Feature: Covering Chrome

No stranger to the track or burnout pad, Paul Henry is a common sight in his ‘RU5TY8’ ’58 Chev, and he isn’t afraid to throw it around as if it’s a Mini — something we can testify to after doing some laps in it over the weekend. Sunday’s burnout was made the more memorable after RU5TY8 came out with some coloured tyres and covered the crowd with blue smoke

Bevan Chapman and his VL Commodore, now running an LS2. The motor is wearing a 2.3-litre Walkinshaw supercharger using water/methanol, dynoed at 600-plus horsepower with 1000Nm of torque

Express Excess

2022 PROWEAR CHROME EXPRESSION SESSION — CHRISTCHURCH WORDS AND PHOTOS: ROD DUNN

After cancellations, postponements, and date changes, it was fantastic finally to see an event take place in Christchurch without the restrictions of the past two years. The move down in the government’s traffic-light system meant that things could return to a somewhat normal state, a time when people could just get on with doing the things they love. With the 2022 Prowear Chrome Expression Session Christchurch event already having been postponed from March, fingers had been crossed in the hope that nothing would get in the way of it happening on its revised dates of 22–24 April. Much to the relief of many, it went ahead as planned.

Starting on Friday with VIP-pass holders getting that early track access, the gates of Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna — the venue for the weekend — were flung open at midday, allowing entrants to enter and get set up for three days of driving action. First port of call is always scrutineering, which all vehicles must go through before going onto the track. This is to ensure the safety of not only a vehicle and its driver but also the other entrants who are on the track alongside it. After a briefing for drivers, the track opened for an afternoon VIP cruise session, with a large number of cars going out. Other than a cold southerly wind blowing over the track, the day remained uneventful — people were just able to get out and enjoy driving their rides.

Spectators were treated to some awesome displays of driving

Saturday dawned clear but cold, as you would expect as we fast approached winter here in the south. However, with the sun out, the day was quite warm — a typical Canterbury autumn day. Cars began queuing outside the raceway before 6.30am; by the time the gates opened at 7.30am, the queue stretched several hundred metres down the road. Cars that hadn’t been there the day before made their way to scrutineering, while others took up residence in the pit area.

Regular driver briefings took place throughout the day; these were mandatory if you planned to drive on the track. The first cruise session of the morning saw plenty of cars head out, with a great mix of vehicles on display. Commodores, Toranas, a late-model Camaro, and a Mustang mixed it up with a big field of Jappas, which in itself had a great mix of cool cars, from early Toyotas and Datsuns to the late-model Skylines and Mitsubishis that usually fill the roads around Christchurch.

This 2000 Nissan Patrol powered by a standard 4.2-litre diesel fitted with an aftermarket turbo and was the talk of the pits on Sunday

John Healy and partner Kristina had a great weekend in their Mk 1 Escort. The Mk 1 is very different from when it left the factory — it now sports an SBC 400 V8 destroked to 377ci. A Powerglide helps with gear selection, while a nine-inch diff puts the power to the ground. John told us that the diff is only one metre in length

People started queuing at the gates before the crack of dawn to secure a great spot in the pits

The crowds also kept coming — thousands walked through the gates over the course of the day. The queue for people wanting to purchase armbands so that they could go for a ride was around 40 deep all day. Several different events took place in between cruise sessions, including the Link ECU/Spec Performance Roll Racing, Prowear Drifting, and what had to be the most popular event of the weekend: the Demon Energy Drinks burnouts. Both the drifting and burnouts attracted large numbers of participants and could be viewed from the grandstand on the track’s north bank. Spectators were treated to some awesome displays of driving in both events, with two sessions of each held over the course of the day.

The highlight of Saturday, if not the whole weekend, took place on the burnout pad in the afternoon. Here, we want to make a special mention of a very special guest, Michael Moore, who had been battling a brain tumour for many years. During the afternoon burnouts, Michael was taken out, riding shotgun with John Healy in his V8-powered Ford Escort then with Cole Raika in his Mazda RX-3, both of whom put on an awesome demonstration of how to blow tyres. The smile on Michael’s face was very evident when he returned to the pits — an awesome moment.

Cruise sessions continued throughout the afternoon until the track closed at 6pm. The official Chrome night cruise took place on Saturday night. Leaving from the Waterloo Business Park in Hornby at about 8pm, cars cruised south to the Rakaia Bridge, where they turned left and headed back to the city, travelling through Leeston, a small rural town near Lake Ellesmere. This event was well supported, with a large number of people and vehicles taking part.

