Killer Rides #58_Sept/Oct 2023 by killerrides

EVENTS THIS ISSUE!

KILLER RIDES LIVE #5 NSW ALL HOLDEN DAY ST KILDA FATHERS DAY T-BUCKET NATS 2023 RAT ROD DAY

s e d i KILLERR ISSUE #58- SEPT/OCT 2023

Australia’s Street Car Community!

BLUE MOON

Rising

The Coolest ‘54 Chev Belair in Oz!

INSIDE!

LSA HQ WAGON ‘66 HARLEY RIGID MUSCLE CAR LEGEND LSA VL IN THE BUILD TWO VIDEO FEATURES

From the Desk WHAT SORT OF EVENTS DO YOU ENJOY ATTENDING THE MOST? I remember a time when, for the Post ’48 crowd at least, there was the original Street Machine Nationals, a few scattered indoor shows and seemingly an endless amount of car club shows held on sports grounds around the country. They were great times. Back then, it was all about the cars. Fast forward to 2023 and the one-day car club shows are just about non-existent. The original Street Machine Nationals are just a distant memory and the Summernats are no longer the only multi-day show on the calender with the Powercruise and Autofest events (amongst many others) happening all over Australia and all enjoying massive crowds and support from car owners. It seems that just about every weekend, in every suburb, there’s either a coffee and cars meet held early in the morning and a mega car meet held every Saturday night – both attracting lots of cars to each. The good thing about these types of events is that there’s no prior commitment, if it’s raining you don’t need to go and when you do go, its only for a few hours, and in the case of the Coffee and Cars meets, leaves the rest of the day to do the family thing too, keeping everyone happy! So, what type of event would you attend over all others? If you’re into burnouts, you are spoilt for choice with many events offering you the chance to smoke your tyres into oblivion. The Drag and Drive guys are starting to get a few offerings to partake in, and if you’d rather just hang out for a while with some like-minded mates, than you’re going to be busy every weekend for the next few years. Part of the Killer Rides group is our event arm of the business and as well as Killer Rides Live, and the Hot Rod & Harley Expo, I intend to bring new and exciting events to the scene for all to enjoy. One such event doesn’t even involve cars, though it is for car people! Our first annual “Cruise without Cars” happens in 2025 and it’s hoped that a large group of car enthusiasts will joins us for Cruise on the Carnival Splendour cruise ship out of Sydney for a short, 5 day, 4 night trip! More details are inside this issue. I’ll have all the details soon… I guess at the end of the day, owning a cool car and not using it seems like a waste to me, so why not get it out as much as you can and support some events near you. If we don’t, we could possibly lose a big part of our scene. See you at an event soon… Enjoy Issue #58. See you on the street,

Paul 03

HIGH CRANKING. HIGH CAPACITY. HIGH PERFORMANCE. Clem Smith #26 Chrysler Charger Historic Sports Sedans Australia. RECOMMENDED BATTERY: FULLRIVER HC40

Image credit: John Lemm

FULLRIVER HC SERIES The Fullriver HC Battery Series features advanced AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) technology to provide a genuine no-compromise dual-purpose battery.

9 Non -spillable & corrosion resistant design

9 Low self-discharge

9 Safe for installation in racing cars,

9 Low resistance design, ideal for both

motorsport applications and classic cars.

starting & cycling

AGM

DESIGN

Fullriver HC Batteries are available at all R&J Batteries stores and distributors

AUS: rjbatt.com.au | 1300 769 282

NZ: rjbatt.co.nz | 09 636 5980

s e d i KILLERR

Australia’s Street Car Community

KILLER RIDES MAGAZINE Po Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529 PUBLISHING EDITOR Paul Beck (0432) 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au

Issue No.58 Sept / Oct 2023

What’s In This Issue? 10 18 20 26 36 48 60 68 78 80 88 98 100 104 108

WEBSITE www.killerrides.com.au

48 2023 RAT ROD DAY

WHATS HAPPENING News, views and things of interest HAVE YOUR SAY Got something to say? COMING ATTRACTION LSA powered VL Walky tribute BLUE MOON The coolest ‘54 Chev Belair in Australia! ALIVE AND KICKING Killer Rides Live #5 - the best yet! GETTING RATTY A mix of Rat Rods and Cool Rides at the Rat Day. WAY GONE HQ Traditional styling with a pumped LS heart. A WELCOMED RETURN The NSW All Holden Day is Back! VIDEO FEATURE 632ci LX Torana Hatch IL CAPO Less is definitely more in this oh-so-cool ‘66 Rigid Harley! DADS DAY DOWNTOWN Spending Father’s Day in St Kilda VIDEO FEATURE 800hp, 43 8-cube ‘65 Mustang ON THE WEB Muscle Car Legend - 1962 Chev ‘Bubbletop’ OUT AND ABOUT Australian Bucket Nationals PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Need a product or service?

104 T-BUCKET NATIONALS

60 LSA HQ WAGON

110 COMING EVENTS What’s on, where!

26 1954 CHEV BELAIR COUPE 98

VIDEO FEATURE LX TORANA

78 VIDEO FEATURE 65 MUSTANG

NSW ALL HOLDEN DAY

36 KILLER RIDES LIVE #5

88 ST KILDA FATHERS DAY 100 MUSCLE CAR LEGEND

80 1966 HARLEY RIGID 6

HOT ROD & HARLEY o NOVEMBER 25/26, 2023 Exp ILLAWARRA INDOOR HOCKEY CENTRE WAPLES RD, UNANDERRA Just south of Wollongong

WIN WHO WILostL B eautiful

Australia’s M

m Ca Hot Rod - Harley - Custo

TWO DAYS ONLY! Sat 9am - 5pm & Sun 9am - 4pm

For all Entry, Trader and Sponsor info, call Paul - 0432 795336 - www.killerrides.com.au

WHAT’S HAPPENING

BEST OF KILLER RIDES PRINT MAG NOW AVAILABLE

s e d i R R E L L KI The Best Of

Number one

10 OF THE

It disappeared for many years and rumour has it that it was sold as part of a package deal with a house Rick sold many years ago. At some stage, wellknown US Pro-Streeter Matthew Hay decided to go on the search for the J2000 with the goal of making it his and parking it beside his OG Pro-Street Thunderbird. It took a while, but he tracked it down, done the deal and is now in the process of giving it the once over to bring it back to the scene. Surprisingly, the J2000 was still exactly the same as it was when it made its last event appearance – just in a desperate need of a thorough detail. Anyone my age will fondly remember seeing the Pontiac at Summernats 1 when Chic had the car shipped out to Australia. With its twin blown, twin turbo and nitrous equipped engine, tilt body and wild interior wowing the crowds, it showed just how ahead of its time this car certainly was. Many claim the J2000 was, and still is, the greatest Street Machine ever built!

ST INSANE RIDES!

WILDEST, TOUGHEST, MO

01_BEST OF KILLER

Issue numbers 1 and 2 of the Best of Killer Rides is now in stock and ready to send out via Australia Post, or you can pick up direct from us at any event we attend to promote Killer Rides. No matter where we are, we will have copies with us. To order your copy, simply email me at paul@ killerrides.com.au

RICK DOBBERTINS J2000 RETURNS!

