VI Performance Magazine Vol1 Iss1

Page 1

VIPerformance.ca

PREMIERE ISSUE!

Volume 1 Issue 1 • SEPTEMBER 2011

E E R F

Vancouver Island’s Custom Culture Magazine


Home of the performance enthusiast!

Cherry Bomb R andy Douglas of Sooke, BC. was impressed when he heard we

wanted his gorgeous 1969 red convertible Camaro in a custom culture magazine. Someone should have told him that’s what we do , we showcase Vancouver Island’s stunning and awe-inspiring classic cars, like for example Randy’s ‘69 Red Camaro.

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a m r s o f r a rt e P P

Tires

25

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Looking under the cherry red hood with white racing stripes, we find spotless custom chrome & stainless plated 350, four speed manual transmission, a posi rear end with 373 gears that spin the rubber down the road. The interior is technical black, with console and wheel mounted gauges and a four-on the floor chrome shifter with the white cue-ball grip. She has a power convertible top along with many other extras. Randy had this car shipped from Hawaii about 7 years ago, and began a restoration that took several years to complete. This beautiful ride is looking for a new owner, so if you are interested, please go to the website for Randy’s contact info. By Kris Resche

CONTENT 2

Cherry Bomb

4

‘68 Buick Riviera

5

Fear & Loathing on Van Isle

6

‘39 Ford Standard Coupe

7

Building Understanding

8

A little Piece of Heaven

9

2012 Mustang

10 The Koolest Kat in Town 11

2012 Camaro

12

Roadmen Car Club

14

Rockabilly Clothing

15

Kings Without

16

Toyo Tuner

17

Shannon & Precious

18

Toyota Scion TC

19

Rebel Rod

20

Ford Probe Tuner

22

Fastest Dirt in Western Canada

CONTACT Office: 250-802-5652 Fax: 250-753-5653 1320 Townsite Road Nanaimo, BC V9S 1N1 viperformance@shaw.ca www.viperformance.ca Publisher: Mona-Lisa Carstensen Logo Design: Don MacKay Graphic Design: Mona-Lisa Carstensen and James Bennett Editors: Patrick Mulvaney, Gord MacKay and Alexis Carstensen Writers: Patrick Mulvaney, Benjamin Hunting, Angela Hovestad, Brittany Huisman, Oana Luca, Rebekah Norton, Kris Resche, Tyrel PST and DiscoQuinn Photography: Tinney Photo, Bill Sugden , Many Shades Photography , Gord MacKay and Cole Chalmers

From The Publisher VI Performance

Magazine

People often ask why I’m in this business and I have to say that the biggest influence has been my older brother. I grew up on a little hobby farm in Saanich, just outside of Victoria, BC. My older brother, Shawn Carstensen was a Chevy guy and was involved in drag racing in Victoria and occasionally the States. He and his friends would often be tuning their pride & joy at our little 2 acre parcel of land. I’m pretty sure I was very much a nuisance and always in the way of my brother and his friends, but nevertheless, I grew up in awe of the power and beauty of those machines. My brother had a Blue Chevy Malibu (see pictures below) and his friend, Richard had a Mustang. They frequently competed, yet they also helped tune each others’ cars in preparation for racing against each other. Although I heard much rivalry and derogatory comments amongst the brands of cars, especially Chevy versus Ford, I can honestly say I don’t prefer one brand over the other. I love most cars! I’ll never forget the day my brother was babysitting me while on one of the regular cruises to meet up with ‘the guys’ . He hung a hundred dollar bill from the rear view mirror and said, “If you can reach that bill when I

step on the gas and release the brake pedal, you can keep it”. I was up for the challenge! I crouched into my seat with my elbows bent in preparation to reach for the bill while the engine wailed in anticipation of release. The tires screamed as their skin melted to the pavement leaving me gasping for air while trying to see the bill through the ghastly smelling smoke. Then came the release which threw me back into the seat...I was pinned in my seat and hooked for life! I had never felt that kind of rush before and long to feel it ever since! In the end, I came out no richer then when I went in that beautiful beast, but man did I ever develop a grin and desire for more! One day, I’ll have my own car to restore and show off and maybe even get behind the wheel of my own powerful machine, but for now I’ll adore and share your wonderful machines with the readers of VI Performance Magazine and viewers of the VI Performance website and social networks! I am grateful to my family for their patience and support while I take on this endeavor and thankful for my advertisers for their support. It is this support that allows the magazine to be free and accessible to everyone! Sincerely, Mona-Lisa Carstensen

VI Performance Magazine is published monthly by Static Entertainment & Publishing. Articles do not necessarily reflect the official company policies or opinions. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without permission is prohibited. Although this is a free magazine, Subscriptions requested for direct delivery may incurr a handling & shipping fee which varies according to quantity and area of delivery.

