Table of contents for No 287 December 2020 - January 2021 in NZ Performance Car

Life is an interesting one; one minute you’re spinning spanners — or in my case, wiring houses — and the next minute you are working for NZ Performance Car. That was me a few years ago, when I first got the call to be the assistant editor of the magazine — the day after I qualified as an electrician. Life has been a wild ride ever since, from living overseas to report on car culture wherever I could fly to, to building a career in the automotive performance-parts industry. However, when the big chief Marcus Gibson phoned to ask me to take over the NZPC throne, it was not a phone call I was expecting but one I was very honoured to receive. After giving it around three seconds thought,…

NZ Performance Car is proud to announce that it has naming-rights sponsorship of the famed Night Speed Drag Wars (NSDW)! Drag racing in New Zealand has been surging into life recently, with plenty of big-power toys in the build that are too wild for the street. Being that it’s such an accessible horsepower haven, we’re excited to be involved in the action. On behalf of the NSDW team, we can advise there will be spot prizes at each event and the introduction of our new quarter-mile decals — to replace the kW stickers. These will be available at a future NSDW event. “We’re excited to have the NZPC team involved with the event,” says Gary Bogaart, manager of Meremere Dragway. “There are plenty of fast imports around Auckland taking part…

All right, so we know Steve has a serious Silvia problem, having owned a small nation’s share of them, so what does that mean for him now? Cars come and go, sure, but what else does Steve have tucked away in the shed? “Weirdly, I nowadays get offered cars to buy from my friends and followers on social media. I think it’s because I’m pretty straight to the point; if I’m keen, I’ll buy it that day sorta thing,” Steve explains. So, what does that look like in reality? Enter the Silvia stack, a collection of Silvias so rad that if you found your way into Steve’s storage you would think you had stumbled upon a Silvia club members’ day. Including his drift car, Steve has seven Silvias, with varying…

We’ve all got that high-school car crush. It goes without saying that some of our chosen poster cars are more exotic than others, and for Steve this exact Nissan 200SX is that car — a red, boy racer, sports car he used to walk past after finishing his day at high school. Going forward four years, Steve was nearing the age of obtainium, so promptly left a note in the owner’s letterbox, asking if he would part ways with it. “I thought I must have spooked him, as I didn’t see the car for another five years!” Amidst our new Covid world, Steve noticed that it popped up on Trade Me. He rang the owner, they met up, and Steve ended up driving it home that evening. He also found…

Got Instagram? Want print fame on top of all those likes that fly your way each time you post a photo? Want to show us your whip without actually talking to us? Want to see what other readers are up to in their sheds? The answer to all these questions and why these two pages exist lies in the use of the hashtag #nzpc. Search it, use it, and thrash it! We keep a very close eye on it and will be choosing a bunch of hashtagged posts each month to print right here. So remember, next time you’re gram’n’, use #nzpc.…

Back in 1956, the late Robin McKenzie, OBE CNZM, made a chance discovery in his clinic in Wellington that changed the nature of back pain treatment and knowledge worldwide. This accidental treatment success, with a patient suffering from severe low-back pain and sciatica, led Robin McKenzie to develop what is now known globally as the ‘McKenzie method of mechanical diagnosis and therapy’. It was viewed as radical at the time, and even derided by the established medical wisdom, but the McKenzie Method, developed over decades, has since received international recognition and acclaim. It is taught at postgraduate level by the prestigious McKenzie Institute International in some 40 countries worldwide. Patient education and empowerment is central to the method, especially education about postural maintenance. Just how significant this work was is…

Ethan Lowe of Hi-Power Performance is one of the most experienced RB builders in New Zealand, and his personal project, which we featured a few issues back, just reinforces the fact. At the time, it had 666kW at the wheels and made our photographer change his underpants. Since then, Ethan has moved to a much larger Precision 7675 turbo and the RB churned out 869kW at the hubs on 43psi of boost. For some insane reason, Ethan has decided this is not enough. That engine has been pushed to the side, and a fully built RB30 block, featuring a Nitto 3.2-litre stroker kit, Precision 8385 turbo sitting on a 6Boost Pro-Mod manifold, Haltech Nexus, and PPG sequential gearbox will be getting dropped in the hole instead. Ethan’s new goal is…

