Innholdsfortegnelse for No 179 April 2020 i NZV8

That’s a cool-looking pickup, Wayne; how long have you had it? I’ve had it for close to four years now. Did you build it or purchase it? No, I didn’t build it. I bought it off a guy called Russell Sherwin. He had it built in the USA in about 2004 and drove it across the continent. Then he stopped driving it. It had done less than 8000 miles in 10 years. So, how did you manage to score it? I was lucky enough to be Johnny-on-the-spot and buy it off him. I heard from my cousin Morgan that it was for sale. I messaged Morgan one night — it was the day before my birthday — and said I was looking for a hot rod. Morgan came straight back…

Detroit may be the Motor City, the original home of car design and manufacturing, but California is the home of true classic car design, hot rods, car culture, and car shows. Perhaps this is due to the weather, the fact it has the largest population of any state, the lack of public transport (especially in LA), the fact that the car is an integral part of life, or perhaps the wealth, liberalism, and progressive nature of the California lifestyle. Whatever it is, California, and, more important, LA, is where the car culture of the US is the most dynamic. Near the Orange County Airport (John Wayne Airport) in South LA is a truly must-see car facility. The Crevier Classic Cars collection is a multiuse operation providing free museum access to…

As retirement age was approaching for Tony Silcock, the thought of getting back behind the wheel of a classic car was nagging at him. After all, it’d been a few years since he’d owned anything of interest, and he’d soon be having plenty of time up his sleeve to enjoy something a little special. But what to buy? This inevitable question was something that took plenty of research for Tony to find the answer to, although when he came across this particular 1963 Fairlane 500, he was hooked straight away. “I watched it for a couple of months — couldn’t figure out why it hadn’t sold,” he says. “So I rang the guy and talked about it with him over several calls and decided to progress it further.” Of course,…

Social media has its advantages. For example, like-minded people can join groups to share opinions and pictures, and stay up to date with what’s happening with their particular chosen vice. The Kiwi Camaro Catch Up 2020, held at Tim Kennedy’s picturesque property just on the outskirts of Te Awamutu, was born through exactly that. A year or so, a group local Camaro lovers created a Facebook group called ‘Kiwi Camaro’, a name that clearly speaks for itself. The page was the brainchild of previous NZV8 feature-car owner Damien Crook, a self-confessed Camaro nut, and there’s already over 400 members. There’s always plenty of discussion on the page as well as various parts and ideas trading hands and photos being shared. Through this shared passion for Camaros, the idea was floated…

In a time when racing is seemingly overrun with laptops on wheels and ‘eco’ is now commonplace on race car livery, one class of racing is making a welcome and very noisy comeback. Formula 5000 (F5000) might be half a century old, but it harks back to an era when race cars were loud, fast but loose, and truly sexy. The cars embody everything a motorsport class should be: brassy, exciting, and making your hair stand on end every time the cars thunder down the front straight. HISTORY The class was born out of a need to provide a lowcost option to open-wheelers that didn’t fit into a specific formula category in the US in 1968. That year, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) brought a new concept to…

While a toolbox typically contains spanners, sockets, screwdrivers, etc., some liquid additions can be just as handy as the tools themselves. The trick is to know which product to use and when. If we mention the name J-B Weld, you’ll no doubt start thinking about the original two-pot cold-weld reinforced epoxy, but the the company’s range is far greater than just the OG. Below, we are going to break down four of the most popular toolbox must-haves from the brand, so you’ll know which one to grab next time. As a side note, each product is a two-part glue and needs to be mixed 1:1 for the chemical cure to happen. If the product is supplied in a syringe, it will automatically dispense both products equally. The plastic packaging doubles…

