Octane Fix Online Issue 01

Photo credit to Jake Iwanica - Neptune Photography

So this is it! … We’re finally alive!

So welcome to 01 the first edition of “Octane Fix Online”.

Lots of you know we have been wandering around the shows with cameras and video gear collecting goodies to archive for this day. And yes I know, it has taken a while. It has definitely been a learning curve to get this all to come together, so we fully have to thank all the people who have let us photograph their cars and the event organisers who have let us put camera’s where no man or woman dares to go! I’m quietly surprised two of the camera’s are still alive actually! But it’s worth the shot if we get the card back eh!

I honestly still don’t know what to call this production. I guess it’s a magazine but the goal is for this to be sooo much more than just a magazine. Being an on-line production only, it means we can do pretty much whatever we want without the problems of too many pages causing costly printing, production and distribution fees!

Meaning …. we can do MORE!!!!

You will soon see as you flick through that we will fully load each issue with photos and videos of the events and feature cars with the hope to not miss anything for you to check out. And YES, I did say videos! Throughout the articles you will see video icons on various photos, just click on the icon and you will be transported to the video of the event or car via this strange inter-web thingy like no hard copy book can ever do!

The best way to view these videos is to connect your laptop, tablet or whatever you have to your big screen and fully immerse yourself in the event and just watch it on TV. If you can also Bluetooth to your stereo at the same time, then FULLY do that. The sound tracks are recorded with full stereo output and even if you are watching on your tablet, definitely have your head phones on! Bonus is, if you don’t like the music, put your own on and just watch the video and kick back!

So this is us! Grass roots car enthusiasts, warts

and all! From drag racing, burnouts, rallies, retro pageants, retro caravans indoor and outdoor car shows to just good ole Sunday cruises, if it looks fun, we’re in! Each issue is looking to be pretty big so as we go, we may split them and issue them every two weeks instead of once a month, meaning even more for you to check out! With the big runs like Muscle Car Madness and the Hops becoming an extra edition all for themselves as they will be huge!

Thanks again to everyone who has supported and encouraged this to happen, the enthusiasm and support has been amazing and certainly encouraging!

So jump in and enjoy!

Thanks heaps all!

Giggles Aka Bogan

MAY 21

CONTENTS: Aussie Assault 2020 ........................................................................................ 3 FEATURE: His and Hers - Mark Silson’s beautiful GTS Monaro.......................... 44 FEATURE: His and Hers - Sheree’s staunch GMC custom truck........................... 58 Cromwell Car Show ........................................................................................... 78

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EDITOR / PHOTOGRAPHER: Kelvin Couchman (aka Bogan)

DESIGNER: Lisa Lewis - Kollide Design

Aussie ASSAULT

BRUCE MCLAREN MOTORSPORT PARK – TAUPO

EPIC! … the only word I had to explain this event this year!

As most of you know, I’m an Aussie muscle car fan through and through! But unfortunately, my own Coupe wasn’t feeling too healthy to join in for a thrash around the race track or drag down the back straight this year, but still rocked on down in the Falcon Turbo instead and even jumped in a 72 stroked 308 Torana hatch for a thrash around instead.

Choice Events have been running this event for a few years now and certainly have it well organised to pack as much as possible into the day!

For the keen, the pits and track are opened up on Friday for early scrutineering and a bit of a play as well, but come Saturday morning and it’s ALL GO!

There’s such a different atmosphere in the air with this event and the true Aussie muscle cars.

Black t’shirts, mullets and roaring V8’s just like the old days are the norm and I love it!

The good ole Holden Ford challenge is always good for a laugh and then a sneaky Mopar will roar in to rark it all up to keep the game going.

It’s almost like a trip back in time, but amongst the classic Monaro, Falcon and Valiant Coupes are the modern versions of Aussie muscle which is awesome to see how the old classics compare with modern technology of the GT Falcons and HSV Commodores.

The lack of comforts in the old school rides is certainly made up for by the raw grunt and roar of the old pour petrol down the carb models, although

the modern versions definitely have their own advantages.

It certainly is a full-on day! From cruising track time to flag drop drags down the back straight followed by screaming V8’s on the burnout pad, the action is thick and fast to either sit back and watch or get that helmet on and get into it!

The pit area is always busy with tyre changing and of course the repairs from the trashing to a few which fully adds to the atmosphere and comradery.

Requests for parts and tools over the PA giving a bit of a giggle because you know exactly what happened!

It definitely is a fun day out to either watch or get involved in.

MARK SILSON’S

“ ”

I always wanted a Monaro!

Classic Aussie Icon

So a few years back now, Dewi and myself somehow ended up leaning on a bar leaner watching all the happenings at the Mount Main Street car show, which just so happened to be the same leaner as Mark and his mate Craig were leaning on. Must have been a hot day or something!

As usual with all things in common in the car scene, we get yarning and turns out Mark has a genuine GTS Monaro at the show. So again, as usual the good ole Aussie Ford v’s Holden banter starts and the laughs carry on.

A while later Sheree (Marks other half) arrives at the same leaner and turns out she also has her Truck on display at the show.

So from that very leaner, the rest is history and we have been catching up at shows ever since.

