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IT’S GETTING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO OWN A MODIFIED CAR ON THE STREET. BUT REALLY, WHO IS TO BLAME?
We’ve all seen the flurry of posts on social media about the Police, RMS and EPA targeting modified cars, often pulling over drivers of cars they deem illegal, and get the owners to follow them to a spot where the RMS and EPA are waiting with their defect labels in hand. Then, if you’re one of the unlucky ones, in amongst the phone, rates and waters bills will be a letter inviting you to bring your car along to a very special party at the local inspection station where you’ll need to present your vehicle for a thorough pit inspection. Neither of these scenarios are likely to end without you sporting a bring yellow, or worse, Red label attached to your window.
It’s standard issue to lay the blame entirely on the Police for targeting modified vehicles, but are they solely to blame for this situation we all find ourselves in? Consider this. Each Highway Patrol officer reports to a Commander who gets his orders from those even higher up the food chain. If those at the top demand that there be a blitz on modified cars, then the officers on the road have to perform their duties as per their area commands requests. No if’s, no buts. So what do the people ordering these blitzes have against owners of modified cars? Here’s what I think. The general public are obviously contacting the Police about hooning in their local area and when enough people complain, the Police are going to act on it.
Then, if you’re one of the unlucky ones, in amongst the phone, rates and waters bills will be a letter inviting you to bring your car along to a very special party at the local inspection station...
Part of the blame needs to lay at the feet of some drivers of modified cars who simply can’t help themselves, especially when there’s a crowd gathered when leaving a car show, meet or get together. Usually, when this happens, these meets are held in Suburbia at night, and when a bunch of high-powered cars are leaving a venue at full noise, and doing burnouts, of course residents are going to get sick of it and want action taken. I see it at every event I attend. The problem is, these hoons are long gone when the Police turn up and the genuine enthusiast is left taking the heat. So, who is really to blame here?
See you on the street (maybe),
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Hosted by the EJ-EH Holden Club ACT, the annual Chrome Bumper Show ‘n’ shine was held on Sunday May 5th under cloudy skies at Viking Park, Wanniassa with plenty of GM products filling the venue, despite the forecast of wet weather. With an abundance of cool cars, traders and plenty of spectators, the event was a huge success raising much needed funds for Huntington’s Australia.
First up this month, I’d like to welcome the team at Powerplus NSW on as our most recent sponsor. The guys are the go to shop for all your facing fuel, lubricant etc needs. Being car guys themselves, they know what you need and will give you the service you deserve! The entries for the show are coming together with some amazing cars making the trek to the Illawarra Hockey Centre in August to help us celebrate our 30th anniversay in style. I can tell you we’ve secured a couple of high-end elite show cars that haven’t been seen for quite some time, along with some cars that have never been shown in this area. I can promise you, you won’t walk away disappointed with this years event!
I’ve managed to get together some really interesting cars to comlement the show car stuff as well. There’s another three in the build cars, a couple of unique builds and some of the toughest street cars you’ll ever see assembled in one place! Bring on Aug 10/11!
Have you booked a spot for the first annual Killer Rides Cruise without Cars? If not, best you do so now! These cruises tend to sell out, so to secure your place for the first one, book a room now! Here’s what you need to know; Date: July 4th - 8th, 2024 Cruise: Carnival Splendor out of Sydney Sydney - Tangalooma / Moreton Island - Sydney
To book a room, from an Interior room to a Balcony suite, you can contact your own travel agent and use the reference: Z8W1B4. Alternatively, you can use our agent: Le Sharn Bard at Flight Centre Figtree. Call her direct on (02) 42516000 and tell her it’s for the Killer Rides Cruise, and she will make it happen for you. Can’t wait to see you all upon the Carnival Splendor, Thursday July 4th! More information can be found at www.killerrides.com.au
If you’re a fan of the US Pro-Street scene, then you’ll want one of these prints for your office, man cave, or garage! Illustrated by Jeff Luthman, the design features such iconic cars as Rick Dobbertin’s Nova and J2000, Matt & Debbie Hayes Thunderbird, Troy Trepanier’s 60 Impala, and Tony Netzel’s Plymouth to name but a few. Jeff will send you a digital copy of the artwork for just $20 USD. I’ve got mine and I can tell you, the quality is so good, that you’ll be able to print this in any size you like without losing quality. To order yours, jump onto Jeff’s FB page and send him a message https://www.facebook.com/jeff.luthman
Everyone loves to check out new cars in the build, that’s why I have implemented a section at Killer Rides Live so people car see just how much work goes into creating the final masterpiece. Its also one of the most popular sections in the magazine too! So if you’re currently up to your elbows in a new project, send me some pics and info to paul@killerrides.com.au
After winning just about every award there was to win, including multiple Summernats Top 10 spots, Meguiar’s Motorex Superstars Grand Master, Killer Rides Showcar Master to name but a few, Craig McKenzie has decided to part ways with his reworked HR Ute which will see it go to Auction at Seven82Motors in Qld very soon. There’s no denying the HR is one of Australia’s most winningest show cars, but Craig wants to move it on and get stuck into his next project. Check out the seven82Motors website for bidding details and when to place a bid - www. seven82motors.
On Wednesday, May 15th, the Street Machining world lost another of its legend car buildersRob Beauchamp. Rob will be remembered for his stunning Pro-Street LX Torana as well as his Summernats-winning VL Calais which he built twice! Rob most recently built an LS-powered Nova, itself an amazing build. Our condolences go out to Rob’s family and many friends...
