ROCKET SHIP! WE DRIVE THE NEW ZL1
ALL WHEEL DRIVE PONTIAC + SLAMMED CHEV PICKUP +
LOW-LIFE
DRAGGING CHEV PICKUP
$10.99
416803 510003
ISSUE 174 ∞ NEVEMBER 2019
NOV. 2019 ISSUE 174
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HIS AND HERS MONAROS
RNET E T N I HE YED T O R T S AT DE H T D IR FIREB T L I U IWI B THE K
WEDDED BLISS
HIS AND HERS MONAROS
MUSCLE GARAGE
R E T U R N S
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O C T O B E R
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contents NOVEMBER 2019
28 The Cars
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20: ROAD-LEGAL ROCKETSHIP — WE DRIVE THE NEW ZL1 28: TWO SIDES TO EVERY COIN — HIS AND HERS MONAROS 38: ALL-WHEEL INSANITY — KIWI-BUILT 4WD PONTIAC 78: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT — YOUNG GUN’S PICKUP 90: ANYTHING BUT AVERAGE — IMPALA WITH A MODERN HEART 108: FULL CIRCLE — MUSTANG BUILT FOR THE CHASE
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Events
72: PETROLHEAD FATHER’S DAY DRAGS 86: DUNEDIN AUTOSPECTACULAR 116: ENZED CMC ROUND 1
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Special Features
50: LOCAL HERO PART 2 — TALE OF WHO YOU WISH YOU WERE 66: WILD BUNCH, THE RETURN — WE MEET THE DRIVERS 102: DREAM SHED — FALCON HEAVEN
08 The Other Stuff
04: FROM THE ED. 08: WORLD NEWS 10: LOCAL GOSSIP 14: DAILY GRIND 16: IN THE BUILD 18: EVENTS GUIDE 46: SUBSCRIBE AND WIN 48: STRAIGHT TALK 60: DRAGGED UP 62: NZ’S QUICKEST 64: AEROFLOW RACE DIARY 98: SOCIAL SCENE 120: CMC NEWS 122: CARGO 124: A DECADE AGO 126: LOCAL SPECIALISTS 128: COMING NEXT MONTH
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FEATURE 1971 HOLDEN MONARO HG AND 1968 HOLDEN MONARO GTS HK CAR
WORDS: PETER KELLY PHOTOS: STRONG STYLE PHOTO
MILD OR WILD? JACK AND TRACEY TORRINGTON SHOW US THAT THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT
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here’s nothing quite like being behind the wheel an angry, heavily modified car with an even angrier V8 bolted between the uprights: the tingling that runs up your feet and into your spine as eight cylinders’ worth of mechanical angst reverberates through the cabin around you; the inescapable grin when you grip the wheel as the car shakes from side to side, its lopey idle lurching you down the street like a bull pawing the ground before a charge. Pure nirvana. Whether it’s an inch-perfect megadollar hot rod, a tube-frame weapon built to dominate the quartermile, or a street car with more than a few secrets inside, heavily modified machines are what make life worth living. That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it? We’re all creatures of habit, and no car is safe from our unhealthy and sometimes irrational need to modify — to make a
machine faster, lower, louder, tougher. While the vast majority of us dedicate a good portion of our lives to making our machines ‘better’, there is also something undeniably special about a pristine, restored original vehicle. It’s got to be of the right car, of course. No one cares about your neighbour’s mint-condition 1999 Mondeo — “She’s a real beauty, mate; can you believe it’s 20 years old?”. However, if all the right boxes are ticked — high desirability, excellent sporting pedigree, and a whole lot of luck that has seen it dodge angle grinders, big wheels, and even bigger motors through the decades — it can hold a satisfying, intangible charm that, dare we say it, no amount of horsepower can provide. So, which side of the coin is better? Restore a car to factory-original condition, or go wild and see where your credit card and the internet take you?
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FEATURE 1971 FIREBIRD FORMULA 400 CAR
WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: LARRY CHEN
WHAT’S GOT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, A BLOWN LS, AND WAS BUILT BY A KIWI? THIS RADICAL PONTIAC, THAT’S WHAT!
