RACE ALL DAY
R3 TAURANGA TRUSTPOWER BAYPARK STADIUM FEBRUARY 28/29 TUNE IN LIVE
CANT MAKE BAYPARK? TUNE IN LIVE ON SKY TV FROM 3PM SATURDAY FOR D1NZ LIVE.
» INTERNATIONAL GUEST DRIVERS » KASPA TRANSMISSION HOT ROD AND CAR SHOW FEATURING
PRO SPORT - ROUND 2 DON’T HAVE SKY?
GRAB YOUR WEEKEND PASS ON SKY NOW
TICKETS VIA: D1NZ.COM
PARTY ALL NIGHT!
Featuring NZ’s Mt Eden George FM resident DJ’s + more to be announced
FEBRUARY 29 TRUSTPOWER BAYPARK STADIUM
20
MAXIMUM ATTACK
A LOOK AT THE FIVE WILDEST SR S CHASSIS’ IN NZ
38 62
REINCARNATION HI-POWER MODE 394KW EVO II CIRCUIT DESTROYER
HKS STROKER 650KW R34 GT-R
76
themotorhood.com
4
STAY OFF THE GRASS
4A-GTE-POWERED MK2 ESCORT
46 006 EDITORIAL 008 ED. TEAM CHATTER 010 NEWS 014 GIG GUIDE 018 SOCIAL SLAM 061 SUBSCRIBE AND RECEIVE 072 D1NZ DRIVER UPDATES 074 FAST FACTS 084 P’CAR BABE 086 CRUISE MODE 092 WEEKEND WARRIOR 094 PRODUCT PROFILE - KIWIPLATES 096 PRODUCTS 098 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 100 DAILY DRIVEN 102 LOCAL SPECIALISTS 104 DRAG TIMES
30
70
88
030 ANIMAL STYLE GP TWO OF THE USA’S BEST WHEELMEN TOUCH DOWN IN NZ 046 PRODRIVE AND SUBARU A LOOK BACK AT ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS IN MOTORSPORT
070PADDON CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP RALLYSPORT EV BUILD UPDATE 088 PRODUCT TEST RAIN-X HEADLIGHT RESTORATION
54
SECOND COMING WELLY HARDPARK 2020
84
EDITORIAL
2020 CELEBRATIONS
H
ey everybody, it’s a new year, hip hip hooray! My start to the year in terms of cars was a slow one. I spent more time watching from the sidelines than actively racing as I’d planned to, but that’s race car building; sometimes it just does not go your way. You just have to roll with the punches — not throw your toys out of the cot — and focus on problem solving. That’s enough about my race season shortcomings. What I really want to talk about are some local successes that I think are worth shouting about, and kicking 2020 off with a positive vibe. First of those was the Hoonigan video featuring local wheelman, Carl Thompson. Carl is a talented car builder, someone who knows how to piece together a damn tough race car, evidenced by the last three he screwed together. His style of car is always hinged around a brutal power plant shoehorned into a shell that’s finished in such a clinical and functional fashion you’d think a high-end race shop had built it. Carl shipped his latest S15 build to America in late 2019, and while there, as well as taking part in SEMA and other activities, he took a trip to the famous Hoonigan Burnyard at Irwindale. To say that he impressed the Americans, not only with his car style but also with his ruthless skids — yes, plural — would be a gross understatement. He tore that yard up to the sweet soundtrack of a large-capacity, highcompression small block. He did New Zealand proud! Keeping on that drifting vibe, January also saw a couple of American drivers brought down to party with the best locally — no, not for D1NZ, although there are a couple of Aussie drivers contesting that; what I’m talking about is team Animal Style and the Animal Style GP. It was amazing to see how many Kiwi drivers from both islands came together to party at Hampton Downs. Never before have we seen such a contingent of drift teams from both isles in one place, so hats off to the hard-working chaps behind D-Club for putting it all together. Without these guys doing the hard yards, events like this just would not happen.
The third thing I want to touch on is not a new success, but one that’s been over a decade in action. Late in 2019 we put the finishing touches to a special edition of NZ Performance Car, one that will go on sale later this month alongside the regular issue. Its focus is the most successful person to come out of the import scene in New Zealand. I’m of course talking about ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett, a man whose vocation is building and driving rotaries. What his small Kiwi team have managed to achieve from their NZ-based shop is amazing, and if you don’t find that inspiring I don’t know what will. I can’t think of a more fitting person to dedicate an entire bio magazine to, can you? This will be on sale at all the regular outlets at the end of the month and online at magstore.nz. We don’t celebrate our successes enough, so I’m going to make a big focus of this in 2020!
Marcus Gibson
Email: marcus@performancecar.co.nz Instagram: marcus.momowerks
themotorhood.com/nzperformancecar
EDITOR Marcus Gibson, marcus@performancecar.co.nz ASSISTANT EDITOR Jaden Martin, jaden@performancecar.co.nz SUBEDITORS Karen Alexander, Peter Kelly PROOFREADER Odelia Schaare, Peter Kelly SENIOR DESIGNER Mark Gibson DESIGNER Day Barnes, Henry Khov ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Renae Fisher CONTRIBUTORS Aaron Mai, Danny Wood, Glen McNamara, Hayden Paddon, Keegan Clarke-Latham, Peter Kelly, Richard Opie, René Vermeer, Strong Style Photo, Todd Wylie SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: magstore.nz PHONE: 0800 PARKSIDE (727 574) MAIL: Freepost Parkside Media Subs PO Box 46,020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147 EMAIL: subs@parkside.co.nz
CONTACT US PHONE: 09 360 1480 MAIL: PO Box 46,020, Herne Bay, Auckland 1147 EMAIL: info@parkside.co.nz PUBLISHER Greg Vincent, greg.vincent@parkside.co.nz BUSINESS DIRECTOR Michael White, michael.white@parkside.co.nz GENERAL MANAGER Simon Holloway, simon.holloway@parkside.co.nz MEDIA SALES Mark Everleigh, mark.everleigh@parkside.co.nz DATA ANALYST Isobel Simmons PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION Ovato PHONE: 09 928 4200 ISSN ISSN1173-972X
themotorhood.com
6
NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS
FACEBOOK.COM/PERFORMANCECAR
THEMOTORHOOD.COM
@NZPCMAGAZINE
Parkside Media uses due care and diligence in the preparation of this magazine but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes, misprints, omissions, or typographical errors. Parkside Media prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warranty and makes no representation to the truth, accuracy, or sufficiency of any description, photograph, or statement. Parkside Media accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph, or statement contained herein. Parkside Media reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Parkside Media, the publisher, or the editor. All material published, gathered, or created for NZ Performance Car magazine is copyright of Parkside Media Limited. All rights reserved in all media. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher.
TRACK MEETS ROAD
ZERO DEPOSIT 1.9% FINANCE NOW ACROSS OUR ENTIRE RANGE Search ‘Honda Zero’ www.honda.co.nz 1.9% interest promotion is limited to new Honda cars registered by 31/03/2020. A maximum term of 36 months, fixed interest rate of 1.9% Per Annum, establishment fee of $376, PPSR fee of $10.34 & monthly account fee of $8.50 apply. Finance offer is subject to lending criteria. For more information please visit https://www.honda.co.nz/finance-offers/
NZPC TEAM
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
I
won’t pretend I’ve been around forever, because, compared to many familiar names in the modified car fraternity, I’ve been here for only a blip on the timeline. However, in my 15-plus years of attending the local shows, pedalling cars, spinning spanners, and hosting my own grassroots events, I have seen a thing or two and it feels like a decent chunk of time to me. So it always impresses me when some of the early pioneers start rattling off a good 20 to 30 years of history as if it were yesterday; stories of events that are now household names kicking off with a hiss and a roar of delinquency and public menace; the trial and error of taking whatever you could get your hands on and attempting to make it work; the latenight backstreet battles that acted as the catalyst for others to hoard their pocket money to get a car of their own. New Zealand has a rich history that was lifted up on the shoulders of a number of people who were there in the early days. We have a lot to thank them for, and I’m appreciative of all those who came before us. Some are still around today; others aren’t, but their contribution remains monumental.
It’s fair to say things have changed since those early days, some for the better, some for the worse. Styles and tastes have changed, laws and attitudes have changed, the track days, shows, and night-time antics have changed. It’s only natural that all these would alter over time; stagnation is boring and is easily the quickest way to kill off any interest. As things do evolve and new generations of enthusiasts come up through the ranks, a divide can begin to form. It’s the new generation vs the old guard. We’ve seen it for a while now — those who have been around for a hot minute not understanding what the new kids on the block are up to and shying away from the forefront of the scene because of it. Talks about where the good old days went become more frequent and an unwillingness to associate grows. I’ll highlight the fact that all tastes are subjective; what you and I like may be two very different things, but we risk sounding like angry old buggers sitting on a porch shaking a cane at the ‘young punks’ flying past us. We’re a collective going through a vast amount of change, with styles, wants, and interests rapidly reshaping.
Meanwhile, event organizers and those within the industry scramble to cater to these changes. In an age of instant content through social media, that’s no easy feat. There has never been a greater connection to what is going on around us both locally and internationally, so of course the way we used to do it and how it’s being done now are going to be dramatically different. What I’d like to see is less segregation, less “Why don’t you do it this way?” — from all sides of the fence — and more “This is how I like to do it”. Educate the young bucks on the ways of old, be open to learning what can be done now, and collaborate to improve all facets of the community. I do miss a few of the things from years gone by, but nothing stays the same forever and that’s really important in terms of keeping it all alive. Catch ya.
HAYDEN PADDON
RENÈ VERMEER
RICHARD OPIE
DANNY WOOD
AARON MAI
TODD WYLIE
themotorhood.com
8
CONTRIBUTORS
Jaden Martin Email: jaden@performancecar.co.nz Instagram: jaden_nzpcmagazine
KEEPING IT REAL SINCE ’83
2 0 0 0 N I S S A N S K Y L I N E G T- R ( B N R 3 4 )
I N S U R A N C E TA I L O R - M A D E F O R E N T H U S I A S T S , B Y E N T H U S I A S T S For all your classic car insurance needs, Classic Cover has a policy specially designed to cover your prized possession. Classic Cover — the original specialist vehicle insurance provider — accept no substitutes.
PHONE US NOW FOR AN OBLIGATION-FREE QUOTE ON 0 800 4 56 254 OR CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WWW.C L ASSICCOVER.CO.NZ
NEWS
KIWI ASIA LE MANS TRIO DNF Despite a dominant run for the better part of the 4 Hours of The Bend, Kiwi trio Dan Gaunt, Nick Cassidy, and Shane Van Gisbergen were forced to retire early and give up a possible podium finish. Both Cassidy and late call-up Van Gisbergen debuted at Eurasia Motorsport for the second round of the championship alongside Gaunt, with Cassidy qualifying on the front row in a Ligier JS P217. Gaunt
themotorhood.com
10
DISGRACED NISSAN CEO ESCAPES JAPAN
Carlos Ghosn was once a giant of the automotive industry, having served as CEO of Michelin North America, chairman and CEO of Renault, chairman and CEO of Nissan, chairman of Mitsubishi Motors, and chairman and CEO of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance. But it was his time at Nissan that saw him brought up on financial misconduct charges in Japan, and, as of December 2019, an internationally wanted fugitive. The disgraced ex-Nissan boss posted a ¥1 billion (NZ$13,743,960) bond, which mandated a 24-hour camera installed outside his house, restricted access to technology, and a ban from travelling abroad. It was the latter that caused controversy after Ghosn seemingly appeared out of nowhere in Lebanon on New Year’s Eve, stating that he had “escaped injustice and political persecution”. Authorities claim that Ghosn orchestrated the escape with his wife, and CCTV footage shows two men, thought to be Americans, helping him leave his house undetected inside large containers that were later loaded onto a private jet that eventually arrived in Ghosn’s hometown of Beirut, Lebanon. There is currently no extradition deal between Japan and Lebanon, and France has also stated that it will not extradite Ghosn should he arrive in the country, as he holds French citizenship.
led much of the opening stint, and, at the end of the first hour, the Kiwi trio led, with the second of the Eurasia Motorsport entries in third. Gaunt was relieved by van Gisbergen followed by Cassidy getting in for the final stint. The run to the finish was a battle between the Kiwi trio and the G-Drive-run Aurus 01, where Cassidy set quick lap times and remained dominant.
Drama struck late with a crash that closed the gap and reduced speed, allowing the G-Drive entry to pit and re-enter ahead of Cassidy, effectively handing the win over, while insult was added to injury when, with seven minutes remaining, the Ligier had gearbox issues and was forced back to pit lane. The car was sent into the garage and never returned, meaning a did-not-finish (DNF) was entered.
CMR ON THE HUNT FOR CREW After chasing big records in 2019 with its SRpowered streamliner, the team at Cook Motor Racing (CMR) is looking towards a whole new set of goals for 2020 and the future. The aim is to crack the 500mph mark — yes, that’s 500 miles per hour, over 800kph — with its streamliner platform. To do this, CMR plans to expand with the build of ‘Wairua 2’, a successor to the current ‘Wairua’ streamliner, and has plans to run its own land-speed-racing event based in Bolivia. What that means is that the team is looking for new
additions with a range of skills and that Kiwi cando attitude. “[We’re] trying to do the impossible. This will not be easy, but it will be [the] adventure of a lifetime,” explains Reg Cook. “The main skills needed are attitude, work ethic, fair play, teamwork, and the ability to brainstorm ideas and accept decisions. There is no ‘I’ in our team. For all those who can help, including those that have contacted us [previously], contact us now to jump on board. Happy new year to you all.”
TOYOTA 86 GETS BOOST
Whether you loved it or you hated it, the Toyota 86 was a shining hope in a sea of mundane, economydriven offerings. Built with a ton of handling and not a lot of go, it was the low-power sports car that drivers had been longing for. Reviews were mixed, with some loving its corner-happy ability, and others slating it for being unresponsive at low rpm and slow in a straight line. The question as to why it wasn’t offered with a turbocharged option has been raised more times than chief engineer Tetsuya Tada cares to answer; however, he explains that, despite being a collaboration with Subaru and there being numerous boosted incarnations of its naturally aspirated (NA) boxer engine, it wasn’t the vision Toyota had for this new-age AE86 successor. Its intended purpose was to be driven hard to achieve the performance desired, favouring tight, technical driving rather than outright blow-your-face-off speed. But that’s set to change, with the confirmation that the two Japanese manufacturers are working on a coupe that will use a Toyota chassis, a Subaru engine, and fall into the Gazoo Racing line-up. This will be called the ‘GR86’, and will sit alongside the GR Supra and recently announced Yaris GR-4. A 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four has been selected from the Legacy line-up, offering 193kW and 375Nm of torque, alongside an updated driveline and exterior package. The interior will also receive a modernized makeover. These second-generation 86s aren’t expected to be revealed until 2021.
CARL THOMPSON TEARS UP HOONIGAN BURNYARD
From an impeccable KE70 featured way back when to his infamous turbo quad-rotor Toyota Aristo, and, as of late, hulking V8-powered S15 drift cars, Carl Thompson has never been one to do things by halves. Proving a talent behind the wheel in the national drifting series, Carl has been on a mission to build a fleet of drift cars, opting to take his most recent creation across the seas to the US for the SEMA Show, and swinging by a few well-known places to say hi along the way. One of those stops was to the Burnyard, a location dedicated to pure mayhem, crafted by the maniacs at Hoonigan for their friends to get loose at.
TARGA DROPS MSNZ FOR AASA Last year we covered the new motorsports sanctioning body, Australian AutoSport Alliance (AASA), launched locally by LeMons organizer Jacob Simonsen. The alternative sanctioning body offers an alternative choice for permitting, licensing, and insurance for New Zealand motorsport event organizers, competitors, and officials. It was quickly adopted by Targa New Zealand for the Targa Tour portion of the event, while the main portion stayed under the MotorSport New Zealand (MSNZ) banner. Now in 2020, the organizers behind Targa have
announced that they’ll switch sanctioning bodies completely, with the local-arm of AASA taking over full duties. “I have decided to go with the AASA for both the competition and tour parts of our three Targa events in 2020,” Ultimate Rally Group director Peter Martin says. “As an event organizer, and someone who is ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone who not only competes in but also is involved in some way in any of my events, I understand that safety is absolutely paramount.
“I found it refreshing this year to find that Jacob and his team at the AASA share the exact same laser-like focus on safety as I do, yet — because most [of] the processes are online — actually save everyone involved in the process of competing in one of my events, in time as well as money.” The two-day Targa Bambina will return in March (7–8), followed by the three-day Targa Hawkes Bay event in May (15–17), and the fiveday Targa New Zealand in the Taranaki region (14–18 October).
MADCAB PITBUL MADLAB TOUR
HUMBUL TWO DECADES OF SKID LIDS
RADBUL
DRIFT SHIFTERS + MORE
NIMBUL ROTARY
TECH MADBUL
THE EARLY YEARS BADBUL
THE MAD LIFE OF
IK WHM IDDE 100 POVER ETT AGES INSID E!
9 416803 000061 $14.95
MAD MIKE THE BIOGRAPHY BY NZ PERFORMANCE CAR
He’s arguably our most famous name in import motorsport, having crafted a wild collection of rotary-based weaponry, and taking his in-yourface style to the world stage to carve out a name for himself — yep, we’re talking about ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett. What Mike and his small Kiwi team have managed to achieve from their NZ-based shop is amazing. Battling against the biggest names in the business in Formula Drift, winning the Japanese championship, and executing multiple incarnations of the biggest standalone drift event in the world. Utter his name and everyone in the room will have
heard of his exploits, one way or another. That’s why, late in 2019, we put the finishing touches on a special edition of NZ Performance Car, one that will go on sale later this month alongside the regular issue. Its focus will be on Mike’s story — looking behind the curtain at his insane fleet of cars, his journey to becoming a household name, and the achievements that have been racked up along the way. Mad Mike The Biography by NZ Performance Car will be on sale at all regular outlets and online at magstore.nz from 13 February.
themotorhood.com
12
SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS FOUNDER DIES While his on-track career saw him make 52 starts in IndyCar between 1968 and 1977, and a start at the Indianapolis 500, EJ ‘Bill’ Simpson was better known for his off-track development of safety equipment under the Simpson brand. Simpson sadly passed away mid December last year following a stroke. He was 79 years old. After crashing-out during a drag race at the age of 18, Bill developed the idea of a parachute released from the back of the car to slow it down, which was quickly adopted by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Shortly after, he identified the need for driver fire protection after a spate of firedeaths. He enlisted astronaut Pete Conrad to help integrate Nomex fire-retardant material into race suits, and, by 1967, nearly every Indianapolis 500 starter was wearing a Nomex race suit. He’s credited for not only advancing harness technology but also introducing safety boots and gloves to motorsport. Even more notably, his helmets became the safety headwear of choice throughout the 1980s. Formula 1 drivers Jochen Mass, James Hunt, and Mario Andretti all wore Simpson lids. While he hasn’t been associated with the company since the early 2000s, his legacy lives on through the ongoing production of Simpson products.
KRIS ROBB AIMS FOR SIXES IN NEW FULLCHASSIS
For years Kris Robb campaigned his back-halved RX-7, which was originally built back in the early 2000s. Now he has retired the car that saw him go deep into the eight-second bracket. Its replacement is a full chromoly tube-frame SFI six-secondcertified incarnation that Kris has constructed himself over the past two years. “We were putting a fair bit of power in the old car,” he tells us, “and it wasn’t doing what it should be, it wasn’t efficient. I was looking to make more effective use of the power it was making.” The new car carries over the 13B block found in the outgoing incarnation, although that’s where any crossover stops. Everything externally is new, a package that Kris is keeping close to his chest — although did tell us that he’s now running a Lenco CS3 transmission along with a MicroTech PDM (Powerhub 16) and a new MicroTech ECU. Down back, the diff is a chromoly housing with Strange head, which is fitted with a Pro 9 four-link kit from
Australia. You’ll also find an array of anti-roll bars, Strange shocks, and double beadlock wheels. With a carbon-fibre front clip, carbon-fibre front and rear bumpers, FRP composite doors and boot, and the body lengthened to 102 inches over the original 94, the car should be 200kg or so lighter than its predecessor and a whole heap safer, according to Kris. At the time of writing, the car is about to hit the dyno, where Kris expects to see a nice little 600odd horsepower. The rest of the tuning will be done at the track. The idea is to get rough control of the boost, worry about getting the car going straight down the strip, then start feeding power into it. A current personal best of 8.03 at 165mph (266kph) stands in the old car, and Kris expects the new car to run straight into the 7s on debut. The ultimate goal would be breaking into the sixes, but anything better than the current PB and Kris’ll be happy.