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This 1968 Buick Riviera Gran Sport most certainly is a rare find, and even more scarce at the island car shows. This luxury muscle car is mainly all original, full of all kinds of factory upgrades, and nearly flawless interior. For owner Andrew Skinner this was an exciting find as he has always loved the B.O.P league. He plans to restore this already beautiful car to its original condition, including returning this classic to its genuine saddle brown paint color. This truly is a beautiful car just waiting to display its abilities in a modern world. Described as a smooth performer, this car was absolutely made to impress. Equipped with the GS suspension handling package, 3:42 posi trac differentials, 360 HP, 475 Ft. lbs. torque and only 108,000 original miles on this 430 4 barrel. With an estimated top speed of 125 miles per hour, and could reach 0-60 mph in 8 second. Some of the other authentic qualities, factory upgrades and neat components of this car include the upgraded bucket seats with higher quality vinyl, center console horse shoe shifter, power windows, and Frigidaire A/C. Also features genuine matting throughout the interior, authentic jack kit in trunk, and full size spare tire on original mount. Sleek push button hide away head lamps in the grill, are a neat component in these cars. This beautiful car sits on wide white wall tires with original rally rims, with just the right amount of chrome lining on the exterior of the car, and chrome air cleaner. This Riviera also has a painted hard top rather than the more popular vinyl top. The Riviera name first entered the Buick family in 1949 and would last up until 1999. The second generation Riviera was made in 1966 and would be produced until 1970, when third generation would be introduced. In this generation they were produced with a longer, wider, more curvaceous body style. Head lamps would remain hidden, except now they would pivot up into the grill when necessary. In 1967 the Riviera adopted a new bigger and better engine. (430 CI, 360HP, 475 FTLBS Torque) This adjustment represented a significant performance improvement, including a small fuel consumption adjustment, although these cars stayed thirsty for many years still to come. Sales slowed in this year as only 42,799 were sold. 1968 set a new sale record for the Riviera’s, selling 49,284. Small cosmetic changes were made to the exterior of the car, including front and rear loop type bumpers that wrapped the Riviera’s grill and tail lamps. Smoothly hidden wiper arms were also new. The interior changed from the earlier second generation models, now it shared its instrument panel with other Buicks. There were only small mechanical changes in 1968 such as the loss of the transmission pitch torque converter, unfortunately this change affects off the line start. 1969 rose above the 1968 sale record with 52,872 sold. With minor grill alterations and a few lamp modifications, the Riviera remained fairly similar from ‘68. 1970 was the last year of the second generation. Drastic changes were made, from body style to engine size and power. This was the start of the transformation into the third generation. Often times the Buick Riviera is compared to the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. Both of these similar cars have front wheel drive, where the Buick was the only one to remain rear wheel drive, in this division. What makes this full size muscle car more rare comparative to its siblings, is the amount of factory upgrades, one being the Gran Sport package. As well, approximately only 24% of ‘68 Riviera GS produced, had painted hard tops. As this is a rare car on its own, it is even rarer to see on Vancouver Island. Owner, Andrew Skinner, stated he has seen them around but never seen a ‘68 or ‘69 in any of the car shows, only the earlier modeled Riviera’s. You can look forward to seeing this ‘68 in future shows, as Andrew plans on restoring this beauty and showing it off! Brittany Huisman - Happy Days!

Fear & Loathing on Van Isle TVegas, his

isn’t I’m not Hunter S. Thompson and I’m def initely not on acid but I can’t say anything about my buddy Matty two tone and his amazing 1965 Buick Wildcat convertible. It may not be “The Shark”, HST’s red Impala that we all remember from Fear and Loathing, but Matty didn’t want an Impala, he wanted a Buick and a very rare one at that. Only 4,616 ever built. He assures me he is never going to sell it, ever. 8 years of production, 5 concept cars; and to think the Wildcat is basically just a Invicta on steroids! Gm tossed in a 325hp 401 cu in Nailhead V8 and slapped the name “Wildcat 445” on it.

Why?.. Because it put out 445 ft lbs of torque for plenty of get up and go. The interior is decked out with bucket seats, a center console, tach and trans shifter. They even kept the portholes on the front fenders until 1964, when they gave them the boot, and put some much needed chrome on there instead. I had to ask,”Matt, what is with the Fear and loathing theme buddy? It is everywhere on this car, it screams G o n z o ” W i t h o u t hesitation, he dove right into explanation: “It is Gonzo. That is why I got the car. Fly by the seat of your pants, no plans, roll with the flow, road trips, and partying. It was love at first sight. From the first t i m e I saw it, I said to myself that it would be mine within a month”. He didn’t lie! He owned the car by the end of the week by trading for some tattoo work.

does not work in a shop, Matt likes to call it; “Travelling gypsy style”. Just working out of his house, and where ever he can set up his gear. The colours of this car are definitely not stock, and sadly, neither is the engine. The interior though is absolutely amazing, as it’s from a 1991 caddy with all the power seats and windows. The car has also been lowered 5 inches. The black on red paint work gives it tons of character. This car has so much character, it explodes right out the windows. The vibe you get from it is amazing. From the head lights all the way down to the Ralph Steadman bat stickers on the far side of the rear wheel. Flying there forever, almost to remind you that this is bat country! By Tyrel PST

That’s right, he’s also a tattoo artist, he

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39

Ford

Standard For decades hot rodders shunned the

sad-eyed ‘37-’39 Fords, saying they would rather walk than be caught driving one of those less-than-popular models. Russ Atkins, a hot-rodder from Campbell River, Vancouver Island begged to differ. When a friend

showed up at a local Rod Run with a clean, rust-free, original ’39 Ford Standard, he had to have it. And when the coupe was in his hands, Russ turned to his friends at Legens Hot Rod Shop for the total transformation. The first order of business for the Legens shop was to modify the crossmembers and slide in a new ’57, 312, Ford Y-block attached to a four speed. Add it iona l work on the front chassis was a Superbell dropped axle, split wishbones with new spindles, brakes, shocks, panhard bar and steering. The rear was rejuvenated with a Ford 9-inch rear-end held in place by a Chassis Engineering leaf spring and shock kit. With the rolling gear sorted, Russ and the Legens

crew massaged out 60 plus years of use on the Ford’s body before spraying a fresh coat of ’39 Ford Gull Grey. Every piece of original trim was reconditioned and fitted back onto the body. A set of 16 and 18-inch Vintiques solids wheels finished the set-up. Legens finished off the interior with custom oneoff door panel trim, Taupe/ Lobster leather and suede combinations, cut-down original steering wheel and seat, and for the finale a Vintage Air A/C unit with a Custom Autosound and Pioneer sound system. A list of further modifications made to add power and elegance to Russ’ ride are longer than your right arm and leg combined. But Russ has had it on the road for two years now and it still brings out a broad smile to anyone within the vicinity every time the key is turned. Russ hopes to bring the car out on some organized runs with other Hot Rods, along with the occasional late night hamburger cruise....so if you see a cherry ’39 Ford Standard rolling down the road late one night, honk your horn and give a wave to thank Russ Atkins for keeping the dream alive. By Kris Resche

Being a kid

is such a short part of your life. Being a teenager is just as short. Each year brings new faces, and most importantly, new ears. For 17 years Doug Oakley has brought a message. Safety is a term that many put in the backs of their minds. A consideration for sure, but secondary for most. Without a message, there are many children, teenagers, and eventually young adults who may forget altogether to consider the consequences. There is the potential for every situation to go awry. It’s not a message that things will go wrong, but rather to let you know that they may. Come prepared, and control your risks. When I was in high school, there were a couple of incidences where students were lost to crashes relating to excessive speeds on public roads. Everyone has a story from their high school days, someone they knew, or someone in their class, or on their team, that lost their lives in a car accident at a young age. Automotive related incidents are the leading cause of death in young adults. A young adult is 6 times more likely to die in a car crash than all other types of incidents combined.

