Table of contents for No 283 July 2020 in NZ Performance Car

Way before either Jaden or I took up camp in the NZ Performance Car office, the team introduced ‘kW Club’ stickers as a supplement to the already popular drag-time stickers. At the time, having 300kW was a big deal, but thanks to a decade of advancements in tech, knowledge, and parts, getting that out of most engines, especially when boosted, is a very simple affair. Hell, 400 and 500kW club stickers are now the most popular, and you wouldn’t believe how fast we are dishing them out. However, we are always faced with questions around the authenticity of some claimed power outputs, a rabbit warren of fiddling numbers and hidden correction factors, strangely cropped photos of dyno graphs, and even guys stealing other people’s sheets. It would truly amaze you…

The nation may be taking a steady-as-she-goes approach to stamping out Covid-19, for good reason, though with restrictions starting to ease as we duck down into Level 2 and hopefully Level 1 not long after, South Island event organizers are keen to provide competitors with the proposed event dates. Obviously, all events are subject to restrictions; however, we have a number of proposed dates that show rallying could return to the country’s larger island as early as July, with the Otago Sports Car Club Circle Hill Rally Sprint. Following that could be the Eastern Southland Car Club Catlins Coast Rally in August, the Hanmer Rally and Ashley Forest Rallysprint in September, and the Gore Clubmans Rally and Canterbury Rally in October. The final event of the year is set to…

Built between a few good mates and run on a modest budget, Brendin Jones has campaigned the Car Aid Nissan Laurel (C33) for two seasons, bettering its previous owner’s ET and recently posting a fresh personal best of 8.23 at 166mph (267kph) in Christchurch. Purchased from Stu Rogers as a rolling body, Brendin tells us it was a good base for the build having already achieved a 9.0 at 154mph (248kph) and arriving with a freshly rebuilt TH400 built to the same specs as the R.I.P.S Racing 240Z car. With Brendin working at Car Aid Engine Reconditioners, boss Paul Coates chipped in to help finance the engine while colleague Allan Bigham took care of the technical side of the engine build. The package is based around an RB30 cast block…

The past few months have seen rumours and mystery patent filings fuelling the automotive news sector. Now, unearthed patents from Japanese automaker Mazda show that the company is working on a new hybrid gasoline-electric system mounted longitudinally in a rear-drive layout—aka rear-wheel drive. It features new tech that employs in-wheel electric motors powered by capacitors. However, it’s the supporting gasoline portion of the power plant that should have you excited. The illustrations clearly show a rotary engine as part of the hybrid equation. Better yet, it appears to be the main engine driving the rear wheels while the in-wheel motors take care of the fronts. It’s an extremely techy system, but we’ll save you from the description of it, as we know you’re only really interested in this potential return…

As you will see over the following pages, a lot, and we mean a lot can happen in a span of 10 years. In our world, the NZ Performance Car world that is, we produced 120 magazines, chronicling the decade through roughly 600 feature cars, some 400 events, and countless milestones, all of which have led to where the local car scene is today. Some of you reading this will have been strapped in car seats at the time, some will have played their role and feature in the bad haircuts, oversized clothing, and questionable car modifications, but, on a more serious note, achieving some of their best achievements in life, and history of our scene. For the size and population density we have here in New Zealand, we punch…

Many of the performance power plants that are still in use today are nearing the 20–30-year-old mark, none more so than the ever-popular Nissan RB family. While its prowess in making strong, reliable power continues to be demonstrated all these years later, it’s only a handful of locally developed tricks that allow them to be so impressive. Franklin Performance, formerly known as Franklin Engineering, is at the forefront of that charge, with an offering that tackles one of the RB range’s biggest issues: oiling. Franklin Performace’s Head Oil Drain Fitting for the Nissan RB20, RB25, and RB26 was designed and manufactured in-house in Napier to increase reliability and performance by preventing excessive oil buildup in the cylinder head—allowing excess oil from the head to drain freely back to the sump.…

