HOT AND HEAVY

Morning, Todd (and the team), We just received our copies of this month’s release of NZV8, complete with the Dart story. Awesome job done by you all; nice touch with the ‘grey’ pic of both of us — kind of fitting! Since then, we have had cooling issues — of course, the car wasn’t finished with us … what would we do without the monthly spend on it? — with running temp totally not correct at 110 degrees and up to 120 at a standstill! So back to our favourite team at Tuning and Performance — which we should have shares in by now — and the cheap and nasty low-volume water pump now replaced by a high-flow goodie, and two fans at the rear of the radiator to draw air, replacing the also cheap and nasty fan that was initially installed. Also, have got Tuning and Performance to make up a heat shield for the brake fluid reservoir, as the under-bonnet temperature was causing brake fade and plastic melt. Finally, have cut three holes at the rear of the scoop to let the heat from the headers escape from what was basically an oven. Everything fits so tight that there is zero air circulating. Yay, on the drive home yesterday, at completion of the above work, temp now running at 90–95 in the current hot weather, so John is finally happy and can now head off to Beach Hop next week in it. Mission accomplished after nearly eight years. Warmest regards, Carol and John

You guys sure have had no end of drama with the car — not that you’d know it, as it looks amazing, and drives amazingly. We love dealing with people such as yourselves, who still, despite what you’ve been through, have a great attitude towards it, and life in general. By the time people are reading this, we’ve no doubt that the car will have impressed at Beach Hop, just as much as it impressed us. Here’s hoping it’s all smooth sailing from here. Cheers, Todd