5/4/23 5:32 pm

www.killerrides.com.au

1 RIDES_1_COVER_EK.indd

PARTY TIME AT THE 30TH SPRINGNATS

It’s Springnats 30th Birthday and you’re invited to the party! And what a party it’s going to be! It all kicks of on Thursday 23rd Nov at 5pm and goes for 5 hours of action inside the Shepparton Showgrounds where you’ll be treated to no less than 30 Burnout Demo’s performed by some of the country’s best burnout drivers; a bunch of drift demos by Murray River Motorsport, live music, Jack Daniels Bar and more! There will even be a massive show and shine! But the best part is, it will cost you just a shiny gold coin! Yep, you read that right, a Gold Coin with all proceeds going to the Tatura SES Unit. What an amazing way to kick off the 30th Springnats! More info and entry forms can be found at www.autofest.com.au Party on! 10

HOT ROD & HARLEY EXPO #2 The Illawarra Hockey Centre will soon be buzzing again with a bunch of Hot Rods, Customs and Custom Harleys coming together for the 2nd Hot Rod & Harley Expo. To be held over the weekend of Nov 25/26, the event will showcase a whole new line up of cars and bikes – many of which have never been seen in the Illawarra before. Amongst the usual trophies on offer will be three of the biggest awards in the scene – Australia’s Most Beautiful Hot Rod, Custom and Harley! Who will be winning the bragging rights to these three big awards? More info can be found at www.killerrides.com.au

IN WHO WILALuW ful stralia’s Most Beauti m Hot Rod - Harley - Custo

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Car?

WHAT’S HAPPENING KILLER

Video

2023 Pro Street Invasion Video by Party Tyme Kruzers

KILLER RIDES CRUISE WITHOUT CARS! WAIT…WHAT?

No, we’re not going on a massive walk around the neighbourhood, or reverting back to pedal power (no offense to the BMX Guys – you guy’s rock!), what I am planning is a CRUISE ON A CRUISE SHIP out of Sydney for 4 days / 3 nights! If you’ve never been on a cruise, you’re in for a treat and if you have been, imagine hitting the high seas with a bunch of like-minded people! So, who’s up for it? I’ll have pricing and dates next issue but when you consider almost everything is included in the price, it makes for an inexpensive break away where you can be as busy or as relaxed as you want to be! The plan is to have a special event T-shirt available too, so everyone will know you are part of the Killer Rides Cruise group! This is going to be fun…

THE FINAL AUSTRALIAN STREET RODDING MAGAZINE HITS THE STANDS

It was a sad day for Hot Rodders around the country as the final issue of Australian Street Rodding hit the newsstands. Issue No. 400 of ASR marked the end of publishing for the Graffiti Publications team after kicking the title of some 46-years ago. After the passing of publisher Larry O’Toole, it was time for Mary and Alistair O’Toole to call it a day. Along with Mary-Anna Brennand and Wendy Thomas who both spent decades working on the magazine, we are sad to see the longest running magazine in Australia come to an end. ASR sponsored many events over the years and did more for the scene than they probably even realised. For me, it was personal too. Larry gave me my break into the magazine industry and some 30-years later, I was still supplying the occasional feature car or event coverage. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity Larry gave me. To Mary, Alistair, Wendy and Mary-Anna, thank you for the effort you all put in to get ASR on the shelf. It just won’t be the same without it on the shelf. Best of luck in the future to you all… 14

TWO WHEEL WONDERLAND

APL BIKE SHOW_WINDSOR NSW_30TH Sept - Words / Pics – Paul Beck

The team at APL Performance Motorcycles in Windsor, NSW couldn’t have picked a better night to hold their Bike Show with clear blue skies and 30-degree weather when the show opened at 6pm, dragging in a bunch of bikers to check out those bikes that were lined up in the APL Compound and workshop on display.

In amongst the street ridden, mild custom rides that lined the driveway leading up to the workshop were some high-quality rides including Fadi Raad’s stunning Heritage Springer and Nathan Spadaro’s custom 2015 Deluxe. Inside the state of the art workshop were a number of show bikes for the huge crowd to enjoy as well as the APL Top Fuel Harley that shook the ground and had everyone put their fingers in their ears as the monster V-twin fired into life!

A big part of the evening was the drawing of the major prize, which would see one lucky person choose between a cool new Harley or $30,000 cash thanks to LALUX. The lucky winner, Philip Bishop, just happened to be at the show when the draw was made and decided to take the cash! What a great night he was having! Whilst the DJ pumped out the tunes, the hundreds of people who attended the show kept busy checking out the bikes and being fed by the food truck onsite. Adam and his team put on a great show and we look forward to the next one… www.aplperformancebikes.com.au

HAVE YOUR SAY Got something to say? Send it to paul@pscmag.com.au or message us from the Performance Street Car Facebook page.

NOT HAPPY AT ALL…

Hi Paul, What is wrong with people? What makes people want to come to organised car meets and cause problems? I was so happy to hear that you were bringing back the Killer Rides Mid Week Meets and made the trip down from Blacktown to check it out. It was a huge night, but like you, I was dumbfounded to watch people leaving Oporto in a manner that would have kept the Police busy writing tickets for a while. What have they achieved other than giving you no option but to pull the pin yet again on an event that was unrivalled in the Illawarra? These clowns aren’t car enthusiasts at all and deserve to be named and shamed. I understand why you have finished the meets up, but it’s a shame that it had to happen because of a few idiots. I hope one day you can bring it back with the support of the Police. Thanks for all you do for the car scene, It doesn’t go unnoticed! Trevour H – Blacktown, NSW Hi Trevour, Yep, it’s a shame mate. I’m so pissed off at the people who came to the meet with full intentions of causing trouble. It’s not fair for the ones that are genuinely there to hang out with other true car enthusiasts and have a good time. But the way these dickheads were driving, I was nervous that a small mistake or driver error could see a major accident happening and then you could imagine the backlash not just me, but the entire modified car fraternity would be subjected too. It’s just not worth the hassle… 18

AMERICAN CAR FAN

G’day Paul, I never thought I’d ever stray from owning an Aussie car, but I have recently purchased a 70 Dodge Charger and have been having so much fun hanging out with the American muscle car guys. There’s no bullshit, just a love of cars, cruising and hanging out together. I wish I had done this a long time ago. It’s certainly a different scene to what I was into when I had my big block HT Premier. I’m converted to the US car scene and won’t be going back… Simon J – WA G’day Simon, I’ve been a part of the American car scene here in Australia for a while, back when I had my ’62 Chev sedan, and again now that we have the Bubbletop coupe, and it’s just a great scene to be a part of. The people, the cars, the attitudes etc all centres around family and culture. And there’s plenty of events that you can enter with your Charger too that you couldn’t with the HT Prem. Enjoy the car and the scene that goes with it. You’re in for a great time.

CRAZY CAR PRICES

G’day Paul, Great work on Killer Rides mate – both the mag and the events, I enjoy all you have to offer. How about these crazy prices people are asking for cars. My son is fast approaching his 18th Birthday and he wanted to buy a project car that he and I can work on when the time and money allows, sort of a bonding session for us now that I have quit drinking and am looking at being a better family man. He dearly wants an old Holden to start with and isn’t fussed on which year, as long as it’s a complete car. He has a modest budget of about $10K but everything he wants to check out is priced well above that or has been sold already. Things are getting out of control price wise. How is anyone expected to get a start into the classic car scene when cars are so out of reach? Regards, Danny F – Geelong G’day Danny, I know what you mean mate. It’s a great time if you’re selling a classic car, not so if you’re in the market. I’ve seen rolling classics that are barely a shell sell for ten times what they would normally get. It’s definitely a different world in our scene at the moment. Sadly, I don’t see things changing anytime soon. Good luck with the project when you find the right one and good luck bonding with your son…

KILLER RIDES PRINTED EDITIONS

Hi Paul, Long time, first time. Lol. I picked up both copies of the Best of Killer Rides and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading both editions. Having a physical paper copy of the mag is the best! Please, please tell me this will become a regular print run! I understand why you went down the digital road, but there’s nothing quite like having a printed magazine to flick through. Here’s hoping enough people back you to make this a reality more often. Thanks Emmanuel H – Newcastle Hi Emmanuel, Thanks for the support mate. Look, I was convinced right from the outset that the printed version would never be anything other than a limited run, Best of series. Whilst sales have been OK, there’s not enough demand for me to drop the necessary dollars to go back into print on a regular basis. To be honest, I am a fan of the digital magazine. The flexibility of having interaction in the mag with video and other ‘digital-only’ benefits is just too strong to ignore. I’m happy sticking with the technology of online publishing for the foreseeable future. 19

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Walkin’ The L I N E Craig Hewitt’s love of the VL Walkinshaw has seen him go full circle from a show car, drag car and now a tough street car all wearing the familiar HSV body armour!