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orking as lead mechanic for rally legend and internet sensation Ken Block is a pretty cool gig for Kiwi-born Gregg Hamilton. Even if you don’t know Block by name, chances are you will have seen his ‘Hoonicorn’ Mustang doing insane things on the internet, frying all four tyres as it slides around in Block’s series of Gymkhana videos. Despite Gregg’s experience working for many of the world’s top rally teams in the UK before shifting to Las Vegas 15 years ago, he’s a V8 guy at heart. Having fallen in love with the early 1970s Pontiac Firebird shape when he landed stateside, Gregg knew that, as soon as he had the time, he’d build one for himself — and he did: a 1970 version packing a twin-turbo LS power plant. Thanks to the car’s custom widebody, ground-hugging stance, and immaculate finish, it still gets plenty of internet love today, even after being on the road for a few years.
The only problem with the car, dubbed ‘Fire Chicken’, is that it’s too perfect, to the point that, understandably, Gregg’s not willing to abuse it as much as he’d like for fear of damaging the flawless finish. Being involved in the four-wheel-drive Hoonicorn project gave Gregg the idea of doing something similar with another Poncho, and, three years ago, the perfect donor was sourced: a 1971 Pontiac Formula 400, which was found baking in the sunshine in Nevada. It had been there for a decade but had clearly been through a flood or similar, as it was caked in mud and had become a home to rats. That perfect natural patina didn’t deter Gregg though; rather, it encouraged him to do whatever he liked with no regard for what anyone else thought. Once the rat debris had been removed, Gregg modified a pair of C6 Corvette subframes to slide under the body. However, rather than throw the
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SPECIAL WILD BUNCH RETURNS FEATURE
WORDS: RYAN SHELDON PHOTOS: SUPPLIED / NZV8 ARCHIVE / STEVEN VIRTUE / ROD DUNN
THE DRAG RACING CLASS THAT DREW THE PUNTERS TO THE STANDS IN THEIR MASSES IS MAKING A COMEBACK. WE FIND OUT WHAT AND WHO WE CAN EXPECT!
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he words ‘Wild Bunch’ bring to mind images and memories of a bygone era, a time when gas was cheap, racing was fun, and grandstands and race fields were full. Somewhere over time we all got lost; Wild Bunch got swallowed up and spat out, morphed into other classes, and basically disappeared. That is, until now! The newly formed Wild Bunch NZ, in association with the Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival, is proud to announce the official return of the breed, with a minimum 16-car show Wild Bunch Wars set
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to entertain and light up Masterton Motorplex on 4–5 January 2020 as part of the annual Dragstalgia event. After the wildly successful taster of the Wild Bunch return earlier this year, the class has seen unprecedented growth and interest, with well over 25 drivers either committing to, or expressing interest in, competing at future events. The invited field will consist of anything and everything, from new cars set to debut to some of the class’s originals. The diversity and unpredictability of the original class remains,
upgraded and improved to create a show not previously seen. From wild smoky burnouts to insane edge-of-your-seat passes, the Wild Bunch is just that — so mark the date on your calendar, because you won’t want to miss it. Over the next few issues, we’ll not only introduce you to the majority of those set to put on the show and tell you a little about them, but also let you in on the show itself and what we have planned, some of the prizes on offer, and the competitions that are set to make it one of those must-see events of 2020. An event like this doesn’t happen on its own, and,
NAME: ROBERT SHEARING
AGE: 40S / DAY JOB: DRAINAGE CONTRACTOR / DAILY-DRIVER: NISSAN NAVARA
