STREET SHAKE-UP

Just before last issue went to print, the LJ Torana of Jason McKillop dropped into the nine-second zone to become the newest member of NZ’s Quickest Streeters list. The 421ci small block Chev used assistance from nitrous oxide to get there. Having aimed for a ninesecond pass right from the outset, Jason was understandably thrilled with the achievement — although he commented to NZV8 that he didn’t think it would be quite as hard as it was. Just a week later, long-time drag racer Roger Binnema also joined the list — not in the somewhat-insane small block Chev-powered Honda that we all know him for, but in a slightly milder 1968 Pontiac Firebird. The Firebird has been in the Binnema stable for only six months, but since then has undergone a mechanical transformation. The car originally belonged to Roger’s friend Charles Cater, and Roger had been working on it for him. Over the past few years, he performed various upgrades on it, but when Charles said he wanted to give it a major overhaul, Roger talked him out of it. “The car was raced at Pomona in the 1980s, and still looks the same, complete with hand-painted signwriting. It was too historically significant to change,” recalls Roger. So, instead, Roger decided to make an offer for it, and eventually took ownership. While the car had a 400 Pontiac motor in it when originally imported, it now runs the 540ci big block Chev from the ex–Graham Carter Wild Cat Jaguar — minus the blower. Roger’s recently changed the heads on it, along with swapping out the Dana diff for a nine-inch. While he’d planned to swap the ladder bars for a four-link, with how well the car’s gone at the strip, that plan could now be on hold. First time out, before being recertified for the 540, the car went 9.44. That was followed up post certification with a best of 9.33 at 148mph. Wellington’s Tim Lacey has also joined the list with the turbocharged V6-powered ’91 Commodore he’s been playing with for the past eight years. The car runs a stock VN Commodore bottom end, with slightly ported heads and a reground cam. An H1E Holset T3 turbo adds the boost, and a TH350 with 5000rpm stall converter and BorgWarner diff make it all move. While Tim’s is the first V6 on the list, we’re sure he’ll have his work cut out to stay the fastest — there are a few Nissan GTRs on their way that will want the title!