P A W S A S L E R IT L .2 6 MINOR MODS PLANNED P H S U L P 0 0 6 G IN T C EXPE CUSTOM PSI HEADERS 6-SPEED TREMEC

FULL WALKINSHAW BODY KIT TO BE FITTED

CRAIG HEWITT_LSA WALKINSHAW TRIBUTE WORDS / PICS – PAUL BECK If you’ve been in the scene for a while (mid 90’s), you’ll no doubt remember Craig’s genuine VL Walkinshaw that was detailed to impress show judges, enough so that it accumulated quite a haul of awards over its show life. After hanging up his show display and lighting, Craig moved into the world of drag racing, building yet another Walkinshaw replica but this time with big wheel tubs, full cage, parachute and a nitrous equipped big block Chev. Coming from a show car background, the new race car was just as

well detailed as its predecessor. Whilst the race car used the usual Walky body kit, the paint scheme was way more spectacular with and combination of silver and blue adorning the body, the colours separated with a flame type graphic. Wearing the PROGPA plates, the VL run a best of 7.44-seconds. From there, Craig continued his horsepower addiction with a Pro-Street Blown, Hemi-powered CV8 Monaro that took him deep into the 6-second zone. But like many, Craig still yearned for some street car action…

A FULL LEATHER LATER MODEL COMMODORE INTERIOR TO BE ADDED

PSI SHEET-METAL DIFF FABRICATED A-ARMS FABRICATED EXHAUST 19-INCH SIMMONS 21

After finding a well-used VL Commodore, the goal was to build himself another Walkinshaw look-a-like for street duties, but instead of powering it with the usual twin-throttle body Holden engine, Craig upped the ante and purchased a brand new LSA crate engine backed by a 6-speed Tremec manual trans. After dropping the driveline into place, Craig sent the VL to Matt at Pro-Street Industries for a complete rework of the rear end, including a sheet-metal diff, coil overs and new control arms. Whilst at PSI, Matt also fabricated a set of custom headers and in fact, the entire exhaust system. Whilst the factory supercharged LS engine makes plenty of power untouched, Craig intends to extract a little more by swapping out the factory camshaft for something with a beefier idle, adding a good air intake, and tidying up the throttle body. Those minor mods will result in around 600hp, plus it will have air-conditioning for those summer time cruises with the family.

ild u b to s a w l a o g e th , re o d o m om After finding a well-used VL C es... ti u d t e e tr s r fo e ik -l -a k o lo w a himself another Walkinsh

Once the VL returns from Pro-Street Industries, Craig will start fitting up the body kit in readiness for colour. Craig wouldn’t let on what colour the new build would be, other than to say he has been working with Drago Ostric at Sefton Smash Repairs for something unique. Interior wise, the VL is likely to score a whole heap of leather wrapping around a later style Commodore assembly that will no doubt be as spectacular as it is com-

fortable. There will also be an electronic dash to replace the factory analogue assembly. Rounding off the exterior visuals will be 19-inch Simmons with 245/35 and 255/35 rubber. Craig is expecting to have the VL on the road and driving by late 2024 at which time he said there will be a couple of show appearances, but the main focus will be on cruising with family and friends – the exact thing these types of builds are meant for…

WHERE CUSTOM IS DRIVEN BY YOU

INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION 1929-2000 Ford Cars and Pickups 1929-2000 Chevrolet Cars and Pickups Holden LH/LX/UC Torana Holden LC/LJ Torana

CUSTOM CAR BUILDING HOT RODS MUSCLE CARS PICKUP TRUCKS

AUSTRALIA’S LEADING ENGINE BUILDERS SINCE 1978 CHEV - HOLDEN - FORD - MOPAR Specialising in Turn Key Packages

FORD 9” DIFFERENTIAL CONVERSIONS

AUTO TRANSMISSIONS AND CONVERTERS

Superformance.com.au

In business since 1978

Email: info@superformance.com.au

07 34887827 539 Redland Bay Road Capalaba, Queensland, 4157 Australia

BLUE MOON Words - Paul Beck Pics - Paul Beck / Chad Silvey

Mike Davison 1954 Chev Belair Coupe

After cruising the one-time stock Chevy around for while, Mike decided to give the 54 Belair a tidy up with the main focus being to replace the rusty floors and sills. Little did he know he was opening a can of worms that would be all consuming…

Initially, the plan was to fix the rust, tidy up some other areas and put the Chev back on the road as a lowered custom cruisier. After a ‘mate’ offered to take on the job of replacing the affected panels, Mike agreed to hand over the coupe. It proved to be the wrong decision after this so-called mate not only took two years to do a half-arsed job, but relieved Mike of a fair wad of cash in the process, leaving the Chev looking less than finished and Mike even less impressed. At this point, Mike met up with Pat O’Shea at Pat’s Pro Restos, who just happens to be the cousin of Mike’s mate Troy Hillier – himself a legend in the custom car game. Being located close to Mike’s home, and having a reputation for high quality work, it was an easy choice for Mike to get Pat involved with the Chev. “Knowing just how fastidious Troy and Clayton are with their builds, I knew Pat would be of the same ilk, based on the feedback from everyone I spoke to. 26

So, in early 2016, I tilt-tray the body of the Chev to Pat’s so the work could get started,” Mike added. At this early stage, Mike’s instructions were to fix all of the ordinary repairs that had been done, so he could get the Chev back on the road as an original styled car with new paint and a much more appealing, lowered stance. While the work was progressing on the body, Mike spent his spare time restoring the original chassis, driveline, brakes and suspension in his home garage. But his annual trip to SEMA in 2017 changed the direction of the build. 27

After checking out a range of Dave Kindig’s rides on show, Mike had a lightbulb moment. It occurred to him that he had never owned a restored car before, all of his previous cars and boats had been modified, and each of those have a supercharged engine, so why was he wasting his time on building a stock driveline? Mike called Pat from Vegas to give him the news of the change of plans. Pat was in the middle of the Drag Challenge in his tough Falcon and now had the thoughts of Mike’s vision revolving around in his head as well! Mike also called Top Fuel pilot Darren Morgan to get him geared up on a stout blown small block Chev using a Little M Dart block as the basis for the build. The 6/71 Dyers blower was going to be topped with a quartet of side draft 40mm Webers on an Inglese intake for something different, and

after running twin Webers on a 4/53 blown Holden 6 in his HT sedan some 25-years ago, he knew it would be a head turner! The Dart block scored a Scat crank swinging Carillo rods and forged JE pistons with a custom cam providing just the right idle. The heads are Dart aluminium that have been kitted out with Isky springs and stainless Ferrea valves. The intake connecting the long motor to the impressive induction, comes from the BDS catalogue. After the MSD 6AL ignition fires the beast into life and burns the 98-octane pump fuel being fed through the four Webers, a pair of custom stainless headers and dual 4-inch exhaust system gets rid of the gases easily. Oh, and for the record, this isn’t just a show car. That pumped small block made an impressive 735hp on the dyno with a lot more still in it.

