KEVIN ‘KIWI KEV’ PERRY

FROM: DRURY, AUCKLAND NOW: VENTURA, CALIFORNIA, USA

Aquiet and humble achiever would be the most apt way to describe Kevin Perry, who grew up in Drury, South Auckland. His father took him to the drags at Wiri in the early ’70s, he rode his pushbike out to the Ardmore Drags, and he also attended working bees at Champion Dragway, hitchhiking to every meeting after its 1973 opening. To say Kevin was a keen hot rod and drag racing teenager would be an understatement. In 1979, Kevin headed to the USA for the first time to take in many events up and down the West Coast over a three-month period. He returned in 1980 to work at Golden State Parts, becoming the warehouse manager, and he hasn’t lived in New Zealand since. With incredible talent at welding and fabrication, Kevin worked at a few welding shops before, in 1990, deciding to work out of his home garage building hot rods and race cars. Anyone who has visited this cool set up will agree it’s like a working museum, with numerous items hanging from the walls and rafters, and even hanging outside. What an environment in which to work — each part or piece of memorabilia has its own story of swapping, bartering, or horse trading. While Kevin is a life member of the Papakura Rod & Custom Club here in New Zealand, he is also a member of the Scroungers Car Club. It’s a perfect fit, with him having known Chris Piaggi, John Pavlovich, and Mike Roberts for years. Also more than fitting is the respect Kevin has for both New Zealand and US hot rod history and culture, and this is reflected in the way he builds his cars and the style in which they’re built. Kevin’s ‘Nasty Habit’ Willys coupe gasser for the street looks for all the world like an old quartermile refugee that has just had the dust blown off it and is ready to run. That was the idea: to build a legitimate gasser in the spirit of yesteryear. This isn’t Kevin’s first attempt at a Willys coupe, either; he has owned an original gasser from the past — the ‘Orange Plus’ Willys. Taking his Willys gasser passion even further, in the mid ’80s, Kevin founded the West Coast Willys Club, which gained a worldwide audience. After racing Orange Plus on the, at the time, new nostalgia drag racing circuit, Kevin sold it to raise a deposit on a house in Ventura with his wife Mary. Kevin’s home workshop can handle all manner of work — from small fabrication jobs to building cool hot rods and race cars the old-fashioned way: low on dollars but high on creativity. He is renowned for his louvre punching and his bead rolling — some would say it’s like an art. Without even trying, Kevin has created a name for himself, both for his genuine and humble personality and his talented and skilful fabrication. On a personal note, Kevin says it’s all about living the California dream of rodding and racing while not forgetting his Kiwi roots. Whether he’s riding his beach cruiser through the aisles of a swap meet or racing his Willys coupe at Eaglefield, Kevin puts New Zealand on the map with everything he does — and he is doing it in fine style. Look up ‘Kiwi Kev’ on The HAMB (Hokey Ass Message Board) at jalopyjournal.com and follow his various builds and the build tips he shares. A quiet and humble Kiwi bloke of many talents is our man Kiwi Kev.