WHERE IS IT NOW? BURKES METALWORKS 1968 FORD MUSTANG Even ten years ago, it was hard to make a Mustang stand out, but the guys at Burkes Metalworks knew how to do it, just as they do today. Built for a customer who wished to remain anonymous at the time, the 1968 Pony is a work of art that features some clever touches we’ve not seen since. The big talking point is that the car is a few inches wider than a standard Mustang. Big deal, you may say, until you realize we’re not just talking about pumped guards here. No siree, the whole body is a few inches wider than stock. Cleverly, the Burkes team avoided the need for custom front-and-rear glass by slicing the car from front to…

GM ANNOUNCES END OF HOLDEN BRAND After 72 years of operations in Australia, the Holden brand will be retired at the end of 2020 — an announcement confirming the massive news was made by parent company, GM, in February, citing a downward trend in sales and a retreat from right-hand-drive vehicles internationally. A statement from the company reads: “General Motors (GM) is taking decisive action to transform its international operations, building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, drive significant cost efficiencies and take action in markets that cannot earn an adequate return for its shareholders. “GM announced today that it would wind down sales, design, and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand and retire the Holden brand by 2021. The company…

WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC CARS BEING BUILT OUT THERE, SO DON’T BE SHY — FLICK US AN EMAIL WITH A BIT OF A BLURB AND A FEW HIGH-RESOLUTION PICS OF WHAT YOU’RE UP TO EMAIL YOUR BUILDS TO EDITOR@V8.CO.NZ MORE BOOST As the owner/operator of Mikes Engines, Steve Walker has been involved with more than his fair share of tough engine builds. While churning out horsepower is the main game, he’s also been known to build the odd engine combo for himself. Having long since sold his twin-turbo Ford Galaxie, Steve has recently shifted his attention to the shop truck, a Ford F1 built over a 2001 Toyota Hilux chassis. The solid Toyota underpinnings have made the build far simpler than it would have been had he messed…

“Not too many people had ’69 Camaros at the time we got it,” Ryan Gracie recounts of the 18 years since he and partner Liz acquired their now-iconic ‘EV1L69’ Camaro. “We basically said it’s going to be matte black, and we’re gonna blow the back guards off it. We’re gonna treat it how American car owners do not treat their cars. We just beat on it and had fun in it.” And they have — after however many events across New Zealand, countless sets of destroyed tyres, a few burnout trophies, and competing in burnout competitions through Australia, including Burnout Masters at Summernats, the Camaro is a world away from the hack it once was. “A mate of mine owned it and was going to work in the mines in…

Having to turn the wipers on for the first 20 minutes of the journey is never a great start to a day at the drag strip, especially when the meeting has already been postponed for a day due to inclement weather. The country may be in the middle of a record-breaking dry spell, but still an overseas tour can virtually guarantee vertical dampness. For many drag racers, ‘rain’ is the original four-letter word. Unlike the situation on Saturday, 22 February, on Sunday the 23rd, the weather looked likely to clear. The smell of fresh traction compound could be detected from the car park, which was already filling at a great rate. Clearly, the return of the Aeroflow Outlaw Funny Cars to UnZed had enticed many to change their plans around…

In 1999, the end of the millennium was coming and much of the world was stressing out over the Y2K bug and the chaos it would bring. You would have thought the end of the world was nigh, yet all turned out well in the end. Around this time Wellington’s Darren Riches was facing a few dilemmas of his own, one of which would also end up just fine, as you will see here. Darren had a 302 Windsor–powered 1948 Ford Pop and it was a great little street car; it just didn’t have the get up and go he wanted — something anyone who had moved from a quick T-bucket to a closed-in car with a lot fewer cubes would understand. To get the performance Darren was after, the…

Oamaru, with its population of around 14,000, is the largest town in North Otago. The town’s largest tourist attraction is its little blue penguin colony, with people flocking to the harbour to watch the little birds come ashore each night. Oamaru also has some important archaeological sites, which date back to the moa-hunter phase of Māori culture, and is steeped in history. Driving through the town, one can’t help but be impressed by the large number of grand old limestone buildings that not only line Oamaru’s main street but also makes up the majority of the historic precinct in Harbour Street. The limestone, or ‘Oamaru stone’ as it is better known, has been quarried out of the hills nearby since 1860, and still is, being shipped not only around New…