Backing the engine is a Turbo 400 auto built by Bob Grant. Fronted with a 9.5inch, 4000rpm SDE Converter and much tougher internals, the box with withstand anything Mike cares to dish out. Swapping gears happens via one of the coolest shifters on the planet – the Hurst Lightning Rods. This particular setup has quite a history actually and was originally serving duty in Greg Carlson’s ‘Blown Silly’ Pro-Street VK Commodore, a car that eventually ended up with good mate, the late Jim Demirov from JD Performance. The new and improved driveline sits in what was essentially a ‘back up’ chassis that Mike had locked away for another project. It had already been fitted with a HT Holden front end with cut down Commodore rack, and 9-inch diff. The rails had been smoothed off and was already set up to accept a small block, Turbo 400 combo. The chassis along with a spare motor and box was dropped off to Pat’s so he could finalise the setup. By this stage, the bulk of the bodywork had been completed and although Mike knew that even in bare steel, it had already surpassed his expectations. At this stage, Mike didn’t intend for the Chev to become an elite show car – more a nice cruiser to do events like Cooly Rocks, a few local shows, cars and coffee etc. It wasn’t until chatting with good mates Peter Fitzpatrick and Justin and Rob Gardner that things started to change. It was only a matter of time before Mike got caught up in the Summernats / MotorEx scenes as an entrant, and with Fitzy, Justin and Rob pushing from all directions, Mike’s Chev was about to go to the next level… 29

Now Pat has had plenty of practice in preparing cars to tackle the elite show judges head on, having built many Top 10 and Super 6 builds. As mentioned, the body on Mike’s 54 had more or less been completed and ready for paint. To the uninitiated, the body retains its factory features, but if you parked it next to an untouched version, the differences would become obvious. For starters, the firewall has been modified and the inner guards and vent tubes have been smoothed off – the whole lot painted in ‘Blue Moon’ satin paint. The original headlights have been replaced with ’53 Cadillac items, the taillights now feature custom one-piece Moon bubble lenses and both front and rear bars are now one-piece, have had the overriders removed and the bars shaved for a much cleaner look. The wheels of choice are period perfect, 18 and 20-inch billet smoothies! The bonnet has been peaked and smoothed, and the grille has had its ‘teeth’ increased from 5 to 11 for that true custom look. Completing the body work is the removal of the boot lock, which now opens remotely. Covering all of the hard work is a combination of the custom Blue Moon and white for a look that is not only first rate, but timeless! Moving to the Belair’s insides, and as you’d expect, there’s not a lot of 1954 left in there! The interior makeover is the perfect example of less is more, with the blue and white theme flowing inside from the exterior. The original split fold front and rear bench seats (the rear modified with a ’59 Chev speaker grille) have been rebuilt internally before being trimmed in white leather in the traditional tuck and roll style, with the door trims scoring not only both colours, but also the stainless trim. Talking about trim, Mike left all that cool chrome work across the dash keeping some of the ’54 heritage, but ditched the factory dials to make way for the classy Dakota digital items. There’s rich blue carpet under foot and an impressive sound system that hidden from site. The same theme was added to the boot area where a custom, colour-coded Esky takes up the bulk of the space. Tony Cairns, the ex-Summernats / MotorEx trim judge is the man responsible for the stich work inside Mike’s Belair, showcasing his years of experience doing show car interiors! 30

So, a year out from Summernats 35, the decision was made to unveil the Chev inside the Top 60 hall. Mike and Chic Henry had been friends from the early Summernats days and the two spoke regularly about Mike’s Chev, with pics getting sent from Mike to Chic to show the progress. Both were excited to have the Belair unveiled later that year, but then the car world lost Chic. Mike was devastated as he was planning to have Chic unveil his car. Sadly, that wasn’t going to happen. As we all know, time moves quickly when you’re working towards a deadline, but thanks to the efforts of Tony, Nigel and the PPR crew who all worked day and night, the Chev was finished, engineered and registered in time to make the trip from Qld to Canberra to be part of the largest amount of unveils seen at the Summernats to date. A proud Mike watched as the covers came off his Chev in front of a packed building. I’m sure the cheers and applause will stick in his memory for years!

Mike didn’t intend for the Chev to become an elite show car – more a nice cruiser to do events like Cooly Rocks, a few local shows, cars and coffee etc.

Mike was shocked to hear his named called out for a Top 10 spot at Summernats 35, where he also took home Runner-Up Top Paint Elite, as well as an Invitation to MotorEx Superstars. There’s been lots of show appearances and trophy wins ever since. And that doesn’t look like ending anytime soon as Mike has some changes happening soon including a full billet Kugel independent rear end and those quartet of Webers are getting stripped down and shined up! The Chev has certainly come a long way from when Mike spotted it for sale in 2006 – a rare car in Australia. What started as a stock looking cruiser has ended up as one of Australia’s best show cars. But once the curtain falls on its last major show appearance, Mike will no doubt get just as much pleasure, if not more, from cruising the Chev every chance he gets!

Thanks to: My wife Abbie, my entire family for their love and support, Pat and Kasia O’Shea, the crew at Pat’s Pro Restos, Harvey Atkins, Darren and Will Morgan, Craig Wolpole at Extreme Custom Engineering, Kane’o Shulz, Peter Fitzpatrick, Rob Gardner, Lovells Automotive Systems, Artcraft Signs and PWR Cooling Systems.

ALIVE & KICKING!

KILLER RIDES

From early on, the 5th Killer Rides Live was looking like a ‘killer’ event. It didn’t disappoint… With so many news cars coming onto the scene prior to our August event, I knew I was going to fill the Illawarra Hockey Centre with some amazing cars in 2023 for our 5th Killer Rides Live. Finding and inviting the cars started soon after the doors closed on the 2022 event and as usual, the plan was to bring as many of those new cars to the Illawarra for the first time.

LIVE #5

SHOWCAR MASTER

ie Craig & Krist McKenzie HR Holden Ute

KILLER RIDES LIVE #5_ILLAWARRA HOCKEY CENTRE, UNANDERRA_AUG 12/13 WORDS / PICS – PAUL BECK

Whilst logistically, some of the cars I wanted to bring to Killer Rides Live #5 weren’t able to attend this year, the floor area inside the Hockey Centre was still full of first-rate cars including some of the best Show cars currently on the scene and a few that have been around for a while, but had never been shown in this area before. And from the very first show we held at the venue way back in 1994, it has always been the same deal – to bring in the best line up of cars and bikes that we can find and then change them every year. And for those who have clicked on, Killer Rides Live #6 will be the 30th Anniversary of the first show! Where did those years go?

video panning across venue

One thing you’ll never get when coming to Killer Rides Live, is bored. Variety is the name of the game here and where else could you find everything from the Summernats Grand Champion 911 Porsche, to the twotime winner of Car of the Decade – Fitzy’s FC Holden, to host of Top 10 Elite cars, a handcrafted, all-alloy F1-inspired Supercar and even a full-patina Commer Van slammed on airbags complete with a lounge and stripper pole? And that’s just the start of what was on

show! When you consider that the relatively small venue contained three displays of cars in various stages of being in the build – to showcase what happens before you get to see the blinged-out finished product, some of the wildest Street Cars ever assembled under one roof and let’s not forget the huge display of BMX bikes that keeps growing and growing each year – you get the picture that Killer Rides Live is all about bringing together a mix of cars that keeps everyone happy!

