Table of contents for No 310 September - October 2024 in NZ Performance Car

Let’s be real — we’re living in some pretty crazy times as car enthusiasts. The world of performance cars and tuning is shifting in ways we never really saw coming. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and maybe a little bit of unease. With tech advancing faster than ever and the big move towards electric vehicles, the car scene we know and love is starting to look a lot different — and it’s got us all chatting. We’ve all seen the buzz. Every manufacturer out there is pushing hard to electrify their line-ups. Sure, it’s great for the environment, and yeah, it’s probably where we need to be heading, but let’s be honest — it’s also making a lot of us feel a little…

The Nissan Godzilla is a famed beast, long held dear in the hearts of this publication’s readers and a benchmark for performance since back in the days of Recce McGregor doing 11s in his R33. It’s a love affair with both a story and a history, and, indeed, Kiwis for a long time were seen as leading the way in GT-R development. Many still long for the days of wondering what Heat Treatments, Croydons, GDS, or R.I.P.S would get up to next, such was the nature of pre–social media times and having to head to the track to feel, see, and experience something a little special. These days, the game is changing and there are very distinct pathways that owners can go down with what is becoming an increasingly rare…

Well, hello again — did you think you’d got rid of me and my pesky projects? Ha, think again! I’m not going anywhere, and I’m definitely not going to stop building performance cars, that’s for damn sure. If you remember, some issues ago now, I bought and modified (well, modified by skilled people) a Honda Civic Type R (FK8). This was a dream purchase for me, and it sure as hell was a once-in-a-lifetime type of situation where I looked at the finance, the purchase price, and said, f*ck it! I have no regrets, and I wouldn’t do it differently again. However, as time went on with my near-new vehicle purchase, I felt that a part of my automotive soul was perishing — I had this incredibly capable machine, yet…

Central Blast is NZ’s largest vapour blasting specialist for surface restoration; we talk to owner Joel Oswald about the advantages of vapour blasting and debunk the misconception that vapour blasting is for small engine-type items only, with a focus on how it can be used in mobile set-ups When people think about vapour blasting, they often think of a blast cabinet that restores engine parts to brand new. However, while it provides exceptional cabinet-based results on all types of smaller and precision components like engine parts, vapour blasting is not restricted by the size of the object being treated in any way. With our fully self-contained mobile trucks and 40-plus metres of hose, Central Blast can vapour blast pretty much anything, anywhere. Not only does Central Blast strip paint, rust,…

RB30DET-T Thomas Schouten’s journey with his R32 Skyline, known as ‘CRZMSL’, is one of passion and a fair share of setbacks. It all kicked off when he swapped his 1972 Holden HQ Kingswood for a Series 1 R32 Skyline GTS-T coupe. What started as just another Skyline project would eventually evolve into something truly special. The early days with the Skyline were a thrill. It was Thomas’s first taste of turbocharged power, and he couldn’t resist tinkering with it — mod after mod. But life threw some curveballs. After some run-ins with the law and a move overseas, the project had to be put on hold. The Skyline was parked, and Thomas’s focus shifted elsewhere. Fast forward to 2015. Back in New Zealand and with a bit more stability in…

HERO CONTRIBUTOR NIKKI ARMADA When I was a teenager, my dad, who loved cars and always kept up with the latest models, used to take me to car events like drag racing and car shows held in Manila, Philippines. A big Mitsubishi fan, he owned a Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and a Mitsubishi GTO back then. He also loved collecting toy cars and magazines, which he enjoyed as a pastime. I came to New Zealand for work in 2014, arriving alone. My child was young, and I left behind my wife, who was pregnant. This situation pushed me to work hard for my family and myself, saving every cent to support our needs. Back then, I used to borrow NZ Performance Car magazines from the Auckland City Library because I couldn’t…

Premier Events has cracked it when it comes to putting on automotive events; spectators haven’t been this spoilt for choice since the 1990s Big Day Out festivals. There was never a dull moment at the Prowear Chrome Horsepower Festival this year, either on or off the track. With over 10 years of experience in putting on the festival, Chrome Horsepower shows how far the car culture scene has come in terms of an entertainment event. The layout was superb, and it was an easy stroll around the seemingly endless number of modified cars either on show or cruising the track. Azhar, the main man behind Premier Events, is an old shoe — for want of a better term — at this type of event, having been involved in shows from…

It’s rare to stumble on a build that’s 11 years in the making and, better yet, one that’s unique, well-polished, tuned, and driven. Kevin Balajadia, chef and diehard Honda enthusiast, was given this Prelude some 11 years ago by a colleague and good friend and, no doubt at the time, had no idea that it would provide over a decade of good times — and low ones too. Originally an H22A-powered auto, Kevin had big plans all those years ago to build a solid H22A turbo set-up to give it the power he was after. It wasn’t until some years later that Kevin really wanted to sink his teeth into the Prelude build. H22A turbo parts were proving hard to source, so he looked to Europe for inspiration; Kevin tells…

Change is the law of life, and right now, the automotive tuning world is on the cusp of a new era. Many reading this will have only ever known the tuning scene to have two stable elements: internal combustion and a Japanese platform. The thought of our scene that we fiercely protect being exposed to the hybrid-battery world is a tough wall to break through for many, and I get it. If I had told you a year ago that the Toyota Prius would become a real and viable platform in the tuning world, most people would have laughed me right out of the building. Guess what? That ‘nightmare’ has just become a reality, but trust me, it isn’t anywhere near as scary as you imagine. I can hear you…

