POPPING UP THE LIST

What’s the most common type of car on the NZ’s Quickest Streeters list? Well, thanks to the addition of Aaron Williams, it’s the Ford Pop! Aaron’s scratch-built ’48 has been teetering close to the nine-second bracket for a while now, but, in February, he managed to break the barrier, running a string of 9.9s, the best being a 9.90 at 136.87mph. The car is powered by an avgas-drinking 400ci small block Chev topped with a tunnel ram and twin 650cfm Double Pumper carbs and backed by a two-speed Powerglide transmission. It’s a combo that relies on a great power-to-weight ratio, along with a set of massive 31x16.5/15 Mickey Thompson slicks to get it down the track. Aaron’s not the only one who’s been running new street car PBs; it’s been a busy few months, with the fellow naturally aspirated (NA) entries of Ross Wheelan and Ray Peterson also making improvements. The title of quickest NA street car in the land is one that’s set for a bit more competition, with Kat McDonald debuting a new 604ci big block combo in her already nine-second-capable ’69 Chrysler Valiant. The big mover, though, has been Roger Binnema in his Pontiac Firebird, which now holds the title, running a 9.10 at 149.98mph at the IHRA Auckland Invasion. On the forced-induction side of things, Daniel Southall has finally claimed a victory and the bragging rights that he’s been working hard on — the title of quickest small block, knocking out Gary Bogart by running a new PB of 8.66 at 166mph at the IHRA Southern Nationals. Daniel bettered this at the IHRA Auckland Invasion by powering to an 8.59. Following the event, the ProCharger system off the 406ci small block was sold. Daniel assures us that he’s not changing things up to go any slower!