The trophies are something we are very happy to hand over. Designed in house and manufactured by Brendan Caunt at X-Piggy Customs, these unique awards cover all the usual categories, but moving past those, for the Show Car guys, it’s all about securing one of the Top 3 trophies and therefore be in the running for the Show Car Master – the highest accolade on offer at Killer Rides Live. I also offer something quite unique for the People’s Choice award – a vinyl-wrapped bar fridge that featured the signatures of all entrants, traders and of course, Killer Rides Live organising team. That bar fridge is now serving duty at Pro-Street Bodyworks, after Anthony’s newly-finished De Tomaso Pantera obviously struck a chord with the crowd. At the other end, the Entrants Choice trophy is one considered by many as meaning as much as winning Top Car of Show. This year, that award went home with Peter Fitzpatrick for his two-time Car of the Decade winning FC Holden. Although Peter chose not to have the FC judged, he was still in the running for People’s Choice and Fitzy accepted it with a big smile…

I’ve got my work cut out for me next year to top what we had on show this time around. The search for cars has already begun…

KILLER TOP 3 Craig McKenzie HR Ute

Livi Krevatin

Porsche 911 SC

Jason Sandner LX Torana 42

Come 3pm on Sunday, we were ready for the presentation of the trophies. With Kathy handling the MC duties and Montana handing out the awards, I have to say I was a very proud man. Going through the list of winners, we were getting closer to those major awards. For this year’s show, there was seven or eight cars that were in the running for the Top 3, making judge Drago Ostric go back several times to divide the cars on points – it was that close. Come time for the presentation, there could only be three chosen for those big awards and they were Livi Krevatin for his 911 Porsche;

Craig McKenzie for his HR Holden Ute and Jason Sandner with his LX Torana. With the Top 3 assembled, the announcement was coming for the Show Car Master. With each picking the other as the winner, Kathy announced Craig with his HR Ute as the winner, capping off a big year for Craig, Kristie and their rebuilt HR. With the celebrations over, Killer Rides Live #5 had come to an end. It certainly was a massive event and one that I’ve got my work cut out for me next year to top what we had on show this time around. The search for cars has already begun…

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

SHOW CAR MASTER – Craig & Kristie McKenzie, HR Ute TOP 3 – Craig & Kristie McKenzie, HR Ute TOP 3 – Jason Sandner, LX Torana Sedan TOP 3 – Livi Krevatin, 911 SC Porsche PEOPLES CHOICE – Anthony Yemmin, De Tomaso Pantera ENTRANTS CHOICE – Peter & Michelle Fitzpatrick_FC Holden CHIC HENRY MEMORIAL – Mike Davison, 54 Chev Belair TONY ROBERTS MEMORIAL – Mike Davison, 54 Chev Belair STEVE DAVITT MEMORIAL – Joey, HJ GTS Monaro BEST GENUINE STREET 1ST – Rob Gardner, EH Holden BEST GENUINE STREET 2ND – Mick Matthews, XF Falcon BEST GENUINE STREET 3RD – Zoran Krstevski, XE Falcon To see the full list of winners and trophy sponsors, go to www.killerrides.com.au and click on the Killer Rides Live #5 poster!

Adrian Haynes Last years Show Car Master winner, 5 to present the returned to Killer Rides Live No. trophy! newest Show Car Master winner his

THANKS TO: It’s obvious that a show like this doesn’t happen easily or without help from many people. First up, thanks to my wife Kathy and Daughter Montana, who not only have to put up with my mood swings and late nights in the office, they also attend events with me to held hand out flyers and then the job they do at the show is amazing. Thanks also to the Killer Rides ‘A Team’ – Steve and DJ, Wayne, Pete, Mick, and Lydia. Thanks to others that helped out leading up to and during the event also including Rebecca and Mick, Leesa and also my Mum who made a return to the ticket box briefly on Sat morning. See 47 you all again for the next one…

Gettin’

2023 Rat Day - Kurnell, Sydney Words / Pics - Paul Beck

RATTY

I remember the very first Rat Day held at Junkyard Classics in Taren Point. It was all about outdoing others with the rattiest, most run-down ride you could piece together and drive into the venue! Times change however, and it’s no longer about that level of competition where those cars looked like they were pulled from a dried river bed, had a battery thrown in to it and fuelled enough to make a short drive, with smoke bellowing from the exhaust and the engine making noises that simply defied description. These days, it’s a new venue, held at Andy’s Restorations complex in Kurnell, where its more about the greater Hot Rod, Custom and Muscle Car fraternity coming out to enjoy each other’s company and cool cars.

Spread around the roadways within the complex, the variety of cool cars is what we've come to expect from all Hot Rod and Custom events.

Times change however, and it's no longer about that level of competition where those cars looked like they were pulled from a dried river bed, had a battery thrown in to it and fuelled enough to make a short drive...

Whilst there’s still a large gathering of ‘Rat” styled cars, they are more about driving to and from the venue. With worn-out, satin paint and pinstriped body, cross ply tyres, metal-trimmed interior and nostalgia-spec drivelines, the Rat cars are still prominent in the ever-growing show and shine, but now they are kept company by those cars with shiny paint, leather trim and chrome-plated engines.

Arriving at Kurnell from 6.30am on Father’s Day, the cars soon filled every parking spot available. Spread around the roadways within the complex, the variety of cool cars is what we’ve come to expect from all Hot Rod and Custom events. When I cruised in just after 7.30am in the Bubbletop, followed by Tony Rabbitte in his Rat-inspired Chev Truck, we cruised past all kinds of cool cars from a wild Dodge Ramp truck, Al Fountain’s blown Nostalgia gasser, chopped Rods, lowriding customs and the more traditional styled Hot Rods to get to our spots. There’s was so much to see, even at this early time!

Being Father’s Day, it was always going to be the case where cars will come and go all morning and I found that cars that had arrived before us, were leaving around 8am, leaving space for the guys that were arriving soon after, making the gates a revolving door for the show. The weather that looked threatening at the start of the day, stayed away for the duration of the show, making the 2023 event a complete success. Our thanks go out to the organising team for a great start to Father’s Day!

With worn-out, satin paint and pinstriped bodies, cross ply tyres, metal-trimmed interior and nostalgia-spec drivelines, the Rat cars are still prominent in the ever-growing show and shine...

PHONE: 02 4285 0300 MVRC LIC: 54814

LEO VANGELOVSKI Stockists Of:

MOB: 0415939307 ABN: 73669 696 204

NOW WITH IN-HOUSE CHASSIS DYNO!

www.blautomotive.com.au

leo@blautomotive.com.au

Words - Paul Beck / Pics - Insane Grunt

e n o G y Wa HQ

With a big horsepower LSA up front and a restored body draped in silky silver paint, Clinton Davies has built his ultimate HQ!

Clinton Davies 1972 HQ Holden Wagon

“I’ve always loved wagons, and in particular the HQ version!” Qld Motor Dealer Clint explained. “When I found this one (thanks to Carkeets Classic Rides), it was a clean, rust-free shell that was a factory gold with a white roof from the factory, but it had already been repainted Silver when I got it. I wasn’t too impressed with the job, so I had Concept Smash Repairs redo the job. The result was better than I could have asked for”, explained Clinton. The paint covers the factory sheet metal that’s had all of the imperfections removed, along with the factory installed side mouldings. To give the wagon more street appeal, a small reverse cowl bonnet replaces the original flat item. To compliment the body colour, Clinton refurbished the bumpers, grille and light surrounds.

Clinton is happy with the 847hp the LSA has produced on the hub dyno.