GIGGUIDE
IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IN THE GIG GUIDE, EMAIL EDITOR@PERFORMANCECAR.CO.NZ WITH ALL THE DETAILS
FEBRUARY
VALVOLINE D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO TRUSTPOWER BAYPARK STADIUM, TAURANGA It’s been a massive year of massive changes heading into the 2019/2020 season of the D1NZ National Drifting Championship, with a refreshed five-round calendar rolled out. The season kicked off with the Pro-Sport field running a separate round at Drift Matsuri: Spring Break 2019, while the Pros battled in anger at Teretonga Park, Invercargill, for the first time. Now heading into the third round, both Pro and ProSport will reunite in front of frothing crowds at Baypark Stadium in Tauranga. Set inside the stadium as it has been for the last few years, drivers will slide within inches of unforgiving concrete walls as they traverse the custom track, showcasing just how far the sport has come in New Zealand. Tickets are best bought online, offering better prices than gate entry. Don’t miss out — secure your tickets online now at d1nz.com.
8 FEBRUARY AUCKLAND CAR CLUB SUMMER SERIES ROUND 4 Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo --------7–8 FEBRUARY D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe --------9 FEBRUARY NEW ZEALAND CLASSIC CAR MAGAZINE ELLERSLIE CLASSIC CAR SHOW Ellerslie Racecourse, Remuera, Auckland --------15–16 FEBRUARY NEXEN TYRES MAZDA PRO7 RACING SERIES ROUND FIVE Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding --------16 FEBRUARY NZ SUPERLAP ROUND THREE Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe --------22 FEBRUARY DRIFT SOUTH ROUND FOUR Timaru International Motor Raceway, Timaru --------23 FEBRUARY CAFFEINE & GASOLINE Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata
MARCH
2020 CHROME EXPRESSION SESSION MIKE PERO MOTORSPORT PARK, RUAPUNA, CHRISTCHURCH Making all the Southies mish it up to the North Island for the biggest track day of the year, Chrome Expression Sessions, wasn’t all that fair, so, instead, the team at Premier Events decided to bring the party down to you lot in 2019. It had been a hot minute since the team had hit Christchurch for an event, which is why Chrome South was born. Hosted at Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, the 2020 incarnation will go down 6–8 March. Entries are open and are selling like damn hot cakes. Hit up chromenz.co.nz for further details.
SOUTHERN SLAMMED 2020 KUSTOM CAR CLUB, MCLEANS ISLAND ROAD, CHRISTCHURCH Kiwis looove a good mini-truck. Our love affair with the humble utility and undying desire to modify, improve and personalize has formed one of the most unique styles you’ll find. Favouring wildly slammed ride heights by way of intricate air bag systems or trick static setups that require a whole heap of custom fabrication and big cojones to commit to. And one group that’s relishing in that love is South Island Minitruckin which hosts the annual Southern Slamme event. For the 2020 incarnation, there will be 15 custom awards up for grabs and sponsorship opportunities for entrants. It’s the biggest event of it’s kind in the south, so pull your mini-trucks out of hibernation and get amongst. Further information can be found
themotorhood.com
14
by searching ‘Southern Slammed 2020’ on Facebook.
1 MARCH AUCKLAND CAR CLUB SUMMER SERIES ROUND FIVE Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe --------7 MARCH NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 Meremere Dragway, Meremere --------21 MARCH NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND NINE Masterton Motorplex, Masterton --------27–28 MARCH D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata --------28–29 MARCH NEXEN TYRES MAZDA PRO7 RACING SERIES ROUND SIX Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata --------28–29 MARCH NZ SUPERLAP ROUND FOUR Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo
APRIL
3–5 APRIL NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVESOUTH RALLY OF OTAGO Starts Dunedin --------5 APRIL KING OF THE ROTARIES Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata --------17 APRIL 2020 ENEOS NORTH ISLAND ENDURANCE SERIES ROUND ONE Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe --------18 APRIL 2020 4&ROTARY NORTH ISLAND JAMBOREE Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding --------25–26 APRIL NEXEN TYRES MAZDA PRO7 RACING SERIES ROUND SEVEN Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo
tow a caravan zip around town
Need a
drive to work
car?
cheap to run fit my two dogs
* As at 15 Jan 2020
With over 15,000 * vehicles to choose from, we’re confident we’ll have the perfect one for you. In-depth vehicle search and filtering
Simple car buying from trusted sellers
Real person ratings and reviews
Easy finance and insurance options
Automated price drop and offer alerts
needacar.co.nz
#NZPC SOCIAL SLAM THIS M ONTH’S
WINNER
!
THEAMYABLE
CORSHN_EURO_R
NIX_CL7R
H82BYA
Want to see your photos here? Include the hashtag ‘NZPC’ for a chance to be published! Each month, one photo will be chosen as the featured shot and will take home a $100 voucher from Auckland Camera Centre!
TALK TO OUR EXPERTS TODAY! 09 849 4920
/AUCKCAMERACENTRE /AUCKLANDCAMERACENTRE Z /AUCKLANDCAMERA.CO.NZ
MISSJZ_X81
JESSE1G
KMG_NZ
PHOTOFUEL
MISTERSQIDINC
JARED.FABER
JUSTINSONTHEROAD WYATTV31
BRAD_CHACHACHA
ITSJUSTOWEEN
COCAINE.JZX
B_RAD_AZ
RICHARDUNDIE
AUCKLANDEVOLUTION
BENJI_DRKSD3
_VVLLL
themotorhood.com
20
TEAM GAR AGC’S AND D* E EXECUTCLUB FIVE-CA E A PLAN A R BUILD HE A D OF THE STYLE ANIMAL GP W
ORDS: M PHOTOS: ARCUS GIBSON RICHARD OPIE
T
he name C’s Garage has been synonymous with drifting not only here in New Zealand but around the world for the past decade. Brothers Adam and Joel Hedges, along with a small clique of friends, have been at the forefront of local drifting, injecting style and excitement through their car builds, and demonstrating driving techniques inspired by what they have witnessed firsthand driving at tracks like Meihan Sportsland in Japan. We’ve seen the boys evolve, from running 18s and big BN
kits that kiss the pavement and blow up the Internet, to their comp-style cars on the cover of NZPC issue 205, to running a successful drift shop engineering parts sold all over the world. They tried the grassroots thing, and they tried the competitive side of the sport before becoming somewhat disillusioned with that and reverting to doing it simply for fun. Throughout all of that one thing has remained constant and that’s the driving — it’s always been about driving as fast, aggressively, and excitingly as possible.
themotorhood.com
22
Then around two years ago, they got a little lost with the direction they were taking. Joel recalls, “We were kind of lost at the time with set-ups and what to do next with our cars and driving.” Teaming up with a few close friends to form D*Club, they spawned the idea of creating an event and bringing one of their favourite drivers down to New Zealand: Naoki Nakamura, a man widely regarded as one of the best drifters on the planet. Little did they know at the time that the decision would be the genesis for change, and alter the course of all their current and future car builds. Ahead of the event the boys pieced together what is known as the C’s Shop car for Naoki to drive while here.
“Pink Style GP was the first time we’d experienced driving a car like this,” Joel tells us. “Naoki wanted to use his suspension, his knuckles, his set-up, his tyres. So we kind of built a car we thought he’d like, and he gave us tips along the way. Then, after the event, we all got to drive it and thought, ‘This is it; this is the best thing we have ever driven’. After that we changed all our cars to follow that same recipe.” The recipe was not too far from what their cars were previously. The 280kW SR20 engine packages remained untouched — and that is something we will cover later. What did change was the suspension and set-ups. In went Stance coilovers of Naoki’s own spec along with his signature front knuckles known as the B knuckle. These have less Ackermann than C’s 555 knuckles of old,
which keeps the wheels more parallel while at full lock, retaining a bigger contact patch and allowing you to get on the gas earlier. They don’t offer stupid amounts of angle but, as team member Graeme Smyth explains, that’s not needed. “When you flick in doing solo runs and you’re trying to do cool shit [backward entries] you’re just dragging the front end along anyway. Having big angle is more suited for competition driving where you can go slow and just crank on the angle.” Before we get too deep, we should perhaps explain the type of driving the boys are trying to master. It’s an aggressive style, personified by their entries at Hampton Downs Club Circuit, which sees a warp-speed entry throwing the car backwards into the turn only millimeters off the concrete wall, all in a cloud of
smoke. It’s like threading a needle at 150kph mere millimeters from the car in front and the car behind. To achieve this you need a ton of grip, which is achieved with 265 semi-slicks and a rather simple suspension set-up, which might surprise those of you with a tendency to over engineer. Stock rear knuckles have been gusseted for strength, a selection of adjustible Cusco arms and stock lower arms complete with rubber bushes can be found under most of the team cars. The rear subframes have been swapped for S14 items and tilted forward, which, coupled with the Naoki specc’d Stance coilovers, gives a ton of rear squat. “The grip to power ratio is pretty good — it just works. If everyone is in pretty much identical or similar cars with the same tyre you have a lot of fun, because you’re not trying to chase
It’s like threading a needle at 150kph mere millimeters from the car in front and the car behind
Graeme’s ‘91 Silvia (S13) Built up from a bare shell WZR \HDUV DJR *UDHPH¡V S13 is the youngest of WKH WKUHH &¡V WHDP FDUV UHSODFLQJ KLV ROG 6 *UDHPH¡V D IDEULFDWRU E\ WUDGH DQG KLV EXLOG LV PHWLFXORXV *UDHPH DQG $GDP DUH responsible for any IDEULFDWLRQ DQG WKHLU PDQLIROGV FDQ EH IRXQG RQ DOO WKH FDUV 6LWWLQJ DWRS *UDHPH¡V LV D *DUUHWW *7; ZKLFK LV PRUH IRFXVHG RQ ORZ GRZQ SRZHU WKDQ DOO RXW N: EXW GLG PDNH N: EHIRUH ERRVW ZDV SXOOHG EDFN GRZQ WR 16psi, resulting in the team VWDQGDUG N:
themotorhood.com
24
7KH LQWHUFRROHU ZDV EXLOW XVLQJ D KLJK TXDOLW\ [ FRUH DQG D VHW RI FXVWRP IDEULFDWHG HQG tanks
someone that is just driving away from you,� explains Graeme. Drifting a car this gripped up requires tons of throttle and full commitment. “The cars are kind of outdriving us now; you can do basically anything you want to with it, but you have to be committed and drive as hard as you can. It makes it hard to tandem. The guy in front has an open track and can really nail his line, but, because the car is so gripped up, any correction he makes, you can’t just grab some handbrake and then get back on the gas; because you are on the edge of gripping up the entire time, you have to stay on the gas. But when everyone is driving good, on song, and nailing it, it’s awesome because everyone is going so fast,� Joel tells us. With so much grip dialled in it might come as a surprise to
learn that these cars don’t kill tyres — well, they do kill tyres but not after only two laps. Graeme tells us they can make four to eight tyres last an entire day. It might seem crazy but 280kW is all these guys are after. The combination in the shop car, Reuben’s 180SX, and Graeme’s S13 is all basically the same. All feature stock unopened S14 bottom ends, 256 cams, Kelford valve springs, steel head gaskets, C’s exhaust manifolds, Garrett GTX3071 turbos, 1050cc injectors, and a good dose of E85. The only difference in these three set-ups is that Reuben has HKS Step One cams as opposed to the Tomei Poncams found in the other two. “If you overlay the three dyno graphs they are all pretty much identical,� explains Reuben. Adam’s S14 is the odd one out. Pop the silver carbon Origin
Reuben’s ‘98 Type X 180SX $ ¡ 7\SH ; WKH 6; ZDV RULJLQDOO\ EXLOW E\ $GDP IRU D FXVWRPHU EHIRUH SDVVLQJ WKURXJK D IHZ KDQGV HYHQWXDOO\ WR HQG XS LQ 5HXEHQ¡V SRVVHVVLRQ $IWHU GULIWLQJ WKH VWRFN HQJLQH FRPELQDWLRQ WKH TXHVW IRU PRUH SRZHU OHG WR DQ LGHQWLFDO HQJLQH VHW XS DV IRXQG LQ *UDHPH¡V DQG WKH VKRS FDU ,Q SUHS IRU -DVRQ¡V DUULYDO DOO QHZ 2ULJLQ /DER SODVWLFV IRXQG WKHLU ZD\ RQWR WKH VKHOO LQFOXGLQJ PP JXDUGV 2ULJLQ /DER $JJUHVVLYH $HUR 2ULJLQ ZLQJ DQG 2ULJLQ FDUERQ ERQQHW 7KH ZUDS ZDV GHVLJQHG E\ +HUR 3ULQWV SOD\LQJ KRPDJH WR 5HXEHQ¡V ORYH RI KRW URGV DQG VWUHHW PDFKLQHV Âł KHQFH WKH Ă DPHV ´2QH WKLQJ ZLWK PH LV WKDW , GRQ¡W JHW DWWDFKHG WR D FDU , ORRN DW WKLV DV D WRRO IRU GULIWLQJ , ORRN DW LW DV EHLQJ WKH WKLQJ WKDW LV JHWWLQJ PH EHWWHU DW GULYLQJ 7KHVH FDUV KDYH D SXUSRVH VR ZK\ WUHDW LW OLNH LW¡V DQ\WKLQJ HOVH EXW D WRRO EHFDXVH LI \RX GR \RX MXVW ZRQ¡W GULYH LW DV KDUG , OHW HYHU\RQH GULYH LW Âł $GDP¡V GULYHQ LW -RHO¡V GULYHQ LW $VK¡V GULYHQ LW DQG D KDQGIXO RI IULHQGV VR ZK\ ZRXOGQ¡W , OHW -DVRQ GULYH LW"Âľ
Labo bonnet and you’re greeted with things like NOS solenoids and a BorgWarner EFR70670 boost maker. The engine is a built two-litre (stock crank and bore), while on top is an SR20VE cylinder head with Supertech oversized valves, springs, and retainers, and stock P11 Primera cams. The inlet is a Hypertune unit complete with throttle body. It’s a combination more than capable of exceeding 400kW — or, as Graeme puts it; “It’s drag car sh*t� — with Chris Wall extracting a max of 450kW, although its currently run at 355kW. It’s the engine package used during Adam’s last D1NZ campaign, built to take on the V8s and big sixes. Pop the bonnet on younger brother Joel’s S13 and you’ll find the polar opposite, a much more traditional Japanese SR20 set-
It might seem crazy but 280kW is all these guys are after. The combination in the shop car, Reuben’s 180SX, and Graeme’s S13 is all basically the same. All feature stock unopened S14 bottom ends, 256 cams, Kelford valve springs, steel head gaskets, C’s exhaust manifolds, Garrett GTX3071 turbos, 1050cc injectors, and a good dose of E85
Joel’s ‘91 Onevia (S13) “The engine is the original unopened SR20 out of $GDP·V ROG SXUSOH 6; which he started drifting LQ ,W FDPH RXW RI WKDW ZHQW LQWR KLV 6 DQG GLG RQH VHDVRQ RI ' 1= :KHQ KH ZHQW 9( LW FDPH RXW DQG ZHQW LQWR P\ FDU ,W·V EHHQ GULIWHG IRU \HDUV :H·YH done one head gasket in \HDUVµ /LNH WKH UHVW WKH 2QHYLD UXQV 6WDQFH FRLORYHUV % NQXFNOHV DQG VWRFN lower arms. The rear end IHDWXUHV DQ 6 VXEIUDPH WKDW KDV EHHQ WLOWHG IRUZDUG with stock knuckles and VWDQGDUG VZD\ EDUV
themotorhood.com
26
<RX·OO QRWLFH WKDW RQO\ WKH GULYHU·V VLGH UHDU ZLQGRZ UXQV UHG YLQ\O WKH passenger side was left FOHDU VR WKH GULYHUV FDQ VHH where they are going during WKRVH ZLOG EDFNZDUG HQWULHV
up: an SR20 thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done 13 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hard driving between the two brothers and is still going strong. The turbo is a GReddy TD06 20G, the ECU a Power FC, making 270kW â&#x20AC;&#x201D; although with slightly less torque than the other three two-litres due to the fact itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running 98 pump and not E85, which allows you to dial more timing in. Joel does have a package that matches the rest of the team; he is just waiting for the old engine to let go â&#x20AC;&#x201D; although, after 13 years of it taking abuse and only throwing one head gasket, that could take a while. All the cars feature mirrored drivelines consisting of 350Z axles modified to bolt to the R200 diffs with 2-way LSDs and
4.6-ratio crown wheels and pinions. All but the S14 run Z32 gearboxes, with Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running a Jerico dog box instead. Having a matching parts list is something that comes in handy as spares can be shared amongst the team â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not that they have too many mechanical issues. Running 280kW is not exactly earth-shattering power, but this is part of the point: any time you have to spend spinning spanners is time out of the driving seat, and the key to mastering this fast-paced, aggressive driving style is seat time. On account of this, the boys drive together on a regular basis, attending as many Drift Force days as life commitments allow. In the two years since Pink Style, that shop car has been anything
Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;96 Silvia (S14) A hangover from their D1NZ GD\V $GDP¡V 6 IHDWXUHV D PRQVWHU 65 EXLOG ZLWK D 9( KHDG 7KH LQWDNH LV FXVWRP EXLOW ZLWK D +\SHUWXQH WKURWWOH ERG\ ZKLOH WKH KRW VLGH IHDWXUHV LWV RZQ H[KDXVW PDQLIROG DQG D %RUJ:DUQHU ()5 7( V KDYH ORQJ EHHQ $GDP¡V ZKHHO RI FKRLFH 7KH\ PHDVXUH [ LQFKHV XS IURQW DQG [ LQFKHV RQ WKH UHDU %RWK HQGV UXQ *RRGULGH 6SRUW 56 VHPL VOLFNV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; V XS IURQW DQG V RQ WKH UHDU Adam is a man of many WDOHQWV WKH VLJQDWXUH \HOORZ DQG UHG IDGH SDLQW MREV DUH KLV KDQGLZRUN DV DUH WKH FXVWRP URFNHU FRYHUV \RX¡OO QRWH RQ each of the cars
but dormant with Adam pedalling it more than his own S14. However, it was time to hand the keys to another international driver, someone the team has long admired. Enter Julian Jacobs and Jason Bostrom from Animal Style, a drift team formed in the US in 2009. These boys share the same passion for aggressive driving as Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and as a result their style and car builds somewhat reflect the progression weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen with the Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car, to the point at which their US-based cars mirror the recipe followed here. With an event date booked, the boys went into overtime prepping the cars ready for Animal Style to touch down. As Joel explained to NZPC, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know the feeling of travelling halfway around the world and then driving a car that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t up to scratch. So we wanted them to land and have everything be perfect. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want them to break, either.â&#x20AC;? Everything mechanical was checked and checked again,
spares of almost everything that could and would break were stockpiled, and new Origin Labo fenders and aero painted for all. A booth was set up in the Hedgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tractor shed and three full days, from 7am till dark, saw everything repainted in their signature red and yellow. Then came what Joel describes as the biggest job of all: the new liveries. Hero Prints handled the three Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cars and Reubenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 180SX, which Jason was to drive, while Michael from D-Magic, the man behind all Animal Style liveries designed the shop car, which Julian would drive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went over to the workshop each night for a week and we just tried things out,â&#x20AC;? explains Ash from Hero Prints. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got a base tribal that flips from red up front to yellow out back. On top of that it has a purple tribal flames. Joel wanted loads of fire. The idea is the front stuff pushes into the Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ball and then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spat out the back.â&#x20AC;?
the boys went into overtime prepping the cars ready for Animal Style to touch down
Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garage Shop Car â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;89 Silvia S13 Mechanically, the shop car GLGQ¡W FKDQJH LQ SUHSDUDWLRQ IRU -XOLDQ WR GULYH LW LW¡V essentially identical to his 6 EDFN LQ WKH 86 DOWKRXJK KH EURXJKW ZLWK KLP KLV RZQ VHDW EUDFNHW DQG VWHHULQJ ZKHHO VSDFHUV ZKLFK VHH KLP VLWWLQJ ULJKW EDFN LQ WKH UHDU 7KH GXGH LV OLWHUDOO\ D JLDQW $PHULFDQ OHJHQG ' 0DJLF WRRN FDUH RI WKH VKRS FDU¡V QHZ OLYHU\ DV KH KDQGOHV DOO RI -XOLDQ¡V FDUV +H ZDV JLYHQ QR EULHI DQG VXUSULVLQJO\ KH FDPH XS ZLWK D ODUJH &¡V ORJR on the side, just as Ash had IRU WKH WHDP FDUV 7KH ERQQHW is our favourite part of his GHVLJQ :KLOH WKH VHW XS PLPLFV WKDW RI KLV RZQ 6 -XOLDQ GLG say the shop car felt better WR GULYH 7KLV ZDV GXH WR WKH H[WUD ORZ WRUTXH DQG D WRXFK PRUH WRS HQG JDLQHG E\ UXQQLQJ D VOLJKWO\ ODUJHU WXUER DQG ( :DWFKLQJ KLP SHGDO LW \RX EH IRUJLYHQ IRU WKLQNLQJ KH ZDV GULYLQJ KLV RZQ PDFKLQH
themotorhood.com
28
They really do look as exciting sitting still as they do hitting turn one at 150kph
When it came to his 180SX, Reuben again worked with Ash from Hero Prints, calling on his roots as a piner for all things hot rod and street machine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always liked flames,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We did the reverse flames because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been done. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about the car going fast backwards, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just about being different. For me the Jap stuff is rad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrong â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just different variants on the same thing. I wanted to have a flame battle across the car. The red and black is a tribute to Animal Style and Jasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car back in the States, and the blue is a throwback to how the car was before.â&#x20AC;? The design process was then followed by another gruelling week of late nights applying it all. Big Brown, who wrapped both event cars, printed more than 100 metres
of vinyl and it took a team of up to 15 helpers to get everything completed on all five cars and ready for Animal Styleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival. The resulting rebuilds are the most wild renditions of these ever-evolving Silvias yet. They really do look as exciting sitting still as they do hitting turn one at 150kph. In a sea of overengineered, massive-power-drift builds, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to see a group of guys showing that following a simple recipe can result in cars capable of some of the most exciting driving weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve witnessed in years. How did the boys from Animal Style go? Jump to page 30 to see, but watching Julian jump in the shop car and, without so much as a warm-up lap, throw it in backwards as if it was his own S13 was proof this recipe works.