Got something to say? Send it to paul@killerride.com.au or message us from the Killer Rides Facebook page.
Hi Paul,
What is the story with people putting 17, 18, 20 and even 24-inch wheels on old school muscle cars? They just look wrong! Muscle cars from the 60’s and 70’s should keep with 14 or 15-inch wheels. Please guys, stick with the Welds, Cragars, Centerlines etc and keep those big things for late model Mustangs, Camaro’s and Commodores! Just my two cents worth. Great mag Paul. Keep the (traditional) muscle cars coming…
Stuart A_Doncaster,VIC
G’day Stuart,
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, the same as everyone has different likes – especially when it comes to wheels! Personally, I like both. My Chev currently sits on 15-inch Cragars, which look cool, but I also plan to add some 18/20-inch wheels at some stage too. I like the big wheel combo, but I agree that sometimes, they can be a little too big. But as they say, each to their own. It’s what keeps the modified car scene fresh!
G’day Paul,
I’m a huge fan of the US Pro-Street scene and it kills me that we can’t cruise cars like theirs on the street here in Australia. Surely, if an engineer is happy to sign off on a build and certifies that the car is safe to drive, then how can some unqualified person behind a counter, or a Police officer for that mate, go against what an engineer approves?
Surely, as a group, we have some rights to fight this?
Imagine how good it would be to see blown, tubbed ProStreet cars cruising without fear of getting defected! We can dream I guess.
Aaron M_Terrigal, NSWHi Aaron,
Like you, I am a die-hard Pro-Street fan, and nothing would be cooler than being able to cruise such a highly-modified car on the street, but we need to be realistic. It’s just not going to happen. Sure, there’s some that take the risk and cruise their blown, tubbed cars everywhere, and if they are lucky, they won’t grab the attention of those wielding the defect books. With blitz’s on modified cars now more common than ever, we are being forced to keep our cars legal enough to not encounter any conversations with the boys in blue or the EPA/RMS inspectors. And it’s getting worse.
Hi Paul,
I’m new to Killer Rides, and checked out your website after a mate showed me this current Issue (#63). I have to say, I’m impressed with the magazine, but also the fact that from day one, you’ve included video features within the pages. I then saw you advertised your YouTube channel so I clicked the link and man, there’s some video’s listed there! You are one busy dude! It’s funny that with so many people now doing video clips of shows and events now, you were doing exactly that some six years ago! Keep setting the standard Paul and let the others follow your lead. Great work!
Tony L_Batemans Bay, NSW
Hi Tony,
Thanks for the kind words. I knew that when I launched Killer Rides as a digital magazine, video content was always going to be a feature in the magazine. I had been producing DVDs for some time, so I had the gear and technology to make it happen, so it was a no brainer.
Hey Paul, Firs time, long time! I’ve been following Killer Rides/Performance Street Car since your very first issue (and Extreme before that!) and just wanted to say how much I am enjoying Killer Rides each month. The fact that you feature not just the high-end cars and give smaller events some coverage too sets your mag apart from others. For me, the grass-roots approach is spot on. Not everyone can (or wants to) build a million dollar show car and getting to see a mix of cool stuff in Killer Rides keeps me and my mates coming back for more. Thanks for all you do for the car scene. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed!
Barry K_St Kilda, VIC
Hi Barry,
Thanks for taking the time to reach out and thanks for supporting the magazine through the years. Killer Rides (and for a short time, Performance Street Car) reflects what I would like to see in a magazine and hopefully, that pleases as many people as possible. It’s more than just a hobby for me, it’s my passion and after being in the scene for 40-years now, I still love what I do and still have that passion for the car community. For me, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.
RYAN BRUCE - 1964 EH HOLDEN SEDAN
WORDS - PAUL BECK PICS - RYAN BRUCE
After finding the first EH shell was a total loss, Ryan Bruce’s girlfriend (now wife) found a more suitable project in Sydney for him that sounded like it could be the perfect replacement.
With the original, but all-too-rusty shell pushed aside, and after a few messages and calls back and forth, Ryan attached the empty trailer to his car and headed up the Hume with hopes this EH sedan was going to be as good as the owner had promised. Thankfully, it turned out to be well worth the trip and before too long, Ryan was on his way back to Melbourne with the trailer now sporting his newly purchased project. As the shell had been blasted by the previous owner, once Ryan has it home, the bare steel was covered in epoxy to keep it free from any contaminants. First stop was to have the EH sedan rear end sorted with a 9-inch diff conversion and a set of tubs to allow the fitment of the big wheels he had already purchased for the previous EH. Soon after, the Rodtech front end that was previously purchased, made its way under the EH’s engine bay followed by the front wheels getting the EH on all fours.
FABRICATED REAR CHASSIS 9-INCH DIFF COIL-OVERS
REWORKED RADIATOR SUPPORT
HIDDEN RADIATOR
HIDDEN WASHER BOTTLE/OVERFLOW TANK
Always having an interest in sheet metal, Ryan decided to take on the body work himself to see how it went. Getting the necessary tools together to start work, Ryan started by fitting out the boot area with panels, but after getting good results, moved onto the engine bay where he added a flat firewall and reshaped the inner guards. He made some boxed sections to match the contours of the bonnet hinges and modified the radiator support panel to hide the radiator from site, giving the engine bay a much cleaner appearance. The overflow tank and washer bottle also hidden under another custom panel. As his previous EH had been fitted with an LS1 and Turbo700 combo, Ryan fitted that driveline into the new and improved engine bay and with the engine in place, he set about making a new set of headers and also a custom bracket to get the alternator down low and less of a feature in the otherwise clean engine and surrounds. The engine itself with be fitted with a single carb and with that in place, Ryan needs to modify the EH bonnet with a fabricated cowl scoop for clearance. The underside of the bonnet will also be smoothed off.