Parades, girl guides, Boy Scouts, Sea & Air Cadets, and Summer Camps have had the luck of seeing the drag cars since 1994. Not limited to just a message of road safety, the Saanich Police sponsored drag racing team continues to run strong with major sponsorships from McDonalds, Country Grocer, 5252 Motorsports, EPD, Victoria Automatic Transmissions, Bardahl Oil, Rear end Specialties and Alfa Autbody. Doug, Anglea, and Ryan Oakley, along with a major hand from Andy Bates and fellow officer Kevin bates, continuously keep the ‘79 Pontiac LeMans, and ‘49 Fiat Altered drag car, working well for the racing events during the year. These efforts also keep the cars looking great when moving from school to school. The cars gather the attention of the kids, and get them excited to hear what the officers have to say. That’s not

the only purpose they have provided. Shop students themselves originally built, maintained and improved the 79 LeMans. A great exercise to learn about the design, construction, and operations of a car, these efforts led to the creation of the “stu-

dents’ class” during the Friday night drags, helping take racing off the streets and bringing them to a measured and controlled environment. Although the program has faced its challenges over the years, it continues to grow and improve, and continues to work to inform the community with whatever message it may bring at the time. The ‘79 LeMans Coupe, features a modified 350 engine with upgraded pistons and rods, a 3 speed auto transmission with a 2500 stall converter. 4.56 gears make up the posi-differential while the car

uses a coil spring/air bag combination to combat chassis twist during launch. A 6 point cage, rear mounted battery and fuel cell are completed with a rear mounted kill switch. Weight reduction has been a significant part of the build. Removed front tubs, smaller alternator, electric driven water pump, stripped interior and plexiglass windows help attain this goal. Pushing roughly 350hp to the rear wheels and running around 12.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile, it’s no match to their “Island Heat” ‘49 Fiat Altered Drag rail with its’ 8.24 second personal best. 900hp is blown out of the 496 block, driven down through a 2 speed autoglide. Doug launches the car using a trans brake release while eye balling 3500rpm on the tachometer. Of course, both cars feature fully working red and blue light bars! ~DiscoQuinn Speed Hero! www.speedhero.wordpress.com Corolla Parts Exchange

WHEEL ALIGNMENTS FOR HOTRODS, CLASSICS...

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A Little Piece of Heaven L

Now in Ron Hovestad’s possession, it became a goal to restore this beauty to near factory condition. - Not so simple. Many ooking at this little charmer reflect- hours of painstaking labour went into the ing sun rays off its winter blue coat, I imagine cruising the Island under warm, summer-blue skies and feeling like I’m in heaven. So, the name, “Blue Heaven” couldn’t be more suitable for this little gem!

meticulous craftsmanship involved in putting such a classic together. Some things even surpass factory standards such as the notable basecoat and clear coat paint system that gives her a more durable glossy Although this Mustang Grande’s release finish. Laser straight panels and eye catchwas in ‘69, Ron first met Blue Heaven in the ing chrome give this Mustang a new look 1980s when he was the body man for Robert Waring, her original owner, in Richmond BC. He worked on this Mustang alongside two other Mustangs, a yellow ’69 Shelby GT350 and an Indian Fire ’69 GT, for four years until he moved to Nanaimo. Approximately two years ago, Waring decided to sell the that compliments the smell of factory fresh Mustangs, and Ron leapt at the opportunity. upholstery as if she just rolled out of production. The majority of the light blue Corinthian upholstery with hopsack pattered cloth insert in the seats has remained in place along with the

STEVE MARSHALL

original glass for the windshield and the Fomoco headlights. There’s nary a dent in the wood grain three spoke “rim blow” steering wheel, or in the highlights of the dash, door panels and centre console. Its engine, the

351 cubic inch V8 equipped with a 2 barrel carburetor has been coupled with an FMX automatic transmission and a 2.75: 1 ratio 9” rear axle – all in as mint a condition as the rest of her, from the wide oval tires to the black vinyl roof (which are also of original factory material). Nowadays, Blue Heaven stays pristine, hoisted up high on her pedestal in the garage as if it were Lord, or shall I say, Lady of all hot rods! Blue Heaven earned her high esteem when she won first place at her very first Mustang car show entered on Vancouver Island, in the category for Best ’65-’73 Mustang. With so many Mustangs to choose from in a variety of colors and shades, none of them had the special tint Blue Heaven portrayed in the eyes of her beholders. A little piece of heaven is what you can expect with this one of a kind machine.

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2012 automatic transmission. When matched with the more aggressive gearing that comes with the optional Performance package, all of that thrust allows the V6 Mustang to hit 60-mph in 5.6 seconds. Not bad for a car that sees 31-mpg on the highway.

MUSTANG

M uscle car lovers have arguably entered into a second Golden Age

over the past five years, thanks in large part to vehicles like the 2012 Ford Mustang. Bearing an aerodynamic re-interpretation of the original 1960s-era Mustang’s good looks, and offering several different drivetrain choices, the new Mustang is an excellent choice for anyone looking to relive the original heyday of the pony car. The 2012 Ford Mustang can be had in both coupe and convertible editions, and each starts out with a 3.7-liter V6 as standard equipment. Why mention a V6 Mustang in a performance-oriented magazine? It’s simple – the Ford’s six-banger pushes out an impressive 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque and comes with either a six-speed manual or six-speed

That being said, you probably didn’t start reading this article to find out just how fuel efficient the Ford Mustang’s entry-level engine was, did you? No, you were probably more interested in the 5.0-liter V8 sitting under the hood of the 2012 Ford Mustang GT, a venerable mill that ties in with the vehicle’s “five-point-oh” tradition. When it comes to output, however, the new 5.0 simply destroys its predecessor with the 412 horses and 390 lb-ft of twist that it generates right out of the box. Offering the same transmission options as the V6 model, the Mustang GT is a veritable land rocket. Push the loud pedal all the way to the floor from a standing start, and the coupe can reach 60-mph in just a tick under five seconds. Keep the throttle pinned and the quarter mile disappears in 12.9 seconds with a trap speed of around 111-mph.

and graphics, the Boss 302 stands apart from other versions of the Mustang thanks to a race-oriented camshaft profile and an improved intake design that allows the 5.0 engine to pump out 444 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. A short-throw six-speed manual transmission feeds that power to the vehicle’s standard 3.73 rear axle gears, and the Boss 302 also offers a radically re-tuned suspension system that allows it to devour road course corners with ease. The vehicle’s quad exhaust system, adjustable shock absorbers, three steering configurations, Brembo brakes and the unique ability to access a specially-tuned segment of the vehicle’s ECU controller for extra power and a launch control system (by way of a dealer-programmed key) round out the Boss 302’s unique set of adrenaline-inducing attributes. These three distinct flavors of the 2012 Ford Mustang prove that there has never been a better time than the present to be in the mood for brand new, nostalgia-tinged muscle.