WORDS AND PHOTOS: RICHARD OPIE
themotorhood.com
30
THREE YEARS ON FROM ITS LAST DRIFT INVITATIONAL, THE TEAM FROM D-CLUB AND C’S GARAGE SHIFTED UP A GEAR FOR 2020’S WILDEST DRIFT PARTY. WITH NONE OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF DRIFT TEAM ANIMAL STYLE’S FOUNDING MEMBERS, A GROUP OF WILD SOUTHERNERS, AND THE CREAM OF THE NORTH ISLAND’S GRASSROOTS SLIDERS, THE FIREWORKS WERE SET TO IGNITE
T
ruly special drift events, especially those at the grassroots end of the spectrum, rarely come along. These are the days that really crank up the hype volume past 11. They prompt drivers and spectators alike to simply celebrate the mere fact that it’s happening — you know, the ones with the hashtags, the countdown timers, the wistful throwback posts about how damn good the last one was. And that’s only the public hype. Behind the scenes of an upcoming drift meet, especially one of such lofty proportions, you can put a dollar on the fact that each and every driver will be focusing on bringing something special. Spanners are spun. Last-minute parts anxiously ordered while eyes are kept peeled for the courier. Fresh liveries are applied. Special guests are even teed up to make an appearance, further heightening the sense of occasion. For the summer of 2020, D-Club, allied with C’s Garage and a band of dedicated helpers, threw what is undoubtedly going to
be remembered as one of drift bashes — if not the drift bash — of the year. Last time these collective minds combined, the result was 2017’s Pink Style GP event, with the guests of honour being the Meihan-masters Naoki Nakamura and Miki Takagi, all the way from their Japanese drift homeland. For 2020, the Hampton Downs Club Circuit played host to another pair of international drivers, Julian Jacobs and Jason Bostrom of Drift Team Animal Style (we met them way back in NZ Performance Car Issue No. 229). Coming out of North California and sliding onto the scene around 2009, the Animal Style boys, accompanied by a keen team of supporters and better halves, share a remarkably similar trajectory to that of the C’s team. Style-prioritized drift cars slamming the tarmac in the early days has given way to carefully considered, function-focused set-ups. Aggressive driving is the catch call, influenced no doubt by time spent running walls in Japan. Running as a team is of
Aggressive driving is the catch call, influenced no doubt by time spent running walls in Japan
themotorhood.com
32
equal importance to both squads. Subsequently, entrants were encouraged to bring their windscreen banners to the party and run door-to-door with teammates of their own. For both Julian and Jason, the C’s Garage shop car S13 and the D-Club RPS13 were specially prepped, sporting bespoke Animal Style liveries. The C’s lads brought their A-game, with all three regulars sporting fresh designs down their flanks. For the first time, the South Island trekked up in force with the Streetmeat, Team Sshhh, 732 Drift, and B-Style boys putting in a mammoth effort to slide on northern soil. The uniquely South Island style was a welcome breath of fresh air — for the most part, a hard-charging bunch with an aversion to ride height.
Without even a sighting lap, Julian launched his S13 backwards into turn one, giving the assembled throng along the pit wall a taste of what was to develop throughout the course of the day
Speaking of the North, Team Cream showed up with a fivestrong line-up; GOGO!!! represented with a solid trio; as well as everyone’s favourite dining enthusiasts, Team Eat Out, with an eclectic bunch of cars. Filling in the rest of the 45-strong field were hard-charging lone wolves, with everything from D1NZ-spec weapons to street-registered Cefiros. Anticipation permeated the air. Final alignment tweaks were made, tyres fitted up to rims, fluids triple checked, and, as the drivers’ briefing commenced, the sense of occasion was electric. Easing into it wasn’t on the agenda for most drivers out there. Notable first entries from the scarlet 732 duo — one resulting in a
turn-one spin — set the scene for group one, comprised largely of the southern contingent. Confidence built throughout these early sessions, with most guys getting a feeling for Hampton Downs’ fast entry along the pit wall, going progressively deeper with each lap. How about those Animal Style boys though? Without even a sighting lap, Julian launched his S13 backwards into turn one, giving the assembled throng along the pit wall a taste of what was to develop throughout the course of the day. Things didn’t fare quite so well for Jason. While adjusting to his first-ever crack behind a wheel on the right-hand side, a handful of very rapidly improving entries put paid to the 180SX’s gearbox.
themotorhood.com
34
On the plus side, it was an intro to Kiwi drifting camaraderie, with all hands on deck to eventually repair the issue and have the car back on track later in the afternoon. Some would argue that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing quite as authentic as the sound of an SR20DET being given absolute death while turning a pair of treads, and, for aficionados of the evergreen Nissan four-pot, the Animal Style GP was akin to aural ecstasy. The flat bark of the many SRs killed any notion of serenity, harking back to simpler days of drifting before the big-power engine-swap craze truly took hold. Not to say things are any less impressive, with big entry after big entry proving grip, a modest power output, and a deft technique on the wheel are ample ingredients for exciting-looking drifting. The jewel in the crown of the day though, was a judged team drift competition with banter-filled voice-over from Mez, of Wreck â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Em fame.
themotorhood.com
36
The C’s boys always come in hot for this stuff, and no exception was made this time, as they barrelled into the corner entry backwards just centimetres apart, with Julian of Animal Style well and truly in the mix. This is the kind of team drift stuff that really ought to be encouraged more in our scene — it’s a proper spectacle, fostering hard driving and trust in your teammates. Taking out the honours, in the end, was the Team Jenkins pairing of Ben Jenkins with its shop S14, and Vincent Pieterse with his S14, assembled from spare parts. Honourable mentions go to the Eat Out lads for an impressive overtake, and the B-Style trio from down south with a wild display of three-car chaos rounding out the podium. Like we said, there’s something special about these oncein-a-while drifting spectaculars. They strike a blurry line between the absolute casualness of a grassroots test day but stop short of the stress of a full-blown competition day. With guys like Julian and Jason coming across and showcasing their brand of driving, the locals pull out the stops to impress, and progress. For the second time around, the D-Club GP and C’s Garage hype was totally founded. Wry grins gave way to cool beverages at the day’s end, each attendee confident in the knowledge that they have once again been privy to some of the finest sideways shenanigans on Kiwi soil, courtesy of a band of dedicated Kiwis and a couple of American madmen. All we can say is, bring on the next.
3DGGRQ 5DOO\VSRUW LV QRZ DQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO LPSRUWHU of Semog Crosskarts, eligible for MSNZ Clubsport events. High revving, agile and low maintenance cost brings a new and exciting edge to NZ Motorsport for all levels of drivers. Running 750cc engines, with over 130bhp and 300kg, 6-speed sequential and 14,000 rpm. These karts are a lot of fun and low cost.
Prices: Starter model from $29,990 up to the Elite model of $38,990 Email info@paddonrallysport.co.nz for details
Paddon Rallysport is proud to be the distributor of Winmax Brakes by Paddon Rallysport in New Zealand, for street, club, rally and circuit applications. We provide performance brake pads for any car for any application road or race, rally and off-road. Superior quality Japanese brake pad at competitor friendly prices. As used by Hayden Paddon with AP4, TCR and WRC cars around the world. High bite, strong driver feedback, less wear and greater range of operating temperatures. info@paddonrallysport.co.nz 027 318 1748 26 Silverstone Drive, Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell Also available at
visit: paddonrallysport.co.nz
themotorhood.com
38 1994 MITSUBISHI EVO II
NG DECADE-LO LT U IC F IF L D E E IN E FACE OF A GOT TO TURN A WH H T IN G GET IN O T SPIT LER FINALLYTOOK A NEW BUILD TORDER T U B IM T , D BUIL E HIGHEST LTHOUGH IT ANGER — ACIRCUIT SLAYER OF TH AND PHOTOS: JADEN MARTIN WORDS THERE, A e benchmark e considered th b n ca e, at th s g in ation. For som here are few th and determin t, e; en tim itm m rd m reco of willpower, co d the world in un o ar ns lo ho so at ng ar ili to run ultra m that may be sa be choosing ay m even those it , rs for othe rrain; there’s te t er es d g min g the world’s through stea while climbin n tio ira p ex l the ultimate risk potentia compared to g in th no ’s who decide to at plete an , th tain. However mpting to com te at l: el w o highest moun to all y of us know ll the tale. test that man surviving to te d an s lengthy ld ui b r ject ca r’s name and hi le ut B im T extensive pro an en, Tim ll Wellingtoni o. 273. Back th N e su is You may reca ar C piecing ance e motions of m NZ Perform o th fr h ld ug ui b ro I th vo g E engine goin er a decade a total of three ov ng t ki en ac sp st d d ha having ing an tears. Despite ream car, rack d d s an hi t, r ea he et sw g , to od us that le heap of blo he let slip to ho w e, a d tim an at s th ld r bui afte wever, leted’ the car expected, ho p t m n’ o d ‘c ha st e ju w t y a onl Wha d the wheel of more to come. hs later behin nt o of m r there was still w te fe at a m y a y turn up onl was really onl was for him to Tim tells us it r. e here, and ca se er u st yo si n ed p carnatio in e th ’t full race-prep ith w up saw if it weren would wind I we originally vo E e time before he th of come by way rolling. it would have ed Internet sc tim lel w of it for a b
T
themotorhood.com
40
“I built the Evo I as a road car and it got really out of hand. At the time I wasn’t a member of a car club or anything, and it just got stupid. It was too much for the street, it wasn’t nice to drive on the road anymore, it wasn’t fun, and it had been driven only twice since the new package was finished,” explains Tim. “I started going to local club days, because as you get older you start to think you should do this stuff legally. Then it came to caging the Evo I and putting proper safety pieces inside; that’s when I spotted the Evo II on ‘Race Cars In Sheds’ [Facebook group].” The Evo II checked all Tim’s theoretical boxes, packing a sixpoint cage and stripped interior fitted with race seats and harnesses. A bonus was being able to run a tyre larger than the 215 to which Tim had already maxed out the Evo I with the factory guards, thanks to an Evo Kits wide-body, and — sealing the deal without a shadow of a doubt in his mind — the engine bay was devoid of running gear,
HEART ENGINE: Mitsubishi 4G63, 1998cc, four-cylinder BLOCK: Bored 85.5mm, JE pistons, Eagle rods, K1 Technology billet crank, ATI Super Damper crank pulley, ACL Race Series bearings, ARP mains studs, Racefab baffled sump HEAD: Ported and polished, Brian Crower 282-degree camshafts, HKS cam gears, Brian Crower valve springs, Brian Crower titanium retainers, Brian Crower billet valve keepers, Supertech 1mm oversized valves, GSC Power-Division lifters, HKS cam belt, Cometic head gasket, ARP head studs INTAKE: Custom carbon-fibre inlet plenum, custom spun trumpet runners, Skunk2 one-litre manifold spacer, Skunk2 90mm throttle body, K&N air filter EXHAUST: Custom three-inch downpipe, three-inch stainless rear section TURBO: Garrett GTX3582R, 0.82 exhaust housing, custom mild-steel top-mount manifold WASTEGATE: TiAL 44mm BOV: TiAL 50mm FUEL: Injector Dynamics ID 1700X injectors, twin Walbro 450lph lift pumps, twin Bosch 044 primary pumps, Aftermarket Industries three-litre surge tank, 8AN hard-line feed, 6AN hard-line return, Aeroflow dash fittings, Sard fuel-pressure regulator, ethanol content sensor IGNITION: M&W Pro-14 CDI, 300M coil, NGK plugs ECU: Link G4+ Storm COOLING: Half-sized radiator, 16AN radiator fittings, ITL intercooler, Flextech silicone joiners, Mocal 16-row oil cooler EXTRA: Custom Mil-Spec engine harness, custom alloy catch can, custom coolant overflow bottle, Motorsport Fabrication alloy swirl pot, Frontline Fab billet rocker cover and coil plate, Racefab chromoly north south bar
meaning that he could take that engine package he’d spent over a decade perfecting, the one that was too gnarly for the street and crying out to be used to cut laps in anger out on the track and put it to work. With the tick of approval from the missus and cash in hand, the original spotting of the listing on Thursday night turned into a call to the seller for confirmation on the Friday and Tim on the ferry crossing Cook Strait before loading the car up to head back to Wellington on the Saturday.
This isn’t a man who mucks around, and he certainly doesn’t do things by halves. It wasn’t much longer before Tim had both cars in the shed side by side, ready to rip all the goodies out of the Evo I and transplant them into the Evo II. What that also meant was that, while achieving his ultimate plan of a full race-prepped incarnation of the original car, Tim was able to hang onto the tidy Evo I roller to be turned back into a street car in the future. The heart now powering the Evo II is the culmination of
EXTERIOR PAINT: Resprayed in Evo white ENHANCEMENTS: Evo Kits wide-body, custom alloy front lip, custom splitter, Lexan side windows
INTERIOR SEATS: Racetech RT4100HR, Racetech Magnum six-point harness STEERING WHEEL: Sparco, NRG quick release hub INSTRUMENTATION: Racepak IQ3 Street digital dash EXTRA: Custom chassis loom by Newport Motorsport Services, billet buttons, Tomei gear knob
SHOES WHEELS: 18x9.5 (+15) Enkei RPF1 TYRES: 245/40R18 Hankook Z221
extensive research and improvements. Transferred from the original car, it’s based on an 85.5mm bored-out 4G63 block that has been crammed with JE pistons, Eagle rods, and a K1 Technologies billet crank — a decision made after the first incarnation suffered a major casualty due to crank walk. Unfortunately Tim is very familiar with this set-up, after having to build it for a second time when the oil pump failed and toasted the lot. To combat any starvation issues this time around, he’s elected to run a modified oil pump, keeping everything lubricated with a RaceFab baffled sump and cool via a Mocal 16-row oil cooler. Up top, the head is a ported and polished unit that, thanks to a dropped valve in the second incarnation, now houses Supertech 1mm oversized valves, GSC PowerDivision lifters, Brian Crower 282-degree camshafts, and HKS cam gears. With built internals like that, you already know the boltons are equally serious. A Garrett GTX3582R that makes use of a responsive 0.82 exhaust housing hangs off the front and employs a custom mild-steel top-mount manifold with TiAL 44mm wastegate combo. On the cold side you’ll find a custom carbon-fibre inlet plenum and Skunk2 90mm throttle body, while fuel is delivered via Injector Dynamics
themotorhood.com
42
Inside the cabin it’s all business. Stripped bare, packing a six-point roll cage, and kitted out with a Racetech RT4100HR, a Racetech Magnum six-point harness, a Sparco wheel, and a Racepak IQ3 Street digital dash
Stopping power comes by way of Evo VII Brembo calipers that utilize DBA5000 Series twopiece 320mm rotors up front, DBA4000 Series 300mm rotors down back, and Pagid Racing RST 1 pads all round
DRIVELINE GEARBOX: Evo I five-speed, short shifter, 80mm shifter raise CLUTCH: Tilton twin-plate FLYWHEEL: Tilton DIFF: (F) viscous LSD, (R) Evo III 3.9 plate LSD
SUPPORT STRUTS: BC Gold coilovers BRAKES: (F) Evo VII Brembo calipers, Pagid Racing RST 1 pads, DBA5000 Series two-piece 320mm rotors, (R) Evo VII Brembo calipers, Pagid Racing, RST 1 pads, DBA4000 Series 300mm rotors; Goodridge braided hoses, hydraulic handbrake EXTRA: Six-point roll cage, Racefab chromoly rear trailing arms, Hardrace rear camber arms, Evo V front lower control arms, Racefab sway bar adapters, Evo VIII tie rods, Ultra Racing 22mm rear sway bar, Super Pro polyurethane suspension bushes, front strut brace
PERFORMANCE POWER: 394kW TORQUE: 550Nm BOOST: 27psi FUEL TYPE: BP 98 TUNER: Chris Wall at Prestige Tuning & Motorsport
With the factory steel cut away and pumped out to make way for the Evo kits wide-body, Tim was able to cram 245/40 Hankook Z221 rubber wrapped around a set of 18x9.5 (+15) Enkei RPF1s under the guards
The built bottom end and speccy head meant that the Garrett GTX3582R could be wound up to a generous 27psi, making for 394kW and 550Nm at all fours on the Prestige Tuning & Motorsport dyno
DRIVER PROFILE DRIVER/OWNER: Timmy B AGE: 33 LOCATION: Wellington OCCUPATION: Business change manager BUILD TIME: Five months LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: Six months
themotorhood.com
44
THANKS: To my partner, Jess, for never batting an eye at my spending — especially with buying another shell and building it over in such a short period; my nephew, Jett, for always asking “How’s your race car, Uncle”; Zac Haar, Ollie McChesney, Tim Chai, Brad Doughty, Garrison Pullen, Nathan Spencer, Muppet McLaughlin, Nick Chiew, Keegan Goodall from NST, Matt Newport from Newport Motorsport Services, Chris Wall from Prestige Tuning & Motorsport, Ash and Matt from Kaizen Works, and the Circle Jerk Crew
ID 1700X squirters. Switching over the custom engine loom was a piece of cake, along with the Link G4+ Storm party controller. Backing the package is the same Evo I five-speed gearbox and Tilton twin plate combo found in the original car, now sending drive rearward to an Evo III 3.9 plate LSD. When the hubs were spun at Prestige Tuning & Motorsport, with Chris Wall on the laptop, the combination was good for 394kW and 550Nm on 27psi. The rest of the equation was pretty much taken care of, arriving with a solid five-stud big-brake set-up that comprises Evo VII Brembo calipers, two-piece rotors, and Pagid Racing pads. On the suspension side of things, the chassis already offered BC Gold coilovers and a slathering of adjustable arms, sway bars, and bracing. The only piece that Tim needed to add was the fuel
arrangement, which makes use of twin Walbro lift pumps that feed a surge tank drawn upon by twin Bosch 044s. There’s also a fresh body loom from Newport Motorsport Services for good measure. From start to finish, Tim managed to crank the Evo II out in record time, having it ready to go just two months after picking it up. He’s since managed to iron out any teething issues at his local Manfeild Circuit and the recent Port Road Street Sprint. Next in his cross hairs is a stint at the Wallaceville Sealed Hillclimb, a route he’s been driving since adolescence, and, he hopes, a chance to see what the combination is actually capable of. With a résumé like the above, it’s hard to argue against solid results, but for Tim it’s going to be about getting out there and finally enjoying the much-deserved seat time that his decade-long test of willpower, commitment, and determination has earned.
BEAST!
