Table of contents for Summer 2017 in Performance Vauxhall

SUBSCRIBE TO PERFORMANCE VAUXHALL SEE PAGE 46 FOR DETAILS No prizes for guessing what we're focusing on in this bumper issue of Performance Vauxhall! As I write this introductory piece for the mag, I’m wondering what recently finished Vauxhalls, Opels and Holdens (and perhaps a Bedford or two) will be on display when the Performance Vauxhall Show kicks off at Santa Pod on Sunday 11th June. There may well be plenty to see the night before too, when the Vauxhall-only Run What Ya Brung comes into its own shortly before DJ Pied Piper takes to the stage for the benefit of those who have bought weekend camping tickets. I can’t wait! We’ve decided to use this special edition of the magazine to highlight some of the cars you can expect…

PRICE £429 CONTACT kenwood-electronics.co.uk Kenwood Electronics has been at the forefront of automotive audio since it launched the legendary MASK in-car entertainment system back in the 1990s, so you can imagine how excited we were to get our hands on the firm’s all-new DMX7017DABS multimedia unit. Complete with Bluetooth, DAB, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the option of a built-in dash cam, it’s a double-DIN delight sure to excite owners of modern Vauxhalls. Do you need to use an iPhone or an Android device? Either. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is launched when you connect any compatible mobile device to the DMX7017DABS. The only thing you’ll need to change is the charging cable between different smartphones. This is true plug and play connectivity! Do you need the very latest iPhone…

PRICE £349.99 If you value connectivity while on the move, then this is the Pioneer head unit for you. The company was a key player in the development of Apple’s CarPlay service, a fact that ensured Pioneer is streets ahead of the competition in terms of providing products that take full advantage of the Californian tech behemoth’s iPhone interaction software. Based around a stunning 6.2-inch Capacitive touchscreen, the SPH-DA120 mimics the user interface of your iPhone, meaning that anyone familiar with Apple products will be instantly able to use their car’s new audio equipment. That’s right – no more faffing around with poorly designed menu systems, just a simple graphic interface that will feel familiar to any Apple smartphone user. AppRadio mode presents navigation, communication and entertainment apps on the…

PRICE £149.00 You’re caught between a rock and a hard place – you want to splash out on ICE, but you’ve been saving for a new turbo. Well, dear reader, the DEX-X7800DAB is the Pioneer product for you! Stuffed full of high-end features and based around a classic, single-DIN design, this attractive head unit represents an affordable route to excellent automotive entertainment. The DEH-X7800’s slim profile is a straightforward fit in older Vauxhalls, making it the product of choice for those that want extensive audio functionality without having to cut their ride’s dashboard in order to accommodate a double-DIN chunk of tech. The DEH-X7800 includes DAB with crystal clear reception and Pioneer’s industry leading Time Shift feature (enabling pause and rewind of live DAB transmissions). The unit also functions as an…

Turbocharging is nothing new. It’s a technology that’s been around for more than a hundred years, but many modifiers still see a snail-shaped bhp booster as mysterious kit. We all understand that an engine with a turbo strapped to it will deliver enhanced performance, but why is this the case? How does a turbocharger actually work? We paid a visit to Turbo Performance to find out. WHAT IS A TURBOCHARGER? Before we get too heavily into the workings of a turbocharger, let’s acquaint ourselves with what it actually is. The basic principle is quite simple; think of a turbo as though it’s a big air pump. As the exhaust gases exit the engine, they spin the turbine wheel of the turbo, which is connected to a compressor wheel at its…

Ten of the Best (TOTB) is a competition aimed at finding the best all-round car and drivers in Europe. Handling, top speed and a quarter-mile drag contest are used to determine the best of the best across front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive applications. Amazingly, all cars that compete in TOTB are road legal, taxed, tested and insured. Most of the cars that take part are heavily modified, some to the extreme. Many of the entrants have either built or modified their own vehicles, while others represent tuners and garages that specialise in the types of cars entered to compete. Team Vauxhall are always in the finals. Last year, Colin Rotheray and his V6-powered bright green Corsa B came away with silverware. In fact, when it comes to registering…