Looking for something a little wilder than the already-wooly Mustang GT? The 2012 model year brings with it a new special edition of the Ford muscle car, the Ford Mustang Boss 302. The Boss 302 is a limited production version of the coupe that has been dramatically revamped in order to transform the standard Mustang GT into a legitimate track-day warrior. By Benjamin Hunting In addition to its stylish body work www.benjaminhunting.com

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BZZT Tattoo’s:

The Koolest Kat inTown When I think

RGLAS IBE

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F

“home tattoo shop”, I don’t necessarily think, clean, cozy, stylish and hip but the last time I got a tattoo out of someone’s home I was 18, he was a scratcher and the tattoo gun was made from some sort of small motor, a pen casing and a sewing needle. This time EXTREME LTD.

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around I was going to put some thought into things and so far I was pleasantly surprised.

myself. After the needle breaks the skin it’s too late to turn back but quite honestly he makes it easy. His intelligent conversation, encouragement through the hard parts, loud music and relaxed atmosphere make you want to tattoo every inch of your body in one sitting. His artwork and freehand talent are beyond anything I’ve seen in my recent years and overall he’s a cool dude to hang out with. Would you like to see my derby kitten?

BZZT Tattoo’s, located in Nanaimo, was recommended by a good friend of mine. He’d been to see Nathan on several occasions and claimed he was one of the best he’s been too. In my experience (other than the scratcher) all of the tattoo artists I’d been to see were the best I’d ever been to, until of course I see the next artist and realize there is someone better than the last. I was willing to give Nathan a shot, just as long as my friends went first. The scene was relaxed. An iPod pumped out various types of music from Sinatra to Reverend Horton Heat. Nat ha n’s come as you are attitude, gift of the gab and witticisms galore welcome even the oddest of clients and is definitely a part of the experience. After introductions, a lot of laughter, some talk of what’s to come, thoughts on colour and some more laughter it’s time to bring on the pain and let the fun begin. The first thing I noticed was his need for sterility. Rubber gloves donned, equipment surgically packaged and spray bottles with various cleaners were neatly placed on an equally sterile tray. It’s very clear at this point that Nathan takes what he does very seriously. I like a serious artist. “I’ll go last”, I piped up. I wanted to see how things were going to pan out with the first three before taking the plunged

2012

Camaro It’s impossible to discuss modern mus-

cle cars without mentioning the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro. Adopting a hardedged, futuristic interpretation of the styling found on the popular 1969 Camaro, the 2012 edition of Chevy’s performance coupe (also available as a

After being witness to three tattoos previous I now have my very own. Each of us added variations of the original so we weren’t getting identical tattoos (mine has Bettie Paige bangs). As well, Nathan has started a very large oversized coverup on my leg (freehand of course). I can’t imagine going to anyone else for further tattoo art and would highly re c ommend BZZT Tattoos to ever yone, i ncluding my Mother. He’s professional, clean and takes pride in his work. He’s the koolest kat I know. If you don’t believe me check out his Facebook page or, better yet, go see him play in his rockabilly band “Meat Whistle Loogy”.

convertible) provides access to hooligan-levels of horsepower without asking drivers to sacrifice safety or any of the conveniences that they have come to expect from post-millennial cars. Like its Blue Oval rival, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro begins with a fire-breathing V6 engine under the hood. Punching out 312 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, the Camaro V6 provides substan-

True muscle car connoisseurs, however, will almost certainly gravitate towards the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS. There’s no denying the appeal of a 6.2-liter V8 engine that snarls to life with 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque waiting under the go-pedal. Match that with either one of the six-speed transmission options found with the V6 Camaro, and the Camaro SS rips off quarter mile passes of 13.1 seconds @ 111-mph. On the street, the Camaro SS offers plenty of stoplight-to-stoplight fun thanks to its sub-five second 0-60-mph time.

dealerships in the early part of next year. A six-speed manual transmission is par for the course with the Camaro ZL1 (with the option of an automatic), as is a magnetically-controlled adjustable suspension system, a dual mode exhaust, a ground effects package that is designed to help the coupe stick tight to the tarmac and Brembo brakes that provide six calipers of stopping power up front and four calipers in the rear.

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro is a muscle car that is in touch with its roots, but one The Chevrolet Camaro SS also looks the which also offers the kind of handling, part, enhancing the inherent menace of stability and comfort that only updated the standard Camaro design through the features such as an judicious applicaindependent-rear tion of special trim suspension and and aero bits as well a strengthened, as the provision of computer-designed upgraded wheels chassis can offer. wrapped in high performance rubber. This merging of the old with the new If you feel the need to light up the tires sheet metal that evokes the original Cathat much faster, then Chevrolet has just maro and technology that would have what you are looking for with the new- been beyond exotic on a domestic model for-2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Borrow- produced in the 1960s – is a huge part ing the supercharged LS-A V8 that is typi- of what makes the Camaro, Camaro SS cally found nestled between the front and Camaro ZL1 such appealing options. fenders of the Cadillac CT-S, the Camaro ZL1 is slated to provide at least 550 horseBy Benjamin Hunting power and 500 lb-ft of torque when it hits

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By Rebekah Norton

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tial thrills despite lacking the V8 drivetrain of a traditional muscle car. This 3.6-liter, direct-injection engine teams up with the choice of either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission in order to deliver 0-60-mph runs in the neighborhood of 5.7 seconds.

DEALER #30960

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The Roadmen

have been a fixture of the Washington highways since 2005; tearing down the road in their “Kustom Kulture” rides, flying their 50’s hot rod lifestyle high and most importantly showing the modern world why it is still the old school car that turns the most heads.