In stark contrast to the body, the interior is red. Very red! Apart from the factory dash (fronted by a SAAS tacho and a couple of AutoMeter gauges), the GTS steering wheel and the reversepattern B&M shifter, which are all black, the standard HQ seats, dash pad, carpet, door trims, headlining and of course the rear load area have all been covered in matching red materials – leather for the bulk of the trim with carpet underfoot. Even the seatbelts are red! 62

Lifting the modified bonnet reveals one hell of a jewel nestled into the gloss black engine bay. There’s no denying the popularity of the LSA engine combo – the factory supercharged 430kW package finding its way into all kinds of tough street cars in recent times. Most are happy with the power output that got the tick of approval from the factory, but Clinton had other ideas. He removed the engine and shipped it off to Swick Automotive to liven things up a little – actually, a lot! A pair of Tremaniac Racing-prepped Next Gen heads, complete with Pac 1219X valve springs, were ordered in along with a custom boost-friendly cam, Trend pushrods and a custom-made sump. A pair of Pacemaker headers make light work of getting rid of the gases through the twin, three-inch exhaust. At the

moment, the tuned LSA runs on 98-octane pump fuel but a full-time switch to E85 is in the HQ’s very near future… Before that happens though, Clinton is happy with the 847hp the LSA has produced on the hub dyno. That number is set to increase when the octane rating does. Backing the supercharged small block is a built Turbo 400 auto that now uses a reverse-pattern shift, transbrake, 5500rpm converter and much tougher internals to deal with the pressure being forced through it on the way to the 9-inch diff that relies on a 3.9-geared centre and billet axles to get all that power to the pavement. In behind the 15x6 and 15x12 Weld Alumastars is a bunch of upgrades including the Wilwood discs and lowered suspension to get the wagon way down low!

It took Clinton around 12-months and a sizeable house deposit to get the Wagon from where it was, to where he was happy with it.

It took Clinton around 12-months and a sizeable house deposit to get the Wagon from where it was, to where he was happy with it. And now it’s done, is there anything he’d do differently if given the chance? “Absolutely not!” Clinton said. “In fact, to me this HQ is perfect! It has the perfect engine combo and the perfect colour combo!” That doesn’t mean he has stopped spending on the HQ though. Still to come is a Haltech computer, the switch to E85 and plenty of cruising! And at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about…

“I’ve always loved wagons, and in particular the HQ version!” Qld Motor Dealer Clint explained. 66

ORUNDS_AUG 6, G W O SH Y R U SB K DAY_HAW NSW ALL HOLDEN UL BECK WORDS / PICS – PA

2023

D E M O A WELC

After missing a couple of years due to Covid, the Holden faithful returned enforce to Hawksbury Showgrounds in Clarendon for the biggest All Holden Day yet!

N R U T RE

The actual All Holden Day kicks off on the Saturday with a massive swap meet that takes over a separate part of the Showgrounds. It’s one of those swap meets that grows in size and stature each year and because of the time since the last one, this was always going to be a big day leading into the show day the next day. Those that attended the swap meet this year said there was so much stuff on offer, it took a full day to get around and check things out. The swap meet got swamped by spectators again on the Sunday when the showgrounds were overflowing with both show and shine entrants and the crowds that had assembled to check out the cars on display. 68

Knowing full well that the traffic heading into the show area was going to be busy at the Windsor side of the Showgrounds, I thought I’d be smart and enter Showground Road from Richmond Rd. It seemed like it was a good move until about 200 metres down the road when the traffic had come to a complete stop, the long line of cars to get into the venue as far as I could see. It certainly wasn’t the start to the day that I had expected. Thankfully, I had prearranged a parking spot just inside the main gate, right next to the show and shine.

Once inside, and with a camera in hand, I looked across the expansive show and shine area that was absolutely packed with all kinds of Holdens from the very first to the very last and everything in between. You never know what you’ll see on show here and there’s usually some rarities in amongst the usual Monaro’s, Torana’s, Commodores and a seemingly endless array of early models from unrestored drivers, resto show cars and of course both mild and wild modified versions. No matter what you’re into, you’d find at least a few examples on show. Hell, there was even an early 80’s Gemini that was like brand new! They are still out there!

In amongst the street cars were a number of faithfully restored and roadgoing replica ex-race cars, and with Holden’s rich heritage on race tracks around the country, these Torana’s and Commodores were a popular part of the All Holden Day. Also noticeable were a number of well know show cars and tough street cars sprinkled amongst the show and shine area. Clubs make up a big part of this event too and that was evident from walking around and seeing so many club tents erected behind club stands.

You never know what you’ll see on show here and there’s usually some rarities in amongst the usual Monaro’s, Torana’s, Commodores...

Once you’ve seen the cars, taken a quick shopping trip through the swap meet, and spent too much on overpriced show food, there was still more to see with dozens of trade stands situated across three buildings pedaling all kinds of items including diecast models, repro panels, metal signs, seating and interior kits and more. There was also live music, rescue squad demonstrations and more. The NSW All Holden Day is certainly a full day out, whether you’re there to show your car, or check out what’s on offer! Then again, if you’re there for the swap meet, better keep the first weekend of August 2024 free in any case… 76

s e d i KILLERR VIDEO FEATURE

NICK GRGICH - LX TORANA HATCH

Words - Roy Velardi / Pics - Paul Beck

IL CAPO

It may look minimalistic in its oh-so-cool style, but Roy Velardi’s ’66 Rigid Shovelhead is one tricked-out Harley!

Roy Velardi 80

1966 Custom Rigid Shovelhead

I had always wanted a rigid framed custom Harley Davidson ever since helping my brother Frank rebuild his rigid Panhead in the cellar of our parent’s home as a teenager. Eventually my time came by chance when cruising eBay one night where I spotted this Genny Shovel located in Melbourne. It was looked pretty cool and ticked all the boxes but just needed a freshen up and modified to suit my style. Funnily enough I was following a page on Instagram, Tim Stephens, who is the guy from Chopper Head Magazine in the USA and noticed a post of the exact same bike on his page. After a few messages back and forth it was

confirmed that it indeed was the same bike that he photographed back in 2005! He filled me in that the bike was originally built by Trevelen from Super Co Customs in LA for a customer in New Zealand. So it was built and shipped to NZ where it lived for a few years and then eventually was sold to the guy listing it in Melbourne. A deal was struck and the road trip began when I headed to Albury in a van with my cousin (Franky the Fish) to pick up the bike. It was looking a little worn upon inspection and wouldn’t start, but I wasn’t fazed by it at all. With the cash handed over, we headed back to Sydney with a smile on my face a mile wide!

LESS IS MORE

Roy is obviously a fan of keeping it simple. The cool Shovel engine is about as basic as they come, but with the twin-plug he ads, brass hardlines and ram tube and just a little polished alloy, the engine is a standout. Add to that th e sprung seat, kick starter with br ass pedal, black rims with chrom ed spokes and the single fender and it proves you don’t need al l kinds of bling to stand out in a cr owd!

We headed straight to my brother’s workshop, V Resto Garage. With a new set of plugs, fresh fuel and battery recharged, we were able to fire it up. It was running ok but the engine needed attention made evident by the smoke coming from the exhaust. After stalling it a few times as I got used to the foot clutch, it was actually easy to ride and reminded me of my brothers old rigid Panhead. Not long after, I decided to pull the bike down for a full rebuild which included having the engine rebuilt by Cal at LA Cycles. It was a bit of a mess inside, but he got it sorted very easily. While he was doing the rebuild, I set my sights on converting the foot clutch to a centrifugal clutch. I had seen many electric start bikes with the EFM auto clutch fitted but not any fitted to a kickstart bike. That’s because you

have to find a way to overcome the clutch when kick starting it. Eventually I worked out a way along with Hawke from Vintage Technologies in the USA. He was looking to do the exact same thing to his latest chopper build, so two brains became one and bingo we worked out a way! The looks on people’s faces at shows when they look for a foot clutch pedal or hand clutch lever and can’t find one, stumps them every time! With the mechanical side pretty much sorted the rest of the bike was pulled down to pieces. The stretched and raked frame, custom fork suspension, SuperCo Customs fuel tank, V-Twin oil tank and West Coast Customs rear guard were blasted and prepared for paint at V Resto Garage. Painter Joe then applied the flawless Jet Black paint. I chose this shade of black as it is the blackest of black!