As a specialised boutique restorer for race and collectible cars, Evolution Motorsport has garnered an extensive client list from around the world thanks to their attention to detail and extensive experience; we spoke to owner Rick Michels to find out where and how vapour blasting can be used in the restoration process A premier motorsport and restoration business specialising in classic race car and road car restoration, Evolution Motorsport has been a significant player in the national race car industry since the early 1990s. Their reputation has grown through word of mouth, with clients entrusting them with projects of all levels, and their experience in race car preparation and competition makes them a trusted name in the industry. They are a familiar presence at race circuits nationwide, where you may…

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.…

AGE: 43 //LOCATION: AUCKLAND //OCCUPATION: CHEF BUILD TIME: FK8: ONE WEEK; AE85: THREE YEARS LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: FK8: THREE YEARS; AE85: NINE YEARS NZPC: Hey, Ed. Love the modern Honda and old-school Toyota combo. How did you get into performance cars in the first place? I got into performance cars back in 1995 when New Zealand had less than two million people. Shops closed early, so I spent my evenings with friends going for drives, working on cars, and teaching each other, since there was no internet back then. We even used to hit up the ‘illegal’ drags at Quay Street for fun! My first car in New Zealand was a 1980 Mini Leyland with a 1000cc engine. It was also the first car I ever did an engine swap…

SUPERPRO SuperPro is an innovative Australian manufacturer of automotive polyurethane suspension bushings, control arms, sway bars and other suspension components for both 4x4 and performance vehicles. Engineered to outperform, SuperPro’s specially formulated, high-quality components are designed to create suspension solutions for better stability, handling and control in both on- and offroad applications. Superpro is available through Mount Shop. MEGUIAR’S ULTIMATE CERAMIC COATING Meguiar’s Ultimate Ceramic Coating borrows from professional technology, providing a premium ceramic coating for cars that delivers ultra-durable protection with increased gloss and slickness. Get a durable ceramic coating without the need for a difficult professional application process. After cleaning and prepping the paint, simply spray, spread with a premium microfibre towel, and flip your towel for the final buff off to reveal amazing gloss and slickness. This…

4&ROTARY SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPS Timaru International Motor Raceway. The event will feature all your regular favourites, This year’s biggest southern import culture event returns to Timaru on Friday, 15 November and kicks off with the Japfest track day aimed at rotary and pre-2000 vehicles. The event spans three days, with the Show & Shine taking place at the Southern Trust Events Centre on Saturday before a broader Ultimate Track Day on the Sunday back at including unveils, roll racing, drift demos, power skids, and the DB Drags. The Champs often sells out Timaru accommodation, so book early to avoid disappointment. As always, more information can be found on the social pages. SOUTHERN STYLE Drift South has announced its upcoming season dates: Round 1 — Saturday, 14 September Euromarque Motorsport Park,…

Sometimes in life, a combination just works to create something so special that the result is far more than just a simple sum of its parts. Think bourbon and Coke, mince and cheese in a pie, peanut butter and jam on toast. An E30 BMW on BBS RS wheels fits in with those: by themselves, they’re both good, but add them together, and they’re suddenly so much more. This specific E30, belonging to Wellingtonian Dennis Kumar, is precisely that: seemingly simple on paper, but the right mix of well-thought-out parts means that it doesn’t need to be over the top to be perfect. Dennis says that he wasn’t always a BMW guy. He has a history of owning various turbocharged Nissans and never really understood what people saw in the…

$3600 WORTH OF CAR CARE KITS TO BE WON! Enter now for your chance to win one of six awesome Meguiar’s car care kits, valued at over $600 each! Each kit is packed with a range of premium products designed to clean and protect your ride. To enter, simply scan the QR code or visit nzperformancecar.co.nz/winmeguiars24 and submit your details. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to give your car the care it deserves. Hurry, competition closes on Sunday, 27 October. Enter now and get ready to treat your car to Meguiar’s premium car care products! ENTER HERE! To go in the draw to win scan the QR or visit nzperformancecar.co.nz/winmeguiars24…

Hey, Jacky Tse, long time no see! It’s been a while since we’ve seen you contribute to NZPC. What have you been up to recently? We’d love to hear about your upcoming projects! Hi, guys! Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve written or featured any cars in the magazine, but we have some exciting news right here! I’m still running Jtune, still spinning spanners on cars and tuning, and also helping with some driver training — mostly normal everyday drivers, but a few track-day drivers as well. I’ve been working in the car industry for 22 straight years, and now that the world has opened up again, I wanted some time off to adventure around, finish off some personal projects, and chase some dreams of my own. First, I…

Vapour blasting, also known as wet blasting, has been steadily gaining traction in the automotive world. It’s not just a fad but a genuine game-changer for those who take pride in their vehicle restorations. Whether you’re an enthusiast restoring a classic or a professional working in the industry, understanding vapour blasting’s ins and outs can help you decide if it’s right for your next project, either alongside or in place of other dry blasting techniques. At its core, vapour blasting involves mixing abrasive media with water to clean and polish surfaces. Unlike traditional dry blasting, which uses air to propel the abrasive media, vapour blasting incorporates water, creating a slurry that is more gentle yet highly effective. This method is particularly useful for cleaning and finishing surfaces without causing damage…

Autoblast has been a cornerstone in the vehicle restoration industry for over 20 years, with expertise in media blasting, specialising in underbody restorations, rustproofing, and vehicle shell stripping. We talk to business owner Dave Kirkham about the applications and processes where dry media blasting may be advantageous over wet-blasting techniques as well as getting more detail on when vapour blasting can be appropriate as part of the restoration process Media blasting is a method of removing contaminants or coatings from a surface, while adjusting the substrate’s profile to meet specific coating requirements. Autoblast primarily uses garnet as its blasting media. The flexibility in the grade or fineness of the media allows for precise adjustments to achieve the desired results. For instance, many epoxy coatings perform optimally with a 50-micron etch,…