With the original, but all-too-rusty shell pushed aside, and after a few messages and calls back and forth, Ryan attached the empty trailer to his car and headed up the Hume...
Always having an interest in sheet metal, Ryan decided to take on the body work himself to see how it went.
There’s still a long way to go with the build, but Ryan isn’t in a great hurry. He’s just enjoying the build process and watching his EH project moving forward. We’ll keep you posted on the progress…
Meguiar’s MotorEx is promoted as being the biggest and best event of its type in Australia, and after seeing all that was on offer, who am I to argue?
I’d never been to MotorEx since it was relocated to Melbourne Showgrounds, but judging by the pics, videos and social media posts that flooded the internet year after year, I knew this year was going to be a ‘must-do’ for Kathy and I. Of course, knowing the Phil Rillotta was unveiling the iconic PRO.ST.1 Torana at this year’s MotorEx made it a no brainer. Arriving in Melbourne on Friday night after a long drive down the Hume, we actually drove past the Melbourne Showgrounds on the way to our Motel and seeing all the action during setup made us more hyped
up about the next day. Walking into the expansive Melbourne Showgrounds revealed the perfect venue to hold MotorEx – so much better than Homebush in Sydney could ever offer. With lots of indoor show space, grassed areas for the 4WD and Ute display, the driving events arena and lots of area put aside for the ever-popular Real Street show and shine, you just knew this was going to be a huge event. And with more than 700 vehicles on show, the event was definitely going to live up to expectations. Actually, it exceeded what we expected!
Our first stop was the Performance Garage pavilion where lots of traders were on hand presenting their latest gear and services, many of which had some special vehicle as part of their presentation. This area also included plenty of cars and bikes on show as well as a bunch of cool Lowrider pushbikes. You could easily spend hours wondering around checking out the new gear available for your project, but with only 7 hours for us to take everything in, we did a quick walk through before moving onto the rest of the show. On our way to the Superstars pavilion, we checked out some of the line-up of cars that were taking part in the Real Street display. The variety and quality were amazing.
Moving into the Meguiar’s Superstars pavilion, it was the current Summernats Grand Champion, Joe Bauer’s Charger set up on its new rotisserie display that greeted everyone in the foyer. This part of the event is where all of the previous Superstar qualifiers were on display, showcasing the finest Street Machines, Hot Rods and Customs from all parts of Australia after winning a spot from various events leading up to the MotorEx Grand Finale. To have so many high-end cars in one building was certainly a sight to behold. It was wall to wall quality! At the same time that we were checking out this building, the unveils were happening in yet another building, but with so many people gathered to check out the new rides, we decided to leave that section until the hype had died down somewhat.
Next up was the Street Machine Show Pavilion where it was a mix of show cars, street elite cars, the Muscle Car Marvel and more. This pavilion had just about everything you could think of and then some. Where else would you find a faithfully restored GT Falcon beside a 8-stack injected Hemi-powered AWD Jenson Interceptor? This area epitomises what MotorEx is all about. It was then time to venture into the Shannons Inauguration Pavilion to see the latest and greatest rides that had the covers removed for the first time in front of a large appreciative crowd. By the time we wondered in, the crowds had thinned, allowing us a better opportunity to photograph and video the new cars and bikes on show for the first time. Walking through the doors, it was an icon of the scene that was front and centre.
Phil Rillotta’s Pro-Street LC Torana is a legend of the Street Car scene, and
despite running 7’s on the strip, the Torana made its mark on the scene by cruising the streets of Adelaide with its blown injected Rodeck jutting from the LC’s bonnet line. Phil and his team have rebuilt the Torana and taken it to the next level – check out the feature in this Issue to see what I mean. Also on show for the first time was V8 Supercar driver Cam Waters’ Rides by Kam built XB Coupe, the Hillier Bros-built Mercedes roadster, two cool rides from Southern Rod and Custom – a lime green XY Falcon and twin-turbo Hemi-powered ’69 Coronet, Ron Barclay’s incredible 67 Camaro and a 3000hp, twin-turbo ’67 Chev Impala coupe that was still in the build, just to name a few. There was so much to see, that we almost ran out of time looking at everything. This building along would have been worth the 9-hour trip, but it was just one part of MotorEx that made our visit a memorable one.
With the closing time of 4pm looming, we made a mad dash to the driving arena to catch the last few runs of the drift guys doing their thing. Seeing two, three and four cars sliding around the carpark within inches of each other was amazing. These guys really know how to drive! We missed the burnout demo’s though which was a shame, but we simply ran out of time. So, what was our impression of Meguiar’s MotorEx 22? When you consider the indoor show pavilions, the Real Street display, driving events, freestyle motor-x shows and the horsepower heroes dyno exhibitions, you couldn’t be anything but impressed by what was on offer. Sure, some people complained about the single day spectator price of $70, but when you consider what you got for your money, I don’t think you could complain too much. For Kathy and I, the 22nd MotorEx was the best event we have been to. It was laid back, offered so much to see, had lots of good quality food options with plenty of places to sit and relax. My only complaint – the 4pm shut down. An extra hour or two on Saturday would have been great! Apart from that, it was awesome and we’ll definitely be back in 2025 - maybe with the Chev on display in Real Street…
After 23-years, Pro-Street fans around Australia let out a collective ‘hell-yeah’ when it was announced the iconic PRO.ST.1 Torana was coming back!