The Performance Vauxhall Show is delighted to welcome the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of fluid transfer systems, Goodridge, as official brake line partner. Since 1969, Goodridge has been the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of fluid transfer systems. The UK-based firm engineers bespoke systems for all vehicle fluid transfer applications, but it’s best known for its innovative performance braided steel brake lines, loved by petrolheads the world over and perfectly suited to shows in the Fast Car Entertainment portfolio (Performance Vauxhall Show Santa Pod, Performance Vauxhall Show Rockingham, Ford Fair, TRAX, FordFest, Classic Ford Show, Japfest, Japfest Donington and the Fast Car Festival, also held at Donington). THE DESIGN Goodridge performance brake line kits feature the finest quality hose comprising a PTFE inner lining with a stainless steel outer…

Respected automotive detailing product specialist, ValetPRO, has confirmed its sponsorship of this year’s PVS Show and Shine competition. ValetPRO is a British brand which develops and makes industry leading car care products. The company is renowned the world over for its environmentally friendly fluids and pH neutral formulas, resulting in safe and efficient cleaning gear suitable for delicate surfaces, such as chrome, polished aluminium or magnesium. ValetPRO products can be used on these metal finishes without fear of surface corrosion setting in. An ever-expanding product range loved by professional detailers and automotive enthusiasts alike has positioned ValetPRO as a market leader of easy to use products created for dedicated owners of treasured rides, but it’s also the less obsessive who appreciate the firm’s gear, where the least amount of effort…

Never underestimate the importance of good quality tyres – the rubber you choose will affect the acceleration, braking and cornering abilities of your Vauxhall. You need to buy wisely; there’s little point in increasing your car’s power output, improving its suspension or beefingup its brakes if the black circles you’ve fitted undermine the time, energy and money you’ve invested in enhancing other areas of your Griffin. Tyres are the only part of your Vauxhall in direct contact with the road. Give serious thought to the kind of driving style and road conditions you expect the car to be subjected to. Careful consideration will help you to buy wisely! Have a read of the next few pages where we highlight what you should be thinking about before placing your order. HOW…

“IT CAN SPRINT TO 60MPH FROM A STANDING START IN LESS THAN 4.9 SECS” Lotus launched the Elise S1 in 1995. Just five years later, new crash safety regulations meant that the Norfolk-based car maker needed a development partner for its second-gen Elise chassis. Long-time Lotus technical collaborator, Vauxhall, was called upon to assist, a deal that saw the Elise S2 and a new Griffinbadged two-seater (both cars based around the same chassis) built at Hethel. The VX220 had arrived. Originally available with Vauxhall’s 2.2-litre Z22SE sixteen-valver (the same 145bhp powerplant found beneath the bonnets of various Mk4 Astras and Vectra Cs) and weighing just 870kg, the Targa-topped, mid-engined speedster was capable of a 0-60mph time of just 5.6secs. That pace was smashed with the arrival of the Z20LET-propelled VX220…

FAST FACTS 592bhp Z20LEH engine AP Racing four-piston brakes Air Lift Performance suspension Diamond cut ‘Snowflake’ alloys Skoda Meteor Grey paintwork “I KNEW RIGHT FROM THE START THERE WOULD BE NO EXPENSE SPARED WHEN IT CAME TO THIS BUILD” It’s no secret that a huge number of Vauxhall tuners love to modify Astra vans, but have you ever stopped to wonder why so many Griffin enthusiasts choose to play with cargo carriers? We’ll admit that it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why so many of you like load luggers, yet there’s no denying the strong appeal of a commercial vehicle capable of bloodying the noses of uxury sports cars, especially if the van in question is carrying a toolbox and a stack of sun-bleached tabloids! The owner of the Mk5 Astra…

