Table of contents for No 311 November - December 2024 in NZ Performance Car

Welcome back to yet another issue of finding the right angles, ducking in and out of NZ’s sickest automotive magazine! With the warmer months kicking in and an extra hour of daylight to play with, it’s the perfect time to work on those projects and hit those after-work cruises. And, of course, event season is about to heat up again, and I can’t wait! As always, this issue wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team of contributors, all of whom I’ve tried to fit onto the next page. Putting an issue together feels like piecing together a puzzle, and I couldn’t be more stoked to have such a talented crew on board. From the photographers, writers, sales team — and, of course, our legendary graphic designer, who’s been in the…

Returning to Hamilton on Auckland Anniversary weekend, 25 January, entries for the event are now live, with prime spaces expected to fill quickly. Claudelands Arena will see New Zealand’s best import show vehicles go head-to-head for over 50 awards. With the addition of a lifestyle zone and the usual activations and displays, there’s bound to be something for everyone. For fans seeking a little more excitement, the Nats drags will take place on Sunday, 26 January in a twilight format.…

The 32 drivers vying for a Formula Drift Japan Pro 2 licence now have their dates locked in, with the event again taking place at Meremere Drift Park on 9 and 30 November, followed by the usual two-day final on 14 and 15 December. Robbie Nishida is again expected in New Zealand to fill the head judge role for the final. This will be a livestreamed event, with no spectators allowed outside the crew, so you can check out some of the best up-and-coming drivers from the comfort of your home.…

It’s not every day that you get a personal invite from Audi New Zealand to spend a day on snow and ice drifting in its latest performance line-up. The Audi Ice Experience, now in its 15th year, is a bucket-list event held at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (SHPG), a 400-hectare winter testing facility high up in the Crown Ranges above Wānaka. This is where car manufacturers and tyre companies push their vehicles to the absolute limit in some of the toughest winter conditions. Audi was the first to open this experience to the public, and, naturally, its competitors soon followed. MANUFACTURERS AND TYRE COMPANIES PUSH THEIR VEHICLES TO THE ABSOLUTE LIMIT When the invite for the Audi Ice Experience popped into my inbox, I almost wrote it off as…

After the roaring success of round one, Drift Wars returned to Taupō Motorsport Park for round two, this time taking over the more intimate and close-knit Club Circuit. Those who have been to Taupō on a track day on the Club Circuit know that the cosy atmosphere gives a real local drift event feel. Cars are lined up in the pits under easy-up marquees rather than full race garages on the main track. Parts, tools, and wheels scattered around create an environment that feels like how drifting used to be, and considering that the Club Circuit is where it started for a lot of drifters, the mood can be quite nostalgic! The thing with the Club Circuit for spectators is that the viewing is right next to the track, and…

For four days, the world’s coolest automotive engineering decimates a duke’s stately English country driveway, laying so much rubber it is still there a whole year later when they gather to do it all over again. It comes as no surprise that our very own ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett is in his element at Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) and has formed a special bond with the event and the man who started it — the Duke of Richmond. It has been a decade since Mike unleashed Kiwi rotary tuning and the sport of drifting on the British punters, and he instantly left his mark, gathering awards such as Revelation of FOS and Most Thrilling Driver, as well as ensuring earplug sales boom each year. The event has managed to eclipse…

Mount Shop — H&R springs Suspension is one of the most important factors in determining your vehicle’s day-to-day drivability. The first step in suspension tuning is to upgrade your vehicle’s stock springs. Upgrading your suspension components will ensure that your vehicle has improved handling and reduced body roll. H&R springs provide superb ride comfort and increased driving convenience. H&R Special Springs are high-quality products — they will not set or sag; they are designed and manufactured to be strong, resilient, and more durable than other automotive coil springs. All H&R springs are crafted from a special (hf) 54SiCr6 spring steel to ensure premium quality and performance. H&R springs are shot-peened to increase their life by more than 200 per cent. All production is completed in-house, so product quality is ensured.…

Hi, everyone, my name is Jacky Tse from Jtune. I’ve been a follower of this magazine pretty much since the first issue. If you read the autobiography that I wrote here a few years ago, you might already know a bit about me. I’ve been working with NZPC since the early 2000s — about 22 years now! Over that time, I’ve collaborated with all the editors, hosted events, contributed to the NZPC TV series, covered events, and even had some of my cars featured in the magazine. Occasionally, I’ve penned a few articles here and there. I’m not the best writer, and my English might not be perfect, but I always try to share what I see at events, during car shoots, and share my personal experiences and knowledge. Back…