Phil Rillotta
LC Torana
Anyone that is into tough cars over the age of 30 should remember PRO.ST.1 as being the OG Pro-Street car that was well-known for not only running 7’s on the quarter-mile back in the day, but also roaming the streets of Adelaide with that impressive blown injected 350-cube Rodeck proudly hanging through the Torana’s bonnet for all to admire. Those feats made this car iconic. If you google search PROST1 you’ll find some videos of the Torana, one of which shows a young Phil Rillotta cruising the Torana with wedding ribbons attached, flexing the small blocks muscle at an intersection before pulling into a driveway.
When word broke about Phil rebuilding the legendary LC, the internet went into a meltdown. Pics of the Torana in its original form flooded social media with everyone anxiously awaiting its return to the scene. It took a little while, but I have to say the wait was well worth it. This car alone was my sole reason for heading down the Hume to MotorEx this year. It’s unveiling no doubt had the same effect on many other Pro-Street fans as well. With the covers removed on Saturday morning, a massive crowd surrounded the Torana all weekend and was without doubt one of the highlights of this year’s MotorEx.
Phil kept the Torana true to its heritage in more ways than one. The decision to keep the car red is a winner, as is the choice to keep the polished Weld Wheels at each corner. It could have been easy for Phil to bolted up a set of beadlocks to the rear and add 17’s to the front, but the Welds add to the nostalgia trip perfectly. The polished wing now features engraving to its sides and flows nicely into the polished alloy inside the reworked boot area. As nice as the Torana was back in the day, Phil and his team have taken it to the next level with a completely detailed underside. Matt Bailey at Adelaide Custom Body & Paint did an amazing job!
Anyone that is into tough cars over the age of 30 should remember PRO.ST.1 as being the OG Pro-Street car...
Inside, the trim remains the same style in the red and black GTR style, retrimmed by Carmine Carafano, accompanied by the polished alloy tubs and rear section. The most noticeable change to the interior is the multi-levered shifter that is connected to the three-speed Bruno drive box that replaces the Powerglide. Engine wise, that familiar Rodeck is back in its intended spot after receiving a thorough going over, with a new blower setup topping the tough small block. The polished hat tops off an amazing rebuild that has seen the King of Pro-Street return to the top of the ranks yet again…
OWNER: PHIL RILLOTTA
VEHICLE: LC TORANA
ENGINE: BLOWN INJECTED 350 RODECK
POWER: PLENTY
TRANS: 3-SPEED LENCO BRUNO DRIVE
REAR END: SHEET-METAL 9-INCH, SUMMER BROS AXLES, COIL-OVERS, WHEELIE BARS.
It’s that time again when the usually quiet rural town of Cootamundra rumbles to the sounds of mechanical horsepower as the Coota 400 rolls into town!
This time last year, the weather forecast was looking less than perfect. Actually, it was woeful. Thankfully, those who ventured into town on Thursday managed to get a few runs in before sunset, making the most of the dry weather while it was available. History shows the racing was held Friday with some brief showers and not long after the final runs, all hell broke loose and covered the airport with plenty of the wet stuff, that continued well into Saturday, bringing the event to a premature end. All eyes were on the forecast this year and, a week out, it was clear skies all round. Bring on the power fest that is the Coota 400. The decision was made to get to the meeting point at the Pheasant Nest Service Centre from 6.30am for an 8am start, getting into Cootamundra earlier than previous years,
so once again, the cars can get some runs in early. As I pulled into the Servo, it was tough car central. Everywhere you looked it was wall to wall horsepower. Yep, this was going to be a massive event! After wandering around the quickly filling carpark at the Pheasants Nest Servo meeting point, and grabbing a bunch of videos and photo’s, I was impressed by the quality and variety of cars that were ready for the trip to Cootamundra. Some decided to leave their cars strapped to their trailers, and that’s fine, because for the most part, it’s about what happens on the airstrip more than the public road. After organiser Chris Ioannidis laid the law down to the entrants, those that were up for a leisurely cruise, fired up their cars and hot the road. Those on trailers and trucks followed suit – destination, Cootamundra!
I left a little before the official time so I could find a spot to get some footage of the cars cruising the Hume, but had to get between Goulburn and Yass before finding a suitable spot where the fog was going to cause a problem! Next stop was the big Servo at Yass where last year, every second car filling up were on their way to Coota. Not so this year. I waited for around 40 minutes and saw just two Coota400 entrants actually drive in. It proves that more people either trailered their cars this year, or they’ve fitted much bigger fuel tanks to make the trip in one go. Officially, the cruise route called for the road trip to exit the Hume at Coolac, following Muttama Rd into Cootamundra from there. Yet again, I waited for half an hour on the off ramp to get some more pics, but just a handful of cars went by. It’s not the only road into town, so next year I’m going a different way to mix it up a bit.
All eyes were on the forecast this year and, a week out, it was clear skies all round. Bring on the power fest that is the Coota 400.
