YOUR STUFF & PRIVACY NOTICE

CONGRATS on the new Street Machine Legends book. Reading it, I recalled my memories as a kid of reading all of these early editions, not fully understanding the workmanship that had gone into each creation laid out before me. Back then, it was like: Wow! Look at all that shiny chrome, the big fat tyres and the huge engines in these cars.

It wasn’t until the likes of Howard Astill’s Compact Fairlane came along that I was finally starting to understand the workmanship needed in stuffing a modern 5.0-litre into a classic car and stepping away from the norm by going EFI and trying to get the boys at the transport department to sign off on it.

Then there was the outrageous paint scheme of Dennis Laing’s Ford Galaxie – I mean, c’mon, who goes and paints their blower fluoro pink? Or the fact that Mark Sgaravizzi’s XD was built purely to compete in one of the first Summernats burnout comps. There are not too many engine builders today, let alone back in 1987, that would have put up their hands to build a 10,000rpm engine. And how about Doug Hawken’s ’69 Ford Mustang stuffed full of Chevy big-block (pictured below) – I’m wondering if the purists back then ever got over that!

But it was also great to see how some cars have evolved over time. Gary Myers’s Mustang is a great example; I think it’s now into its third rebirth and is being driven just as hard by his son.

These stories of how the cars were built are a journey unto themselves, and it’s great to hear that some are still out on the road, pounding the

pavement, or being rebuilt back to their former glory. But it’s also tragic that some have been lost in the cracks of time or have since been disassembled, promised a rebirth but ultimately left to a slow death.

I can understand not being able to fit in all of the cars that everyone wanted. I mean if you did that, you’d have to reprint the entire back catalogue of Street Machine and Van Wheels magazines. I’m looking forward to Volume Two to see what other masterpieces of automotive ingenuity get included, and to re-read the stories as to why each builder made their creation. I hope to hear that most of them are all still out there on the roads, scaring old ladies and causing young kids to stare in amazement.

James Baylis, email

BLACK GOLD

HI GUYS, was curious if the black Camaro from Drag Week belonging to Mark Friedrich was going to be featured in your magazine? If so, I was looking for a copy for him and myself. Thank you!

Robert Schuttert, email HEY Robert, Mark’s Camaro featured in one of our online Drag Week stories. Head to whichcar.com.au/streetmachine and enter ‘11 of our favourite cars from Hot Rod Drag Week 2019’ into the search box. – Telfo

MOD SQUAD

G’DAY, not sure if many of you have seen what’s going on over here in the west, but have a look at the WA Street Machines Facebook page. We are trying to get club rego for modified vehicles here in WA. I got a story on Today Tonight about it, but we still have some work to do. Any support is most welcome.

Mick Rac, via Facebook