The image of The Roadmen Car Club

attracted so many hot rod owners and enthusiasts in Washington, the boys quickly grew in numbers from six regular members to the now booming 50 plus; each with a story on how they got into the scene and each with another car more interesting than the last. With the club quickly growing in Washington, the American members were looking at pushing forward into uncharted Roadmen land and that direction was north. In 2008, the Washington Chapter of the club was attending a party in Mill Bay, a small town approximately 40 kilometres

north of Victoria, when they met Dan Ellis, the now Roadmen President of Canada and got to talking. The Washington Chapter liked what they saw in Dan and

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it met the interest of expanding north of the border for the Americans. A deal was struck and since that moment forward Dan took the reins of the Canadian throne and started forming chapters all over the British Columbia. The Roadmen now have home roots in Surrey, Vancouver, Chilliwack, Ladysmith, Nanaimo & Victoria now and keep the core of the club extremely traditional. For many the most appealing feature of the club is the core belief that they are on the road and in t h e club solely to enjoy building, owning and driving their dream cars. They do not require any of their members to drive a pristine, flawless work of art to be in their club. In fact shiny, mint restoration projects like Chevelle’s or Mustang’s are not welcome in this club, instead these guys like to keep it imperfect and raw. The idea of a priceless car that only leaves the heated garage it resides in to drive 20 kilometers on a Sunday morning is something this club is not interested in; it

simply never has been and never will be. Roadmen pride themselves on being strictly pre-1963 traditional cars, with an emphasis on the rougher side of the collector car scene. The Roadmen are a family club, oriented around trust and a mutual love and respect for the old school car scene. The cars they drive are anything from 1927 Rat Rods with dark matte paint, bare bones designs and organ rumbling exposed engines to 1953 Ford’s with gleaming blue paint and straight pipe exhaust so loud your Granny down the block has to turn her hearing aide volume down. With numbers rapidly growing and no signs of letting up, Dan Ellis, Canadian Roadmen President, has to keep a tight guard on exactly who they let into their club. Although they are based around having a good time and sharing a love for traditional cars, they will not just permit anyone who looks the part to wear their club’s insignia; a cartoon man wearing an oversized hat and an old style suit smoking a cigar with a wrench in his suit pocket. As Dan tells me, “Everybody wants to join to get the shirt with the dude but were really strict about who we get”, and The Roadmen sum that up to trust. By keeping it smaller in size and extremely tight knit, the club will remain like a family and no trusts or en-

deavours will be broken. Even as Dan and I spoke, three people inquired into how to become a member, truly showing the allure their interesting and alternative club offers to many car enthusiasts at their shows. I later spent a few minutes talking with Jim of Jimmy James Hot Rod Shop of Chilliwack about his 1931 Ford five window Coupe. Jim is the Chilliwack President of The Roadmen Car Club and like all members is proud of it. His Ford was the loudest car I heard at the show and it came from a monster 1954 331 Hemi five speed fully exposed engine. The beastly car sits on a solid Pete & Jake frame with old school rims and tires. The car was built out of Jimmy James Hot Rod Shop in Chilliwack, by none other than Jim himself. The family orientation of the club especially shines through in Dwayne Carson, Vice President of Vancouver Island and his two sons, Colton and Connor. Dwayne having collector and custom cars of his own in the double digits has now started the process of passing it down to his two sons. Colton, the elder of the two is 17 years old and embodies the classic Roadmen image; Roadmen C.C shirt, dark Ray Ban sunglasses and vast knowledge of anything with a motor. Colton’s younger brother Connor is only 15 and doesn’t have a driver’s license yet but his father’s 1947 Ford is just waiting for him to pass the test and join the ranks of his extended car club family. Through stories, conversations, facts and fun these car club fixtures are proving their individuality in a big way; through their mind blowing vehicles and their family style union, The Roadmen of Canada are here to stay. You can look for their winding convoy cruising down the highway as they continue to grow or you can look them up on their website at www.roadmencarclub.com and be sure to pick up a Roadmen Support T-Shirt to show your support for the club at any of their shows. The road will never end for The Roadmen Car Club as they push on through new territory and expand their undying passion for the traditional car lifestyle.

Model: Cassandra Van Mierlo Age: 22 Sign: Sagitarius Occupation: Sales Associate/Model Hometown: Zeballos/Tahsis, B.C. Current City: Victoria B.C Favorite Tunes: Oldies, rock & all

types of Metal

Favorite Vehicle: 1970 Chevelle SS Must Haves in Life: Fun, music, friends and the ablitiy to laugh at yourself

Contact For Paid Model Work: cvanmierlo@hotmail.com or http://www.modelmayhem.com/ cassandravanmierlo

By Patrick Mulvaney

13


Car Tunes

Kings Without

Mall, the shop was opened a year ago, and brings into our daily lives the colour and glamour of the good old days. In the beginning, the shop featured only mens assortments., But shortly after, due to the increased number of requests, a women’s line was also released. Rockabilly Clothing embraces the hot rod culture, and all its’ appeal to the men and women who are interested in the pin up, vintage, and retro style. The shop provides affordable articles of clothing that come from original sources For the gals, Rockabilly fashion offers frilly dresses, flowing or fitted pencil skirts that combine strong colors, dots

Rockabillys’ Clothing is proud to be involved throughout the year with Roller Derby Nanaimo, Harbour City Rollers, and the Port Alberni Sun Fest.

In a world where fashion trends

seem to be ever changing, there is a place where the 1950’s fashion era seems to be at home. Rockabillys’ Clothing is the store that promotes, as the owner Reg Wolter declares, clothing and accessories that have a style loosely based after the 50`s era of “Pin up and old school Hot Rods”. Located in Duncan

Logon their website at www.rockabillys.ca, or visit them at 134 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC By Oana Luca

and cute ribbons. The guys lineup brings shirts, boots and hats that can be worn for different occasions such as concerts, theme shows, special themes parties, drag races, roller derbies, and so on. Authenticity radiates from the moment you enter the store. It’s like entering through a door that lets you explore another world. Imagine yourself as an actress, or actor, that is part of a movie and is required to wear all kinds of outfits that offer voluptuous, stylish looks. To be able to buy and wear these kinds of outfits nowadays, is an inspiring thought.