Damn straight you better believe the team at Honda is back with another race-bred banger. Honda is back with the performance Type R Civic and it’s packing some new exciting features inside an exterior similar to last year’s model. The 2021 Honda Civic Type R is the culmination of several years of FK8-based track use, street use, and hardcore competition use and features some exciting new upgrades that will see the car outperform its predecessor in both reliability and performance. The new and updated grille features a 13 per cent larger opening to improve on circuit-based cooling efficiency — heat soaking on previous models when modified and pushed hard is a known issue. The Adaptive Damper System (ADS) is much quicker, and is able to read road conditions 10 times…

That’s right, team, we’re in The Matrix now. The world has gone completely bonkers, and now your beloved cert plates are going digital. After 28 years of success using the famed fourrivet certification plate, the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (LVVTA) is in the process of switching over to a small digital ‘radio frequency identification’ (RFID) tag, the size of the old classic 50 cent piece. The RFID chip works in the same way as Paywave or a building access key fob. With the right scan tool, the LVVTA, police, or WOF outlet will be able to scan your cert chip, gaining in-depth access to the certification documentation carried out on the vehicle at the time of cert. The operator will be able to see the car in the state…

When you have owned pretty much only Silvias in your lifetime, you’re going to know your way around a burnout or two, but progressing to the sport of drifting and legitimizing that skill is something new entirely. To do that, you’re going to need a special machine. Although most Silvias are fairly capable in that chosen discipline, Steve wanted more. After taking part in his first drift day in an S14 he acquired, he was hooked. “Sadly, the SR plus-T decided to catch fire on the next track day, and I nearly lost the entire car. We went through eight fire extinguishers and finally put the thing out,” Steve tells us. At the time of the event, with the sadlooking SR on the trailer, it was a perceived semiaffordable fix…

After having his eye on this particular Pandem Boss–kitted Nissan Silvia S14 for some time, Steve got the chance to obtain possession. With the V8 conversion going on with his drift car, the initial plan was to pinch a few things off this car, swap the fronts around, and flick it off. Like a few of Steve’s projects, it got pushed to the side — this time for four months. Upon the Government’s announcement of Covid-19 and our level four nationwide lockdown, Steve made a quick decision to rush up to Linkup Paints to choose a colour. “I never had orange in mind for this build,” he reveals, “but a little peer pressure from Kerry saw orange being chosen. I actually asked for a base coat orange, but Shannon from…

Traction — it’s a love–hate relationship. There are times where you’re chasing every single last inch of it, lashing the fine line of chaos mid corner under threat of losing it any moment. Other times, you’re trying to ensure that you’re devoid of traction for as long as your car can handle, watching the tread peel away with rubber spray up the guards until you hear the distinctive indicator of a successfully destroyed tyre — bang. When it comes to putting power to the ground, traction is undoubtedly your best friend, although there is no harder friendship to form than between those battling with a high-power front-wheel drive. The first time we saw Aucklander Jayden Broad, it was by way of a video that showed him giving absolute hell to…

Forget what you know about track days. This ain’t your ‘show up to a crowded commercial venture where you’re confined to an allocated pit garage and the only people you know are the mates-come-pit-crew that you dragged along’–type jobbie. This is the annual Circle Jerk Crew (CJC) gathering, dubbed ‘Jerkfest’. Each year, the congregation of Jerks is as much about the people there as it is about the cars; long-time friends, and new, catching up like no time has passed at all. Members, familiar faces, and hopefuls make the journey from all over the country — from the strongholds of Waikato, Wellington, and Auckland, to the deep south and far north. Imagine those huge extended family gatherings, only with dozens of cars, more seat time than you can dream of,…

IT’S MOST CERTAINLY A TIGHT SQUEEZE IN THE BACK OF THE MINI WITH THE H22A ENGINE MID MOUNTED, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH TIGHTER WITH IT BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT TOWERS. SOMEHOW, THE H-SERIES LOOKS RIGHT AT HOME IN THE BACK OF THE COOPER Like most of you out there, we like nothing more than seeing a tasty engine-converted, scratch-built monster. More often than not, these cars are built as hyped hot rods, with the intention of summer-safe cruising of the famed Whangamata stretch. However, the juicy kind we’re into normally reside at one of New Zealand’s many race circuits — beaten, hammered, welded, and spannered into tarmac-tearing machines. Trent Dixon is a name no doubt extremely well known in the Mini scene here and abroad. A 2016 Mini…