Vauxhall and Opel Motorsport have made light work of dominating the British and European Junior Rally Championships with the ADAM R2 (as featured in the December/ January edition of Performance Vauxhall), but lingering questions about each manufacturer’s ability to do the same in the World Rally Championship may soon be answered following the unveiling of the Corsa E R5 Concept. Presented in classic Opel Motorsport colours by Holzer Motorsport at the recent Rally de Portugal, the car was well received by rally fans. We asked our contacts at Opel for comment. They directed us to Holzer, who pointed us in the direction of a fap-tastic video featuring bigboobed girls in lycra. Maybe something was lost in translation? We’ll be sure to report back with more information as soon as we’ve…

FAST FACTS Modified Chianti Red paintwork Mk4 Astra GSi brakes TA-Technix coilovers Irmscher bonnet extensions Inovit Sonic wheels “THE PAINTWORK HAD LACQUER PEEL AND THE BUMPERS WERE SMASHED IN” By virtue of the fact that you’re reading this magazine, we reckon you’re likely to be ever so slightly obsessive when it comes to looking after your car. There are, however, those that take their dedication to the cause far more seriously than others. Take James Pearson, for example. His attention to detail and unwavering enthusiasm for the 2003 Mk4 Astra Bertone Cabriolet he bought in 2014 has seen it transformed from a slovenly slouch to a full-on awardwinning showstopper! Past dalliances with a Nova SR and a Corsa B sparked James’ love of Griffinbadged machines, and though he has flirted…

Bluetooth The DMX7017DABS features the latest Bluetooth technology, allowing you to stream music with high quality playback from your mobile device at the touch of the Kenwood unit’s screen. The same functionality allows you to make and receive calls (legally!) when driving. Phone pairing is a piece of cake, and the sound quality delivered during calls is excellent. Spotify The DMX7017DAB’s Spotify user interface is a doddle to use and incredibly intuitive. Access your playlists, artists, albums and songs safely and legally while on the move in your motor. Digital radio You’ll need to run a discrete DAB aerial on the inside surface of your car’s glass, but it’s a necessary step if you want to access hundreds of digital radio stations. Fortunately, installation is easy. Android Auto Designed with…

Not everything Pioneer offers involves you having to part with your hard-earned dough. Proof, if proof be needed, can be found in the company’s Advanced Remote Control (ARC) software, a free-to-download app developed in order to enable folk to get the very best out of their Pioneer ICE. The application transforms your smartphone into a powerful remote control, making it far easier to toggle music functionality. Providing a phone cradle is used, you can use ARC in total safety. Depending on the Pioneer kit you own, you can connect ARC via a connection cable or Bluetooth. Then, taking advantage of the ‘swipe control’ graphical user interface presented on your smartphone, you can control volume, track selection, audio source (such as FM, DAB, Bluetooth etc.) in a single fluid movement. And…

Audiophiles will be well aware of the fact that Pioneer started out making high-end speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers. With this in mind, it should go without saying that even the most demanding of bassheads are well catered for in the company’s product line-up. That said, the proof is in the pudding, so if you want to make your fillings shake and your eyeballs bounce, then we suggest you check out the TS-WH500A subwoofer series. Don’t let the unit’s diminutive profile fool you. This is a seriously capable bit of hardware making use of every last shred of Pioneer’s technical know-how. Based around an integrated MOSFET amplifier capable of boosting a massive 150w through its aluminium cone woofer, the TS series manages to be both ear-bleedingly loud and impressively compact at…

BEHIND THE WHEEL We’ve packed the events timetable (page 63) full of quarter-mile track action for you to take part in, as well as laying on a selection of drag car, jet car and Ten of the Best (TOTB) demonstrations to show you how the professionals get the job done! Whether you’re a seasoned drag warrior or somebody new to Santa Pod Raceway, you can take your place at the start line and attempt to pass the quarter-mile marker in the fastest time possible. Pure enjoyment is yours for the taking, but bragging rights are also up for grabs, especially if your recorded times are much better than those registered by your mates! Your mission is simple: accelerate from a standing start and cover the quarter-mile in the shortest time…