TOOL STORAGE WITH ATTITUDE OUR BIGGEST EVER TOOL CABINET
Loc cka able Stor rage Unitt
Woo oden wor rktop surfface
13 in ndiividual draw wers
Part # TCW814N
Email sales@isl.nz for your nearest stockist or visit www.isl.nz
WORDS: AARON MAI PHOTOS: AARON MAI, PRODRIVE UK ARCHIVE
themotorhood.com
46
PRODRIVE AND SUBARU
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
hen we say a word, we want you to name two colours, a manufacturer, and a person. That magic word is ‘Prodrive’. We can almost guarantee that, without even needing to think, the colours you thought of were blue and yellow; the manufacturer was Subaru; and the person was either Colin McRae, Richard Burns, or Petter Solberg. Rarely does a partnership in motorsport become so iconic that it continues to define a manufacturer or a company for decades following. But that is exactly what happened when Prodrive met Subaru. It is an odd love story — on one side was the welltravelled and experienced Prodrive, which is no stranger to top level rallying, and on the other was the dorky, unassuming Subaru, which produced city cars and mini trucks. They say opposites attract, and in this case it was truly a match made in heaven that would end up with Subaru becoming a global performance brand
W
making the best all-wheel-drive performance cars for the road. The stage chosen was rallying, and with an already dominant and refined cast of manufacturers on the world stand, coming in and upstaging them was to be no easy task. Many would assume luck played a big part, but, in reality it was instinct, trust, and superb decisions that made the partnership such a success. For Prodrive’s David Richards, rallying was not something that was new to him. He had sat as co-driver alongside Ari Vatanen at Ford, Opel, and Peugeot, winning a drivers’ world championship title in the process. Rallying was David’s language of choice and he knew very well what it took to win. Subaru wasn’t Prodrive’s first rodeo, either; it had built and run Porsche, MG Metro, and BMW rally programmes prior to Subaru knocking on the door; this time it was different. Subaru came to Prodrive with a roomy, spacious four-door sedan and asked Prodrive to turn it into a rally winner capable of winning
Subaru wasn’t Prodrive’s first rodeo, either; it had built and run Porsche, MG Metro, and BMW rally programmes
themotorhood.com
48
on any continent, from the ice and snow of Monte, to the rough bumpy roads of the Acropolis. To show the durability, it was decided to concentrate on gravel rallies only, and, in 1990, the Prodrive Subaru team entered seven out of the 14 championship rallies. In the early days of the partnership, Prodrive adopted the ‘if you want to win, employ a Finn’ approach to drivers, so Ari Vatanen and Markku Alén were tasked with pedalling the throaty boxer-powered Legacy out on the stages. As 1993 rolled around, progress was coming, and the Legacy showed up with a new colour combo: the now-iconic blue, yellow, and gold. The
555 tobacco company was now onboard, and, along with the new look, a new talent was behind the wheel — one that would take rallying into the living rooms of a whole new generation of fans and make Subaru the new poster child of the automotive world. Sitting here in 2020 and looking back, we all know now that the partnership worked and was tremendously successful, but for some reason Subaru left a mark on many fans that no other competitor could, and not just because of its dominance throughout the Group A years. Winning races is one thing, but being a crowd favourite regardless of winning or losing is totally another. Prodrive Subaru not only captured the results the
Japanese bosses wanted but also captured the hearts and souls of motorsport fans at all corners of the globe. The cars were great-looking competition machines. The meek and mild Legacy was transformed from b*tch into bull; with eight-spoke gold Speedline wheels with wide Pirelli gravel tyres, and the deep blue with bright-yellow 555 laid across it, it was a sight for sore eyes. As the 1993 edition of Rally Finland kicked off so did Subaru, with an all-new model: the Impreza. The Legacy was a goodlooking rally car, but the Impreza was simply stunning. The same colours wrapped around the curvy body lines with the beautiful Speedline wheels had everyone excited. Subaru had come out of the dark ages of straight lines and boxy coachwork to foot it with the big boys, Toyota and Ford, in the looks department. It was this model of car that would truly define the Japanese manufacturer and give Subaru godlike status among car fans. Now, while looks aren’t everything, they certainly didn’t hurt. The Impreza was a curvy supermodel but had a special exhaust note that it picked up from its boxier older sister. For many rally fans, the exhaust note produced by the boxer engine, coupled with the anti-lag, is what made the 555 machines just that little bit more exciting than the rest. All rally cars on the stages were noisy, but you knew when a 555 Subaru was approaching — it could be heard from kilometres away. The sharp but deep angry growl of the engine note coupled up with the crackle of the anti-lag sounded like machine-gun fire echoing through the forests, and when one arrived into view it was always more sideways, braking that little bit later, cutting further than many would dare, and an extra bit faster down the slippery gravel roads than the others.
The sharp but deep angry growl of the engine note coupled up with the crackle of the anti-lag sounded like machinegun fire echoing through the forests
themotorhood.com
50
The spectacular driving was purely down to the talent employed by David Richards and Subaru to spearhead their rally seasons. Names such as Ari Vatanen, Colin McRae, Richard Burns, and Petter Solberg all threaded a Prodrive Subaru down the special stages of the World Rally Championship (WRC). While the Impreza was an utter weapon in both Group A and WRC trim, the colourful characters who went to battle in it are what truly made the relationship a resounding success. Colin McRae spent large portions of the company budget destroying cars by mowing down roadside forests and refusing to follow team orders in his early years. The years 1993 and 1994 played out like a soap opera, with the team grappling with a young, erratic yet wildly quick McRae wanting to be let loose to challenge for outright wins against his experienced team mate Carlos Sainz. The flamboyant driving style for which Colin was
to become so well known suited the character of the car, and he was the only one truly able to eke out every last bit of speed from the Subaru, totally crossed up yet still quicker than anyone else. In 1995, Subaru gained its first drivers’ world championship title through Colin and co-driver Derek Ringer, as well as its first manufacturers’ title. The juice had been worth the squeeze. When Colin departed Subaru, it was time for another Brit, in the form of Richard Burns, to join the line-up. Then, in 2003, a new star would call Subaru home: Petter Solberg. Both Richard and Petter would go on to win the drivers’ championship, with Prodrive solidifying the cult-like status that by now had been created throughout Japan and the rallying world. Subaru was known for creating winners, and, throughout its dominant era, there were few who could keep up with Subarus when they were on song.
themotorhood.com
52
It is a long time since we have seen a blue Subaru adorned with ‘McRae’ or ‘Burns’ on the bodywork. Manufacturers and drivers have come and gone in the years since, yet none of them has been remembered in the way the Prodrive Subaru WRC campaign has. It’s a partnership that continues to this day with its record-setting STi Type RA NBR, which currently holds the Isle of Man TT circuit record for a car and the four-door saloon record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, as well as winning the Goodwood Festival of Speed Shootout in 2017. After our tour through the modern Prodrive facility, where Subaru rally cars have been replaced by GT3 Aston Martins (see last issue), we tried to squint and imagine blue rally cars filling the workshop bays. I was walking through the workshop of my childhood dreams — so many times had I longed for the chance to peek behind the curtains of Prodrive while staring up
at the Subaru rally posters hanging on my walls. Finally, I was here, and just before finishing up my visit, I had to take time to admire one last thing. Sitting quietly in the corner was N1 WRC, the 1995 Subaru Impreza 555 tarmac machine of Colin McRae and Derek Ringer. It might be 25 years young, but it still makes my jaw drop just as it did when I was a kid. There is something special about the Prodrive Subaru campaign that I simply can’t properly explain. N1 WRC is an intoxicating mix of colour and character — I can still hear that famous growl ringing in my ears, a sound that no rally fan could ever forget. Subaru and Prodrive orchestrated a show for rally fans that defined an entire era of rallying; explaining that in words is tricky, but an old blue Subaru with ‘555’ down the side and ‘McRae’ on the front fender will just about do it.
HARDPARK 2020 WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: DANNY WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY / RIXSTA PHOTOGRAPHY
ardpark is more than just a casual park up. Over the handful of years that it’s been running, it’s become an institution. Those in the know pencil in Wellington Anniversary weekend well in advance, knowing that the biggest event the capital city has to offer will be taking place. Its roots, however, go back way earlier than when Falgoon Patel and his Hardpark Organisational Team (HOT) started hosting. The location, Lower Hutt’s Riverbank Car Park,
themotorhood.com
54
H
has played host to countless park ups since the late 1990s. Like Hardpark, those early days … er, nights … also grew from small beginnings to countless hundreds of cars. The difference was that back in the dark old days there were plenty of skids and what the locals may describe as ‘antisocial behaviour’. Hardpark, though, held on Sunday, 19 January, had none of that. What it did have was an awesome variety of cars from all corners of the globe and a great vibe to match.
5LJKW 0LFKDHO .LP·V N: * SRZHUHG /LEHUR ZDV RQH RI WKH VWDU FDUV RI 6XQGD\ DQG FRPH 0RQGD\ KH VKRZHG WKDW KH ZDVQ·W DIUDLG WR XVH DOO WKH SRZHU LW KDV RQ RIIHU WKURZLQJ GRZQ VRPH VHULRXV KHOLV RQ WKH EXUQRXW SDG
,W·V QRW KDUG WR VHH ZK\ WKH OLPER VWLFN ZDV VLWWLQJ DERYH WKH URRI RI 6DP 3RX·V 5RYHU 9 ² SRZHUHG +LOX[ 1RW RQO\ LV LW EDJJHG ERG\ GURSSHG VKDYHG DQG SROLVKHG WR SHUIHFWLRQ EXW WKH SLOODUV KDYH DOVR EHHQ FKRSSHG D IHZ LQFKHV EULQJLQJ WKH RYHUDOO KHLJKW EHORZ WKDW RI DQ\ RWKHU
-D\VHQ (YHOHLJK·V 5RFNHW %XQQ\²HTXLSSHG )' KDG SHRSOH FRQIXVHG VRPH HYHQ DFFXVLQJ KLP RI FRS\LQJ ¶WKH EOXH RQH· QRW UHDOL]LQJ WKDW WKLV LV LQGHHG WKH EOXH RQH ZKLFK LV QRZ FRYHUHG ZLWK DQ RUDQJH ZUDS
themotorhood.com
56
Following on from last year’s success, which saw the event depart from Riverbank Car Park over the Remutaka Hill to Masterton Motorplex for some burnouts mid afternoon, the HOT took that concept a step further this year. As the following day was a public holiday in the region, the event evolved to turn that into a dedicated burnout day, or afternoon at least. Well before the event had officially begun, cars started rolling into Riverbank, mainly in groups or clubs, which had clearly decided to have a group presence, and arriving at the same time was the only way to ensure that members would be parked together. Just like the drivers of the cars rolling in, police on the gate had the right attitude and were having a good laugh with many drivers, which was great to see. This is symbolic of the atmosphere of the event: no attitudes, no egos, everyone there for the right reasons, and taking the opportunity to prove to the public that car owners can be respectful. That respect has paid off, as the cars this year included not just the handful of muscle cars and the likes, but a few unexpected ones too, such as a group of late-model Ferraris, a few classics, and the occasional off-roader. The cars were left on display by their owners, engines on show, doors open, and with no sign of any inappropriate touching by passers-by. That mutual respect extended to the other 1000 or so cars in attendance — as the HOT counted via drone photos, making it clear that this has been the largest so far.
$GGLQJ VRPH 5+6 OLIW EORFNV EHWZHHQ \RXU :5;·V VXEIUDPHV DQG ERG\ LV RQH ZD\ WR JHW VRPH DWWHQWLRQ ³ FRYHULQJ WKH ZKROH ORW LQ PXG LV D VXUHÀUH ZD\ WR JHW HYHU\RQH·V DWWHQWLRQ
+DUGSDUN VXUH GRHV EULQJ RXW WKH RGGEDOOV OLNH WKLV 6X]XNL *;« D ZKROH FF RI UHDU HQJLQHG IXQ
Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting, for the older generation at least, who will remember the heyday of Riverbank Car Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s night time antics, is how family oriented the event is, with many of the sceneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s originals now there with their kids â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and, in extreme cases, the kids having cars of their own on display. Also throwing back was the cruise organized for Sunday night. While the HOT knew there was an element of risk to hosting such an event, thankfully, it went off without a hitch.
themotorhood.com
58
6KDQH -R\FH KDV SRVVLEO\ WKH FRROHVW DQG PRVW DFFXUDWH QXPEHUSODWH RXW 2YHU WKH \HDUV KH·V KDG LW RQ D QXPEHU RI *HUPDQ DQG ,WDOLDQ PDFKLQHV 7KH )HUUDUL ) LW·V FXUUHQWO\ DWWDFKHG WR FHUWDLQO\ JRW SOHQW\ RI DWWHQWLRQ
Huge thanks must go out to the Hardpark Organizational Team (HOT): Kenny Grindrod, Bevin Taylor, Steven Jones, Jasper Forbes, Sam Pou, Brodie Geerlings, Ash Macneil, Angus Macneil, Johno Hollands, Braden Sam. They all do it for love and to give back to the scene and culture they state has been amazing to them
This 4G63-powered, airbagged Mirage coupe caught plenty of attention, not all of it for the right reason, as the clutch smell coming from it permeated the nostrils of everyone in attendance as it rolled in
*UHJ 3DVN LV RQH RI WKH UDUH IRON ZKR·V NHSW KLV 95 IURP KLV \RXWK ³ LW never looked this good back in the early 2000s though!
The burnouts also went off with just the right type of bang, as around 500 cars and 1100 spectators made the journey to Masterton Motorplex. While those brave enough to hit the tarmac were predominantly those who’d done it before, there was the occasional newcomer thrown in for good measure. With how well the event ran, how diverse the cars were, and how good the vibe was, it should come as no surprise that plans are already under way for next year. There’s even talk of adding a few extra elements to it, which we’re sure will make it even better!
themotorhood.com
60
Dave Arthurs has been around the Welly car scene forever, owning countless cars over the years, but his 13B peripheral port (PP)–powered RX-2 has been a keeper! The engine was built by Stu Lawton and has clocked up an impressive 70,000km since being built
themotorhood.com
62 2000 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R (BNR34)
WHEN YOU’RE THE OWNER OF ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S BEST GT-R TUNING SHOPS, YOU’D BETTER BE SURE YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE MATCHES THE BUSINESS’S NAME. IN THE CASE OF ETHAN LOWE, HE CERTAINLY HAS HI-POWER MODE ENGAGED WORDS AND PHOTOS: RENÉ VERMEER
DRIVELINE GEARBOX: Getrag six-speed manual CLUTCH: OS Giken R3C FLYWHEEL: OS Giken DIFF: Nismo 1.5-way front and rear, 4.11-ratios OTHER: The Driveshaft Shop carbon driveshaft
SUPPORT STRUTS: Tein Circuit Masters BRAKES: (F) Brembo Ferrari F40 calipers, two-piece rotors, (R) Lotus Elise calipers
HEART than Lowe has been around the forever-evolving New Zealand tuning scene for years, gaining a considerable following for his big-power GT-R builds and fastidious attention to detail. He worked for other prominent tuning businesses before finding his very own Godzilla-sized niche in the market — deciding to go out on his own because the after-hours inline-six side jobs had become just too much! Thus the Hi-Power Performance brand was born, and, as they say, the rest was history. Ethan told us, “I started Hi-Power at the end of 2016 as I wanted to work for myself and I had heaps of ideas about what I wanted to do. I never intended to specialize in GT-Rs but that’s just the way it went, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.” Going back in time to much simpler days, Ethan’s main side piece was a maroon Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R, which, thanks to a heap of clever tricks, made oodles of grunt and was a regular track-day monster — upsetting numerous overpriced supercars. Until recently, the R32 lay dormant, engine out, at the back of the Hi-Power stables awaiting even more power, as Ethan focused his time on building street weaponry for his valued customers. One customer in particular, with a white R34 Skyline GT-R, enlisted Ethan and the team to build a streetable track car to enjoy. “The R34 came to the workshop as a rolling shell,” Ethan explained. “The customer wanted a streetable track-orientated car and we were told to do what we needed to make that happen.” With the emphasis of this build focused between the strut towers, Ethan set to work sourcing an N1 RB26 block to stuff full of the world’s best components. An HKS 2.8-litre stroker kit was
themotorhood.com
64
E
An HKS stroker kit was installed inside the famed N1 block to bring capacity up to 2800cc, helping to wake up the large Precision 6466 TURBO and provide ample revs when required. You can’t deny the unique sound a 2.8-litre stroker provides
ENGINE: Nissan RB28DET, 2800cc, six-cylinder BLOCK: N1 block, HKS 2.8-litre stroker kit, ACL Bearings HEAD: Tomei Pro-Cam 280-degree camshafts, Tomei valve guides, Tomei oversized valves, Tomei valve springs, hand ported INTAKE: Plazmaman billet inlet plenum, custom intercooler piping, Plazmaman Plazmaclamps, Plazmaman Pro Series intercooler, K&N air filter EXHAUST: Custom stainless steel four-inch turbo-back system, AdrenalinR mufflers TURBO: Precision 6466, Hypertune exhaust manifold WASTEGATE: Twin 45mm Turbosmart Hypergates BOV: Turbosmart Gen-V Raceport BOV FUEL: Frenchy’s Performance Garage dual in-tank set-up with billet top hat, Turbosmart Gen-V FPR1200, six FIC 1650cc injectors, Plazmaman fuel rail IGNITION: PRP R35 coil kit, GReddy racing spark plugs ECU: Haltech Elite 2500, PRP lower trigger, Hi-Power upper trigger, Haltech wideband, Full Race 4WD controller, Tein electronic damper controller COOLING: ARC radiator, GReddy oil cooler EXTRA: Custom catch can, custom power steering bottle, custom overflow bottle, custom fan shroud, carbon cooling panel, clutch booster delete
“Shall I chuck it in rear-wheel drive so you can see how useless it is at this power level?” Ethan asked. ‘RWD ENGAGED’ was now displayed on the Haltech iC-7 dash with a bright red warning light. A short shift into second, then the jandal was mashed. As soon as boost came on, the limiter followed suit, with a cloud of smoke in the mirrors. It’s safe to say, even with 275-wide Nittos, at this power level all-wheel drive is a must!
DRIVER PROFILE NAME: Ethan Lowe AGE: 29 LOCATION: Auckland OCCUPATION: Owner of Hi-Power Performance BUILD TIME: 1 year LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: 1 month
INTERIOR SEATS: Factory STEERING WHEEL: Factory INSTRUMENTATION: Nismo gauge cluster
EXTERIOR PAINT: Factory white ENHANCEMENTS: Nismo Z-Tune front bumper, Nismo Z-Tune dry carbon bonnet, Nismo side-skirt extensions, Nismo rear end caps
themotorhood.com
66
To help get the power down to the ground, the OEM R34 diff ratios have been swapped out with R32 units and the diff centres replaced with Nismo 1.5-way units front and rear. As Ethan put it, “When it’s getting the power down, the two diffs are fighting so hard it feels like it’s pulling the car apart”
sourced to provide the supple balance between mid-range punch and a high-revving symphony, with the Tomei Pro head catalogue conducting the show up top with 280 degrees of duration to allow a large window of air to flow through the carefully hand-ported head, via Tomei oversized valves. On the cold side, a Plazmaman billet inlet plenum is fitted — replacing the capable OEM unit — with matching throttle body, all fitted with Plazmaman Plazmaclamps, which find their way to a Plazmaman Pro Series 600x300x100mm intercooler. Skilfully welded to the custom intercooler piping is a Turbosmart Gen-V Raceport blow-off valve, releasing 37psi of boost pressure when the trapdoor is slammed shut. Wanting a punchy, responsive, yet high-power–capable turbo, Ethan turned to the Precision range, finally opting for a Precision 6466 dual ball-bearing unit.
No Hi-Power GT-R build is complete without a heavilyuprated ignition and fuel system, to reliably provide enough gogo juice to start the fire. A Frenchy’s Performance Garage billet fuel pump cradle supports dual fuel pumps, which feed through a Turbosmart FPR1200 fuel-pressure regulator, before finally getting atomized by FIC 1650cc injectors. On the fire-starter side of the party, a Platinum Racing Products R35 GT-R coil kit was fitted, with a PRP lower trigger kit and one of Ethan’s very own Hi-Power upper trigger kits. As you’d probably expect with a build like this, the engine combination is controlled via Haltech’s best: the Elite 2500 ECU, which is displayed via the latest Haltech iC-7 dashboard — a recent addition. With the engine buttoned up and the countless hours
SHOES WHEELS: 18x9.5-inch Nismo LMGT4 Omori 2017 edition TYRES: 275/35R18 Nitto NT-01
We can most certainly confirm that the F40 Brembo and Lotus calipers clamp a treat, pulling us down from warp speeds to legal speeds in seconds. Given the chance to warm up properly, we’re sure they’d be a heap of fun on the circuit
PERFORMANCE POWER: 650kW (872hp) FUEL: BP98 TUNER: Brian from NDT Developments
of fabrication complete, it was time for Brian Ingham of NDT Developments to make sense of the madness. Strapped to Brian’s hub dyno, the R34 produced a stout 650kW (872hp) at the wheels on 37psi using E85 — through the factory six-speed Getrag gearbox. What does this combination feel like? Ethan was kind enough to fly the car over to an undisclosed location in the heart of Mexico for a few cheeky pulls — we can assure you, it’s every bit as fast as you’d think, with our hearts, guts, and bones timewarping and sinking into the R34’s factory seats under wide-open throttle. With the build complete, the owner enjoyed the vehicle for a good amount of time. However, the owner wanted the vehicle gone after getting his fill, and Ethan was the first person to whom he expressed that interest — seeing as Ethan had built it from the ground up himself.
