Table of contents for No 294 February - March 2022 in NZ Performance Car

It has been a hard couple of years for us car enthusiasts, with Covid-19 dictating when and how we can congregate and enjoy our performance car passions here in New Zealand. With a huge amount of us in Auckland, not even able to leave the house, and the rest of the country not in a position to have gatherings, there certainly have been limitations on us. However, the online car community has been flourishing. I have seen more and more people taking to creating their own car content than ever, whether that be on an online social video platform like TikTok or Instagram Reels or somewhere like YouTube. It seems that there’s no stopping our passion for expressing ourselves as car enthusiasts — normally done at the track or a…

The only show worth watching on TV (yes, we’re very biased) has made a return for season 9, taking up residence on CRC Motorsport on Three once again. As always, we’ll be beaming an in-depth look at the finest hot rod, street machines, and muscle cars on our shores, while also getting to know those talented Kiwis and characters behind the scenes. The show will run for 10 weeks and will also be hosted on our YouTube channel so you can watch it any time, anywhere. We’d also like to thank all our very supportive sponsors of the show — Repco, Meguiar’s, Rislone, and Mount Shop. We could not do it without them.…

IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IN THE GIG GUIDE, EMAIL EDITOR@PERFORMANCECAR.CO.NZ WITH ALL THE DETAILS DUE TO COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS, ALL EVENT INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING BUT MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE 31 JANUARY CLUBFEST Hampton Downs Motorsport Park 19 DECEMBER 2021 MAD MIKE’S ROTARY SUMMER DRAGS Napa Auto Parts Dragway Meremere 29–30 JANUARY 2022 2022 4&ROTARY NATIONALS SHOW AT CLAUDELANDS, 29 JANUARY DRAGS Napa Auto Parts Dragway Meremere, 30 January 30 JANUARY IMPULSIVE ROTARY ONLY DAY Hampton Downs Motorsport Park 31 JANUARY CLUBFEST Hampton Downs Motorsport Park 4–6 MARCH CHROME EXPRESSION SESSION Mike Pero Motorsport Park…

I spent a lot of my evenings and weekends at the city’s castle ruins which had a spectacular view of the whole city, the sea, the lake, and the mountain. When I moved there, I was worried there would be no one else interested in cars. The closest circuit was a two-hour drive away, and there didn’t seem to be any automotive-related attractions in the city or surrounding ones. Once I had purchased my S14 Nissan Silvia, I spent a lot of time driving around town, with no real friends yet. I would park at Starbucks where people would stare at me and wonder why this totally out of place white guy was driving a Silvia in their town. I can’t remember a certain time or day, but rather quickly…

HEART ENGINE: 4AGE 20-valve (AE111), 1600cc four-cylinder BLOCK: AE101 rods HEAD: Factory INTAKE: MRP trumpets EXHAUST: Nite Parts superloop custom-length headers, two-inch exhaust system with resonator and muffler FUEL: Factory IGNITION: Coil on plug conversion ECU: Link G4 Atom COOLING: Koyo radiator, SQ Engineering RWD conversion kit EXTRA: Nite Parts engine harness HAYASHI STREET ST WAS ALWAYS THE NUMBER ONE SET OF ROLLING STOCK IN NICK’S MIND; HE RECKONS HE ALWAYS HAD A THING FOR THE CLASSIC SINGLE-PIECE WHEELS. THESE WERE ACQUIRED BRAND NEW, VIA EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE JDM PARTS CONNECTION, JESSE STREETER. WE’RE NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH THE DECISION — AT 14-INCHES THEY SIT JUST RIGHT WITHIN THE CRISPY STOCK BODYLINESE Ever sat behind the wheel of a car that just feels right? You know it when you find…

BELIEVE US WHEN WE TELL YOU: IT’S NO EASY TASK TO PUT A K-SERIES ENGINE INTO A FIT. THE TPD TEAM TELLS US SOME SERIOUS MODIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED BEFORE THAT CAN HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT FACTORY LUXURIES LIKE AIR CON We do love a good project here at NZPC; there’s definitely no denying that — better yet if we can be involved in some capacity. So, when Jon-Paul (JP) and the team at Torque Performance Developments (TPD) told us they were about to take on a shop build and they wanted us along for the ride, we couldn’t get down there quick enough. Well, we got down there even quicker when they told us they’d be raffling it off, with all of the proceeds going to Starship Children’s Hospital…

Ahhh, to be 18 again, with cash in your hand, so eager to part ways with you that you’d swear it had some sort of globally impacting virus — if that had been a thing then, of course. Aaron was that very lad; $4000 absolutely crucifying a hole through his hand, begging him to purchase a Toyota Corolla coupe, after he’d seen his friend’s one “slammed on spitties and Eagers”. After hunting for what most likely felt like a lifetime to an 18-year-old, he found his Corolla. With that cash almost making its way through his hand, Aaron arranged a viewing in the dark, the deal was done, and he “absolutely thrashed” the worked 4K all the way home — genuinely stoked with the new KE35 that was now his…

Going off the clever title and golf-orientated subheading, you’ve probably gathered by now that Andy Gratton, the owner of this particular Honda Civic EF9, knows his way around a golf course. There’s no denying that the cars you first drove around in as a young ’un had an impact on the cars you choose to drive now. Whether you’ve moved on to the newer version in that particular make, or you’ve gone full circle back to that old platform, with a better understanding of modifying vehicles or with a bigger budget — or both. For Andy, his passion for golfing is what got him into his passion for Hondas; while pursuing one, another emerged. He explains, “When I was 17 years old, Mum, my sister, and I moved to Wellington…