Performance Vauxhall Show is delighted to welcome the world’s leading high performance brake specialist, EBC Brakes, as headline sponsor. With a worldwide workforce of more than 400 people, EBC Brakes is an independently owned and managed leader in the brake equipment market, proud of its staff, its products, its customers and its success. EBC produces the largest range of brake pads and discs in the world, with over 5000 part numbers covering every type of moving vehicle. The majority of EBC brake discs are made in the UK, although the company also has a Stateside manufacturing facility. Despite modern trends towards cheap, imported brake pads and rotors, EBC leads in terms of technology, quality control, product performance and customer service. Cars, trucks, SUVs and even mountain bikes are covered by…

10th BI RTH DAY DI SPLAY As if one anniversary stand at this year’s Performance Vauxhall Show wasn’t enough, we’ve only gone and pulled another together. This time, we’re celebrating a decade of Corsa VXR. That’s right, the nippy hot hatch is ten years young. How time flies! Back in 2007, Vauxhall stunned the hot hatch market with the 1.6- litre super-supermini, a car that delivered 189bhp and 170lb/ft in stock trim, but can be tuned to infinity through a variety of aftermarket power packages, including displacement-increasing stroker kits. True to form, Vauxhall then released the hardcore Nürburgring Edition variant of the cool Corsa, adding almost 20bhp over the standard car’s power figure. Brembo brakes, recalibrated ABS, a Remus exhaust system and a mechanical limited-slip differential were also offered as…

SHOW LAYOUT All attractions correct at time of going to press. All attractions subject to change. Asterisk denotes weather permitting. CLUB DIRECTORY All.VOC Astra #twintoppersclub Astra J UK (VXOC) Astra Mk4 Owners Association Astra Nurburgring Club Astra Owners Network Astra UK Autobahnstormers Car Girl Culture Cavalier Turbo Owners Club Club Calibra Club-Vaux Corsa E Owners Club Corsa Sport Corsa B UK Eastside Vectra Owners General Motors Club Just Opel Vauxhall KentVaux MIG Performance Vauxhalls Modum Night Shifters North East VXR Owners (Scotland) Opel Vauxhall Owners Club Performance Nova Group SAABWORX Scottish Vauxhall Owners Southwest Vauxhall Owners Club SWVaux The Mad Bus Club The Mad Vauxhall Club Total Vectra Ultimate Vauxhall Owners Club Ultravaux Unit 6B V4xhl VauxDrivers Everywhere Vauxhall Astra K Vauxhall Dirty Diesel Club Vauxhall Drivers Club/VXRonline Vauxhall Insignia…

We had a great response to our appeal for entries to this year’s PVS Show and Shine competition. The standard of cars submitted was very high, and we can’t wait to showcase the great Griffins that’ll be battling it out for the trophy (not to mention the bragging rights!) on offer at Santa Pod Raceway when the show gets underway. Highlights of this year’s contest will include former Performance Vauxhall feature cars in the form of Suzi Stubbs’ GCAPbuilt Mk5 Astra VXR Arctic Edition, Danny West’s lowslung Corsa B fivedoor and Dan Barlow’s pristine Verde Green Mk4 Astra Bertone Cabriolet. We’re also looking forward to seeing James Whiting’s explod Omega estate, Will Frost’s Regaltuned Adam S, Nicola Sidney’s slammed GTC VXR, Emma Jones’ satin black Corsa D Design and a…