Once in Coota though, the Airport was already a hive of activity with the Melbourne crew arriving and ready to burn some rubber and fuel. The sound of high-powered engines idling around the makeshift pits and the sight of all these tough cars taking up every parking spot possible was really something exciting to see. With everyone anxious to get out onto the strip, the registration queue not only filled the office, but weaved out the door and into the carpark. It’s a process that doesn’t take long, but when everyone is trying to get in at the same time, people just has to be patient. Before too long, the first cars were led out through the gate and onto the racing surface to kick off the 2024 Coota 400! More cars managed to get out and lay down some early passes, in readiness for a big couple of days ahead.
Walking out of my motel room ready for Day two of the Coota 400, the sun was shining, but damn was it cold! The car told me it was 4 degrees but I reckon that was being generous. Thank God (actually Mr Haval) for heated seats! Driving over to the airport, there was a thick blanket of fog covering the surrounding paddocks which made me feel even colder! But the sun was shining so it was going to be a great day of racing down the airstrip! By the time I got there, the pit area was busy with everyone doing their lastminute checks, tunes and more checks before putting their rides through their paces. It was around 10am when the cars starting rolling onto the grounds, lined up to lay down some rubber before reaching the start line. Long smokey burnouts were the order of the day, no doubt entertaining the assembled crowds that lined the fence for a look at proceedings. When the racing commenced, it was the street driven cars that seemed to have the most passes today. The trailered cars were also on hand, but they didn’t seem to get down the strip as often as they would have liked.
And that early Corvette! My god that was deceiving. When I saw it come in on the trailer, I thought it was a really nice resto - how wrong I was.
Today produced some really impressive passes, and not all were from those cars sporting more cubes than a Rubiks factory! Take the white 911-styled Porsche for example. With an angry sounding engine onboard, the Porsche took to the track like a duck to water, laying down pass after pass of very quick runs. Someone told me it ran a 9.6-second pass! I have no doubt this was one of the quickest cars to make a pass today. Likewise, Dom Luci’s show-quality VK Commodore was making huge power and turning the rear tyres to smoke with relative ease before laying down quick passes. And that early Corvette! My god that was deceiving. When I saw it come in on the trailer, I thought it was a really nice resto - how wrong I was. I’m still not sure what was in it, but damn it was quick and hooked up so well, that on a prepped track, I reckon at least one of those front wheels would have left the tarmac!
As it was a shoot-out today for the guys that drove to the track, it was on for young and old to claim the Number one spot, bragging rights and of course the King of the Street trophy - in both Aspirated and Forced Induction classes. As the number of cars left dwindled, just one man was left standing in the Naturally Aspirated bracket, and that man was Louis Younis, who drove his tough LX Torana sedan down the Hume to Coota before laying down more passes than anyone and performing some big burnouts in the process. In the Forced Induction group, the Trophy was handed over to Louie Katsiaris, who cruised and raced his XE Falcon into the top spot. Congrats guys, you are the 2024 Coota 400 Kings of the Street! Friday culminated in a Meet and Greet Show and Shine under lights at Fisher Park in Cootamundra where quite a few racers had their cars on display for the locals to come out and get up close and personal with both the racers and the cars. It was a great way to finish Day Two and I’m sure the hundreds of locals who came for a look appreciated the effort made by all involved. For me, it was back to the room to recharge camera batteries, clean the gear and relax a little before a big Day 3!
Like the previous two days, Saturday morning saw Cootamundra bathed in sunshine – not a cloud in sight! Chris mixed things up a little for racing today. There was no timing system or lights in place to allow the racers to go head-to-head with their mates in a big round of grudge racing. Chris himself flagged the cars off the line, hoping to get everyone as many runs as they wanted to round out what was a monstrous event. There’s no doubt the Coota400 is about getting the chance to race your car against anyone and everyone, but for many, it’s also a big social get together where once the racing is done for the day, BBQ’s are fired up at Motels and Camp grounds or there’s mass gatherings in any of the towns drinking holes, where everyone get sit around and enjoy each other’s company. The airstrip now had an extra layer of rubber added to it after three big days of burnouts, hard launches and close racing. Whilst Chris is the figurehead of the event, his hard-working team and event sponsors need to take a bow! Great works guys. You’ve made a bunch of racers happy…
Australia’s Street Car Community!
In a world where new car manufacturers frown upon chrome accents on cars, this guy goes rogue!
As if cruising around in a rare ’59 Olson Grumman Van wasn’t enough of an attention grabber, the owner decided to take full advantage of the allaluminium body and have it polished to a chrome-like finish. Sure, passing motorists may not like the shine and glare coming at them, but there’s no denying just how cool this thing is. With no side windows, that’s a whole lot of work to get the shine happening and of course, then to maintain it.
Powering the shiny Van is a cammed 6-litre LQ9 LS backed by a 4L80E trans, providing more than enough mumbo to get this thing moving at a rapid rate.
...the
owner decided to take full advantage of the all-aluminium body and have it polished to a chrome-like finish.