It was looking a little worn upon inspection and wouldn’t start, but I wasn’t fazed by it at all.

ENGINE & TRANS

k, HD 86ci Genny Shovel, S&S cran bore, barrels, S&S pistons, 3.72” sion, 4 5/8” stroke, 9.0 compres S&S Custom Andrews cam, drews pushrods, Ferrea valves, An with springs, Mallory ignition carb, twin DYNA coils, S&S Shorty into 2 brass ram tube air cleaner, 2 ified exhaust with Fishtail tips, mod rter, heads with dual plugs, Kicksta ANS: Built by LA Cycles. 85hp. TR with HD Ratchet Top 4-speed clutch Suicide Shifter, EFM auto (centrifugal), 1 ½” belt drive 85

THANKS TO: Frank Velardi at V Resto Garage,

Angelo Cali for the electrical work, Painter Joe for the killer paint work, Cal at LA Cycles for the engine and gearbox build, Hawke at Vintage Technologies for the kick start mods, Tim Stephens at Chopper Head Magazine for the old magazines, my wife Rosa and daughter Chiara for their patience.

Once painted it was time to piece it all back together in the family garage. Starting with the driveline then suspension and wheels. New tyres were fitted as they still the ones from the first build back in 2005 and they were hard and had cracks in the sidewalls. I had to make a custom front spring compression tool to fit up the springer front end. That was a nerve-racking time, slowly compressing the springs to fit the triple trees. Long-time friend and relative Angelo Cali came over and rewired it all and whilst he was at it, fitted a second ignition coil. You see the heads are modified for a second set of spark plugs but no one added a second coil to ever fire them. This mod was a popular one due the shape of the pistons and combustion chamber of 86

the Shovelhead which is domed. With the bike coming together easily I looked to add more of my own personality to it. I swapped out a few parts for polished brass versions and also added some gold scripting in memory of my Father – Il Capo who never got to see the bike finished. The last piece of the puzzle was the KIL3R number plates. With the bike finished it was time to ride it! After a few minor adjustments of the auto clutch settings, I had it firing on all cylinders and banging gears hard. The best thing about the auto clutch is that you can’t stall it at all. Oh, did I mention it is a kick start? It does take a little getting used to and every kick start bike has its own unique starting sequence but once you map it out, you wouldn’t have it any other way… 87

DAD’S DAY n w o t n w Do

SHOWCARS MELBOURNE_FATHERS DAY IN ST KILDA WORDS – PAUL BECK PICS – LAUREN @ XPOSED

As far as car guys in Victoria are concerned, Father’s Day means so much more than new socks and undies!

As well as filling every piece of free space in the main street, the entourage of entrants flowed onto the park area surrounding the world-famous Luna Park... Showcars Melbourne really have put together two of Victoria’s most popular events, and their St Kilda Show and Shine held in the centre of town and adjoining area’s on Father’s Day has been enjoying a massive growth year on year, with 2023 being the biggest yet. The cars and bikes start arriving

early in the morning, with the streets leading into Ackalnd street amongst the shops jam packed with all kinds of wild and cool machinery. If you lived in the area, you were woken by the rumble of hundreds of cars converging on the seaside area to get the best vantage point for the long day ahead…

The trams that usually ferry tourists into the area were stopped from travelling deep into St Kilda for the day, allowing the cars to take over both sides of the streets and down the centre across the tram tracks leaving just enough room for the thousands of spectators to roam between the cars and bikes freely. As well as filling every piece of free space in the main street, the entourage of entrants flowed onto the park area surrounding the world-famous Luna Park and every side street within walking distance – including the footpaths!

The cars and bikes start arriving early in the morning, with the streets leading into Ackalnd street amongst the shops jam packed with all kinds of wild and cool machinery.

There were all kinds of cars assembled under the gleaming sun. Traditional street machines, classics, customs, hot rods, pro-streeters, drag cars, restos, muscle cars, custom bikes and even a bunch of movie cars that were a hit with both the young and not so young! No matter what you were into, there was something on show that would have impressed you

As you’d expect, the Dad’s with a passion for cool cars and bikes were the ones wondering around St Kilda with the biggest grin!

Thousands of people made their way into the area to check out the cars and bikes, keeping all of the shops run off their feet all day. As you’d expect, the Dad’s with a passion for cool cars and bikes were the ones wondering around St Kilda with the biggest grin! For them, this is the ultimate way to spend a hot and sunny Father’s Day. Now to do something equally as impressive for Mum when her special day rolls around…

s e d i KILLERR VIDEO FEATURE

NICK NOVAK - 1965 MUSTANG

ON KILLERRides THE WEB Words - Paul Beck

MUSCLE CAR LEGEND 1962 Chev Belair Hardtop

Often referred to as the ’Bubbletop’, the ’62 Chev Belair Coupe with the dual-four 409-cube big block up front, is highly regarded amongst those in the know as the ultimate muscle car…

I’ve long been a fan of the ’62 Bubbletop. Back in the early 90’s when I had a big block ’62 Belair sedan, my bucket list of cars was topped by the 409 cube Bubbletop, but way back then, they were rare and very, very expensive. Some 25-years later and I get the opportunity now to jump behind the driver’s seat when time allows. There’s only three ’62 Bubbletops currently in Australia making it a more than desirable muscle car.

100

101

In 1962, Chevrolet produced almost one and a half million full-sized cars such as the Impala, Belair and Biscayne. But of those, just 9600 were Bubbletop coupes. With engine packages available from 283ci V8 through to the big-banger, the 409hp, dual four 409ci big block, the ’62 Belair hardtop soon become a crowd favourite, and not just on the street, with many drag racers and Nascar drivers hitting race tracks around America with great success. It was that popular, even the Beach Boys released a song about the legendary 409 engine!

Some 25-years later and I get the opportunity now to jump behind the driver’s seat when time allows.

As valuable as the car is in standard form, there’s plenty of modified versions roaming the streets and shows across the world. Ours is very mild in its modifications compared to some of the heavy-hitters in the USA, but at the end of the day, it’s all about celebrating one of the finest-ever USA Muscle Cars – the 1962 Chev Belair Hardtop! 102

103

T OU KILLERRides & ABOUT

Australian Bucket Nationals Canberra, ACT - Sept 28-Oct 1 Words / Pics - Paul Beck

BUCKET LIST

They came from all over the country to the Nation’s capital with one common goal in mind. To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 1923 T-Bucket.

104

The base for the T-Bucket Party was to be the fabulous Capital Country Holiday Park, which is no stranger to the sound of tough engines with the annual CRAKK Run held in the same, Rod friendly venue! It offers plenty of accommodation for entrants, provides a cruise route and offers facilities for dining, playing and even a pool to deal with the forecasted heat – everything that Kayleen Maguire, the event organiser was looking for when the event first rolled into Canberra a few years ago. Such was the support shown for Kayleen and the event, that guys were shipping their overpowered T-Buckets in loaded up on car carrying trucks from interstate and the Sydney area. Pics soon surfaced on social media

platforms of the trucks unloading their precious cargo in Canberra, which no doubt sparked a heap of interest in the event. When Kathy and I landed in Canberra on Friday morning, the entrants had already left the Holiday Park for the short cruise to nearby Sutton Bakery, where around 30 T-Buckets lined the streets outside, causing a slight traffic jam as locals and tourists slowed for a better look of the blown engines, candy paint and chromed Jag rear ends that gleamed in the morning sun. It was quite a spectacle for the locals to see, and also hear as the engines fired up as the entourage made their way down the usually quiet streets to their next destination – Mt Ainslie Lookout.