After battling some stiff competition this year, Garett Matthews (left) came out the winner in the burnout comp in his LS-powered One Tonner, while Jacob Warren (right) was runner-up in his ’57 Chev

People started queuing at the gates to the Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, before the crack of dawn on Sunday morning, no doubt wanting to secure a great spot in the pits. The day was fairly much a repeat of the Saturday, with plenty taking to the track for the cruise sessions. A couple of cars were missing due to mechanical issues; unfortunately, when you push your car as hard as some do, things are bound to break.

In the afternoon, the finals of several events were held, including the Link ECU/Spec Performance Roll Racing and the Demon Energy Drinks burnouts. The burnouts were a little down on numbers, with a couple of noticeable absences but still with a strong field. The entrants put it all on the table — or, in this case, on the pad — putting on some great displays. Once all the smoke had cleared, Garett Matthews, who was up from Ashburton with his supercharged LS-powered Holden One Tonner, named ‘DSPRNG’, was crowned king for 2022, while Jacob Warren, in his black beauty ’57 Chev, named ‘SHREDDER’ and powered by a supercharged SB400, was awarded runner-up.

After additional awards were handed out, more cruising took place before the event was brought to a close for 2022. A big shout-out needs to go to the team at Premier Events and the guys from Auckland for coming down to Christchurch and bringing us this much-needed fixture. Can’t wait for the next.

Geoff Kissack, lapping the track in his Ford Falcon, is very proactive in the Christchurch Falcon Fairlane Club in Christchurch. The Falcon is running a fresh 351 stroker with a manual cog-swapper

New fit and forget Trojan trailer lights

NEW TROJAN LED LIGHTS AND LED LIGHT PACKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Trojan’s new fully sealed and durable trailer lights are available singly or as a twin pack, complete with wiring seven-pin trailer plugs and mounting kits.

The new units replace a previous version that has been substantially redesigned. It now comes with a separate mounting plate to relieve stress on the light unit itself, which avoids compromising its water tightness. The case has also been redesigned and a new method of manufacture has further increased its resistance to water ingress.

The LED circuitry is multi-voltage, accepting 10 to 36 volts DC, and the units are ADR compliant. Each unit features tail, stop, and indicator lights with a built-in reflector. The looks of the new lamp have also received an upgrade. The tail light is now a more sophisticated illuminated rectangular strip around the outside of the indicator, stop light, and reflector lenses.

There are no screws or mounting holes on the front of the units, ensuring the lamps maintain their clean looks for many years. The lenses are constructed from virtually unbreakable polycarbonate, which are also scratch and chemical resistant. They are fully sealed and watertight to the IP67 standard so they can be safely used on boat trailers. However, for peace of mind, they are backed by a three-year warranty.

The units come pre-wired and sealed with nine metres of cable and the multi-fit mounting plate which will adapt to most existing mount hole positions.

They can be purchased in three variants. T371072 is a left-hand unit with stainless steel mount fittings. It replaces unit T371052. The right-hand unit, T371074, has integrated vertical and horizontal number plate lights. It replaces unit T371054.

The seven-pin plug on the twin tail light pack (T37071) is also an improved design. It includes an interchangeable grommet that can accept one or two wires, to suit different wiring plans. A simple installation means the supplied leads from both light units can be fed into the plug side by side, but if additional side marker lights are installed, for example, these are all usually spliced into a single wire going to the plug. This new pack replaces item T371051. The seven-pin plug is also available on its own (T371080).

They are available from automotive and transport outlets nationwide. For more information see trojan.co.nz, or call 0800 TROJAN (876 526).

Century Batteries revved up for Repco Rally New Zealand

AFTER 10 YEARS AWAY, THE FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP HAS RETURNED TO NEW ZEALAND, THIS TIME POWERED BY ONE OF NEW ZEALAND’S MOST POPULAR BATTERY BRANDS.

New Zealand’s gravel roads have long been a favourite with international rally drivers. Century Yuasa general manager Stu Stanners believes international events participating on New Zealand soil should be supported and welcomed back not only by the general public, but also by local industries.

Century Batteries will be the official battery partner of Repco Rally New Zealand for 2022, which will take place over four days of actionpacked special stages in the Auckland and Waikato regions, starting 29 September.

“After such a long hiatus, Kiwis are getting around the Repco Rally New Zealand, so we are proud to be supporting the New Zealand round,” says Stu. “This is a great moment for Century Batteries to be getting behind such an iconic world series. It is one we have big plans for.”

Repco Rally New Zealand CEO Michael Goldstein welcomed Century Batteries’ support, especially from a brand that has backed New Zealand motorsports for many years.

Century Batteries has also secured naming rights for the NZRC’s service park. The Century Batteries Service Park at Auckland’s Halsey Wharf will be home base for all New Zealand-based teams during the event.