So with our very first issue, the thought was,

why not do a “His and Hers” article, and what a perfect combination to have. A Classic Aussie Icon Muscle Car along side a very cool Custom/ Hot rod Pick-up Truck.

Marks 1970 GTS Monaro HT is certainly a fantastic example of the Aussie Icon. It’s definitely one of the cleaner un-molested Monaro’s in the scene.

With a few tricks in the power and handling department to do the old original design some favours, it certainly is a desirable package to drive now.

The black interior remains as factory with the classic styling of the old Muscle cars but Marks no slouch in the car scene having drag raced for a fair few years, so the engine is now a tricked 383 Scat Stroked Chev punching out 426hp on the dyno, back through a four speed manual gear

box (because real muscle cars have four gears!) back to a limited slip diff.

The whole suspension package has been lowered a massive four inches, or 100mm for you young fella’s, but still sits with a beautiful stance on the Minilite alloys giving that race look from back in the era of the famous Bathurst racing days of the 1970’s.

As you do or need to do when you’re punching 426hp, the brake package has been modified with disk brakes all round to pull the ole gurl up, so all in all the 1970 Monaro now cruises and drives pretty damn good.

The addition of the MSD fuel injection / carb has given the power plant a daily driver feel with the ease of starting and cruising, but drop the clutch and be assured, you’ll be transformed back the 1970’s muscle car era in a hurry.

SHEREE SILSON’S

Green Gem

From an Auzzie Icon to a Tuff truck packing a 383 Chevy,

Sheree’s 1966 Long bed C10 GMC Pickup certainly adds to making the Silson’s driveway look impressive on any day!

Sheree’s dream of owning a pickup truck came to life around 6 years ago after mentioning to a friend Neil McNickle that she was after a truck. Neil being like a hound dog chasing a scent when it comes to cars and bits, found a this green machine on TradeMe and convinced Sheree and Mark to go check it out.

After declaring that she didn’t want a green truck, Mark, Neil and Stretch from Kati Fab soon convinced her this green machine could in fact be her lil gem and so the love affair began!

Mark being the petrolhead soon had the engine bay sorted with a Scat stroked 383 Chevrolet to make it feel at home next to the Monaro along with the

MSD Fuel injection / carb to make it a nice driver.

But don’t think its just a cruiser tho, the Trickflow roller cam, Dougs headers and two and half inch exhaust soon let you know its going to growl at you!

This all runs back to a three speed TCI automatic transmission with a 2500rpm stall convertor to bring it to life, passing it onto the wheels via the Borg Warner diff.

Stretch soon ripped into doing his part to dress the ole truck up, with some cool panel fabrication, new paint job including adding more glitter to the metal flake roof, plus a fair bit more detailing. The truck certainly stands out in a show now.

The American Oak Bedwood deck with Stainless Steel bed strips was imported from Kentucky USA and at night, when lit up with matching green LED lights to highlight it, looks stunning.

Rhonda from Pure CNC Works / Profiles Ltd. ripped in and designed the Dash to hold the new

electronic gauge cluster along with adding extra detailing to the Petrol tank cap.

The stance of the truck was be fat and low so the chassis has been C-notched and lowered suspension slipped under to hang onto the 18” BG Alloy wheels.

Power steering and decent 4 pot calliper brakes have also been added in there to keep things under control, so as a package, this lil Green gem has certainly evolved into a pretty cool unit!

I can certainly see why Sheree loves getting out on the club cruises and rolling in her truck.

If you get to check this truck out in person, definitely take your time to check out the little intricacies that have been built into it. The subtle design and machining that have been incorporated to make this truck a beautiful driver have also definitely made it show worthy.

Cromwell

Classic carDISPLAY

2021

Well I finally managed to tick this one off the bucket list, but I’m thinking I may need to put it back on again it was that good!

I’d heard about this show down central Otago way a while back and that it was growing in size and looking pretty good.

I already knew that this part of the country is old school Aussie country with some serious collections hidden away but I wasn’t sure how big the Hot Rod following is down there, so I just had to go check it out.

If you haven’t been for a tiki tour around Otago or South Island in general, then you definitely need

to get down there! The roads and the scenery are simply stunning. From ducking in and out of rocky river gorges to flat open plains with straight roads further than your eye can see, it really is a stunning part of the country to cruise around.

I didn’t actually know much about Cromwell, just thought it was another little town down there somewhere. Turns out the place is rocking!

The Highlands Motorsport Park is at the Southern end and is definitely worth taking the extra time to go check out. Even if the motor racing isn’t on, the museum is well worth wandering around with some pretty cool historic racers mixed in with some seriously modern pieces of work that will make you say “I WANT ONE!”

After that, you can always jump in the go-karts

and race your mates or kick back in the café and watch the world go by. Another very cool thing there is that you can either jump in a Porche taxi for a skid around the track or even take your own for a test run. Quietly thinking the Coupe needs to have that on the bucket list myself!

So the car show, DAMN close on a thousand cars turned up in the morning with car parking over flowing into the near-by field. Stalls and retailers were set-up selling all sort of goods from new wheels to face painting along with food and coffee vendors. The day itself was intense. The sun was beaming in full noise with a lot of umbrella’s coming out of the boots, but for shade not rain!

The Southland Ford Falcon Club who have been running this event for the past twenty-one years had the first couple of rows set up with members