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f there was a dedication-to-the-cause award or one given out for being down right nuts, then Robert Shearing would probably be your man. You see, when Robert leaves home to join us at Wild Bunch Wars, it will be the best part of 20 hours and 1100km later that he actually arrives. Hailing from the deep south, in a wee town called Thornbury, Robert and his AGRO8 Racing ’67 Camaro were among the first to jump at the chance to join us, and, in fact, Robert had his accommodation booked before the event had even been officially announced! Robert’s ride may look familiar to most, being the ex–Nigel Dixon car, campaigned up until Robert purchased it as a roller a few years back. It still boasts a methanol-burning big block Chev power plant, displacing 509ci these days — although Robert will probably tell you that it’s a ‘learner’ motor and bigger and better things are to come. The Robert Tynan–built chassis has always gone as straight as an arrow, and, with a Turbo 400 and nine-inch rear completing the driveline, the socalled learner motor has already propelled the team into the sevens and as low as 7.86 at 177mph. AGRO8 Racing actually started life with a blue street-legal ’67 Camaro, which, unfortunately, met an untimely and violent end while, of all things, sitting on a trailer. Long story short: truck hits trailer with Camaro on, punches Camaro in the rear off trailer into back of tow ute, game over for old bluey. Extensive damage meant that she would never return, but, with the purchase of the Dixon ride and the help and support of Riverton Farm Drainage, Old Iron Garage, and Aparima Factory Engineering, Robert, wife Tammi, and their faithful crew will make the trek north to join on on 4–5 January. With very few competitive cars in the South Island, Robert is looking forward to lining up against similar vehicles in what will be a full field of Wild Bunchers — and just maybe showing them what a good southern man is made of.
DUMBEST WAY YOU’VE INJURED YOURSELF: FALLING OFF A DIGGER WHILE IT WAS ON THE TRANSPORTER NAME A STORE WHERE YOU WOULD MAX OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD: AUTO CENTRE, HUNTING AND FISHING WHAT MOVIE BEST DESCRIBES YOU: THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS
Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival and Bob Wilton from Masterton Motorplex is invaluable, several associate sponsors have come on board to help make Wild Bunch’s return a reality. The first on an ever-growing list are: The Autochecker 2019 Ltd, All Fleet Services, Proparts Racing, Outback 4x4, Classic Cover Insurance, NZV8, Mount Shop, Kelford Cams, and The Krysler Shop. By the time that Issue No. 176 comes out, you will have met them all and know everything you need to know about the most exciting new event on this year’s calendar.
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FEATURE 1965 CHEV IMPALA SS CONVERTIBLE CAR
WORDS: TODD WYLIE PHOTOS: STRONG STYLE PHOTO
THE OWNER ALWAYS WANTED A ’65 IMPALA BUT HE DIDN’T WANT IT TO DRIVE LIKE AN OLD CAR. THE RESULT IS ANYTHING BUT AVERAGE
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f you want a car to be average, then you’re hardly likely to take it to a guy who prides himself on taking things to the next level; nor, for that matter, to a business that’s called NXT LVL Automotive. Mr X, the owner of this 1965 Impala SS convertible, knew that, and that’s the exact reason why Mike Bari, aka Mr NXT LVL, has been responsible for building a bunch of cars for him. Don’t think for a moment that Mr X doesn’t know how to get his hands dirty, or know his way around an engine bay — far from it; his whole career has been in the automotive industry,
where he’s worked his way up to a position where his time is too much in demand for him to get involved in his builds himself. With Mike on board, though, he knows everything will be done right the first time, even on the briefest of briefs. Having always wanted a ’65 Impala — remembering them from his youth — Mr X sourced this convertible direct from the dry climate of California. “It had to be white with red interior,” he says of the ideal vehicle — a statement followed by some wise advice: “From previous experience, I have found it is cheaper in the long run to start with a
great car. It may be a bit more costly initially, but it will work out a lot cheaper in the long run.” His purchase is proof of concept, as the paintwork on the car hasn’t been touched since purchase. In fact, the only thing that’s been done to the exterior has been a small modification to the front bumper to allow Kiwi-sized number plates to fit before it was rechromed and the remaining brightwork polished. While the goal was always to get behind the wheel of a ’65, nothing in the plan allowed for the car to drive like a 50-year-old car. “Everyone thought — and probably some still do
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