That shiny body has been mounted to a custom chassis fitted with Airride on all four corners to get that polished body slammed over the 24-inch polished (of course!) Alcoa wheels wrapped in huge 305/35/24 tyres – the rear copping duals. Powering the shiny Van is a cammed 6-litre LQ9 LS backed by a 4L80E trans, providing more than enough mumbo to get this thing moving at a rapid rate. Inside is pretty basic with lots of polished checker plate, a polished alloy dash, two gauges and a pair of seats. Simple but effective. This is Dare to be Different at its best…
XY Falcons are like SL/R type Torana’s, you really have to do something different to get noticed. We’ve seen plenty of replicas over the years, but nine times of out ten, they come out looking like a faithfully restored GT – at least on the outside. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Driveline wise, now that’s a different story. Serg obviously didn’t want to blend into the crowd with his Falcon, and after dropping the roller off to the crew at Southern Rod & Custom, he knew they would deliver something special.
Southern Rod & Custom are well-known for creating one-off custom builds and Serg’s XY was to be no different. Stripped down to its bare bones, The boys set about modifying the Falcon’s floor by adding a rear chassis section to cater for the narrow 9-inch (with 35-spline axles, a Strange centre and full floaters) along with a four-link and coils over and a big pair of 20x12-inch Simmons. Up front, the familiar Falcon strut front end was ripped from its home and replaced with an Independent front end complete with rack and pinion steering, tube arms and coil-overs. With the bulk of that front end gone, the boys smoothed out the engine bay, relieving the inner guards of those ugly strut towers and making plenty of room for the engine that was going to fill the space.
We’ve seen so many GT ‘fakers’ built over the years and they all tend to look the same. Then along comes Serg Derose’s Southern Rod & Custom-built version and bucks that tradition…
Body wise, the Falcon retains its factory styling, though the gaps are much better and the panels have never been straighter – as you’d expect from a team of car crafters well versed on building high-end show cars. The sheet metal work continued inside where the new enlarged wheel tubs (and surrounding areas) were sealed in place. After the SRC panel guys were satisfied the Falcon couldn’t get any better, it was time for the all-important colour. And what a colour! Even though it’s painted in the familiar GT theme, when was the last time you saw a GT painted
in a green as bright as this? Yeah, thought so. The interior also keeps in tune with the GT specifications, but has been expertly stitched up in leather by Option Auto Interiors. The seats have been reshaped to make them much more-comfy (after all, this is a genuine street car!), the console has been reworked to accept the aftermarket shifter and the large factory steering wheel has been put in the spares box in favour of a smaller MOMO item. Interestingly, the door trim style has been replicated in the boot area to great effect.
Serg obviously didn’t want to blend into the crowd with his Falcon, and after dropping the roller off to the crew at Southern Rod & Custom, he knew they would deliver something special.
Under the Shaker sits a highly detailed, black and black Cleveland pieced together by Pavtek. Sporting no less than 393-cubes and a bunch more ponies than the factory ever offered, this engine package performs just as good as it looks – probably better! The power is sent through a purpose-built C10 by Burko Transmissions before reaching that new and improved rear end. Built Ford Tough? You’d better believe it.
OWNER: SERG DEROSE
VEHICLE: XY FALCON
ENGINE: 393CI CLEVELAND
TRANS: MODIFIED C10 AUTO
REAR END: NARROWED 9-INCH, STRANGE CENTRE AND FULL FLOATERS, 35-SPLINE AXLES, WHEEL TUBS, COIL-OVERS,FOUR-LINK
COLOUR: CUSTOM SRC MIX - GRINCH SNOT
WHEELS: 20X8 / 20X12 SIMMONS
THANKS TO: SOUTHERN ROD & CUSTOM - ENTIRE BUILD. PAVTEK PERFORMANCEENGINE. BURKO TRANSMISSIONS - TRANS. COMPETITION DIFFS - 9-INCH. OPTION AUTO INTERIORS - RETRIM. CHASSISWORKS AUSTRALIA / UNITED SPEED SHOP - CHASSIS.
Even though it’s painted in the familiar GT theme, when was the last time you saw a GT painted in a green as bright as this? Yeah, thought so.
The Grinch, as the Falcon has been named, made its debut at the recent MotorEx and despite being a colour not normally associated with XY Falcons, was very well received by the adoring crowd. If the whole ‘dare to be different’ thing is for you, this Falcon will suit you just fine…
The Phantoms Rod & Custom Club recently held their first club show in Hall, ACT attracting a bunch of cool cars and bikes to the historic village.
I try to get to as many events as I can, and a quick trip to the western side of Canberra, to the small village of Hall, saw us check out the Phantoms Rod & Custom Picnic, held on the grounds of the Hall Polo Club. As we rolled into the grassy carpark, the sounds of the live band filled the air, setting up a great atmosphere for all to enjoy.
It was great to see so many cars on display, supporting the club in their first efforts at running this event. In amongst the 150 or so cars on show was everything from Steve’s cool Rat Rod Morris Ute featured last issue, to a bunch of slick hot rods, customs, tough street cars, resto’s and even some oddities like the Falcon-six powered Mercedes Benz! I’ll definitely be back to this show next year, so keep an eye on our regular event listings for next year’s date…
Every Father wants their son to follow in the footsteps, and Colin McQuinn did just that by grabbing himself a ’69 VF Hardtop, just like his Father had.