“I had owned the R32 GT-R since September 2014, right up until last year when I made the tough call to let it go to purchase the R34,” Ethan said. A tough call, we were told, after so many years together, but the R34 was also a dream car for Ethan. “Initially, the R34 was meant to have a sequential gearbox and a larger turbo,” he revealed, “but the customer decided it was overkill. With 650kW that’s fair enough, but that’s exactly what I have under way for the GT-R at the moment: a much larger Precision turbo and an Albins sequential gearbox to crack the 1000 wheel horsepower mark, and realize his dream of owning a 1000hp streeter. The car’s fast now, sure, but it doesn’t scare me — and that’s what I am after.” As soon as Ethan reaches this goal in the coming months, we will be the first to line up for a cheeky white-knuckled Mexi-pull.
themotorhood.com
68
“The car’s fast now, sure, but it doesn’t scare me — and that’s what I am after.”
AUCKLAND OPERATED JAPANESE VEHICLE IMPORTERS Registered motor vehicle traders stocking and sourcing top-grade classic and collectable vehicles along with modiďŹ ed, and or, factory performance cars for both road legal and track use. info@classicperformanceimports.co.nz
classic.performance.imports
027 532 4555
classic_performance_imports
CLASSICPERFORMANCEIMPORTS.CO.NZ
EV BUILD BREAKDOWN WITH HAYDEN PADDON
CAN’T CAN T STOP, WON’T STOP D
themotorhood.com
70
espite the summer holiday season, things have been ramping up at Paddon Rallysport Group (PRG) as our May deadline for the roll-out of our EV rally car quickly approaches. The project has now been split into two main components of the construction. Part one is the continuation of the chassis construction, which is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. Fabricators Mike and Ben have spent more than 500 hours on it. Unlike your normal rally car chassis build, everything for this project has required custom fabrication, including a floorpan to work with the floor-mounted battery system. The unique mounting of the front and rear transmissions requires changes to the firewall, chassis rails, and rear floorpan. The wheel arches and top mounts have all been designed for maximum suspension travel. While the fabrication continues, the engineering team of Matt Barham, Rory Callaway, and Jack Williamson continue with component design and prototyping. As we are designing and building 90 per cent of this car in-house, everything needs to be reworked — the cooling system, auxiliary power system, charging systems, brakes, and suspension. The unique characteristics of the lower centre of gravity and extra weight mean all components need to be fully analyzed for strength whilst weight must be reduced wherever possible. Many hours have been spent performing FEA (finite element
we are designing and building 90 per cent of this car in-house, everything needs to be reworked â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the cooling system, auxiliary power system, charging systems, brakes, and suspension analysis) on both our self-designed and our inherited components. Working with our suspension partner EXT in Italy, we will have new and previously unseen suspension technology that will first be used in our prototype and then developed for future projects. While the actual battery is still being constructed, a mock-up battery is being built, which will assist the final part of the puzzle of the chassis build to ensure fitment and quick fit when required. Just after Christmas we received a nice gift from our technology partner, STARD. A large pallet of the main components, comprising the transmissions, motors, inverters, and MoTeC electronics, has
arrived. These are all bespoke motorsport components, which we have worked closely with STARD to adapt to our rally project. This technology is already used in European Rallycross, but stage rally brings with it a whole new challenge. This will include our own software to control energy output and how we manage that over the longer durations that we will encounter in rallies. While this project has been under way for almost 12 months already, these last 4 to 5 months will be the busiest. It seems like there is still a mountain to climb, but everyone is working hard to ensure we meet all our targets. Some busy times lie ahead.
D1NZ DRIVER UPDATES
CHASING THE SMOKE Regular updates from the 2020 Valvoline D1NZ National Drifting Championship 2020 VALVOLINE D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP Round one: Round two: Round three: Round four:
24–25 January 8–9 February 28–29 February 27–28 March
Teretonga Park, Invercargill Pukekohe Park, Auckland Baypark Stadium, Tauranga Hampton Downs, Te Kauwhata
9V\UK Ä]L!
8–9 May
Pukekohe Park, Auckland
themotorhood.com
72
Massive changes for Armstrong Series stalwart Cole Armstrong has been instantly recognizable for his aggressive driving styling and even more so for the bright green hue that has adorned his weaponry as part of a 10-year partnership with energy-drink brand V Energy. However, heading into 2020, you’ll see a new colour scheme slathered over the panels of Cole’s Nissan G36 panels after he and V parted ways at the conclusion of last season. Now, long-time sponsor Buteline has stepped up to take the naming rights, bringing with it a menacing black, grey, and yellow combo that has recently debuted. “It’s the end of an era with V. They’ve been awesome for the last decade, but it’s also good to keep moving forward. Buteline has been with us for eight years, and I’m lucky to have had them as a secondary sponsor this far,” explains Cole. “They’ve always wanted to step up, and this was the perfect timing. All my cars have been green, so it’s almost like
T
he 2019–’20 season of the D1NZ National Drifting Championship has seen some of the biggest shake-ups in the series’ history thus far. The Pro and Pro-Sport classes have been split off for the first two rounds to run as separate entities, with the latter on a reduced schedule format to help ease drivers’ running costs. The two will merge back together at Pukekohe Park Raceway for the official round two over 8–9 February, the venue taking on double duty to also host the season finale on 8–9 May. Teretonga has been added to the line-up, and that is where just the pros went head to head to collect valuable seasonstarting points. In the series’ biggest live broadcast deal to date, all rounds will be shown live on Sky Sport and free to air on Prime, part and parcel of running alongside Speedworks Events for three selected rounds, which include the likes of the Toyota Racing Series, GTRNZ, and the Mazda Racing Series. It’s a cracker of a season, and the drivers are stepping it up big to suit. Come with us as we go behind the curtain to bring you the latest updates each issue.
‘Woah, what’s that?!’ when you see it. We have a couple of different options to go with colourwise. I’ve also got a new suit to match, being made by Prowear.” With the new look have come necessary upgrades to the running gear, the biggest of which has been the switch to an Albins sixspeed sequential, sourced from Australia by Ethan at Pro Driveline. The team have also opted to grout the RB30’s block after experiencing issues with bores cracking last season, which resulted in two engines being sent for scrap. Chicken at EFi and Turbo has been charged with the grouting, and the size of the bore has been reduced to chase reliability. There’s also a brand-new head set-up. The rest of the car remains much the same, with a Winters Quick Change diff down back, Wisefab steering paired with KW suspension, and the modified Liberty Walk– style kit to suit the facelifted G36 exterior. While holiday delays prevented the car from making it down to Teretonga for
round one, Cole instead employing his trusty championship-winning R34, he tells us the G36 should make an appearance at Pukekohe on 8–9 February.
Adam Davies to debut new car at Puke He may still be the series’ lone rotary soldier, but, come round two at Pukekohe Park over 8–9 February, Adam Davies will be packing some extra firepower behind the wheel of an allnew 180SX. We detailed the build a few issues back. It started with a fresh acid-dipped shell and mimics where the development of the old 180SX left off, with long-time supporter Mac’s Mufflers handling all the fabrication. The biggest change comes by way of switching from the 560kW 13B power plant that Adam’s known for to a Green Brothers Racing dry-sumped 20B semi-peripheral-port (PP) that’s based round a factory 20B block. It offers Adam increased torque off boost, which the little 13B was lacking somewhat and, by Adam’s own admission, is an absolute animal on boost. The package utilizes a 76mm BorgWarner S400 cranking 25psi, with a Pro-Jay intake manifold and 105mm throttle taking care of the cold side while a Link ECU controls the party. Chassis-wise, the new shell is tubbed front and rear, with tube-frame structures for ease of repair, and, of course, a roll cage. A new tunnel has been fabricated to allow for the new five-speed Samsonas sequential, and the suspension package mirrors what is found in the 13B car, with complete Wisefab front and rear, two-way Feal shocks, Winters Quick Change rear end
Jake Jones to run full season He’s amassed a worldwide following through his sideways exploits and crossed the ditch to pedal in the local series a handful of times, most recently at last season’s final, but for the first time Aussie Jake ‘DriftSquid’ Jones will contest the entire 2020 season here. “After doing that one round last year at Pukekohe, I was in talks about coming back to do a full season,” says Jake. “There’s a massive following in New Zealand across my social-media channels, and I get a lot of support from the Kiwis. I think it’s because of the love for the RB engine here. So, obviously, I wanted to bring my RB-powered BMW, but, logistically, it was going to be too much. Thankfully, I was able to jump into the D1 86 that I drove last time.” Back in Australia, Jake has been competing in statelevel competitions and one-off events such as World Time Attack. He’s also gone international, winning a Chinese championship behind the wheel of a Supra. About the decision to take on the full season here, he says, “The whole series is so much better over here. I love everything about it, from the drivers to how it’s run, the fans, the interaction with everyone — it’s one giant family.” He adds, “With the cost to do the Australian series, I’d rather spend that money and come over here. The travelling, making a story, it’s been a long time coming. Jumping into the 86, it’s no slouch, either. The 2JZ platform has heaps of torque, and I’ve got a good crew here in Keg and Kyle from DKM.”
in modified 180SX subframe, and a pair of Green Brothers own custom axles. Adam tells us that the testing they’ve managed to squeeze in has highlighted a few minor teething problems, and the team is now investigating the opportunity to run a smaller rear housing on the turbo in the hope of increasing response by 500rpm — something that new sponsor TiAL is helping out with. However, it’s early days, with more testing to be done and the intention to run the car at round two for the first time. Mimico teammate Dave Steedman has also made a few changes to his RB30-powered S14, switching out the gearswapper for a matching Samsonas unit and upgrading to the slightly bigger BorgWarner EFR8474, which has netted more power through the mid range.
As for what he hopes to achieve this season, Jake tells us that his number-one goal is to leave every round knowing that he did everything in his power to win: “I’m not here to fill numbers; you’ll definitely notice the difference in my driving style this year. I’ve never been one to be driven by the win, I like to have fun, but I’ll definitely be pushing myself.”
“I get a lot of support from the Kiwis. I think it’s because of the love for the RB engine here”
FAST FACTS
FOUR DRAG IMPORT RECORDS SMASHED IN 2019
WORLD IMPORT RECORD: 5.55 AT 254MPH (409KPH)
We finally got to see a 5.50 from an import in 2019, run by a racer seemingly unknown on the world stage. That said, Dr Arnaldo Rodriguez from Puerto Rico had quickly made a name locally running the Puerto Rican record in 2018, in what was a brand new car. The Scion FRS then went back under the knife for a complete front-end rework. The Toyota runs a billet 2JZ and Precision turbo combination with Microtech ECU and is backed by an air-shifted Lenco. The team has been chipping away at the timeslips aggressively, dipping lower and lower each event that it has attended. We suspect that this is not the last we will hear of the man dubbed ‘Dr Speed’.
FOUR-CYLINDER RECORD: 6.07 AT 229MPH (369KPH) Long-time Canadian four-cylinder campaigners Carl and Nick Brunet took back the four-cylinder record they have held on and off over the last 12 years of campaigning a General Motors (GM) Ecotec 2.2 in numerous chassis configurations — the last eight years being in an ex-Pro Stock rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis. The engine is essentially the continuation of GM’s successful race programme during the early 2000s to develop its 2.2 Ecotec into a crate race engine. These days, the Brunets are pushing power levels well over what GM ever did, running upwards of 69psi through an 88mm Garrett Gen II turbo controlled by a Fuel Tech ECU. The team is also running a seven-speed Liberty transmission, which is new to the market. With the record now set at 6.07, these boys are pushing hard to be the first four-cylinder into the fives.
themotorhood.com
74
OUTRIGHT ROTARY RECORD: 6.08 AT 229MPH (369KPH) It’s been a long time since we last saw a rotary rewrite the world record — the last time being New Generation Motorsports back in 2015. But there has been one team on a mission to do exactly that: the Mech Tech–sponsored Edwin Motorsports RX-8 20B driven by the legend Edwin ‘Loquito Killer’ Burgos. The team finally reached its goal in October, resetting both the mph and ET
records. The car was first built back in 2013 using a Tim McAmis chassis and a carbon-fibre body built at Mech Tech Institute. The engine is a semi-peripheralport (PP) billet 20B using Billet Inc. parts and built by Edwin himself. It runs a single Precision turbo and is backed by a G-Force transmission. Loquito is another car gunning to be the first to crack a five in a rotary — fingers crossed that 2020 will see it happen.
WORLD ELECTRIC RECORD: 7.22 AT 189MPH (304KPH) Few people have innovated in the world of drag racing quite like Don ‘Big Daddy’ Garlits, who has enjoyed a racing career spanning 60 years. He continues to race regularly, with his current focus being to crack 200mph in an electric dragster (he was the first to go 200mph in a dragster back in 1964). Big Daddy has been chipping away at his electric goal for a few years now and this is his second car and third configuration, but he is yet to reach 200mph (322kph). The motor itself is DC and came from a drag bike and has been modified to produce 1250hp (932kW), 4000V, and 400A. The battery itself is a custom-built lithium-ion unit weighing 127kg. Currently, the car is chain driven, although it’s very likely it will be rejigged to a direct-drive configuration to overcome the chain issues plaguing the team in the quest to reach that 200.
DESIGNED TO PERFORM Introducing our NEW lightweight gearbox LW75
20% lighter than a standard 6 Speed Weighs just under 28kg Rated for cars up 350 HP Designed for Naturally Aspirated (Non-Turbo) vehicles Magnesium Cases 6 Speed only ttindustries.com | sales@ttindustries.com 24 Forests Road, Nelson, NZ | +64 35471517
Z N A P S AUTOS 0800 KA
MANUALS Diffs
z n . o c . a kasp
rdale e v l i S / u h / Otahu e r o h S h t r No ollow us f a p s #teamka t hi f #wegiveas
STAY OFF THE GRASS CHANNELLING GRAVEL-CARVING HERITAGE WITH ONE OF TOYOTA’S FINEST POWER PLANTS: THIS IS LEWIS HICKS’ TURBO 4A-GE–POWERED FORD ESCORT TARMAC TERRORIZER
themotorhood.com
76
WORDS AND PHOTOS: JADEN MARTIN
1977 FORD ESCORT (MKII)
Who doesn’t enjoy boost? A Garrett T25 sits pride of place on the hot side atop a TA Fab manifold with a TiAL 38mm wastegate
T
hey say that you can tell a lot about a person from the way they keep their lawns. Pastures left to grow wild, claiming surrounding infrastructure and allowing pests to cultivate, could indicate an indifference to a person’s property, a lack of care for their possessions, and a downright inability to get a job done. On the flipside of that, discover a freshly-mowed, weeded, and pruned slab of green, and you’d be justified in thinking they had their shit together. Dunedin’s Lewis Hicks is a man who enjoys a solid lawn — with a trusty Masport on hand and an affection for the smell of freshly cut pasture, his are immaculate. But we quickly learned that if there’s one thing that he cares for more than his greeny, it’s this tarmac-terrorising 1977 Ford Escort (Mk2). You see, Lewis is like many other Kiwis across the country who have been caught up in a love affair with motorsports since adolescence, subverting the daily six o’clock viewing in order to catch whatever glimpse he could of international championships
on the tele, and finding any excuse to have the old man drag him along to local wheel burns. However, the funds to get amongst the racing himself weren’t always there — motorsport ain’t cheap, and even the tightest of campaign budgets can see you sleeping under the stars. It was for that reason that the thrill of getting behind the wheel eluded Lewis until his late teens, when, after tagging along to watch his late cousin Phil compete in karting and eventually meeting with fellow lawn enthusiast Todd Aikman, he finally scraped together the funds to purchase a Toyota Corolla KE35 track car. It kicked off his racing career at the ripe age of 20, with the hunger to go faster and faster and shave those precious seconds off lap times growing with every outing. The old Toyota would see him through a good few local street sprints and hill climbs, but eventually he reached the crossroad of either chasing more power with a ton of investment and depreciating returns or retiring the old girl in order to usher a new chassis into the stables.
These decisions aren’t to be made lightly, much like when considering how much water your pastures are retaining and what level of mow is required. However, it was the appearance of a nearcomplete Ford Escort project for sale just around the corner that would set in stone Lewis’s next steps. An avid Ford fan, who has ‘blue running through his veins’, PAINT: Resprayed by Glenn ENHANCEMENTS: Panelled by Lewis, Lewis instantly recognized that the once 1100cc automatic offering fibreglass arch flares, front chin spoiler, was far from what it used to be. The engine bay was occupied by rear spoiler, retro Castol livery a dual-overhead cam 1600cc four-banger, while the interior was devoid of its trimmings and had monkey bars added. Coming from the Corolla, Lewis had developed an affection for Toyota’s engineering and saw the opportunity to combine his SEATS: Racetech 1000 love of both badges into one, as the previous owner had, unusually, STEERING WHEEL: NZKW INSTRUMENTATION: Autometer, Apex’I chosen to repower the old Brit with Toyota’s coveted 4A-GE. Better yet, progress had been made on adding boost into the equation via a snail borrowed from a Nissan RB engine. When it comes to buying any unfinished project, despite how it may appear, it’s really an unknown. There’s no guarantee that it will be a smooth pass of the green, as Lewis would find out first-hand. “We bought it as an unknown. The RB turbo slapped on the side ended up being no good, and we weren’t sure how the 4AGE would fare under pressure,” explains Lewis. Unfortunately that unknown engine simply couldn’t handle the pressure when wound up on the dyno. Running on an old Link G1 and the standard injectors, the result was holes in places they shouldn’t be and a splattering of metal-infused oil on the dyno room floor.
EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
HEART ENGINE: Toyota 4A-GTE, 1600cc, four-cylinder BLOCK: 4A-GZE block, 4A-GZE semi-forged pistons, MRP H-beam rods, ARP Race Series bearings, ARP fasteners, high-volume oil pump, modified and baffled sump HEAD: Heavy-duty valve springs INTAKE: Simota filter EXHAUST: Custom 2.5-inch downpipe, three-inch mildsteel exhaust, resonator TURBO: Garrett T25, custom Sinco turbo manifold WASTEGATE: TiAL 38mm BOV: GFB Hybrid FUEL: Evo 530cc injectors, 40-litre fuel cell, two-litre surge tank, 500hp external pump, adjustable fuelpressure regulator IGNITION: MRP coil-on-plug conversion ECU: Link G4+ Monsoon COOLING: Hyundai radiator, 12-inch electric fan, custom intercooler, 2.5-inch intercooler piping EXTRA: Custom wiring loom, one-litre baffled catch can, baffled valve covers
themotorhood.com
78
Utilizing a 4A-GZE bottom end, the factory semi-forged pistons paired with MRP H-beam rods are more than happy to take a tickling of boost. Currently set to a humble 10psi, it makes an impressive 170kW at the rears — plenty for a sub-900kg weight
STAY OFF THE GRASS DRIVELINE GEARBOX: Toyota W57 five-speed manual, SQEngineering adapter plate CLUTCH: Exedy heavy-duty FLYWHEEL: OEM DIFF: Quaife ATB 4.1 LSD EXTRA: Custom driveshaft
SUPPORT STRUTS: (F) Ford Capri coilovers, QA1 springs, (R) Hilux adjustable dampers, two-inch lowering blocks, reset leafs; adjustable top hats BRAKES: (F) Wilwood four-pot calipers, Wilwood pads, MRP adaptor kit, Ford Capri 2.8 vented rotors, (R) factory EXTRA: Adjustable trackcontrol arms, extended rack ends, custom front strut brace, anti-dive kit, quick rack, polyurethane bushes
SHOES WHEELS: 15x8-inch Performance Superlite TYRES: 205/50R15 Nankang AR1
PERFORMANCE POWER: 170kW BOOST: 10psi FUEL TYPE: 98 octane TUNER: Casey Irons at CNC Automotive
The discovery couldn’t have come at a worse time — just two weeks out from the Waimate 50. It forced things into fifth gear, with Lewie and the crew working around the clock to rebuild the package. The rebuilt heart packs factory semi-forged pistons attached to a set of MRP H-beam rods, alongside ARP bearings and fasteners, a high-volume oil pump, and a modified baffled sump. Thankfully the head was salvageable and, with the addition of heavy-duty valve springs, reused without issue. Todd was responsible for helping piece together the new turbo package, crafting a custom TA Fab manifold to feed the Garrett T25, whipping up a custom 2.5-inch downpipe and three-inch mild-steel canon combo, and plumbing the custom intercooler with 2.5-inch piping. To ensure there would be no repeat feats come dyno time, a set of Evo 530cc injectors were added alongside a Link G4+ Monsoon. Turning the wick up on the Garrett to 10psi, the car
cranked out a respectable 170kW at the rears with Casey Irons at CNC Automotive on the laptop. As for the chassis, it’s a relatively simple affair, following the less is more ethos when it comes to weight. Anything that doesn’t need to be there has been stripped away, and the oncestandard suspension is now replaced by an adjustable front end consisting of Ford Capri coilovers that make use of QA1 springs, whereas down back you’ll find Hilux damper-adjustable shocks complemented by two-inch lowering blocks and reset leafs — adjustable arms can also be found at both ends. Stopping power comes by way of Wilwood four-pot calipers at the front, making use of an MRP adapter kit. The rebuild pulled through in the nick of time, sparing just three days that allowed Lewis the chance to give the car a quick five-minute squirt around the block before it was ushered back into the garage for final bolt checks ahead of the concrete walls of Waimate.