Let’s face it, we don’t own the cars we do to drive them like a little old nana on her way to do the weekly food shop. These things get driven, and get driven hard, legally, of course. And the more power we chuck at them, turning up the boost and bolting-on all the gofast bits, the already fairly warm engine bay can see temps soaring in a matter of minutes. Temp cuts, blown head gaskets, and/or cracked heads and blocks are the last things anyone wants to deal with—especially when prevention is so much cheaper and hassle-free than the cure. Getting your cooling in check is actually super easy with the likes of Auckland-based company Real Deal Radiators. Real Deal has made your custom cooling needs its bread and…

Life is most certainly full of surprises — take this year, for example. Plans? Cancel ’em! Global pandemic! Or, “Oh no, no oil pressure!” Some surprises are of the good kind, though, and when we heard from Terry Tung-Yep a couple of years ago on our annual World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) trip, we just had to meet him. If Terry had but one N1 GT-R we would have been right over, but three — the complete trifecta? The only way we could pop over for a visit faster would be by arriving in a GT-R wearing the same badge — it’s safe to say we shifted heaven and earth to make this visit happen, deep inside New South Wales’ Blue Mountains. So, who is this Skyline hoarder? Where did…

Nothing is more frustrating than a battery that is on the fritz—maybe it’s the one powering your weekend weapon that sits for 80 per cent of the year, or maybe you’re lucky to have one of those ‘special’ Euros that drains the battery any time that it rains heavily. Either way, jumping in the driver’s seat to find the battery dead is frustrating, and will always happen if you have no jumper leads on hand, you’re running late, or there’s no way of getting another car anywhere near to jump-start it. A handheld jump starter is something that any toolbox would benefit from. However, for many, this brings up memories of super-heavy plastic boxes housing 20kg lead acid batteries—not exactly the kind of thing you’d call portable in any sensible…

I’m an Aucklander—you may be able to tell—and if there’s one thing Aucklanders love more than soy lattes, overpriced houses, and having no idea where any place outside its 1102km2 radius is, it’s complaining about traffic. We’ve done a pretty stellar job at keeping all the traffic confined to the war zone that is Auckland motorways—you’re welcome, regions—but if this whole Covid-19 lockdown situation has highlighted one thing, it’s how awesome it is going anywhere when everyone else stays home. I’ve managed to shave a good five minutes off my lap time—I mean, er, commute—to the supermarket, and the essential milk run to the local dairy via the back-country roads has never been more unobstructed. With the shift to Level 2 meaning we have a big hit of normality back,…

We’ve all heard of the gentlemen’s agreement among Japanese car manufacturers in the ’90s that saw power figures ‘capped’ at a measly 206kW on paper, despite models making far more in reality. The pact died long ago, thankfully, and manufacturers have been slapping far higher figures on their latest incarnations for years now—although in some cases, these figures prove to be even more than stated. But why? There’s a raft of reasons: fear of putting off potential buyers, opportunities for further up sales on performance packages, or even not to overshadow those of a shared chassis. We would hazard a guess that it’s the last of those that has led Toyota to under-declare the at-the-wheel power of the latest Supra offering. Independent testing has already proved that Toyota’s claim of…

13 JUNE 2020 PROWEAR GTR FESTIVAL NZ HAMPTON DOWNS MOTORSPORT PARK, TE KAUWHATA What started out as a celebration of one Nissan sub-model was expanded to include all RB-powered variations. But, for the love of the car scene, the team behind it has heard the calls to let the rest of the Nissan brethren in on the fun, too. So, while it still focuses on GT-Rs, any Nissan owner is now welcome to enter. The format will stay the same, with cruising, roll racing, a hardpark, circuit racing, and drifting all going down. All this is set to take place on 13 June at Hampton. Visit the Facebook event page for further details. 7-9 AUGUST CHROME EXPRESSION SESSION HAMPTON DOWNS MOTORSPORT PARK, TE KAUWHATA Yeah, you already know what’s up.…

For decades, Japan was one of the minnows of world motorsport. For many of the marques out of the country now revered for pushing performance boundaries of its production cars, the stories detailing their rise to the peak of competition typically represent an arduous grind rather than a quick grasp of success. Toyota toiled to the pinnacle of world rallying. Nissan ascended to Group A touring car domination. But perhaps the strongest tale of grinding against the odds belongs to Mazda, and its efforts to conquer the heights of world endurance racing—in particular, reaching that top step of the podium after pounding the tarmac for 24 hours at Circuit de la Sarthe, known better as ‘Le Mans’. Mazda’s efforts prevailed, culminating in a fairy-tale win over the European behemoths in…