NZ Performance Car: Hey, Brendan. How did you come to own your Mazda RX-7 — is it something you have always wanted to build? Brendan: Hey, NZPC! I have always loved the look of an FD RX-7 and had previously owned a standard twin-turbo batty. It made me want another, but with higher horsepower. It looks as though you have only used really high-quality components in the build. Was that something you learned the hard way in the past, or did you just want the most modern components available? I only wanted to do a high-quality build. I have always tried to use high-quality components with previous builds, so I didn’t want this one to be any different. I like to think good-quality products last and work well, so here’s…

Despite Subaru’s WRX rally heritage, Subaru and its motorsport division, STi, have shifted focus in recent years, preferring to compete on the tarmac in circuit racing. Modern iterations of the STi have been proven as formidable circuit racers the world over, including holding records and countless class wins at the legendary Nürburgring. Wanting to get in on the action, Mike has teamed up with Possum Bourne Motorsport to transform his 2018 Subaru WRX STi into a trackready racer. Together, they’ve hatched a long-term plan that will see the car continuously developed in line with the growth of Mike’s talent behind the wheel. The goal is to build a serious weekend warrior that will eventually be able to compete at a highlevel. To do this, various top-shelf components that perform and…

Reuben Clive-Smith is no stranger to the drift world, having taken part in driving and hosting countless events over the years, and was one the lads behind the Animal Style team last year. It’s no surprise then that he’d have something unique of his own in the build. After selling his blue 180SX, Reuben was after a JZX100. Initially it was a street car that he was able to take out on the weekends and his kid could come along for the ride. However, after taking the JZX100 out to several drift days, Reuben decided the heavy chassis needed more power. The decision was made to remove the factory turbo set-up and replace it with a 6Boost manifold, with the latest G-series offering from Garrett: the Garrett G30-770 with a…

Back for its seventh season, Repco Muscle Garage which screens on Three’s CRC Motorsport every Sunday afternoon has made a return with a new title sponsor, Repco New Zealand, which has hopped on board for the next three seasons. As fans of local content, local cars, and personal expression through the medium of workshops, we’ll be tuning in to get a weekly dose of New Zealand’s coolest V8-powered cars, events, and shed-based creativity. So why not join us on the couch, settle down in front of CRC Motorsport every Sunday, and take in the weekly segment of Repco Muscle Garage. This show simply could not happen without the support of Repco New Zealand, Meguiar’s, and Mount Shop Ltd.…

DUE TO COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS, ALL EVENT INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING BUT MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE On Friday, 13 November, Timaru International Motor Raceway (aka Levels Raceway) will host Japfest: Rotary and pre ’90s. The event will feature cruising (with passengers), roll racing, hard park, entertainment, and much more! Gates will open at 10.30am and the track will close at 5pm. Tickets can be bought at the gate for $20 (no pass outs); kids 10 and under are free. On Saturday, 14 November, the 4 & Rotary Show & Shine will be held between 9am and 5pm at the Southern Trust Events Centre. As well as indoor and outdoor displays, it will feature dyno, unveils, start-ups, activations, and other entertainment. Tickets are $25 (no…

“I LEARNED A LOT WITH THIS CAR. BRAKE LINES WERE A BIGGIE. MY FIRST MISTAKE WAS TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO BUBBLE FLARE ON YOUTUBE! WE REMADE ALL THE BRAKE LINES ONLY TO REALIZE I HAD FLARED THEM ALL WRONG AND EVERYTHING LEAKED” This particular yellow Nissan Silvia S14 is one some of you clever humans out there may recognize. Yes, that’s right, it’s the slammed machine originally built by stance lord Jared Croft. “Jared spent months piecing this car together after setting to work on his vision. Jono was sent down to Christchurch, where the car was, and carried out all the metalwork, including the new steel guards, super-tucked exhaust, and the lifted engine and chassis rails,” Steve says. With being low the name of the game from the…