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The passion and excitement for

music, and its world, has brought Kings Without to public attention, even from the beginning. Their debut year, 2006, was a busy one. Since then, they had over 400 concerts, traveling from Vancouver Island all the way to Montreal, rocking Canada from one coast to another. Neil Atkinson, along with Dean, his brother, and Todd Dunsmore created a trio that had big plans ahead. After a year, the band wanted to add more strength, so drummer Andrew Rollins joined them. Recently they added a new member to their team, Sean Drabitt, who is well known on jazz music scenes having played with all the Marsalis family, Betty Carter, Mark Turner and many others. Neil declares that Kings Without is a strong, balanced, team that writes the music, and lyrics together, each bringing a valuable contribution to their suc-

cess. Their style of music is a mix of country, reggae, funk & soul, and indie roots rock capturing audience from all over Canada and The United States. They have been the house band for Clayoquot Sound Wilderness Resort, where they have been featured, alongside with famous musicians such as Sarah Mclachlan, Alanis Morissette, Frank Mills, and Dave Matthews.

ture, showing a stronger sense of their musical maturity. They have a number of concerts organized for this year, both on the island, and the mainland. You can enjoy their music live every Monday night at The Queens’ pub, in downtown Nanaimo. Facebook fan page: [kings-without] Web: www. kingswithout.com

This year they are planning to By Oana Luca win over new markets, therefore, they will be heading to Costa Rica for a tour of live concerts. The band has also AUTOMOTIVE & MARINE been working on a second album, which 250.713.8810 they will be ready to pres5811 Parkway Drive, Nanaimo ent as a more beautiful fea-

www.ecstasyaudio.com

15


Precious

Toyo Tuner figure Italian Sports Car. That is until you’re breathing her fumes as she takes off, leaving you scratching your head and wondering how you can get your hands on one of your own. This car is the epitome of a sleeper, she looks much like every other Toyota tuner on the road, but what’s the surprise is under the hood. Her HKS T51R Kai turbo and 6 speed manual transmission are currently pushing 630 HP with 525lbs of torque to this pon first look at Adam Macintosh’s rear wheel drive sleeper and is capable 1993 Toyota Supra TT hardtop, you of hitting top speeds exceeding 300 would never know this sleeping beast KM/H. houses a devastating punch under the vibrant red bonnet. A summer toy; this hibernating monster’s days on the road every year are numbered. Avoiding bad weather and slick road conditions she is kept covered indoors during the winter months and only creeps out of her den to deafen ears and peel rubber when fair weather permits. Ordered from Japan, the car is a right hand drive beauty and has an extensive upThe Supra redlines at grade list to make this tuner stand out 8300 from the aftermarket 1000 HP from the others. Turbo installed, which is a big step up from the already roaring stock redline By simply looking at this Toyota Su- of 6800. If tuned more precisely the pra, no one would be able to tell what engine could push out over 700 HP kind of power she packs and the em- although Adam agrees that 630 HP barrassment she can cause your six keeps the driver humble.

U

16

All parts for the car’s engine, body and exterior are bought from the local Toyota dealership because thankfully although the car is a right hand drive import, all parts except for interior are basically identical, making part

shopping very easy and affordable. Any other custom parts or rare interior pieces Adam might need, he turns to the internet, specifically a forum site for Supra owners called www. supraforums.com or ordered online straight from Japan. It obviously helps to have connections through friends or other Supra owners in Japan to make obtaining parts as easy as possible. Adam has several friends who own Supra’s here in Canada and throughout other parts of the tuner world. Any red sports car you see on the road catches your eye; whether it’s loud exhaust, bright paint job or the rather young driver sitting behind the steering wheel but this Toyota Supercar has many outstanding parts and features that others simply do not. Whether this sleeping beauty is on the racetrack tearing her opponent’s heart out or whether she’s drawing a crowd outside your local White Spot, you can be certain that this Supra will never go anywhere without earning the proper respect and stares she deserves.

If you are interested in knowing specifications or would like to read the full copy of this article, please visit our website at www.viperformance.ca By Patrick Mulvaney

G

oing on 107 years, the iconic American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson Incorporated has been producing what people like to call ‘outlaw motorcycles’. Tim Mann’s modified Pan-Shovel hard tail is a prime example of what those people meant when they described Harley Davidsons as ‘outlaw motorcycles’.

Port Alberni, BC

250-723-8358 This outlaw motorc ycle, ridden by the equally beautiful outlaw model, Shannon Tracey hardhead@telus.net Boyle, is a 74 www.undergroundheads.com cubic-inch pan shovel with a 1956 bottom end and a 70’s top end. As you can see in the photos, Shannon has no problem muscling the rigid frame hard tail around. Nor at shifting the gears, we presume, which consist of a baker six speed with a two and half-inch belt drive. (Less problems, less shaking) A jockey shift with a redundant clutch system (two clutches; DNE hand clutch operated by mousetrap, and a foot clutch for moving and shifting gears) all modified and installed by Pete Coopman of Courtenay. The orange flames on ochre paintwork with a green-eyed hell-raiser on the gas tank was designed and in fact crafted by Tim Mann himself. (See his Dreamweaver Mural Art below). The colour scheme twists along the bike to the fenders giving this ride an aggressive, powerful appearance. Precious is named after the movie, ‘Lord of the Rings’ as she too is the one that shall rule them all. And to this day, in the hands of the beautiful model Shannon Boyle, it does rule over all...of our dreams.

DreamWeaver Mural Art 250-218-0179

By Bill Sugden & Kris Resche

Tim Mann Courtenay 17


Toyota Scion TC

The first glance of a second generation

Scion TC makes you wonder what new vehicle Honda or Nissan has come out with now. However, upon further review you realize you are wrong, dead wrong. The average person would associate the name Scion with the first model they launched back in 2003. The rather unattractive Scion XB; with its boxy, unappealing body, it more resembled something your children found in the bottom of their Fruity Pebbles cereal box, than a family or a daily commuter car. The car was utterly useless; spending its life half way between a functional SUV and a non-functional sedan, not surprisingly it was not an overwhelming huge seller. But the future holds bright things for Scion and they have come a long road since 2003. The 2010 new body style of the Scion TC off the bat looks fresh, sleek and modern; a distant cousin from the world