There’s an unsung hero in every single power train and that’s the gearbox, working overtime to transfer drive from the motor to the wheels—especially for those of you with a habit of bumping up power figures, which is pretty much all of us. It’s perhaps one of the most critical points in the whole system, one where you want to maintain long-term reliability without overloading the chassis with added weight. As the benchmarks of power outputs have continued to creep higher and higher, and factory units fall beyond maintainable levels, drivers and motorsport car builders look towards the aftermarket for solutions. That’s where TT Industries (TTi) comes in. Started back in 2003 by Bruce Verdon, the company initially cut its teeth manufacturing gearboxes for motorcycles before identifying a serious need…

FORGET THE REST Unlike some batteries, which focus on delivering higher starting power at the expense of more critical design features, Century batteries are designed to suit our climate and remote conditions. Century’s Ultra Hi Performance batteries incorporate a sealed maintenance-free design, eliminating the need for the topping up of electrolyte levels and preventing contamination in off-road environments. The Ultra Hi Performance range is ideal for all types of modern power-hungry vehicles, designed to provide superior vibration resistance, extra reserve capacity, and added starting power that will keep you on the road for longer. For more information on Century’s Ultra Hi Performance range, contact your local retailer on 0800 93 93 93 or visit centurybatteries.co.nz. LIGHT SHOW Cranking out 150 per cent more light volume than a standard globe, Narva’s…

There comes a time when a car under your ownership is on the brink of evolution. An evolution that would change the course of how it would be used in future for good, and a decision needs to be made between pulling the trigger and never looking back and pulling the pin to follow a different route. For Hamilton’s Matt Dallimore and his Kanjo-inspired circuit-slaying Honda Civic Type R (EK9), that very choice came by way of the desire to enter the Honda Cup series under the N1 class. Matt’s owned the car a good nine years and squeezed in a serious amount of good memories both on and off the track. With the package still street legal, entering it into the series would almost certainly mean never seeing it…

After four long years in the works, the ST Hitec / Dodson Motorsport prototype R35 drag car has finally spun a wheel in anger. Not only has it racked up back-to-back eight-second passes and reclaimed the title of quickest/fastest R35 in New Zealand but as of 17 May it set a mid-seven-second personal best! Making use of private testing opportunities at Meremere Dragway, owner Iain Clegg was behind the wheel and told us that, despite battling misfire issues on the first two outings, the team managed to bank a 8.91 at 163mph pass straight off the trailer followed by a 8.57 at 169mph (272kph) the following outing. “We had persistent misfire issues every time. Fighting the miss we changed the plugs and leads. It was still missing, so we changed…

With motorsport dates wiped off the calendar for the foreseeable future, those series part way through a season have been left with not much choice but to call things early. This was the decision made by organizers for the 2020 Mazda Racing Series after cancelling the final two rounds set for Hampton Downs and Taupo, leaving the current points table to determine the final placings. Committee spokesperson Steve Spear says racing is highly unlikely to continue under current conditions: “As a committee we decided we had enjoyed a strong season and it was time to be realistic, crown our champions, and look forward to a full season in 2020–2021… We’re disappointed to miss running at Hampton Downs and Taupo to close our season off, but we’re not complaining, because everyone…

Traditional motorsport has all but been cancelled for the past couple of months, and in its place e-racing has thrived. Not only have real-world series been forced to adapt to the virtual realm, but now some of the biggest names are banding together to raise money for struggling Kiwi businesses amid the Covid-19 crisis. Dubbed ‘Racing Local’, the event will take place on the iRacing platform with the likes of Scott McLaughlin, Shane Van Gisbergen, Hayden Paddon, Nick Cassidy, Simon Evans, Earl Bamber, Greg Murphy, and Liam Lawson already signed up. With 25 drivers registered, 25 more spots are available for any motorsport-licence holders. The other 10 spots will be guest wild-card entries, including those who don’t hold a motorsport licence. The event will be live-streamed via the Racing Local…