As the teams from Enzed Central Muscle Cars (CMC) prepare themselves for their final meeting of the season, some will have a few questions running through their minds. Where did it go wrong? What if I hadn’t tried that pass? Should I have waited till the next turn? Did I have the wrong car set-up? Do I need more horsepower? There are probably a few more soul-searching questions that could be asked, but, when it comes down to the facts of the matter, motorsport is not easy, motorsport is fickle, and motorsport can make you go from hero to zero in the blink of an eye. A couple of drivers in particular will be presenting themselves with a different style of questioning. Those questions are more likely to lead them…

BRIGHT LIGHT A must-have for every glovebox toolkit, the compact Narva 71440 penlight packs a punch with a 150-lumen COB LED strip, perfect for getting into the hardest-to-reach spots. Select either a two- or four-hour run time, via the high and low output. Charge time is two to three hours via the USB charger. The compact size means the penlight will fit into your pocket perfectly. Available from leading automotive and hardware stores throughout New Zealand, or check out narva.co.nz for more info. HOLDING FIRM Proforce Safety racing seats are offered in several options to suit your racing needs, right up to the Proforce FIA professional seats, which are constructed from reinforced glass fibre plastic shells. The seats come in standard and XL sizes, upholstered in black, highly breathable material.…

SILVERADO 1500 IS COMING HSV successfully introduced the Silverado 2500 heavy-duty truck into the Aussie market back in 2018. Now, the Victoria-based company has decided to double down and bring the smaller and more versatile Silverado 1500 LTZ to both Australian and New Zealand roads. This is a truck that really doesn’t need an introduction — the Silverado is an icon of American motoring that, for 2020, promises to be more advanced, comfortable, and powerful than ever before. Under the football field–sized bonnet you’ll find a 6.2-litre EcoTec3 V8 putting down 313kW (419hp) and 624Nm — good enough for a mid-five-second sprint to 100kph. This impressive figure is achieved in part thanks to the loss of about 200kg in comparison with the previous model, despite it having a longer wheelbase…

19–22 MARCH 2020 CAROLINE BAY ROCK AND HOP It’s all on at Caroline Bay in Timaru for 2020! After another successful event last year, organizers have set aside four days (19–22 March) instead of the regular three to keep the party going. Thursday will be warm-up day, with a cruise south to Riverstone just north of Oamaru, while Friday’s programme will include the Geraldine cruise during the day and a night cruise down the main street. Saturday is the day of the show and shine, with stalls, live music, and refreshments. Tekapo is Sunday’s cruise destination, with a barbeque lunch on the lakefront. The whole event is a fundraiser for the Hospice South Canterbury. For a full event schedule and any other information, please visit carolinebayrockandhop.co.nz. 21 MARCH 1ST AUTO…

While he may deal with rocks, rubble, and dirt during the day, Sean Fowler has developed a taste for the finer things in life. While some people favour beer, and some favour spirits, red wine is Sean’s vice of choice — well, red wine and fast cars. Regular readers will be familiar with Sean’s name, most likely from his exploits in Central Muscle Cars (CMC), where, although he may not be the fastest man on track, you can almost guarantee he’ll be the one having the best time. Win or lose, Sean’s often seen to be ecstatic as he crosses the finish line in his SLR-replica Torana sedan — it’s a refreshing sight these days when everyone’s pushing harder and harder for victory. The sedan is not a bad piece…

From humble beginnings, Muscle Car Madness (MCM) has become one of the country’s must-do events, and each year attracts not only people from as far away as Auckland and Bluff but also its share of overseas visitors. Starting with an idea, event organizer Craig Stare held his first show back in 1991 in a Rangiora supermarket car park. With approximately 40 vehicles and 70 people showing up, Craig probably had no idea where the event would go or how successful it would become. A few short years later, the event moved to its current location at the Rangiora A&P Showgrounds. This facility has all the amenities needed to hold and run a multi-day event such as MCM. With plenty of acreage, there is room in for the show, held on…