of the over angled XB. It looks like Scion is starting to make a real car for the real consumer market and their sales reflect the TC is in fact what the people want. The TC houses the same 2.5 litre engine that the Toyota Camry has, which pushes 180 raw horsepower and 174 pounds of torque to the wheels, allowing this car to fall into the same power margin as the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. This Scion also features hot new technology such as Vehicle Stability Control, a performance tuned Electric Power Steering System and is available in either a six speed manual transmission or a six speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. T h e drawback to having a small stock engine in such a sporty looking car is that as much as she may look and sound like a bullet, that does not mean she will fly like one. This Scion takes a generous 6.5 seconds to reach 0-60 mph with the manual transmission, with the automatic coming up 1.5 seconds slower at 8.0 seconds. Although it may not be very speedy with its stock engine, the TC makes up for its lengthy roster of customizable parts and modifications. This plethora of upgrades makes the TC a favorite of race car professionals from drag racing to drift machines. The TC definitely has heart and the open options for customizing its engine catapult it into the league of champions. There are currently five major race teams using the Scion TC as their main race car and definitely enjoy the ride the Japanese auto puts out,

choosing to stick with that model year after year. One team’s driver, Leslie Armendariz’s of All Motor Racing, pushed a record setting run this past season at 9.34 @ 143 MPH in his custom Scion TC. This going to show Scion has what it takes to compete professionally with all the other race cars on the strip today. Furthermore the TC is a very reasonable option as a daily driver or commuter car, due to its spacious interior and generous trunk space. Also being fairly cheap on fuel and accompanied with features like built in iPod dock and reclining rear seating it makes for great value for your money. Obviously it has its negative qualities like anything but they are limited to it appearing sportier than it really is and the interior appears to be made of cheap materials. On any note, the TC has launched the Scion brand into a newer, more modern consumer market while proving as the times change, so will Scion’s inventive and stylish thinking always staying not ahead of the curve but right on the heels of it. The TC has accounted for nearly half the sales of all Scion cars since they launched in 2003, with only light signs of slowing up, this car will change and evolve until it finds a home it suits.

By Patrick Mulvaney

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drive across Canada, or go camping with friends and be the source for good tunes and nice scenery! With its flat black paint job, this car has other characteristics that add to the rough and tough feel such as no bumpers, no door handles, rubber lined running boards, PonAt first sight it really looks like a tiac rally wheels with iron cross well as what simple old school hot rod with a stencils, as appears to rat rod flavor, howbe broken ever once you get and shot at into the nitty-gritty w i ndows. of the car, it is very easily placed in a The intemore superior class rior is also of street rod. It is geared up an original 1940 ford to have frame built to offer a a good powerful yet smooth t i me! ride. Under this With its original hood sits a very well spring loaded back seat, Dodge seated 76 Camaro small b l o c k Daytona bucket seats. These rubwith Edelbrock carb and intakes, and ber floors are ready for any wet a sleek red fire wall. This beauty is fully or muddy shoes. Nicely decorated equipped with power wina Mexican blandows, seats, keyless entry, with ket, and black fuzzy dice! tilt steering, and CD player. 40 Ford, rebel rod screams hot for teacher in good ‘ol skool style! I must say, this simple, raw beast ain’t so innocent packin’ a 350 under the hood with a ram horn style exhaust manifold to stick it to your…well, you know.

done!” He wanted to keep the rugged look and feel to it, as he has built this car to be exactly what he had always dreamed of since he was knee high to a grass hopper. The car was found in an Alberta barn, in all kinds of parts and pieces. Its owner at the time didn’t have the ability to restore it due to health issues. Steve was more than happy to take this project on, as he had always wanted a hot rod. His goal was to own and complete his dream car before he turned 40, so he could say he had joined the big boy’s! This hot rod, as with most cars people put their time and energy into, has become a part of Steve’s everyday life, including both divisions of his business, Absolute Perfection Car Care Ltd. You’ll also see his car at many of the car shows here on the island with his vender booth for Adam’s Polish, Zombie Hotrod Wear, and Mexican Blanket Sales. Stay tuned in the near future as Steve is currently working on a matching friend!

Based on the 1982 Hot Wheels Fat Often times Owner Steve Posliff Fender 40. This car is a turn-key, will be asked the question, “So reliable, everyday car, which could what is to come of this car? What’s By Brittany Huisman – Happy Days! next?” Well the answer is, “It’s

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Ford Probe Tuner

The Ford Probe; not a car many would expect to see in the import/ tuner car world. Owner and builder, Jeff Waldron knew the challenges that lay ahead when he planned to do something he had never attempted before. He had grown up around all kinds of motors and had lent a hand to various friends’ working on their own street legal racers but never had he created his own dream machine. Six years ago this changed when Jeff decided to enter into a league of his own within the tuner world and to join his friends in their mutual passion. Only Jeff decided he was going to do something very different, something none of his tuner buddies had even thought of, so of course he did so with a very unlikely subject. After conducting some research online about the modifications of-

20

fered for the Ford Probe, Jeff determined the list was pretty short. He knew this job would be labor intensive, physically challenging but also hugely rewarding. He was certain the hard work paid itself off in the reward and ordered a 1994 Ford Probe from Texas for $800 right away. Although it leaked every kind of fluid imaginable and left a wide variety of stains on his driveway, it was exactly what he was looking for. Now the real work begun for Jeff, long hours of research went into everything from custom mounted cruise control settings to stitching the entire interior himself.

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3031 Allenby Rd. Duncan After curiously watching alcohol burning race cars and taking an interest in the Cryo 2 of system they ran, Jeff inquired into whether or not Design Engineering Inc. would make him a scaled down version of their prized system for his car. He sent off an email to the Production Manager at D.E.I and within a month they had told him they had a prototype engine ready for his car. He would get the system at promotional pricing and the only thing they required of him was to go to a minimum of four major car shows a year and brandish their company decals on different parts of his car. Jeff jumped at the offer and claims it was the best choice he has made for his project.