STAY OFF THE GRASS
themotorhood.com
80
Power is sent rearward via a Toyota W57 five-speed manual gear swapper that employs an SQ-Engineering adapter plate and Exedy heavy-duty clutch. A custom driveshaft connects the combo to the factory diff housing, which makes use of a Quaife ATB 4.1 LSD head
Euro exhausts? ...weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got you covered
See the experts for:
SERVICE - WOF - REPAIRS
y and see a d o t s u t Contac ur baby o y r o f o d an what we c
Z N . O .C S M KCA rsea Street
Custom Ground For Your Project
te 6 Bat
urch h c t s i Chr 78 6-33 03 36
Performance, Retro, Street -
Camshafts, Cylinder Heads, Engines
A panel beater by trade, Lewie is responsible for the arrow-straight panels that have been licked in white paint and covered with a Castrol tribute livery
DRIVER PROFILE DRIVER/OWNER: Lewis ‘Pasture Master’ Hicks AGE: 25 LOCATION: Mosgiel, Dunedin OCCUPATION: Panel beater BUILD TIME: Never-ending LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: Three years
themotorhood.com
82
THANKS: Fellow Team Whale founder and good mate, Todd Aikman, for getting me into buying a race car, and all the fab and pipe work; Jay and Glenn for the help with panel and paint; Liam at Treads Dunedin Ltd; Casey at CNC Automotive for the tune and ECU upgrade; Hayden at ProSigns for the stellar job on the livery; Century Batteries Dunedin; Andrew at Castrol NZ; my mum, Sally, for the ongoing support; my sister, Courtney; and finally my dad, Ray, for all the blood, sweat, tears, and late nights on the spanners to keep the tonka toy going and for helping me do what I love doing
As Lewis elegantly put it: “I was thinking to myself, ‘what the fuck have I got myself into’?” With the 15x8-inch Performance Superlites wrapped in a fresh set of Nankang AR1 rubber, the Escort survived its debut and proved lethal with sub-900kg onboard. Licked in a fresh layer of white and then wrapped up with 1600 Sport stripes, an unforseen grass excursion saw Lewie have an intimate meeting with a set of tractor tyres at a local bent sprint. Luckily with Lewie being a panel beater by trade, he was able to get it all straightened out in time for the Waimate 60th anniversary, switching out the decals for a Castrol livery tribute to celebrate 100 years of Castrol. Lewie has since notched up a handful of local hill climbs and Waimate events, telling us that he’d like to transition into the likes of the Sports Saloon Cup or other clubman series. All that’s left to do now is upgrade to a pedal box and convert the rears to discs. In the meantime, he tells us, he’ll just continue to drive the car the way it is: light as hell, wildly overpowered, and a whole heap of fun to pedal. Exactly how motorsport should be — just stay off the grass.
HORSEPOWER HEADS 5-Axis CNC cylinder head porting services
Successful racers in NZ and worldwide choose HorsePower Heads to provide innovative, personalised solutions. With more than 30 years experience, you can trust our knowledge and expertise.
03 377 0974 shop@horsepowerheads.com
www.horsepowerheads.com Check out our Facebook page for results, photos and news
themotorhood.com
84
BABE
CRUISE MODE
2016PHOTOS: SUBARU WRX STI GLEN MCNAMARA
NAME: CONNOR MCKINLEY // AGE: 21 LOCATION: NAPIER // OCCUPATION: WAREHOUSE MANAGER
NZ Performance Car : Hi, Connor. Can you tell us how you got into modifying cars? Connor: Hey! Back in 2010, when I was 10 years old, my dad brought home one of the first Evo Xs in the country. From there, he jumped between multiple performance cars and, in 2012, purchased an R35 GT-R, which made me realize that cars were such an awesome part of the world we live in. I got my first car not long after, which was a 2010 Subaru Legacy GT — I had the exhaust modified and that really started the ball rolling. What was it about the STi that made you want to own one? After the Legacy GT, I traded up for a 2015 WRX, and, not long after that, I outgrew the power and needed something stronger and more powerful. I’ve always stuck to the Subaru brand, so it had to be an STi. Did you have a goal in mind in terms of the modifications? Originally, I was going to leave the car stock standard, which I managed for all of a year. The first mod in this scenario I recall was a blow-off valve, because what’s a Subaru without a blow-off valve? Then it was a catless downpipe, so I could get it to pop flames, and that required a tune, and so forth. I never actually intended to make the car any faster, but with every modification came the opportunity for more power. Were you hesitant to modify such a new car and how did that affect your choices? Yes, I was very hesitant. I wanted to keep the car standard so that I could maintain the warranty. However, I had to give the car a character of its own, otherwise it just seemed like every other new STi on the road! The first few mods were small enough so that I could make a warranty claim if required; however, after the downpipe and retune, that idea was out the door so I’ve just kept modifying it ever since.
themotorhood.com
86
What does the car primarily get used for? I actually drive it daily to and from work, with the occasional track day and local car club outing. I put around 300km on the car a week just from daily-driving it and just recently managed to rack up 1500km over three days with a roadie to Auckland! It gets used then! If you could do one more thing / one thing differently, what would it be? I’m at the point where, on the aesthetics side of things, I’d have to do something
extreme like a widebody kit, and I’m not quite ready yet to cut the factory metal guards up. But the car looks really clean as it is, so I could almost leave it be now. On the engine cards, I’m really only restricted by fuelling currently. I’ve been told by a few tuners that a 50kW extra is simply a flex-fuel E85 set-up away, but with no E85 on pump here in Napier, and being quite content with the current power level, I don’t see a reason to make it faster. Fair call; that’d make daily-driving a bit harder! Cheers, Connor.
ENGINE: EJ257, 2457cc, horizontal-four; Wossner forged pistons, Garrett GTX3076R Gen II turbo, Xpurt 1000cc fuel injectors, Invidia N1 three-inch stainless exhaust, Process West front-mount intercooler kit, Possum Bourne rotated turbo set-up, Boosted Performance EWG up-pipe kit, Turbosmart 38mm wastegate, Turbosmart Supersonic blow-off valve, Tomei Type S fuel-pressure regulator, DeatschWerks DW300 fuel pump, reflashed with EcuTek software DRIVELINE: Six-speed manual, all-wheel drive INTERIOR: Leather black and red trim STi seats EXTERIOR: STi lip and skirt kit, Varis spoiler WHEELS/TYRES: 18x9.5inch (+37) Work Meister S1 3P, 265/35R18 Kenda KR20A SUSPENSION: Tein Flex Z adjustable coilovers, Hardrace rear lower control arms, Whiteline 24mm adjustable rear sway bar POWER: 315kW FUEL TYPE: Gull Force10 TUNER: Possum Bourne Motorsport
PRODUCT TEST
CLEAR EYES — RAIN-X HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT
themotorhood.com
88
M
ention the name Rain-X and you’ll instantly think water repellent, but the company actually offers a wide range of car care products, including its Headlight Restoration Kit, an easy all-in-one DIY kit that anyone can use at home, with no need for any extra tools. The sun’s UV rays have a lot to answer for when it comes to cars — they give our coatings a seriously hard time. When it comes to headlights, the sun breaks down the protective clear coating on the acrylic plastic, leaving it open to the elements, and over time this oxidizes, causing a foggy appearance. These unsightly headlights not only look absolutely rubbish with that fresh paint job or fresh restoration — if you let it get bad enough it can become a WOF and compliance issue, due to the reduced headlight performance. Replacements are costly and often impossible to find if you have a popular drift chassis. But all is not lost, as an easy DIY restoration using Rain-X Headlight Restoration Kit can yield long-lasting, crystal-clear results. The Rain-X Headlight Restoration Kit comes complete with three polishing pads, 59ml Rain-X Lubricant, 148ml Rain-X Headlight Restorer, 59ml Sealant, and a microfibre cloth.
STEP 1:
Ensure the headlight is clean and free of dirt and road grime before beginning the process. We also like to apply some masking tape around the headlight as a way of protecting the paint if you get a little loose with the sanding pads. But this is not necessary and more a precautionary measure.
STEP 2:
Spray the entire headlight and polishing pad #1 with Rain-X Lubricant. Sand the headlight surface in a uniform diagonal motion until you achieve an even finish. Work in one diagonal direction before switching and working in the opposite forming a cross hatch. At this stage youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to remove all the yellowing from the plastic, creating a uniform surface. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy, wipe dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
STEP 3:
Apply another coat of Spray Rain-X Lubricant to the headlight and this time use medium grit Polishing Pad #2. Working in a linear (horizontal and vertical) motion, sand the headlight with a firm pressure, working the entire surface in one direction and then switching to the other. Rain-X recommend repeating this twice. Once you have achieved a uniform surface, wipe clean.
STEP 4:
Apply a third coat of Spray Rain-X Lubricant to the headlight and this time, use the fine grit polishing pad #3. Return now to a diagonal sanding motion. By doing this it ensures youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not left with any sanding marks. If you were to complete all three sanding steps in one direction, you would struggle to create a uniform surface free of scratches. Step four is complete once you have achieved a smooth-to-the-touch surface. Wipe clean and allow it to dry.
STEP 5:
At this stage, the headlight will still have a haze. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to polish. Apply a small amount of the Headlight Restorer to the provided microfibre, and, working in a circular motion, polish the plastic until all the haze has gone. You will likely have to apply more product as you go. Once the headlight is completely polished, ensure all the product has been removed from the headlight surface.
STEP 6:
themotorhood.com
90
The last step is to seal the headlight using the Rain-X Sealant. Apply the sealer to a clean, dry cloth and apply an even film. Job done!
Engine Management Engine Rebuilds Dyno Tuning Auto Electrical Warrant of Fitness ECU Installation Diagnostic Repairs & Servicing Custom Engine & Body Looms visit www.terapaauto.co.nz/pcnz to redeem a 5% discount on your next job
Te Rapa Automotive dy n o
tuning
114 Northway St, Te Rapa Hamilton
specialists
repairs@terapaauto.co.nz 07 849 6722
w w w.te ra p a a u to.co. n z
Website: bspb.co.nz Email: bspb@bspb.co.nz Phone: 03 455 3276 Address: 64-85 Bridgman Street, Kensington, Dunedin
Extensive experience in all aspects of smash repair, panel beating and painting for private, commercial, fleet and insurance works
THE LEADING VEHICLE SERVICING, WOF & VEHICLE MODIFICATION SPECIALISTS SERVING EAST AUCKLAND
09 274 5555 12C KERWYN AVENUE, EAST TAMAKI, AUCKLAND 2013
EASTTAMAKIAUTO.CO.NZ
VEHICLE SERVICING WARRANT OF FITNESS VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS BRAKE SERVICING TYRES AND WHEELS EXHAUST SYSTEMS STEERING AND SUSPENSION ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
WEEKEND WARRIOR
1997TOYOTACHASER TOURERV(JZX100) PHOTOS: JADEN MARTIN
NAME: DARCY SULLIVAN // AGE: 23 LOCATION: TIMARU // OCCUPATION: MECHANIC NZ Performance Car : Hey, Darcy. Why this JZX100? Darcy: Hi, NZPC. I’ve owned a few Toyota Supras before and found a love for JZ power plants. Also, with drifting, I liked how the big four-door car handles, and how it feels to drive on the street. After seeing the video Matt Farah did on The Smoking Tire [YouTube channel] of the famous ‘WAAA’ JZX100, I knew I had to have one. Since then, I’ve owned four of them; currently still own two, including this one. I highly recommend the chassis — it’s amazing out of the box, and, with a few light mods, it’s a super-good car all around. What has your goal been since you started? To make it look the way I wanted and drive the way I wanted. I’m a stancelord at heart and always have to have my cars as low as possible, with the best possible fitment. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved on this, although it took a few replacement fenders to get it perfect. I love to beat on it, so it still has to drive nicely. This one has been handling two years of abuse at my hands and hopefully it will continue to take it. So style is pretty important to you? To me, style is everything; as Dori Labs likes to say, “style over everything”. I always put it first. Wheels and suspension are the key first steps to a build, but shouldn’t be the only step. For me, wheel choice can make or break a car. I’d much rather have a low, slow, and stylish car than something that’s quick but looks terrible, as I’m sure most would agree.
themotorhood.com
92
What’s next on the cards? Well, it’s already got a date set to go back on the dyno, hopefully to push the factory block that much further. It should be over 650hp [485kW] this time, and I’m tossing up with doing full panel and paint on the car, or doing some sort of itasha livery. I’ve been saying that for a while, so who knows when that may happen. Other than that, I’m pretty happy with where it is now, but it’s by no means done. It’ll forever be getting upgrades here and there and improved where I deem necessary! Lastly, tell us about that VS-KF tattoo! I’d been thinking about tattoo ideas for years — so, way too long and putting too much thought into something that should’ve been so simple. Finally had a thought: why not get my favourite wheel tattooed on me exactly how it’s like on my car, because surely I wouldn’t regret that, right? Well I don’t, but there’s been times I have. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard Foose or Cragar jokes. Dedication to the cause! Cheers, mate.
ENGINE: Toyota 1JZ-GTE, 2498cc, six-cylinder; Kelford Cams 272-degree camshafts, Kelford valve springs, Kelford retainers, Sinco exhaust manifold, Holset HX35 Pro, Turbosmart 45mm wastegate, Plazmaman intercooler, titanium exhaust, AEM water-methanol injection, Haltech 2500 ECU DRIVELINE: Toyota R154 five-speed, Exedy five-puck clutch, TRD two-way limited-slip differential, solid diff mounts, JZA80 Supra four-pot front calipers and rotors INTERIOR: Recaro SPG driver seat, Recaro SR7 passenger seat, TRD cluster, Nardi steering wheel, factory-option trash can, VIP dash table, dash mat, Recaro pillows EXTERIOR: S2 factory aero front bumper and lip, factory aero side skirts, TRD rear lip, 326power wing, Origin Lab carbon roof spoiler, Origin Lab boot lip, factory-option gold badges, TRD grille, D-Max tail lights, ClearWorld front corner lights WHEELS/TYRES: (F) 18x10-inch (-7) Work VSKF, 225/35R18 Nankang NS20; (R) 18x10.5-inch (+14) Work VS-KF, 235/35R18 Nankang NS20 SUSPENSION: GP Sport G-Master coilovers, Swift springs, Cusco front upper camber arms, Cusco rear strut brace, custom front strut brace POWER: 450kW (fly) on 31psi FUEL TYPE: 98 octane TUNER: Reuben York at Rapid Performance
PRODUCT PROFILE
Japanese plate styling with all the personalised plate customization you’re used to. The best part of all? They’re 100% legal.
ADD THE ULTIMATE JDM ACCESSORY TO YOUR STREETER WITH A JAPANESESTYLE PERSONALISED PLATE FROM KIWIPLATES.CO.NZ — IT’S COMPLETELY LEGAL TO USE ON NEW ZEALAND ROADS!
themotorhood.com
94
N
ew Zealand has forged itself a unique image when it comes to car styling. With a mix of international influences and local creations, it’s fair to say we’ve got some of the best examples in the world. But if there’s one place we look to for inspiration more than any other, it’s the motherland of many of the cars we hold dear — Japan. Whether it’s simple styling touches like slammed ride heights on big, wide wheels, or the historical influences from legendary motorsport achievements, much has been taken from Japanese styling and integrated into our own aesthetic. With a treasure trove of parts to unearth to help us achieve these visions we see online, there’s a strong desire to have your car looking
like an authentic Japanese vehicle, which leads to the search for genuine Japanese plates in order to create the illusion of the car being in Japan itself, without ever leaving our shores. The only problem is that to get your hands on these requires the illegal exportation of Japanese government property and once here, the inability for it to be used on New Zealand roads legally. Sure they look cool, but they are ultimately limited in their use. However, thanks to our local personalised plate company, KiwiPlates, that doesn’t have to be the case anymore. After repeated calls from vehicle owners to produce a Japanese option, the company has just dropped its latest design that brings you authentic Japanese plate styling with all the personalised plate customization you’re used to. The best part of all? They’re 100% legal.
KIWIPLATES JAPANESE PLATE DESIGNS With six options available, KiwiPlates Japanese designs feature the Kanji characters “日本” which translates to “Japan”, and is representative of the ‘prefecture name’ found on the real deal. These are followed by one of two classification number options available: ‘511’ for private use vehicles with engine capacity of two-litres and under, or ‘337’ for private use vehicles with engines over two-litres of capacity — the same way they do in Japan. Both can be selected in black, white or green border designs to suit your car.
WIN!
UNDERSTANDING GENUINE JAPANESE PLATES 1. Prefecture names: referring to the prefecture (area) where the car was registered. There are now 106 prefectures in Japan. 2. Classification number: used to distinguish a wide range of vehicles. First numbers 3 and 5 are most common and represent a regular vehicle that seats less than 11. The following one or two digits are simply unique identifiers for the vehicle. 3. Kana text: a pseudonym character used to differentiate vehicles that are registered within the same prefecture, issued the same classification number, and license plate number 4. License plate number: a four-digit combination between 1 and 99-99
PREFECTURE NAMES
KANA TEXT
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER
LICENCE PLATE NUMBER
Nothing says Japan like going sideways four-up in an authentically-styled Japanese taxi, and to celebrate the release of the new Japanese plate designs, KiwiPlates is giving away a Drift Taxi Ride with Mad
Mike for you and two mates. To enter, all you’ve got to do is purchase a Japanese plate between 3 February and 31 March (new or redesign). For further details and to enter, visit KiwiPlates.co.nz.
PRODUCT REVIEW
PERFORMANCE GLASSWARE One for the automotive photographers, the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 is a four-times zoom, covering telephoto to super telephoto perspectives, and spans a versatile and long-reaching focal length range perfect for track work. Complementing the long reach is an optimized optical design that features three low dispersion (LD) glass elements to reduce chromatic aberrations and colour fringing throughout the zoom range. The lens also features a Flex Zoom Lock mechanism to permit locking the zoom position at any focal length position to prevent accidental zoom extension. To aid handheld shooting situations, Vibration Compensation (VC) is a 4.5-stop-effective image stabilization mechanism that helps to reduce the appearance of camera shake for sharper results when capturing those fast-panning corner shots at slower shutter speeds. Available in Canon EF-mount or Nikon F-mount. Priced at $2175, the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 can be purchased at aucklandcamera.co.nz.
THROWBACK Oi, listen up. DTM is going old school! The wheel and tyre giant has listened to what you lot want and launched a new “DTM Old-Skool” range of wheels. Among the first to break cover is the timeless Old-Skool IV mesh-style wheels, which are available in both 15-inch and 18-inch (pictured) diameter. They pack a bunch of dish and are available in aggressive offsets for proper fitment. Rounding out the blast from the past styling is the hex centre caps, featuring red and gold resin. Check out these and the rest of the ‘DTM Old-Skool’ range at dtm.co.nz
ALL ABOUT THE FLOW Restrictive factory air filter and air intake–housings are not the goods — even worse is a poorly designed and cheap aftermarket option. When you get your hands on a Subaru WRX STI. your first port of call should be K&N. The K&N 69-8009TWR Typhoon air intake system is a free-flowing, mandrelbent aluminium tube air induction system designed to dramatically reduce restriction as it smoothes and straightens air flow, allowing your engine to inhale a larger amount of air — more air means more usable power and acceleration throughout the RPM range. Best of all is the added benefit of more aggressive and deeper acoustics during acceleration. Guaranteed to increase power with an easy install time and a Million Mile Limited Warranty — you can’t go wrong. For more information and to find your local stockist, visit knfilters.com
SHOCKINGLY SUPERIOR
themotorhood.com
96
With an official New Zealand distributor onboard (Race Shock Specialists), you can now get your hands on the MCA Suspension range locally. A special product range has been put together specifically for our market, starting with the Street Essentials Elite, which is designed, developed, and assembled in Brisbane, Australia. The Street Essential Elite is not only designed for maximizing comfort, it also incorporates a very enjoyable level of handling for street applications and features a significant improvement in handling over the standard products, thanks to the addition of MCA Suspension’s latest valving technology — Fusion Valving — along with a more thorough and dedicated development programme. Priced at $2250, the Street Essential Elite is fully adjustable, premium quality, and offers a two-year locally supported warranty. Visit mcasuspension.com for more information.