FAST FACTS 189bhp C20XE engine ZF limited-slip differential Spax adjustable dampers Mk1 Astra GTE brakes TSW Evo seven-spokes Red Top conversions were once commonplace, but you might argue that those days are over. Indeed, the plentiful supply of C20XE engines in good, low mileage condition has dried up in recent years, with modifiers choosing to play with newer two-litre Vauxhall powerplants (managed by easy-to-configure ECUs and off-the-shelf power packages) instead of spending time tinkering with old technology that often requires bespoke equipment to work in an enhanced state of tune. Yet if we cast our minds back by a decade or more, the idea of slotting a sixteenvalve Mk2 Astra GTE’s beating heart into a lesser-powered Vauxhall or Opel was enough to get pulses (and drivers) racing, especially if the…

No sector of the modified car world moves forward with quite the same relentless pace as that of in-car entertainment (ICE). Think about it. Even if you’re not a fully paid-up ICE geek, there’s every chance that the standard head unit in your Vauxhall will have been superseded and replaced with a far more capable component in the recent past. On the whole, this is great news; the sheer speed with which the ICE industry moves forward means that there’s never a shortage of amazing tech to marvel at. Better yet, many feature-rich head units are available to buy at seriously affordable prices. You only need to take a look at the Pioneer range of products for proof of what we’re banging on about! Pioneer has long been a well…

Much like the SPH-DA120 outlined earlier, the AVHX8800BT is a Pioneer head unit based around two core principles: ease of use and simple integration with your mobile device’s native features. Boasting a seven-inch touchscreen – one of the biggest and sharpest displays fitted to Pioneer car audio kit – AVH-X8800BT works with both Android Auto Audio Control and Apple CarPlay, meaning that you’re covered no matter where your loyalties to phone manufacturers lie! The really clever stuff happens behind the scenes; Pioneer’s cutting-edge technology allows the AVH-X8800BT to perfectly mimic the interface of your smartphone, opening up ace functionality, including the ability to dictate and review texts via voice commands. You can do much of what you’d ordinarily require your digits for, but by verbally sending instructions to the head…

25 YEARS YOUNG! This year’s Performance Vauxhall Show will play host to a special display of Cavalier Turbos in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of what is widely regarded as one of Vauxhall’s bestloved models. We’ll be presenting ten outstanding examples of the C20LETpowered four-wheel drive super saloon, ranging from spotless standard specimens through to heavily modified monsters. During its all-too-brief three-year production run, the Cavalier Turbo wowed performance car enthusiasts with a 204bhp factory power output generated by a two-litre, turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed transmission. Model-specific leather seats provided superior cabin comfort, while sporty body styling, superb handling (assisted by independent rear suspension) and a 0-60mph time of just 6.4 seconds hinted at what star driver, John Cleland, was doing with the SuperTouring Mk3 Cavalier in the…

Apex Performance Parts Ltd Blue Pig Event Photography Glencoe Ltd (t/a FSE) Goodridge UK Ltd Photography UK Taylormade Ltd Valet Pro Adrian Flux Auto Finesse Auto Perfection Autobrite Direct Automate Louth Ltd Carbon Cleaning UK Deadly Brand Dodo Juice Ltd Enhance Performance Euro Plates UK Exhausts UK Limited Freshasfck / Ducks Back HS Components Ltd (t/a Autovaux) Imperial Performance Jay’s Wax JS Performance Juicy Details Kleen Freaks Kode Performance Ltd LMF Vauxhall Maze Media Meguiar’s UK Ltd Nevlock Performance Pell and Co (t/a Racing Aces) Performance Engine Components PetrolHead Design Studio Ltd Phat Detailing Planit Plates Premium Autocare/Autoglym Pressedplate Ltd (t/a Europl8) Royal Automobile Association Spin Agencies The AA The Hairy Barber Box The Serial Vapists Toxic Vinyls Turbosmart UK Unicorn Vagabond Wear…

For the benefit of those of you who’ll be taking advantage of the Run What Ya Brung day and the overnight camping on offer at Santa Pod Raceway for this year’s Performance Vauxhall Show, we’ve lined up an evening of entertainment to take place the night before the main event gets underway. Yes, that’s right, it may be Saturday 10th June, but you’ll be able to party like it’s 2001 thanks to the appointment of DJ Pied Piper and MC DT as the headline act for Saturday night’s entertainment. Known to their mums as Eugene and Connor, the lads are best recognised for their award-winning garage anthem Do You Really Like It?. Now’s the time to shout out loud, “we’re loving it, loving it, loving it, we’re loving it like…

