Paul Beck (0432) 795336 paul@pscmag.com.au or Via Facebook
ILLAWARRA HOCKEY CENTRE, UNANDERRA www.pscmag.com.au
Shepparton Showgrounds, Shepparton Vic NEWNOVEMBER 24th to 28th JANUARY 21-22-23, 20222021
DATES! Proudly Supported By
Enter Online at www.autofest.com.au
1 2 0 2 H T 1 1 C E D SATURDAY
PARTING SHOT See you next Issue!
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2004 EASTERNATS
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Paul Beck 0432 795336 paul@pscmag.com.au
PUBLISHING EDITOR Paul Beck paul@pscmag.com.au Phone 0432 795336
MAILING ADDRESS
PO Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529
WEBSITE
www.pscmag.com.au
VALUED CONTRIBUTORS
Lauren Jade @ Xposed Photography Chad Silvey @ Pics by Chaddo Leisa Bonnici @ Fordgal Images Blake Williamson @ Insane Grunt Photography John Antoniw @ 9000rpm Photography Jimmy Tee Photography Greg ‘Beach’ Ball - Joe Crispin - Jason Lowe Luke Hunter @ Hunter Media Charlie Sant @ Pro Flo Performance Gary Rosier - www.carsplaneslandscapes.com