“Bring back early-2000s show cars,” Steve says to us, as his plans for this RB26-swapped Nissan Silvia S15 are just that. Bright paint, big wheels, and a crazy interior will see this Silvia stand out, even from his own collection. Like most of Steve’s finds, this was through Facebook, but he initially ended up missing out on the deal — a friend by the name of Shaun ended up purchasing the car instead. However, six months later, Steve managed to purchase it — happy, knowing the supposed rebuild was indeed legit and it would prove to be a solid platform for modification. Although the RB26 is currently packing only 220kW at the tyres, Steve’s plan down the track is to make use of the rebuilt bottom end and add a…

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO NEW ZEALAND CLASSIC CAR THIS MONTH AND RECEIVE RECEIVE TWO E-TICKETS WITH A TWO-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION, VALUED AT $58, OR ONE E-TICKET WITH A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION, VALUED AT $29. This year get two shows for the price of one! Big Boys Toys are excited to announce that The Speedshow has joined forces with Big Boys Toys to make this an event you won’t want to miss with all the features you’ve come to love and more! 13–15 NOVEMBER 2020 ASB SHOWGROUNDS, GREENLANE, AUCKLAND SUBSCRIBE TODAY NZ PERFORMANCE CAR ONE YEAR + TWO TICKETS $54 SAVE $64 WITH OFFER TWO YEARS + FOUR TICKETS $98 SAVE $139 WITH OFFER TO SUBSCRIBE WWW.MAGSTORE.NZ OR 0800 727 574 1-YEAR DIGITAL SUB ONLY $49 Offer ends Sunday, 8 November 2020 1. New Zealand…

The world is a crazy place, man. I mean, regardless of whatever ideology about how we came into existence you believe, there’s no denying that billions of people living on a tiny flying rock that spins around a burning ball of gas is a trip of a concept. So it’s even crazier that, while there’s all that going on to occupy our minds, some people still choose to spend their time worrying about someone else’s coilovers and wheels build. While that introduction may seem like a loaded statement, one Auckland man has had the earmuffs on and sights dialled in when enacting his latest build. A humble operator, Jay Thomson doesn’t listen to the riff-raff. He has no time for that nonsense. It’s that humility that has seen this very…

PACKING KELFORD 260-DEGREE CAMS, A GARRETT GTX3076R GEN II SAT ATOP A WALSH MOTORSPORT STAINLESS-STEEL MANIFOLD, AND GAGGLE OF SUPPORTING COMPONENTRY, THE 1JZ CRANKS OUT 350KW AND 583NM OF TORQUE AT THE REARS ON 20PSI Throwing bids on auctions and seeing where it goes should be a competitive sport. The way many play it, it kind of already is. The rush of finding an undiscovered gem and slowly bettering the price point to see how much of a steal you can nab is one that can’t really be described; you’ve just got to do it to know for yourself. Cars and components are won or lost by the dollar, last-minute snipes, and knowing when to call it. It can be brutally heartbreaking when you lose out over pocket change —…

SUPER FLASH Forget workarounds. Tuning masterminds working with pro racers want the most advanced and programmable engine control system, and this is it. The MaxxECU PRO can access just about any information, allowing engine controls to be tuned to perfection. Comes with MTune software for intuitive tuning with a wide range of shortcuts, plus real-time monitoring and control through the MDash Android app. Features include launch, traction, knock, and boost control (triple stage), nitrous (stages), shift-cut, Vanos/VVT, CAN bus (dual), auto transmission support, drag racing functions, and flex fuel. Inputs: 2 knock sensor, 12 EGT (separate harness), plus 22 extra analogue and 10 extra digital inputs. Outputs: 16 injector (high/low impedance), 12 ignition, 30 extra outputs (gpo), wideband Lambda (dual), e-throttle (dual), waterproof aluminium case, Bluetooth, and accelerometer. For pricing…

There aren’t that many drag-spec Supra builds happening these days. Hell, there aren’t really many Supra builds on the go at all in this day and age, as the costs involved in importing one have gone through the roof. However, against the current norm, Zenki was dead set on owning a JZA80 RZ Supra, and he had dreams of building an auto dragspec version with big drag radials on the back. The team at GR Garage, based on Auckland’s North Shore, is piecing together an extensive build from a bone-stock immaculate example. The team has started by building the car into a really nice streeter, with the eventual plan being for the JZA80 to have a built auto trans and high-flowed twins or a big single conversion, in order to…