We’re delighted to welcome one of the UK’s top motorsport and performance automotive brands, Apex Performance, as a multi-show sponsor for the Fast Car Entertainment portfolio (Performance Vauxhall Show Santa Pod, Performance Vauxhall Show Rockingham, Ford Fair, TRAX, Classic Ford Show, Japfest, Japfest Donington, FordFest and the Fast Car Festival). Apex looks after four quality parts manufacturers, namely KSport, Hardrace, BC Racing and BC Forged Wheels, each catering for a different element of the performance tuning scene. Be sure to pop along and visit the Apex team at their exhibition stand within the PVS retail village, and be sure to have go on their F1 simulator! K-SPORT You’ve sorted your Vauxhall’s chassis with uprated parts, the car corners quicker than it used to, but now you need to stop more…

L eading advanced fuel system equipment brand, Sytec, has joined PVS as a welcome sponsor of hugely anticipated drag car demonstrations. Sytec is a leading brand of Glencoe Limited, a supplier of professional fuel system equipment (including fuel pumps, pressure regulators, filters and a host of other parts) to Formula One, race and rally teams. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company supplied kit to Dealer Team Vauxhall, the astonishingly successful racing outfit managed by legendary Griffin tuner, Bill Blydenstein, and featuring championship-winning Chevettes, Vivas and Firenzas raced and rallied to success by the likes of Gerry Marshall and Jimmy McRae. In addition to Sytec, Glencoe is the distributor of Facet Pumps (USA), Walbro/Ti (USA) and Malpassi (Italy). Its products are widely used at heart of the modifying…

Vauxhall recently opened its dedicated police car factory – the largest of its kind anywhere in Europe – at its manufacturing plant in Luton. In a move that has generated fifty new jobs, the fresh facility has been created after Vauxhall’s emergency service vehicle production was moved in-house from its previous location at Millbrook. Keen to find out what’s involved in converting an Astra, Vivaro, Insignia, Movano, Mokka, Corsa or Combo into a law enforcement, ambulance or fire services support machine, we popped along to the new assembly plant and met with Dick Ellam, manager of Vauxhall’s Special Vehicles division. Having joined our favourite manufacturer as an apprentice “many moons ago” before going on to work in various senior brand management roles (including a stint overseeing the MasterFit service and…

FAST FACTS 262bhp A16LER engine Owen Developments hybrid turbo ST Suspensions ST-X coilovers Vectra VXR brakes Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 wheels Two hundred and sixty two brake horsepower (yes, we know that figure should be written in numeric form, but sometimes you’ve just got to spell these things out!). Even in a world crammed full of Corsas chucking out big power, that’s still a lofty number of ponies for a supermini. Say ‘so long’ to the standard 189bhp VXR, leave the driving school 1.2-litre slowcoach as a speck in the rear view mirror. We’re flying high in a Corsa that moves with conviction. Rhys Morgan has built a Vauxhall with a dark side. The carpenter from Bridgend started out with an 1.8-litre Astra Coupe not long after obtaining his…

It’s crazy to think that more than two months have passed since we were given a ‘world first’ look at the Power Maxed Racing (PMR) BTCC Astras, but here we are, with multiple rounds of the championship out of the way! The seventh-gen Vauxhall Astras driven by Tom Chilton and Senna Proctor made their debut in the opening round of the 2017 championship at Brands Hatch. An impressive first outing scooped podiums, points and silverware when PMR was awarded the manufacturer’s trophy for round one, Proctor received the Jack Sears trophy and Chilton took third place in round three. Race one started in the spring sunshine at Brands after one of the most disjointed qualifying sessions in the sport’s recent history (red flags and constantly changing weather caused the session…