ACCURATE REVS When you’re bouncing off the limiter or simply want to rev match your gear changes perfectly, it pays to have accurate tools. The AutoGage 8000 RPM Tacho offers great performance and value for money in one package. Engineered by AutoMeter, it’s ideal for a fast street car or a weekend racer, and provides levels of accuracy and durability unheard of in the price category. Reading from 0 to 8000rpm, it’s available in black or white face options and will suit most four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines with 12volt and 16volt compatibility. Priced at $114.98, you can get your hands on the AutoGage 8000 RPM Tacho by calling the team at 1st Auto Parts on 09 638 6439. Further available found at autometer.com.
PARTY LIKE IT’S CLAY DAY It’s summertime, everything is dry, and in a car enthusiast’s worst nightmare, it’s bloody dusty. Don’t let your prized garage ornament look, or feel, subpar — Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay Kit safely restores a smooth-as-glass feel to your paint by removing bonded contaminants such as tree sap mist, paint overspray, road contaminants, and airborne salts. The clay bar traps and lifts off the contaminants as you lubricate the surface with the Quik Detailer. The system includes two specially-formulated nonabrasive clay bars with a 473ml bottle of Quik Detailer and Microfibre cloth (40x40cm). For further information, visit meguiars.co.nz
KEEP IT DOWN For those looking to reduce understeer and improve steering response, Whiteline Anti Lift kits are primarily designed to improve traction and cornering grip under power. To achieve this, they increase static caster and improve front end geometry, along with new alloy mounts coupled with low-compliance synthetic elastomer bushings that serve to dramatically sharpen initial turn-in response and reduce understeer. Whiteline Anti Lift kits are available for a number of popular models, including Subaru WRX/STI, Mitsubishi Evo, Honda Civic, Nissan GT-R, Audi, VW, Hyundai i30N, and Ford Focus ST/RS. Starting at just $179, visit whiteline.com.au for further information.
GETTING LOADED Seeking ace sound components isn’t a task to be taken lightly. Start right at the top with Kicker’s Loaded Dual 12-inch L7R 2-Ohm Enclosure (45DL7R12), capable of pumping out silly amounts of bass through a combination of its industry-honoured 1200 watts RMS subwoofers and stoutly-constructed enclosures. It gets even better with the use of square-shaped subs, packing Kicker innovation that delivers up to 20 per cent more volume compared to a circular driver, so you move more air and get more bass without the expense of a custom box. Contact your local Kicker stockist for pricing. Available throughout New Zealand, find your closest stockist at kickernz.co.nz
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
YOUR BUILDS IN DETAIL
GAVIN THOMAS’ SUBARU WRX
themotorhood.com
98
There will always be those cars we “will get around to one day” that end up never really getting the love they deserve. The more of these we can save the better, even if that means selling them to those who have the time and means to make good use of them. Gavin Thomas was one of those who had the time and the means, wrangling this WRX as a bare shell from Dave at Dtech after it had been lying out the back of the shop under a tarp for some time. Completely stripping it with just the doors attached, Gavin used it as a base for a wrecked ’04 V8 that he already had. The running gear, loom, and dash were switched over, and an STi plate-type front diff, Exedy Hyper six-puck clutch, and four-pot front and two-pot rear calipers were installed. The
rotors are Project Mu two-piece units, while suspension comes by way of MCA Suspension gravel-spec examples that have remote canisters. A 22B-style front bumper is currently fitted. However, Gavin tells us his full carbon-Kevlar WRC-spec wide-body should show up very soon. “I was once a strict RB guy. I’d built an RB30-powered Cefiro a good 10-plus years ago, but in 2008, when moonlighting at Dtech, I helped build an WRC replica WRX and liked the look. With my business [Precision Workz Engineering Ltd] predominantly involved in rallying, I felt the need to demonstrate what we can do,” explains Gavin. “This was a cheap platform with an iconic look and I knew where to find the bits so it was a no-brainer.”
JON ATTWOOD’S BARRA NISSAN C33
There’s something irresistibly satisfying about smashing the most out-the-gate combination of motor and chassis together then watching people scratch their heads in awe at how you managed to make it work. A few years back, putting a Ford Barra in anything would have been considered a fool’s task; now it’s widely considered one of the best swaps around. For Jon Attwood, it had always been his long-term plan with this Nissan Laurel C33. It wasn’t until the RB25 that used to reside in the engine bay decided to eat itself inside out that said plan was rapidly accelerated. “I’d always wanted to do the Barra swap, but it came sooner than intended,” Jon explains. “I’d only just finished rebuilding the RB25 after it had destroyed itself the previous time and it was going to cost more to fix again than just doing the Barra swap would. The Barra motors are cheap to buy, too, so replacing them down the track is less heavy on the bank account.” Jon handles all his own fabrication work, so the mounts to get the big four-litre in there were by way of his own hand, as was the exhaust manifold, which was designed and built in-house before the final tig job was contracted out to a local shop. The car’ll run a VH45 throttle body, Proflow fuel rail, and hearty 2200cc injectors on the cold side, while the turbo is a custom Holset HX40 on the hot side and employs twin Turbosmart 45mm wastegates. Backing the package is a G-Force four-speed h-pattern dog box that will send power rearward to a GT-R rear end. Once the project’s completed, you can expect to see Jon slaying tyres at local drift events.
KRIS LARSEN’S MITSUBISHI GTO While many of us could rattle off the cult classic makes and models that make up the majority of the modified fleet, there are a handful of grunters that get overlooked simply because they fell out of popularity. The Mitsubishi GTO (aka 3000GT) is one of those. Appearing at the start of the ’90s, they were crammed with a whole heap of technology, including the likes of tunable exhausts and active aero, and were powered by a twin-turbo V6 in top spec. These cars hauled ass, as you’d expect. However, critics slammed them for larger kerb weights and barge-like handling. Unfortunately, this meant that few were modified beyond the regular assortment of bolt-ons, and the fact that they could be solid runners has always been overlooked by all but a few. One of those few is devotee Kris Larsen, who has spent the past few years transforming his own example into one fit for the likes of Time Attack. The twin-turbo block has been fitted with Mitsubishi Diamante Mivec heads, and ditches the twin set-up in favour of a big single turbo. The injectors are pumped up and a Link G4 ECU joins the party. Underneath you’ll find a ton of suspension upgrades, including Tein coilovers, and Kris has a complete exterior aero package planned. He hopes to net 400kW at the wheels from the combo, and will use the GTO to compete at local hill climbs between NZ Superlap rounds.
WIN NEXT MONTH
SEND US YOUR PROJECT, AND IF IT’S FEATURED, YOU COULD BE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE A CENTURY BATTERIES GIFT VOUCHER
WORTH $150
DAILY DRIVEN
1990EUNOS ROADSTER(MX5) PHOTOS: JADEN MARTIN
NAME: NATHAN TOLICH // AGE: 24 LOCATION: NORTH SHORE // OCCUPATION: CABINET MAKER
NZ Performance Car: Hi, Nathan. We understand your first modded car was another MX-5, how did that come about? Nathan: Growing up, my dad always had classic British sports cars, which helped develop my love for Japanese cars. An MX-5 just seemed right, and my brother used to own one when I was younger so I knew they were good fun to drive. That’s why I ended up buying and modding an MX-5, and I’ve done a bit of work on various daily drivers since. Did you have a goal in mind for this one? At first, I just wanted to do a quick stance project, then fell in love with the car and decided to go down the ITB route rather than the turbo route you see most people doing these days. Was performance a factor? Performance was never really a factor, especially when I usually had a turbo car as daily that offered a bit of power. This was just meant to be a nice weekend cruiser, it’s definitely nice to have the added power associated with the ITBs and cams though! And it sounds great too. What does the car primarily get used for now? It’s usually just for a Sunday driver or for getting to work as my Friday car, but it’s too much fun so I practically daily it!
If you could do one more thing to the car what would it be? The goal is now to just tidy up certain parts of the car. If I were to do it again I definitely would choose my wheel set up before respraying the car and wrecking my guards! Cheers for the yarn, Nathan.
ENGINE: Mazda B6ZE, 1597cc, four-cylinder; silver top 4A-GE individual throttle bodies, M-Spec throttle body adapter, M-Spec fuel rail, reground cams, HKS headers, Link G4+ Storm DRIVELINE: Five-speed manual, 1.8-litre clutch and flywheel INTERIOR: Bride-style seats, Nardi steering wheel, Autoways rollbar EXTERIOR: Resprayed Mercedes Blau, OEM hardtop, Hybrid Lab roof spoiler, OEM boot spoiler, R-Package front lip, R-Package rear lip,Californian By Vitaloni wing mirrors, modified chrome tail lights WHEELS/TYRES: 15x8.5-inch (-6) Work Meister S1 2P, 195/45R15 Jinyu Gallopro YH18 SUSPENSION: D2 coilovers
SPECIALISTS IN NISSAN SKYLINE, 180SX, SILVIA, MAZDA RX7, TOYOTA CHASER TRADE ME: WSIMPORT FACEBOOK: WSIMPORTSNZ INSTAGRAM: WSIMPORTS_
• STEERING WHEELS • SUSPENSION ARMS • SOLID BUSHES • WHEEL SPACERS • BRAIDED BRAKE LINES • STEERING ADAPTER HUBS • HYDRAULIC HANDBRAKE KITS
info@conceptparts.co.nz | www.conceptparts.co.nz
WSIMPORTS@ICLOUD.COM / 027 741 3248 IMAGES ARE CURRENT STOCK, CALL FOR MORE INFO
thepartsman.co.nz So you͛re going to the
ĞƌŽŇŽǁ KƵƚůĂǁ EŝƚƌŽ &ƵŶŶLJ Ăƌ ^ŚŽǁ ͊ Be prepared. 'Ğƚ LJŽƵƌ KŶĞ ĂĚ <ŝǁŝ d-shirt now. &ƌŽŵ Ψϯϳ͘ϱϬ
GEARTECH.CO.NZ
•MANUAL GEARBOXES •DIFF AND CLUTCH SPECIALISTS •FULL AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICAL SERVICES •WOF SERVICING
*HW LW ULJKW WKH ILUVW WLPH i 7KLQNLQJ DERXW PDNLQJ FKDQJHV WR \RXU FDU i :DQWLQJ WR LPSRUW D YHKLFOH i &DQ¶W JHW D :2)
7DON WR WKH H[SHUWV²,W¶V ZKDW ZH GR
Ph: 07 846 1623
www.nostalgiamotors.co.nz www.thepartsman.co.nz
06 354 7590 / 021 395 838 GEARTECHAUTOMOTIVE 334 TREMAINE AVENUE, PALMERSTON NORTH
UNDER CAR www.mountshop.co.nz WHEELS / TYRES
MAGS, TYRES, WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, WHEEL BALANCING, AND REPAIRS
PARAMOUNT ENGINEERING
WRC DEVELOPMENTS
Highly skilled engine reconditioning services; classic, vintage, performance cars, nationwide Aucklandenginereconditioner.co.nz / 09 426 8592 / 9 Forge Road, Silverdale, Auckland
Workshop, dyno/ECU tuning wrcdevelopments.com / 06 843 8430 /36 Leyland St, Napier
AUCKLAND
GLENDENE ENGINE RECONDITIONERS
MTS PERFORMANCE
60 years experience in engine reconditioning, servicing, and repairs ger.co.nz / 09 818 5352 / 31D Cartwright Road, Kelston, Auckland
Lowest price guaranteed on wheels, tyres, and suspension mtsp.co.nz / 021 4 TYRES (021 489 737) / 82 Wairau Road, Glenfield
ARROW WHEELS NZ’s leading builder, repairer, refurbisher of alloy wheels for 35 years arrowwheels.co.nz / 09 818 8388 / 6D Westech Place, Kelston, Auckland
BRUGAR ENGINEERING Mag wheel repair specialists since 1979 magwheelrepairs.co.nz / 09 486 6832 / 7 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna, Auckland
AUCKLAND
A team of expert car mechanics and vehicle repair specialists 09 360 8218 / 400 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland
SOUTH PACIFIC ETHANOL
E&H MOTORS Dyno tuning, engine and gearbox rebuilding, street car racing preparation, general services ehmotors.co.nz / 09 238 8987 / 179 Manukau Road, Pukekohe, Auckland
HOUSE OF BOOST
WAIKATO WORLD OF TYRES
WAIKATO
TARANAKI TARANAKI TYRETORQUE LTD Taranaki’s leading tyre/mag specialist, providing automotive services and customization tyretorque.co.nz / 06 757 5988 / 53 Molesworth St, New Plymouth
WELLINGTON 41 DEGREE WHEELS Three-piece wheel specialists, custom offsets, repairs — 100% made in NZ 41degreewheels.com / 04 974 7830 / 29 Montgomery Crescent, Upper Hutt, Wellington
NATIONWIDE THE WHEEL MAGICIAN Specialist quality on-site repairs for kerb-damaged alloy wheels wheelmagician.co.nz / 0800 537 233
SUSPENSION / STEERING
COILOVERS, SHOCKS AND SPRINGS, STEERING JOINTS, AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS
OILS, ADDITIVES FLUIDS, FUELS AND WORKSHOP CONSUMABLES
JOSHUA MOTORS
Dyno tuning, Link/Nistune, performance upgrades and servicing houseofboost.co.nz / 09 444 4547 / 37G View Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland
Hamilton’s leading retailer of tyres, wheels, batteries, and wheel alignment servicing worldoftyres.co.nz / 07 847 0330 / 62 Greenwood Street, Frankton, Hamilton
CONSUMABLES
PFI PERFORMANCE FUEL INJECTION For all auto electrical services Facebook: performance fuel injection / 0276316456
TE RAPA AUTOMOTIVE Dyno tuning specialists, ECU installation, engine reconditioning, WoF, servicing and repairs terapaauto.co.nz / 07 8496722 / 14 Northway St, Te Rapa, Hamilton
PRECISION PERFORMANCE
Suppliers of quality race fuels southpacificethanol.co.nz / 021 885 902 / 20 Bledisloe Street, Cockle Bay,
RECHARGE BATTERIES Battery revitalizer and conditioner recharge.net.nz / 0800 36 66 36 / PO Box 350, Pukekohe, Auckland
NATIONWIDE FUELSTAR Fuelstar fuel combustion catalysts for less fuel, cleaner air fuelstar.com
MICROTECH NEW ZEALAND LTD Producing a range of affordable high-quality engine management systems microtechnz.co.nz / 03 374 5000 / 125 Wordsworth Street Christchurch
FABRICATION
NEED SOME CUSTOM WORK? MAYBE A NEW EXHAUST, ROLL CAGE, INTERCOOLER OR CATCH CAN
Tuning, fabrication, and rotary specialists 07 870 1302 / 2 Jack Russell Drive, Te Awamutu, Waikato
AUCKLAND
NOSTALGIA MOTORS
SANDBROOKS
Mechanical repairs and maintenance, WOFs, LVV certification, lapsed regos, noise testing, modifications nostalgiamotors.co.nz / 07 846 1623 / 4E Wickham Street, Hamilton
Race car heated windscreens, curved plastic window specialists, CFRP CNC tooling sandbrooks.co.nz / 09 278 9816 / 39 Noel Burnside Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland
BAY OF PLENTY DYNO POWER PERFORMANCE TUNING Performance dyno tune and fabrication Facebook: Dynopower / 07 578 3332 / 99 Birch Avenue, Judea, Tauranga
CONCEPT DYNAMIC MOTORSPORTS Dyno tune, fabrication, and general repairs/service conceptdynamic.co.nz / 07 572 5089 / 5 Hocking Street, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
CHOPPERS AUTO BODY SHOP LTD Specializing in auto restoration, fabrication, rust repairs, panel beating, and metal shaping choppersautobodyshop.co.nz / 09 419 0773 / 35B Enterprise Street, Birkenhead, Auckland
WAIKATO SINCO CUSTOMS Fabrication specialists sincocustoms.co.nz / 07 847 3392 / 47A Bryant Road, Te Rapa, Hamilton
AUCKLAND
TARANAKI
THE LAB LIMITED
ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS
WAIWAKAIHO AUTO SERVICES LIMITED
General automotive in light engineering and fabrication thelab.nz / 027 278 9691 / Unit 2/48 Tawn Place, Pukete, Hamilton
The mechanics in Penrose that will keep you on the road alignmentspecialists.co.nz / 09 579 5246 / 137 Station Road, Penrose, Auckland
WAIKATO GET LOW CUSTOMS We specialize in air suspension parts, installs, and custom fabrication getlowcustoms.co.nz / 027 247 2247 / 138 Riverlea Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton
NATIONWIDE MOUNT SHOP Leading under car specialists mountshop.co.nz / 0508 86 66 86 / Whangarei, Henderson, Penrose, Hamilton, Napier, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Christchurch
Car repairs, air conditioning services, to fine tuning — all makes and models waiwakaihoautos.co.nz / 06 757 9177 / 651 Devon Street, Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth
SERVICING, MODIFICATION, TUNING, RE-POWERS, ENGINE BUILDS, ENGINE MANAGEMENT
AUCKLAND AUCKLAND ENGINE REBUILDERS From the latest to the oldest, we can rebuild it enginerebuilders.co.nz / 09 589 1280 / 2 Botha Road, Penrose, Auckland
BURKES METALWORKS
WELLINGTON
From chassis to steering wheel, we offer top quality custom bodywork burkesmetal.com / 03 349 4413 / 7 Mountview Place, Hornby, ChCh
TOTAL MECHANICAL SERVICES
RUSTORATIONS
Experienced dyno tuning with full racing workshop for all of your needs tmsracing.co.nz / 04 297 0600 / 23 Hinemoa St, Paraparaumu
CANTERBURY KENNELLY CAMS Custom camshafts, performance cylinder heads, race engines, flow bench, dyno kcams.co.nz / 03 366 3378 / 6 Battersea Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
RE SINCLAIR
MECHANICAL SERVICES
CANTERBURY
Fabrication, superior quality restorations, workmanship you can trust rustorations.co.nz / 03 374 6330 / 7 Penn Place, Riccarton, ChCh
PARTS / ACCESSORIES
GENERALIST PARTS SUPPLY, PERFORMANCE PARTS, OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS AND BOLT-ONS
AUCKLAND J T AUTOGLASS
Experts in performance car modification, service, and tuning resinclair.co.nz / 03 389 2126 / 35 Stanmore Road, Phillipstown, Christchurch