With drivers chomping at the bit to get behind the wheel again, there’s good news out of the Golden Homes North Island Endurance Series (NIES): it has announced a revised calendar for this season. The two events—one fewer than normal—will be based in Auckland, with Hampton Downs Motorsport Park playing host on 18 September and the finale to be held at Pukekohe Park on 24 October. The reduced season is aimed at allowing those with the necessary funding to campaign the MotorSport New Zealand (MSNZ) Endurance Race Championship at Highlands Motorsport Park on 6–7 November. Vehicle eligibility has been extended to the likes of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)–complying Trans-Am and TA2-complying cars. The new schedule avoids any clashes with the South Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club (SIERDC) events.…

A G-FORCE FOUR-SPEED WITH FABRICATED BELLHOUSING AND Z-GATE SHIFTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GEAR SWAPPING ALONGSIDE THE NPC TWIN-PLATE CLUTCH PACKAGE HEART ENGINE: Mazda S6 13B, 1300cc, two rotor BLOCK: Stu Lawton extended ported S6 plates, S4 rotors, extra dowels INTAKE: Blitz intercooler, HPI clamps EXHAUST: Four-inch stainless side-exit TURBO: Garrett TA45, Williams Motorsport steam pipe manifold WASTEGATE: Blitz 50mm BOV: GReddy FUEL: Aeromotive A1000 pump, Aeromotive A1000 fuel regulator, Aeroflow hoses and fittings, 1000cc/1600cc injectors, four-port extra fuel rail by Cmeck Engineering (ready to go when it’s time to turn it up) IGNITION: MSD Leads, NGK Plugs, ECU: FuelTech FT600 COOLING: Davies Craig electric water pump (EWP), Fenix radiator, Fenix oil cooler EXTRA: Mechman alternator, boot-mounted oil and water catch-cans, fuel catch-can on firewall For the majority, recalling what you…

Sandbrooks has been in the windscreen and glass business for over 40 years. The company began with automotive glazing, morphed into marine glazing, and has now come full circle with the introduction of Rennenglas Heated automotive Windscreens. This high-tech glass is used by almost every top race team in every category of racing to keep the front windscreen fog-free during a wet event. It utilizes the same super-reliable technology that can be found in some OEM models from colder climate countries. Micro tungsten wires are sandwiched in the interlay in the laminate–these wires are so small that they can just be seen with the naked eye if you get real close. They run one or two 12V circuits to heat the glass. This technology is powerful enough to melt a…

Despite the craziness in the world of late, everyone is now back on deck at Paddon Rallysport, with plenty of progress being made to the Hyundai Kona EV Rally car. Prior to the lockdown, there was a big push in the workshop with the build and fabrication of the chassis. Despite the five-week delay, immediately after lockdown we were able to get the chassis to a point where we have now been able to start dummy-fitting parts and engineering the next steps of the process, such as mountings and location of components. The chassis build was a long process. After over 600 hours of engineering time, it is now 90 per cent of the way towards completion. The changes we’ve had to make include the roll cage, a new rear…

He’s best known as the man behind the lens, as a long-time contributor to this very magazine, and for organizing some of the biggest events in the country, including the infinitely popular REunion. However, as of late, he’s also been known to pedal cars sideways. With the idea of getting as many people involved with the Choice Events and Promotions offerings, Guy Maxwell purchased this ex-D1NZ Cefiro as a rolling body some three years ago with the intention of converting it into a four-seater drift car. The rear part of the existing cage has been cut out and redesigned to accommodate the two bucket seats in the rear. The rear end has also been lopped off and tube framed, while the front awaits the same fate. With the Covid-19 lockdown…

A familiar face both behind the scenes and on the circuit at the annual Waimate 50, Todd Aikman is a man you will always find being busy. If it ain’t planning for next year’s incarnation of the historic event, it’s spinning spanners and manning the welding torch on one of his cars. You may recall Todd’s 1JZ-converted Toyota Celica XX, dubbed ‘The Whale’, from back in issue No. 254; however, it’s a more recently acquired 180SX that’s been drawing his attention after the former was sold. This Nissan S-chassis arrived bearing good fruits, with a five-stud conversion and four-pot brake upgrade already completed by the previous owner, although it was a little rough around the edges. Since acquiring it, Todd has tubed the front end, rebuilt the CA18 heart with…