Contactless ceramic protection in under five minutes flat. Uh-huh. Seems too good to be true, right? Norubbing, no buffing, and no machines required. Okay, so it’s not quite contactless but it’s pretty damnclose. Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Wax is a spray-on application that is the simplest and most foolproof waxingprocess we’ve used. Part of Meguiar’s new ceramic range thathas its SiO2 hybrid technology, this wax can be sprayed on aspart of your regular weekly-car-care regime, giving you ceramicprotection in minutes. Ensure your panels are clean from contaminants beforeapplying, so it’s best to do it directly after a wash. Work a panelat a time, wet with a hose, and then spray on a liberal coat of theceramic wax. Follow this up with a rinse with the hose — don’t beshy with the…

DANIEL’S WTAC NZ CONTENDER It’s something New Zealand has needed for a long time, and we’re stoked someone is taking the plunge: a New Zealand–based World Time Attack Challenge competitor. Daniel Jones, a North Auckland-based lad, has been building a very serious S15 time attack machine to WTAC Open Class regs, after binning his 180SX circuit-based machine on a hill climb, which resulted in the shell getting carted off to the scrappies. Daniel tells us, “After I assessed the damage, I decided it wasn’t worth fixing it so two weeks later I bought this S15. I tried to salvage as much as I could from the old car, including the engine, gearbox, brakes, loom, fuel system, etc, but that’s really it. Everything else was pretty well stuffed.” When Daniel picked…

Kiwi rally ace Emma Gilmour has shown the world that Kiwis can fly after her appointment to McLaren’s Extreme E team for 2022. McLaren’s latest driver signing is all the more special with Emma making world motorsport history by becoming their first female factory driver. “To be their first female driver … It gives me goosebumps,” said Gilmour. That’s because the British-based team has largely stuck to circuit racing, primarily Formula 1, throughout their past. They have won 12 F1 Drivers’ titles and eight Constructors’ Championships, making them the second most successful team in F1 history. McLaren is the latest team to join the Extreme E series, raising awareness of climate change, participating in Extreme E’s robust legacy programmes, and engaging its fans around the world to take climate action.…

Toyota is just out there droppin’ bombs lately. We’ve all seen the new GR86, powered by a 2400cc flat-four, but what you haven’t seen is Toyota’s latest drag-racing masterpiece — a comically silhouetted GR Supra for the upcoming NHRA Funny Car class. For nearly a decade, Toyota has campaigned a Toyota Camry in this particular class, so no doubt it is chomping at the bit to be running a proper sports car-based body. Although hardly anything like the original A90 GR Supra, the funny car shares sticker-based designs to imitate it. As you’ve probably guessed, this Supra shares nothing with the actual road car, besides the badging. It’s a carbon tilting body, atop a custom tube frame chassis built to take the onslaught of the 10,000-11,000hp, 8200cc supercharged V8 engine…

Unless you are brand new to the pages of NZPC, you’ll be largely familiar with James Wildon’s 40PSI-monikered Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R and its exploits over the past couple of years. Attend any event where the words ‘roll race’ are uttered and it’s inevitable this vehicle will be mentioned, whether it’s present on the day or not — such has been its impact on this race style. If it isn’t there, then it’s likely on the list of true tests of straight-line speed that a vehicle needs to be proven against before claiming its spot among the elite. So brutal is this car, in fact, that it’s almost silly to have it in print; it really is something you want to see and hear as it points its nose skyward…

JOSH BANCROF  AGE: 17 LOCATION: AUCKLAND OCCUPATION: STUDENT THANKS: MY PARENTS FOR SPENDING A SHIT LOAD ON THIS CAR NZPC: Hey Josh, it was nice to meet you and your dad at Hampton Downs. How did you get into performance Japanese cars? Josh: When I was really young I always collected die-cast models of cool-looking cars. As I got a bit older and started to watch YouTube and online stuff, that’s when I started to follow more JDM [Japanese Domestic Market] cars. Also Dad used to take me along to heaps of race meets at Hampton Downs and Pukekohe Race Park where I started to get more interested in race cars too as time went on. Dad has a couple of mates who always had nice street machine cars when…

JONAH SCHLEGEL  AGE: 20 LOCATION: CHRISTCHURCH OCCUPATION: AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER NZPC: Hey Jonah, that’s one wicked-looking JZX90. How long have you owned it for? Jonah: Hey guys, about two and a half years. How did you get into modifying cars? I’ve just always enjoyed it. So tell us, why the JZX90 over say a JZX100? Have you always liked them? I was actually looking for a JZX100 initially, but this one popped up and it started to grow on me. Also there aren’t as many of them around so it’s kinda cool in my opinion. specs ENGINE: 1JZ-GTE, three-inch stainless steel exhaust, Fenix radiator, GReddy intercooler, electric fans DRIVELINE: Exey clutch, R154 gearbox, TRD LSD INTERIOR: Bride Zieg 3 Type Rs, Nardi steering wheel, Works Bell quick release EXTERIOR: Candy red paint…

INTELLI-START YOUR ENGINES — NEW TECH JUMP STARTERS Projecta’s lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) jump-starters will replenish charge from the alternator just by leaving the clamps connected to the vehicle’s battery for 40 seconds after starting. Designed specifically for jump-starting, the Emergency IS920 (240A clamp output) and IS1220 (400A) will handle 2000 battery cycles — around four times more than lithium cobalt jump-starters. They feature 2.1A USB ports for recharging devices – such as your phone – and feature built-in LED lights. Available from automotive stores. Contact stockists for pricing. MEGUIARS — ALL-NEW CERAMIC COATING, IN A SPRAY BOTTLE You’ve all seen it; that glass-like sheen, reflecting off someone’s recently ceramic-coated paintwork. It’s damn cool, adds a heap of gloss to your paint, and — more importantly — protects it from…