TRIPLE TREAT FOR RIVERS FAMILY The Rivers family — dad Grant, daughter Nicole, and son Adrian, along with mum Fiona — are no strangers to the drag racing world, with Grant and the kids sharing driving duties of the Blu’s Bros dragster for many years. While Nicole stepped away for a while to focus on studying, she’s made a welcome return to the hot seat this season. Of course, that means juggling which driver competes at which event. The family seem to have come across the perfect solution, running in Competition class at NZDRA rounds. With the class being index based, the pressure is always on to be close to or under their own index to succeed, and succeed they have! Nicole drove at round three at Taupo, qualifying number…

Those of us living in the South Island really are spoilt for choice when it comes to exploring some of the most stunning scenic regions of the country, if not the world. From the Catlins in the deep south, to the wonders of Fiordland, to the rugged West Coast, the beauty of this country is undeniable. Another area that has grown in popularity over recent years is Central Otago. With the discovery of gold in the 1860s, people have been visiting the area not only for its beauty but also what it has to offer, with Cromwell and Lake Dunstan being a massive drawcard. After the construction of the Clyde Dam, completed in 1993, the lake has not only provided irrigation for the nearby stone-fruit orchards and vineyards but also…

With a long string of custom cars already under their belt, ranging from Toranas, to Commodores, to an XA coupe that we ran on the cover back in NZV8 Issue No. 136, as well as the brutal Camaro on the cover of this issue, it’d be fair to say that Liz and Ryan know a thing or two about how to stand out. So, with countless builds already completed, what’s the next thing they’d build to stay ahead of the curve? A 1965 Buick Riviera … Yeah, that wasn’t the first answer we were expecting to hear either; then again, we should learn to expect the unexpected from this duo. This is no far-fetched pipe dream either, as the couple let slip that they’ve already been looking at what it’d…

Shane Terrey owns and runs Motor Radiator Repairs Ltd in Whanganui. Being that Whanganui is a hotspot for stupidly overpowered street cars, more than a few monsters end up passing through his doors, because, as we know, big engines need big cooling. Invariably, the subject of car ownership would come up with Shane’s customers, and he eventually got sick of saying, “I don’t have a car but I’d love a Valiant”, so thought he’d better fix that and go find one. After building a large double garage for the family home, Shane finally had the room to get himself a project that he could store and work on at his leisure. With no excuses left as to why he didn’t already have one, the hunt was therefore on for a…

2020 VALVOLINE D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND FOUR: 27–28 March Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata ROUND FIVE: 8–9 May Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland The sport of drifting has changed a lot over the past few years, and many drivers — from the grassroots all the way to the highest echelons of Valvoline D1NZ National Drifting Championship competition — have realized that there’s plenty to love about big-displacement, big-power, and big-torque American V8 power plants. This month, we poke around Carl Thompson’s incredible 454ci LSX, a hypo atmo-breather that sings the sweetest of songs. Subtlety has never been pro-drifter Carl Thompson’s strong suit. The D1NZ competitor has always had a penchant for making a scene, starting years ago with unreasonably fast Corollas, before many feathers were ruffled when his absolutely…

WRAP MAGIC Ryan Gracie and Liz Stewart (aka Liz Gracie) have built some killer cars in their time, and while they’re not ones to shy away from quality paintwork, it just so happens that the last two of their cars that we have featured have been vinyl wrapped. You can see the reason why when you look at their Camaro elsewhere in this issue — the process provides a unique look that simply can’t be achieved with paint. That doesn’t mean you can simply throw vinyl over damaged body panels though, as we found out a few years back in an article on the wrapping of the pair’s Chev-powered Falcon. We’ve thrown the article up online if you missed it and want to know what’s involved. Head on over to…