Among the plethora of upgrades and extremely interesting facts about this rare car, is possibly the most amazing fact of all, everything from the engine and the interior to the paint and the custom molded body kits was done by Jeff person- He is running a Hybrid T4 Superally on weekends. Because this car was his daily driver and he had limited time to work on customizing it, Jeff spent from the minute he got home on a Friday after work until late Sunday night, hoping the car would be finished its weekly surgery in time for the commute to work Monday morning. Many days this was not the case and he arrived to colleagues cracking jokes about his missing hood or front bumper. This was a mega project for one man alone to be pursuing but the motivation that kept him going was the eventual pay off of having done every single upgrade personally with his own two hands.

charger system designed by Knight Turbos. Its Electronic Stability Control or ESC is a Turbonetics T4 core but it is actually powered by 74000 RPM electric motor; which literally creates zero spool up time for the supercharger. This is controlled by a 12/24 voltage solenoid to supply power to the ECS. This allows the engine not to be dependent on the waste gate and running it through your engine manifold. Ford Probe’s come stock with rear drum brakes but Jeff wanted to

keep the stopping power in line with the horsepower; if you are prepared to go fast and build a car around that element, you better be prepared to stop fast as well. This required the sub-frame base to be completely taken out and an upgraded Mazda MX6 sub frame was installed in its place for the entire rear of the car. The rear calipers were replaced with brakes from the all-wheel drive Mazda Speed 6 to allow increased stopping ability.

at nighttime. After falling in love with a Momo Commando steering wheel and 100% committing to it, Jeff found out it would not work in his car, due to the wiring for the cruise control coming through the clock spring into the stock steering wheel. Jeff did not want to lose his creature comforts, so he decided to adapt and achieve once again. Since Jeff would not budge on his love for the ergonomics of the wheel, he had to make a completely custom circuit board mounted to the lower dash to house his cruise control applications. Tuner Effects did not offer the color interior Jeff was looking for, so after ordering the pattern of black and yellow material himself, he carried on to surge the entire interior on his own with minimal background in stitching. Like many things along the way with this car Jeff has become a fibre glass molder, mechanic, electronic specialist and now by default, he now became a tailor. The entire interior was completely surged by Jeff and the finish

product looks flawless. Additional features of the Probe include, a 7 inch Pioneer flip out LCD screen in the dash, a secondary hideaway monitor under the passenger seat that links up to a PlayStation 2 and also showcases the engine specs and allows you to adjust the settings on the fly. Black spider webbed rims with a blood red lip make another special addition to his daily driver and show car. Custom body kits skirt the entire outside of the coupe and due to fully adjustable suspension he can raise of lower the ride height of it for various weather conditions. The list of upgrades for this car is among the most substantial of any I have ever seen and not to forget all the personal labor and time that went into this project for its owner Jeff *, that ,make this car truly unique. Look for the Custom Ford Probe and its driver at major car shows and race tracks throughout the Province as it lays rubber and blows smoke, past its shiny tangerine paint job and D.E.I. decals. By Patrick Mulvaney

The blood orange paint electrifies the highways of Vancouver Island, complete with blue neon glow throughout the inside of the car and under the entire frame. There are blue neon lights that pulsate with the bass when the enclosed subwoofers pound. Each individual speaker also has its very own blue lights installed directly into the speaker covers making the entire interior have an eerie blue glow 21


The Good ‘Ol Days... FASTEST DIRT IN WESTERN CANADA!

(19

86)

The Cassidy Speedway in Cassidy on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC was once a bustling vendor of people all ages and walks of life. There was some variety at this track with the 1/4 mile Oval Track, the 1/8 mile clay drag strip and Go-Kart track. Sand-drags, mudbogs and a host of events from sprint cars to IMCA Modifieds and bracket racing on the oval track Photo by Rachel Stern kept this a busy place! The venue offered food Early Days of Cassidy Speedway Poster stands, bleacher seating, fully equipped campground parts of the continent in search right beside the track and most of a thrill and the Cassidy track of all a chance for young racers offered them that. There were to get their custom cars out on other official racetracks at the a real racetrack. The Cassidy time, in Victoria, Cobble Hill 250.729.7177 and Courtenay but Speedway NAPA AutoCare with the location of Peace of Mind was quite Warranty that Cassidy’s track, racers a hit with is honored at more than could venture up from all those in 12,000 locations the U.S and complete nationwide the various a circuit of tracks from racing comWestern Speedway to munities, Full Service Auto Saratoga Speedway. both in CanIt also offered the mid Repair & Restoration ada and in island crowd of racSide view of Fraser Carmichael’s old car... United Waiting to race again! Our priority is in the Service! the ers from parts such as States. Race Nanaimo or Cedar a www.longlakeautomotive.com day was quite the spectacle, 6B-2480 Kenworth Rd. Nanaimo drawing a phalanx of fans and chance to get their cars out on a competitors that it usually filled track without driving for several the motels in kilometres. There is a certain nearby Nanaimo, as well as renting their entire Speedway campground to scores of participants and their Custom Metal Fabrication families. Full Part & Accessories

the dead and become a busy, fun filled venue for spectators and racers alike. There is huge public interest in reopening the track, from racers and their families to regular everyday people who just want to take in the exappeal of the dirt track that drew perience. crowds to the speedway. Cassidy Speedway quickly became a leg- We at VI Performance are increasendary track known throughout ing the awareness of the circumthe racing community as the stances, which led to the tracks “fastest dirt in Western Canada”. demise and the appeal of such a Still has race gear waiting to be restored!

All this changed when there was a zoning bylaw change from bylaw 444 to bylaw 500. The case was taken to Supreme Court in Victoria BC in 1998, however, the track was shut down for operating under “illegal land use”. Joe Pullen, one of the initial racers and shareholders for Sprusten Enterprises was devastated by this horrible outcome. Joe is retired now and claims he does not have enough time or stamina left in him to fight for the track, but is supportive and encourages our efforts with enthusiasm with the dream that perhaps one day the track will live again. The racing crowd north and south of the border have all been missing a key link in their Vancouver Island circuit for over a decade now. However, thanks to public interest and one individual in particular, Mona-Lisa Carstensen from VI Performance Magazine, it looks like Cassidy might actually rise from

valuable piece of our history and how we can make it a part of our reality again. In order to move ahead in a positive light we need to acknowledge the issues of the past and address them responsibly. It is time to reunite the Vancouver Island racetracks, create a positive buzz surrounding safe racing and give our youth an appropriate outlet for their racing dreams.

We are currently forming an association of responsible racers in efforts to open Cassidy as a multi-use facility. The first step is organizing a board of directors. If you are interested in becoming a part of this, please contact us at 250-802-5652 or email: viperformance@shaw.ca by Patrick Mulvaney (revised by Mona-Lisa Carstensen)

Old race car - gone wild!

Later Days of Cassidy Speedway

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Fraser Carmichael’s old car... Rear view. Still waiting to race again!

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