105

We managed to get to the lookout before the entrants, so it was a great opportunity to get pics of the cars as they cruised into the parking area, that overlooked Canberra and suburbs from every vantage point. Actually, I heard the cars arriving long before I saw them, as the cars made their way up the winding road to the top of the mountain. It was wall to wall T-Buckets taking up the best vantage spots, to the point where a coach load of tourists was forced to park a little further down the car park to enjoy the views – most of which enjoyed looking at the cars long before getting to see the City below! And judging by the smiles on their faces, they were suitably impressed by both! After leaving Mt Ainslie, most headed to Bungendore to check out the tourist hot spots, whilst some ventured back to the Holiday Park where the afternoon called for some cruising around the grounds and lots of socialising – which is what this event is all about. Friday’s festivities concluded with a BBQ dinner by Rod 2 Mod in the Conference room.

And everyone was there for the same thing – to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the OG Hot Rod – the 1923 T-Bucket! Happy Birthday!

106

107

Saturday morning and the entrants needed to be up early to grab some breakfast and then head out for a cruise and impromptu display of the cars at Old Parliament House. Next stop was a tour of the Bespoke Workshop where everyone got to see panel making and fabrication at its absolute best. The workshop tours continued, with the group cruising to Lucky’s Speed Shop where the shop was an open house for entrants to tour and then grab some lunch at the Food Truck bought in for the event. Before heading back to the Park for some light cruising and Andy’s Putt Putt, the guys and girls headed to Powerkarts for Gazza’s Challenge. A buffet Dinner, raffle draws and auction was held in the Conference room capping off a

big Saturday! Another early start for Sunday morning, under clear blue skies and its back on the road again. This time, the T-Buckets were filing out of the Holiday Park for a cruise over to the Canberra Glass Works where the Rods will be on display whilst the owners take a wonder through the facilities and the Old Bus Depot Markets where you could find all kinds of arts and crafts for sale. For those wanting a filling breakfast, there was plenty of variety on offer a short walk away on the foreshore of the Lake. Upon returning to the Capital Country Holiday Park later in the day, there was more cruising planned or drinks in the conference room before dinner and for those interested, a night in front of the TV for the NRL Grand Final.

All in all, the 5th staging of the Australian Bucket Nationals was a great success. The low-key, social event was like taking a trip back in time. It was all about the entrants themselves and having a great time in cars with likeminded people. There are no awards to present, so there’s no politics to worry about. And everyone was there for the same thing – to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the OG Hot Rod – the 1923 T-Bucket! Happy Birthday!

108

109

PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Advertise your business here from just $70 per month* * Based on 6-month Booking @ 1/8 page size.

BATTERIES FOR ALL APPLICATIONS

All the big brands!

Email: paul@killerrides.com.au for more info.

www.speedpro.com.au

1300 769 282 www.rjbatt.com.au

0411 620918 Australian Made Engine Coolants & Additives

oldskoolrestos@gmail.com

1800 441163

www.liquidintelligence.com.au

07 3488 7831

www.superformance.com.au

Performance Pulley Systems to suit a wide range of engines

www.wheelswithinwheels.com.au

Phone (02) 42850300

ADVERTISE HERE

JUST $70 PER MONTH CONTACT PAUL - 0432 795336

Unit 2, 25 Badgally Rd, Campbelltown NSW

Ph 02 9820 6800

www.prostreet.com.au

www.lovellsauto.com.au

www.blautomotive.com.au

ADVERTISE HERE

PUBLISHED ONLINE QUARTERLY READ EACH ISSUE FOR FREE! 108

ONTH JUST $70 PER M79 5336 CONTACT PAUL - 0432

109

COMING EVENTS SEPT 9 BOOROWA’S CARS ON THE GREEN Boorowa Recreation Club

BORDER BATTLE Kiewa Street Albury www.borderbattle.com.au

BIG 3 SHOW N SHINE / SWAP MEET Queanbeyan Showgrounds GM/Holden - Ford - Chrysler

VICLA VIEW SHOW Harley Heaven, Sunnyholt Rod Blacktown 11am-3pm

ROMANS HOT ROD CLUB SHOW Black Beach Kiama

KILLER RIDES MID WEEK MEET-UP Oporto’s Albion Park Rail

JAMBEROO CAR SHOW Kevin Walsh Oval, Jamberoo www.facebook.com/JamberooCar/

APPIN WHEELS FESTIVAL Appin Public School

ACT ALL HOLDEN DAY Queanbeyan Show Grounds

29/30AUSTRALIAN T-BUCKET NATS Capital Country Holiday Park OCT 11 KILLER RIDES MID WEEK MEET-UP Oporto’s Albion Park Rail 13-15 22ND EARLY FALCON NATIONALS Nata Oval, Narooma NSW 15

CAMDEN CAR SHOW Camden Showgrounds John Fenato - 0418 238919

NSW ALL CHRYSLER DAY Museum of Fire, Penrith

20-22 AUTO RUMBLE MORURA Ingenia Holiday Park, Moruya LYGON STREET BREAKFAST CRUISE KINGPIN Kuztums 112 www.facebook.com/kingpin.kuztums/ 22

NOV 8 KILLER RIDES MID WEEK MEET-UP Oporto’s Albion Park Rail 17-18 ADELAIDE AUTO EXPO www.customautoexpo.com.au 25-26 HOT ROD & HARLEY EXPO #2 Illawarra Hockey Centre, Unanderra www.killerrides.com.au 24-26 SPRINGNATS 30TH ANNIVERSARY Shepparton Showgrounds www.autofest.com.au DEC 3 LYGON STREET BREAKFAST CRUISE AND TOY RUN Kingpin Kuztums www.facebook.com/kingpin.kuztums/ 30

KILLER RIDES LAST CRUISE OF 2023 This will be an invitation-only cruise to make sure the dickhead element don’t ruin another event. More information will be forwarded to those we know will do the right thing by us and the greater car community!

WESTERN SYDNEY SATURDAY

28TH OCTOBER

11am to 3pm Vicla Display | Food Trucks | In-Store Merch Special:

20% off Genuine H-D riding gear and casual clothing [Excluding Clearance Products]

Prizes for best Vicla; Dealer Pick, Aussie Viclas Pick, Lucky Dip

Canberra Rod and Kustom Krooze 2024 25, 26, 27, 28 January Capital Country Holiday Park, Sutton, NSW Open to all ASRF Class Vehicles including pre ʻ78 Lots of activities for little kids and big kids Lots of prizes and giveaways! For more information, go to the Canberra Hot Rod Association Inc Website: www.chra.org.au/CRAKK Enquiries phone Choco on 0412 883 235.

s e d i KILLERR

Australia’s Street Car Community!

e v i t a v o n n I Get with your g n i s i t r e v d A

HERE’S WHAT WE OFFER! EXCEPTIONAL RATES! GLOBAL AUDIENCE! ONLINE 24/7! VIDEO ENHANCED AD’S! ALL AD’S LINKED! NEW PRODUCT PROMOTIONS! For more information on advertising in Killer Rides, please contact;

Check Us Out on our Social Media Pages!

Paul Beck 0432 795336 paul@killerrides.com.au

PUBLISHING EDITOR

Paul Beck paul@killerrides.com.au Phone 0432 795336

MAILING ADDRESS

PO Box 165 Oak Flats NSW 2529

WEBSITE

www.killerrides.com.au

VALUED CONTRIBUTORS

Lauren Jade @ Xposed Photography Chad Silvey @ Pics by Chaddo Jimmy Tee Photography Greg ‘Beach’ Ball Darren - Trackside Images