It’s amazing how things stick in a kid’s mind. Back in the day, his Father traded the family AP5 Valiant wagon in on a 318-powered VIP. Upon arriving home, no doubt pleased as punch with his new V8 Valiant, Colin’s Dad’s grin didn’t last long when his wife reminded him in no uncertain terms that the family consisted of 5 children and the new car was nowhere near suitable. Two weeks later, the VIP was gone from the family driveway, (replaced by a 318 Regal Wagon), but in that short time, a much younger Colin formed a longing for the car. So much so, that when the opportunity presented itself to purchase a VF Hardtop, Colin whipped out his wallet and made it his, obviously remembering just how happy his Father was with the VIP. Colin bought the Valiant from WA after finding it online. It was advertised as being a “90% finished project” but when it arrived, Colin couldn’t help but feel like he’d been ripped off. “It was as rough as anything you would ever see from 200 metres. I should have binned it then, but being pig-headed and not one to admit O had stuffed up, we got it to Exotic Kustoms for evaluation,” Colin recalled. The news got worse when the shell was sand blasted. It was placed on a rotisserie in preparation to have every panel replaced – new floors, quarters, half of the roof, every panel needed to be replaced or faced major metal working to get them right. With the new floors in place, the four-linked rear end was then added.
Back on the ground, it was time to think about the driveline. With too many options, Colin sought the advice from Elko Performance, where Brad and Paul were happy to help out. Offering advice on different combos and the necessary components needed to make it all happen, Colin decided to add some late model technology and ordered in a 426-cube all-alloy Gen 3 Hemi. This engine is one of 200 built by Arrow Racing for Mopar USA and features a 102mm throttle body, custom headers that flow into a three-inch Elkofabricated stainless exhaust system and tough internals throughout. The engine made 650hp aspirated with 575ft lbs of torque at 6500rpm. And it not only goes hard, it looks awesome, with the smooth alloy rocker covers and relocated coil-packs giving the new-school engine that oh-so-cool old-school twin-plug Hemi look. The highly detailed Hemi sits in a smoothed engine bay that highlights the 426 like a diamond ring in its box. The engine is mated to a TCI-spec Torqueflite 727 with 3500rpm converter. The rear end sees a narrowed 9-inch with 3.5-gears, full floaters and Skyline discs with an electric hand brake. All smooth and all detailed! The wheels of choice are 18-inch West Coast Intro’s – 8’s up front and 12’s where the power meets the blacktop. The factory front end now has an Elko manual steering rack, Valiant Spares billet hubs and 330mm big brake kit, with the booster being mounted under the dash.
And it not only goes hard, it looks awesome, with the smooth alloy rocker covers and relocated coil-packs giving the new-school engine that oh-so-cool old-school twin-plug Hemi look.
Inside, the bright red interior is the handiwork of Shannon’s Motor Trimming with the leather covering the XR6 Falcon Ute bucket seats and reshaped rear seat giving a modern twist to a factory style interior. There’s plush red carpet under foot, chrome accents on the dash and door trims and a custom console featuring the stereo head unit. A billet steering wheels tops the column and sits in front of the factory issue gauge panel. In stark contrast to the interior, the reworked body has been coated in a
silky-smooth coat of a custom mix Silver by Exotic Kustoms, but not before some mods were made. These included extending the side skirts, frenching the front and rear bars, widening the front guards to allow the bigger offset wheels while still retaining the factory shape and the removal of the door handles, with custom buttons added to the tops of the doors. Like the engine bay, the body is as smooth as a used car salesman with no badges or mouldings to take away from the hardtop’s cool lines.
OWNER: COLIN MCQUINN
VEHICLE: 1969 VF VALIANT hardtop
ENGINE: ARROW RACING MOPAR USA 426CI ALL ALLOY GEN 3 HEMI, HALTECH ECU, INDY ALLOY ROCKER COVERS, REMOTE COIL PACKS, 102MM THROTTLE BODY, CUSTOM TRI-Y HEADERS, ELKO PERFORMANCE 3-INCH STAINLESS EXHAUST, RACE ALUMINIUM RADIATOR WITH TWIN-THERMOS
POWER: 650HP / 535 FT LBS @6500RPM
TRANS: TCI TORQUEFLITE, 3500RPM CONVERTER, SHIFT KIT
REAR END: NARROWED 9-INCH, 31-SPLINE AXLES, MCDONALD BROS FOUR-LINK, FULL FLOATER HUBS, 3.5-GEARS, 1350 UNIS, SKYLINE DISCS AND CALIPERS, ELECTRIC HAND BRAKE
WHEELS: 18X8 / 18X12 INTRO WEST COAST
COLOUR: CUSTOM MIX SILVER BY EXOTIC KUSTOMS
THANKS TO: EXOTIC KUSTOMS – BODY AND PAINT. ELKO PERFORMANCE – HELP WITH ENTIRE BUILD AND PARTS. PEDDERS MORNINGTON – SUSPENSION. SHANNON’S MOTOR TRIMMING – INTERIOR RETRIM. BRIGHT SPARKS AUTO ELECTRICS – ALL WIRING. DAD FOR THE INSPIRATION!