Installation, windscreen replacement, glazing, glass replacement, repairs jtautoglass.co.nz / 0800 555 141 / 16 Surfers Place, North New Brighton, Christchurch
HORSEPOWER HEADS
SANDBROOKS - RENNEN GLAS
Specialist products, and cylinder head modification services for clients worldwide shop@horsepowerheads.com / 03 377 0974 or 021 869 663 / 85a Coleridge Street, Sydenham, Chirstchurch
Racecar heated windscreens, curved plastic window specialists, CFRP CNC tooling sandbrooks.co.nz / 09 278 9816 / 39 Noel Burnside Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland
NATIONWIDE
STAHLCAR AUTO DIAGNOSTICS
MICROTECH NZ Producing a range of affordable high quality engine management systems microtechnz.co.nz / 027 472 5000 / Nationwide
Car diagnostic specialists stahlcar.co.nz / PO Box 11-698, Ellerslie, Auckland
OUTWEST TINTING AND WRAPS Vehicle window tinting, vehicle wrapping, and mobile tinting service owt.co.nz / 0800 649 32 / 122 Railside Road, Henderson, Auckland
SPECIALISTS freephone 0508 86 66 86 ALL SUBARU PARTS WORLD Subaru specialists; panel, mechanical, and everything in between. Full workshop aspw.co.nz / 0800 278 2278 / 114 Kitchener Road, Waiuku, South Auckland
MANAWATU AUTOMOTIVE DIRECT Specializing in Japanese used imports. Family owned for over 19 years automotivedirect.co.nz / 06 323 1980 / Cnr Aorangi St & Kimbolton Rd, Feilding
CANTERBURY JAPANESE RACE SUPPLIES Biggest range of performance parts — best price guarantee! japrace.com / 0800 566 525 / 143 Antigua Street, Christchurch
OSAKA AUTO PARTS Used Japanese Nissan performance parts osaka.co.nz / 03 366 8477 / Christchurch
SOUTHLAND E HAYES The one-stop shop that’s got the lot ehayes.co.nz / 03 218 2059 / 168 Dee Street, Invercargill
NATIONWIDE MOUNT SHOP
BAY OF PLENTY ACTION CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY Fittings, upholstery, covers, carpet, accessories, trimming, installation, repairs 07 574 1888 / 23A Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
MANAWATU CLASSIC & CUSTOM MOTOR TRIMMERS Specializing in classic cars and hot rods ccmt.co.nz / 06 357 0835 / Unit 1, 209 John F Kennedy Drive, Manawatu
CANTERBURY Professional installers of performance car audio systems and accessories jcinstalls.co.nz / 0800 128 346 / 19 Stewart Street, Addington, Christchurch
New performance camshafts, regrinds, valve springs, stainless valves kelfordcams.com / 0800 338 000 / 15 Kennaway Road, Woolston, Christchurch
WS IMPORTS Specialist importers of Japanese cars and classic Japanese performance parts facebook.com/WSIMPORTSNZ / 027 741 3248 / trademe.co.nz/ wsimport
INTERIOR / ELECTRICAL ALL THINGS AUTO-ELECTRICAL, AUDIO AND UPHOLSTERY
AUCKLAND HOTWIRE AUTO ELECTRICAL Car audio and security professionals hotwirenz.co.nz / 09 813 2460 / 4099 Great North Road, Kelston, Auckland
DASHBOARD RESTORATIONS Have your classic’s dashboard restored to a long-lasting factory-new finish dashboardrestorations.co.nz / 09 444 4211 / 3/54 Ellice Road, Glenfield
WIRI AUTO ELECTRICAL
Quality body-kit manufacturer aerotech.co.nz / 03 384 3629 / 16A Maces Road, Christchurch
AUTOTECH PANEL & PAINT Full restoration and minor repairs, paint suppliers, and tyre-fitting autotechpanelnpaint.co.nz / 03 688 6488 / 50 Redruth Street, Timaru
SERVICES
VALUATIONS, INSURANCE, SHIPPING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
AUCKLAND XPERT WINDOW TINTING & SIGNAGE
PROTECT AUTO SOUND Car Audio, Car Security, GPS, Bluetooth Hands Free protectauto.co.nz / 0800 HOOK IT (0800 466 548) / Unit 2/75 Blenheim Road, Christchurch
NATIONWIDE
KELFORD CAMS
AEROTECH
Car audio installation soundworks.net.nz / 0800 2 INSTALL (0800 246 782 55) / 352 Ferry Road, Christchurch
AUTO CONNECT
Specialist high-performance muffler manufacturer — mufflers, resonators, accessories combo packs adrenalinr.com / 06 870 3526 / 136 Ormond Rd, Twyford, Hastings
CANTERBURY
SOUNDWORKS
SOUNDWORKS
ADRENALINR
Old skool bodywork, painting, airbrushing, and all other restoration needs countryclassiccars.co.nz / 06 324 8884 / 699 Rongotea Road, Palmerston North
JC INSTALLS LTD
Leading under car specialists mountshop.co.nz / 0508 86 66 86 / Whangarei, Henderson, Penrose, Hamilton, Napier, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Christchurch Holden and Ford body kits, hard-lids, clear lights, spoilers spoilers.co.nz / 0508 776 453 / 46 Waione Street, Petone,Wellington
COUNTRY CLASSIC CARS
Sound and security specialists soundworks.net.nz / 08002INSTALL / 72 Lismore Street Waltham, Christchurch
AI CONTROLS LIMITED Design and manufacture of bespoke electrical harness and control systems aicontrols.co.nz / 022 367 0260 / aicontrols.co.nz / 022 367 0260
PANEL, PAINT, EXTERIOR
PANEL BEATING, PAINTING, CUSTOM BODY WORK, BODY PARTS AND EXTERIOR EQUIPMENT
AUCKLAND AUTOMOTIVE BLASTING Comprehensive media blasting service specializing in classic cars 09 2384298 / 0272902076 / 12A Subway Road, Pukekohe, Auckland
DOMINION PANEL & PAINT Masters of quality, V8 specialist – Call Rob for a quote 09 815 5521 / 16 Morningside Drive, Sandringham, Auckland
WAIKATO MATAMATA PANELWORKS Award-winning classic car restoration and custom paint work panelworks.co.nz / 07 888 7831 / 23A Waihou Street, Matamata
MUSCLE CAR FABRICATIONS Quality restoration, custom fabrication, radiator repairs, fibreglass repairs Facebook: Muscle Car Fabrications / 07 888 4295 / 55 Firth Street, Matamata
NGATEA PANELBEATERS LTD Vehicle restoration specialists — ask about our dustless blasting! ngateapanelbeaters.co.nz / 07 867 7561 / 34 Kohunui St, Ngatea
For all auto electrical repairs for classic cars and daily runners wiriauto.com / 09 262 2660 / 121 Plunket Avenue, Wiri, Auckland
BAY OF PLENTY
JAY BEE AUTO ELECTRICAL
WAX ATTACK VALET & WHITEWALL TYRES BOP
GPS, alarms, air conditioning, re-wires, stereos, reverse cameras batteries, stereos jaybeeautoelectrical.com / 09 620 7813 / 156 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill
Full vehicle valet, whitewall tyre enhancement, cut and polishing professionals waxattackmobilevalet.co.nz / 07 577 9999 / 283B Fraser Street, Tauranga
GT AUTO SOURCE
TARANAKI
LED, HID, halogen — your local automotive lighting specialist gtautosource.co.nz / 09 375 0007 / 7B Morgan Street, Newmarket, Auckland
RE AUTOMOTIVE
WAIKATO
Paint and mechanical workshop Facebook: RE Automotive / 06 765 7656 / 32 Fenton Street, Stratford
TRENDS CAR AUDIO & ALARMS
MANAWATU
Leading home of car audio and security in the Waikato trendshamilton.co.nz / 07 846 6340 / Corner of Massey and Greenwood Streets, Frankton, Hamilton
RESTORATIONS UNLIMITED Complete auto body restoration services restorationclassiccar.co.nz / 06 345 5515 / 199 Ingestre Street, Whanganui
Automotive, marine, commercial — we provide mobile services throughout Auckland xperttinting.co.nz / 09 299 3728 / 179A Great South Rd, Takanini, Auckland
MR. MUFFLER Specialists in mufflers and exhausts 09 636 6622 / 149 Station Road, Penrose, Auckland
CANTERBURY JT AUTOGLASS Mobile windscreen replacements old and new cars, trucks, buses. jtautoglass.co.nz / 0800 555 141 / Unit 2/97 Rutherford Street. Woolston, Christchurch
MANAWATU GEARTECH AUTOMOTIVE Gearbox, differential, clutch specialists since 1983, covering all major manufacturers geartech.co.nz / 06 354 7590 / 334 Tremaine Ave, Palmerston North
NATIONWIDE HIGH PERFORMANCE COATINGS Exhaust coatings, piston coatings, turbo coatings, and much more hpcoatings.co.nz / 09 267 1007 / Unit O/62 Mahia Rd, Manurewa, Auckland
CAR VALUATIONS NZ LTD Car valuations — nationwide — where we’re needed carvaluation.co.nz / 0800 5000 40 / Nationwide
DRIVELINE/ BRAKES
BRAKES, GEARBOXES, DIFFS, DRIVESHAFTS, AND AXLE PARTS AND REPLACEMENTS
AUCKLAND DIFFS R US Not only diffs, also chassis fabrications, suspension, tubbing, custom body modifications 09 270 0855 / 4A Kaka Street, Otahuhu, Auckland
MP AUTOPARTS Clutch and brake specialists - including testing, rebuilding and modifying mpautoparts.co.nz / info@mpautoparts.co.nz / 0800 CLUTCH 28 Montgomery Crescent, Maoribank, Upper Hutt
SOUTHLAND PADDON RALLYSPORT GROUP Winmax brake pad suppliers for street, drift, offroad, circuit and rally paddonrallysport.co.nz / 027 318 1748 / info@paddonrallysport.co.nz / 26 Silverstone Drive, Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell
NATIONWIDE BUYBRAKES Performance brakes, rotors, pads, StopTech Big Brake Kits, Hawk brake pads buybrakes.com / glen@buybrakes.com / 021 420 120 / 1800 014 685
COOLANT
58.45
47.00
$
$
2x Pack Dex-Cool Long Peak Conv Green Coolant Life Antifreeze/Coolant & Antifreeze 3.78L
OIL/LUBRICANT
26.37
19.55
Honda Accord, Civic, Odyssey + Front Brake Pad Set
$
Mazda, Nissan & Suzuki Front Brake Pad Set
FILTERS
31.10
A1358 Ryco Air Filter
TIME MPH
Reece Fish Brendon Shearing Aaron Jenkins Ben Morris Craig Hedley Kerry Stewart Daniel Southall Gary Bogaart Dave Moyle Aaron Thomas Tony Gera Mike Carlton Aaron Jackson Geoffrey Dann Azhar Bhamji Ben Moorcock Roger Binnema Mike Bari Tony Witinitara Craig Smith Ross Whelan Darren Riches Oshana Solaka Ray Peterson Kathryn McDonald Chris Daley Warren Black Jason McKillop Dallas Graham Geoff Sadler Aaron Williams Garth White Wayne Fowler Tim Lacey Matt Kriletich Aaron Costello Abdul Samad Ian Rainbow
1956 Chev Bel Air 7.38 1971 Holden HQ Monaro 7.95 1977 Holden Torana 8.14 1969 Chev Camaro 8.37 1994 Toyota Supra 8.46 1923 Chrysler Bucket 8.45 1969 Chev Camaro 8.59 1975 Falcon XB Coupe 8.67 1989 Ford XF Falcon ute 8.81 1954 Ford Pop 8.84 1970 Ford Mustang 8.92 1973 Chev Corvette 8.95 1974 Holden Torana 8.97 1969 Chev Camaro 8.99 1969 Mazda R100 9.01 1974 Mazda RX-3 9.08 1968 Pontiac Firebird 9.09 1971 Chev Chevelle 9.26 1979 Holden HZ Premier 9.33 1967 Ford Cortina 9.38 1934 Ford Model Y 9.45 1954 Ford Pop 9.66 1977 Mazda 323 9.67 1970 Ford Mustang 9.70 1969 Chrysler Valiant 9.72 1972 Holden HQ Monaro 9.80 1972 Holden HQ Monaro 9.81 1974 LJ Holden Torana 9.85 1978 Toyota Corolla Coupe 9.94 1932 Ford coupe 9.89 2015 LVV Ford Pop 9.90 1963 Ford Galaxie 9.93 1967 Chev Camaro 9.70 1981 Holden Commodore 9.94 1973 Ford XA Falcon Coupe 9.95 1969 Chev Camaro 9.97 1992 Mitsubishi Evo I 9.98 1950 Chev Coupe 9.98
194.50 173.00 169.40 168.67 164.19 162.00 164.94 159.72 158.26 152.00 150.83 154.76 151.42 160.00 152.00 155.74 149.98 148.92 146.20 147.06 143.60 133.00 147.09 139.30 137.27 141.43 137.95 137.59 134.00 136.29 136.87 140.78 138.68 132.51 135.56 141.11 138.00 136.97
ENGINE
TRIM AS RACED
540ci BBC twin-turbo 509ci BBC twin-turbo 540ci BBC twin-turbo 580ci BBC Procharger SC 2JZ Turbo 540ci BBC SC 406ci SBC Procharger SC 408ci SBF nitrous 563ci BBF nitrous 408ci SBC twin-turbo 480ci BBF nitrous 540ci BBC SC 555ci BBC nitrous 540ci BBC twin-turbo 13B turbo 13B turbo 540ci BBC NA 598ci BBC nitrous 540ci BBC Procharger SC 302ci Windsor turbo 427ci SBC NA 540ci BBC NA 13B turbo 417ci Windsor NA 604ci BB Mopar NA 540ci BBC SC 555ci BBC SC 421ci SBC NA 1UZ turbo 496ci BBC NA 400ci SBC NA 551ci BBF nitrous 454ci BBC SC Buick V6 Turbo 410ci BBF NA LSX Turbo 4G63 turbo 572ci BBC nitrous
E85, ET Streets C16, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers E85, DOT Hoosiers C16, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers E85, ET Streets Avgas, exhaust removed, full slicks C16, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers C16, exhaust removed, ET Streets C16, ET Streets Avgas, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers Pump gas, exhaust removed, ET Streets Avgas, ET Streets Avgas, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers Pump gas, full exhaust Pump gas, exhaust removed, ET Streets Pump gas, DOT Hoosiers C16, exhaust removed, ET Streets C16, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers C16, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers C14, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, exhaust removed, ET Streets E85, MT Slicks Q16, ET Streets Pump gas, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, exhaust removed, DOT Hoosiers E85, DOT Hoosiers Pump gas, ET Streets, uncapped Avgas, exhaust removed, MT Slicks C12, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, DOT Hoosiers Avgas, exhaust removed, ET Streets C12, exhaust removed, ET Streets Pump gas, DOT Hoosiers E85, DOT Hoosiers C16, exhaust removed, Dot Hoosiers
NEW ZEALAND’S QUICKEST STREETCAR RULES Cars must be registered and have a WOF, drive back up the return road, have raced within the last two years, and still belong to the driver who set the time. If you know anyone who should be on the list, make sure to let us know by emailing editor@performancecar.co.nz with their timeslip
53.54
$
A1597 Ryco Air Filter Honda
YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR; BRAKES, LUBRICANTS, ADDITIVES, FILTRATION, TOOLS, SUSPENSION, CAR CARE AND MORE!
FREE DELIVERY NATIONWIDE
myautomotive.co.nz
YELLOW TEXT DENOTES A NEW ENTRY OR BETTERED ET
45.95
45.95
$
NEW ZEALAND–IMPORT DRAG RACING RECORDS
Mobil 1 5W30 SN 1L
BRAKE PADS
$
CAR
$
$
Mobil 2 Stroke Oil 1L
NEW ZEALAND’S QUICKEST STREET CARS
New Zealand’s online auto store
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
DRIVER
DRIVER
TEAM
CAR
QUARTER-MILE ET
Rod Harvey
Yuasa / Terry’s Chassis Shoppe
Toyota Celica
5.90 @ 384kph (239mph)
DRIVER
TEAM
CAR
QUARTER-MILE ET
Charlie Bates Cory Abbott Brent Curran
Mazda-B8’s Terry’s Chassis Shoppe CBR / Castrol EDGE
20B Dragster Mazda RX-7 Series 6 Mazda RX-2
6.50 @ 337kph (210mph) 6.63 @ 304kph (189mph) 6.89 @ 326kph (203mph)
DRIVER
TEAM
CAR
QUARTER-MILE ET
Reece McGregor Robbie Ward Reece McGregor Nick Reiri Chris Kingstone-Cox Matt Buttimore Ben Cox Adam Wigg Aaron Barnes Tony Markovina Sam Khamis
Heat Treatments Racing R.I.P.S Racing Heat Treatments Racing Lawton RE Privateer/Rotamax CBR RSL / NZ Car Parts Wigg Motorsport Privateer Maz-Sport M&M racing
Nissan 350Z (VQ35) Nissan R32 GT-R MGAWOT III Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Mitsubishi Evolution VIII Mazda 1300 Mazda RX-3 (20B) Datsun 1200 coupe Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R (VH45) Mazda RX-3 (20B) Mazda RX-7 Series 5 Mazda RX-3
7.09 @ 329kph (205mph) 7.28 @ 312kph (194mph) 7.41 @ 310kph (193mph) 7.65 @ 273kph (170mph) 7.68 @ 288kph (179mph) 7.74 @ 269kph (184mph) 7.79 @ 286kph (178mph) 7.81 @ 289kph (180mph) 7.83 @ 267kph (165mph) 7.84 @ 286kph (178mph) 7.97 @ 240kph (149mph)
DRIVER
TEAM
CAR
QUARTER-MILE ET
Kris Robb Mathew Buttimore Dean Hargreaves Craig Hedley Jeremy Hewson Ryan Baldwin Craig Davis Jason Horn Leon Ruby Tony Markovina Hilton Bush Dick Richardson Shane Herbert Arif Samad Chris Anderson
10 Tenths CBR Rotamax Speedy Signs Putaruru Panel & Paint Privateer CBR / Pro Tint GRP / Hytec Engines / Top RPM Super Freight Maz-Sport Privateer Hytech Engines / GRP Maz-Sport M&M racing Anderson Construction
Mazda RX-7 Series 4 Mazda RX-4 Mazda RX-3 Toyota Supra Toyota Starlet (13B) BMW E36 (13B) Mazda RX-2 Mitsubishi Lancer Mazda RX-7 Series 1 Mazda RX-3 (12A) Mazda RX-2 Mitsubishi Evolution I Mazda RX-3 (12A) Mazda 323 (13B) Ford Courier
8.03 @ 267kph (165mph) 8.13 @ 265kph (164mph) 8.30 @ 260kph (162mph) 8.46 @ 265kph (164mph) 8.46 @ 249kph (155mph) 8.56 @ 246kph (153mph) 8.38@ 267kph (166mph) 8.59 @ 255kph (159mph) 8.63 @ 254kph (157mph) 8.66 @ 246kph (153mph) 8.70 @ 248kph (154mph) 8.78 @ 260kph (162mph) 8.82 @ 240kph (149mph) 8.82 @ 251kph (156mph) 8.88 @ 251kph (156mph)
DRIVER
TEAM
CAR
Aaron Baldwin Azhar Bhamji Zach Sayer Paul Norris Joel Marsh Michael Zahorodny Scott Tolhurst Jon Peplow Suheib Kareem Chris Anderson Ben Moorcock Tim Hawke Oshana Solaka Dallas Graham Rob Kelly Mohammed Salim Jon Peplow Aidan Reidy Raja Bhatti Anton Silva Curtis Crichton-Sigley Dallas Graham
Privateer Prowear Privateer Privateer Rotamax West Auckland Rotary Privateer S.P.E.C Performance M&M Racing Anderson Construction Privateer Privateer APE Racing Privateer NZ Car Parts Privateer S.P.E.C Performance Untamed Motorsport Edgell Performance Racing Ruff Red Rota Racing Privateer Privateer
BMW E36 (13B) Mazda R100 (13B) Nissan Cefiro (RB30) Ford Escort Mk II Mazda RX-3 coupe Toyota Starlet (13B) Toyota Soarer (1UZ) Honda Civic EG Mitsubishi Mirage (4G63) Ford Courier Mazda RX-3 (13B) Toyota Corolla KE20 (1UZ) Mazda 323 (13B) Toyota Corolla KE35 (1UZ) Toyota Corolla KE25 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) Nissan GT-R R35 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo I Mitsubishi Evo III Mazda RX-7 (12A) Nissan Skyline BNR32 Toyota Corolla KE35 (1UZ)
QUARTER-MILE ET 9.02 @ 238kph (148mph) 9.15 @ 248kph (154mph) 9.15 @ 232kph (144mph) 9.16 @ 241kph (150mph) 9.27 @ 238kph (148mph) 9.28 @ 234kph (145mph) 9.28 @ 225kph (140mph) 9.30 @ 237kph (147mph) 9.44 @ 226kph (141mph) 9.46 @ 235kph (146mph) 9.48 @ 230kph (143mph) 9.59 @ 217kph (135mph) 9.67 @ 236kph (147mph) 9.71 @ 220kph (137mph) 9.78 @ 220kph (136mph) 9.79 @ 225kph (140mph) 9.80 @ 240kph (149mph) 9.80 @ 231kph (147mph) 9.81 @ 228kph (142mph) 9.87 @ 228kph (142mph) 9.92 @ 231kph (147mph) 9.94 @ 215kph (134mph)
PEDAL DOWN. PERFORMANCE UP.
Get more performance with a K&N® High-Flow Air Filter™, designed to increase horsepower with up to 50% more airflow. Whether your car is brand new or has some kilometres on it, get a K&N filter today – more performance, protection, and since they are washable, they never need to be replaced!
Get yours today and give your vehicle more performance and protection with a K&N air filter, cabin air filter, and oil filter!
KN F ILT ERS .COM