Skid enthusiast Hayden Kirkwood and his team have secured a wildcard entry for Summernats 37, to be held in Canberra in early 2025. This has been a long-term goal for the serial car builder, who is well known for his ruthless approach to the pad and lack of any mechanical sympathy. Working with Curran Brothers Racing (CBR), the team now has a methanol-drinking 13B in their Cosmo and is working hard to fundraise for the trip, with the aim of making the Burnout Masters Grand Final.…

There are some JDM appearances that simply just work, time and time again, with the appearance never getting old. TE37s on literally anything? Nismo wheels on any GT-R? A GoPro on the back bumper of an EG Civic? Or, in this case, a Rocket Bunny kit on an S-chassis — a tried and true combination set to spark the interest of any passing performance car enthusiast. It’s a combination seen predominantly online too, with the ‘stancey’ pages promoting its use more than most, or the replicated versions finding their way onto countless competition drift cars. What you don’t see often, though, is an S15 put together to this level for street use, in little ol’ New Zealand — in Christchurch, no less. If that was where the story began and…

“IT GOES LIKE A RACOON ON METH” For many Kiwis, car culture is more than just a hobby — it’s a passion that starts young and lasts a lifetime. Hamilton-based mechanic Dan Tyler, aged 46, is a perfect example of this, having spent nearly two years turning a neglected 1980 Ford Escort 1600 Sport into a stunning and unique Ecoboost-powered machine. This project is a bold fusion of old-school nostalgia and modern power, and while the car’s vintage exterior may be familiar, what lies beneath tells a much different story. Dan’s journey to building this modern–classic hybrid is one filled with challenges, experimentation, and a strong commitment to creating something that is a little outside the square. The result? A track-capable street car that’s just as comfortable cruising downtown as…

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.…

Speculation is rife about this year’s hero car or cars after ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett blew everyone away last year with the 787D. The 7 December date was locked in well in advance this year, leaving the thousands who flock to the event each year wondering what will appear for the 2024 edition. It is the only event where you can see the whole New Zealand–based fleet, and all of them tend to see action at the event. VIP tickets always sell out for what is a jam-packed day that runs until early evening, so make sure you get in fast if you want the best viewing and a little shade.…

You ever run into someone still driving their day-one car? It feels like finding a hidden gem. When you stick with one ride, it becomes a part of your story. Most car enthusiasts tend to swap cars like they’re in a game of musical chairs, but we all know that one bloke who’s held on to their car through thick and thin. You see its progress at events and on Instagram, and it’s pretty cool to watch. I first spotted this particular owner and their car at Autofest back in 2017, and seeing how it’s evolved since then has been a real treat. Meet Kaidyn Clark, a 25-year-old based in the ‘Tron’ and the proud owner of this 1997 Nissan Silvia S14. An icon in the scene, Kaidyn’s S14 is…

REIGNING CLUBFEST 2023 CHAMPIONS Way back in 2003, a new name emerged on the streets of Auckland when a group of like-minded friends decided to give their crew a name for the weekends that they spent together. Boost Like This was born during a car ride out to Spookers, with Sanil’s ‘RIP U AL’ Evo I being one of the first to carry the brand. To this day, it remains with him as a reminder of where the group has come from. The group now has over 180 members across the country, with the large Auckland team supported by fast-growing Wellington and Christchurch crews, and members scattered in between. The club’s focus has traditionally been on shows, but many members are now enjoying the popular roll racing scene, with the…

AGE: 29 // LOCATION: WEST AUCKLAND OCCUPATION: MECHANICAL ENGINEER THANKS: Firstly, I would like to thank my late father, my wife, my son, my mum, and my uncle — without their love and support, I wouldn’t be where I am today, chasing my passion for building and racing cars; thanks also to everyone who has helped with this build, especially the original owner, Abhinesh Pratap, who did most of the work on the engine swap and built the car to provide a solid foundation for this project — I also appreciate the help and information provided to make the project better and complete it; thank you to my mates who have helped with this car, especially Kashif, who helped me change the head gasket over a couple of long nights…

AGE: 33 // LOCATION: REWA // OCCUPATION: TRUCK DRIVER BUILD TIME: TWO YEARS // LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: TWO YEARS THANKS: MUM AND DAD, MY WIFE SAMMA, AJ KUMAR, ASH, IFTIKAR, SHARUKH, ATIF, ALEN, SHAH, HAMISH, ZIGGY, ELVISH AND SHAMEEL LAL NZPC: Hey, Haroon, you’ve got something pretty special here — maybe even the only one like it in New Zealand! But before we dive into the details, how did you first get into modifying cars? Haroon: My dad is a mechanic, so I’ve been around cars and working on them since I was young, which eventually got me addicted. Since moving to New Zealand, back in the day, there were a lot of Evo I, II, and III models around. Being around them and having a lot of mates who…