In the twelve years it took to build the Coupe, it spent plenty of time between Elko Performance and Exotic Kustoms and both business went all in to make sure Colin got the car he had always wanted. Colin wanted to offer up a special thanks to Brad at Elko for keeping the project on track, even when Colin, at times, wanted to park it! The Valiant was never intended to be a show car, but with the number one Mopar event in Australia (Chryslers on the Murray) fast approaching, and with Elko being a long-time supporter, the decision was made to unveil the VF in Wodonga. Finished just days before the event, all
the hard work was forgotten when the covers were removed in front of an appreciative crowd. To make the event even better, Colin not only scored a spot in the Australian Top 5 but also scored Car of the Show! Next stop was Meguiar’s MotorEx in Melbourne where in amongst some very fancy competition, Colin once again found himself presented with an award, this time Top Custom in the Street Elite Showcase. Not bad for a car built to drive! For Colin, its now all about getting to use that 650hp Hemi every chance he gets. Something tells me, he’ll be finding plenty of time to jump behind the wheel…
There’s not much you can do about the weather. When you’re running an event outdoors, such as drag racing, there’s no such thing as being 100% sure you’re going to get great weather. Such was the case for the 2024 Tuff Mounts Holden Drag Nationals, held at Sunset Strip in Mildura. Despite huge efforts from the Sunraysia Drag Racing Club who did their absolute best to get racing happening on the Saturday, the hard decision was made to forget about Saturday and concentrate on making it all happen on the Sunday. Thankfully, the weather was kinder and the racers got the opportunity to lay down some passes.
After a rain-soaked Saturday put paid to any action, it was a different story the next day.
From 9am, around 100 racers were ready to take on the tree, with three qualifying rounds happening quickly so that the finals could be run and ultimately won. Around 500 spectators attended the event, including some from New Zealand and London, witnessing some of the most hard-fought racing seen at the Holden Nationals to date. Having $18000 in prize money and vouchers on the line no doubt contributed to the racers giving it their all!
There’s not much you can do about the weather. When you’re running an event outdoors, such as drag racing, there’s no such thing as being 100% sure you’re going to get great weather.
Pulsar Turbo - Boosted Boss Class
Winner: Tony Lamanna
Runner up: Luke Graham
Proport CNC - Iron Lion Class
Winner: Scott Rouhan
Runner up: Chris Tatchell
Hurricane Automotive- Street Brawler Class
Winner: Marcus Hamilton
Runner up: Jim Spiers
First Choice Bollards 275 G.O.A.T Class
Winner: Scott Foreman
Runner Up: David Tierney
Bendigo Undercar - Aspirated Assassins
Winner : Benny Phillips
Runner up: Mathew Gay
Pro Street Radials 235 Tyre Class
Winner: Tom Wright
Runner up: Brendon Fooks
Big Wheels - Yeah The Girls Class
Winner: Madi SPARROW
Runner Up: Claudia Langley
GJ Drivelines - Outlaw Class
Winner: Danny Quilty
Runner Up: Tim Rhone
Powerplus Racefuel- Fastest on Property
Winner: Scott Foreman
Runner up: Dave Tierney
Events like this don’t happen without the dedication of a bunch of people and Todd would like to thank Dale and Aaron for their ongoing support; the valued sponsors who continue to be a part of this event year after year; and the entrants that came from near and far and put on a show for the spectators who stayed on for the racing on Sunday after the rain spoiled the proceedings on day one. Last but not least, his wife Saara and his kids for helping out during the event and for understanding the hours needing to be spent leading up to the event! Big thanks to for the merchandising staff who were kept busy selling all kinds of cool gear under trying conditions. All in all, the 2024 Holden Drag Nationals was an amazing event. Bring on 2025!
Despite huge efforts from the Sunraysia Drag Racing Club who did their absolute best to get racing happening on the Saturday, the hard decision was made to forget about Saturday and concentrate on making it all happen on the Sunday.
You never know what you’ll find at a small regional show!
Check out this tough VS Ute owned by Maison Rumble. Looking very subtle in its Porsche Kriede colour, it was the single carb engine that first grabbed my attention and dragged me in for a closer look. That 750cfm Quick Fuel methanol carb feeds lots of high-octane fuel from the tray mounted fuel cell through the cammed LS1 via the Edelbrock Super Victor intake manifold, with the new-found grunt sent rearward through a built Turbo 400 auto before reaching the four-linked, narrowed 9-inch diff that is suspended in the tubbed rear end via a pair of coil overs, with a pair of 15x15 Weld Alumastars hanging off each side.
Looking very subtle in its Porsche Kriede colour, it was the single carb engine that first grabbed my attention and dragged me in for a closer look.
of Kirkey race seats with harness belts now sitting in their place. A much more impressive shifter takes up the space where the factory console and mundane shifter once sat. Sitting behind the MOMO steering wheel sits a factory VS dash with a digital dash replacing the factory dials. The uncluttered look continues across the dash with just a row of necessary dials added to keep everything operational. It’s obvious that Maison built this car to enjoy, and by that, I mean frying the tyres at burnout comps, including the recent Bathurst Autofest. Check out the cool pic from Setho’s Photography of the Ute in action!
OWNER: MAISON RUMBLE
VEHICLE: 1996 VS COMMODORE UTE
ENGINE: LS1, CAMMED, QUICK FUEL 750 METHANOL CARB, EDELBROCK SUPER VICTOR INTAKE
TRANS: BUILT TH400
REAR END: NARROWED 9-INCH, FOUR-LINK, STRANGE COIL-OVERS
COLOUR: PORSCHE KRIEDE
WHEELS: 20X8.5 WALKINSHAW & 15X15 WELD ALUMASTARS
THANKS TO: HAMR COATINGS FOR THE PAINT SUPPLIES. HARRY STOKES AT CBD AUTOMOTIVE FOR THE WIRING. MY PARENTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT!
Melbourne Show Grounds
B1 Exhibition Pavilion
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th August
10am to 6pm daily Buy your tickets online at vhra.com.au Admission Adults: $20.00 I U/18: Free
