CRACKLE AND HOPS
2021 CLASSIC COVER NOSTALGIA DRAGS
Like any sport, drag racing is something that is in a constant state of evolution; the latest and greatest in technology is always at the forefront, and teams are pushing to obtain that competitive edge, be it through some fancy computer technology or some modern manufacturing technique that creates lighter, stronger parts — right? Wrong; a huge contingent of racers — a growing number in fact — prefers to keep things the way they were in period, and in doing so pays homage to those eras of the sport that many hold so dear to the heart and that paved the way to where we are today.
For such racers here in New Zealand, there is no bigger stage each year than the Classic Cover Nostalgia Drags, one of the biggest events on our calendar. The one-day event is open only to race cars of American descent from the pre-’78 era — a few years ago, the age was bumped up from the previous ’71 cut-off. It also welcomes one of the great current shows in New Zealand drag racing, the Wild Bunch, which, while technically not a class that ran in the nostalgic period, is period correct in the cars’ ’90s guise, and puts on one hell of a spectacle.
THIS TYPE OF BIG-NUT DISPLAY … MAKES NOSTALGIA RACING SO GOOD
Another new addition to the line-up this year was the Vintage Super Stock class, joining all the regulars such as FED, NZ Vintage Gassers, and Flathead — 150 racers spread across 10 classes meant that it was a fast-paced turnaround. There were also a few low-key surprises for those in attendance, including the first passes on New Zealand soil by the famous — for long smoky burnouts in the ’80s — nitro-burning No. 134 coupe that formerly belonged to Ted Brine. Now owned by Peter Schimanski and residing in New Zealand, the ’34 coupe recently underwent some changes at Kruzin Kustoms. It wasn’t the only fuel car in attendance; Karl Boniface, driving his ‘Nitro Flashback’, showed just how comfortable he is in the seat with a massive pedal, drifting the entire track without as much of a blip of the throttle — it’s this type of big-nut display that makes nostalgia racing so good.
NZ VINTAGE GASSERS. A CLASS THAT NO ONE WANTED TO MISS
A unique experience was offered to members of the Bay Rodders, which organises the event. A group was allowed to join the starter — and us cameramen — in centre island for both nitro cars. Little can prepare you for the bone-shaking attack on all your senses as Karl rolls past while warming the rears.
But spectacles and heroic driving are what nostalgic racing is all about. A class that would personify this is the NZ Vintage Gassers. It’s a class that no one wanted to miss, thanks in part to the big dry hops and back-bumper-bending wheel-stands from the likes of Craig Mullin in ‘Lark Ness Monster’ and Russell Lowe in his ’56, ‘Strange Magic’. Hell, if that gasser was ever on four wheels during a run, we didn’t see it. Not to be outdone, however, was the likes of Eddie Trybula in his ’57 gasser, ‘Running on Empty’ — the 496-cube mechanically injected and blown big block would go on to run into the eights. GT Norris would lose his entire nose cone off the ‘Pist ’n’ Broke’ Henry J — only to continue on without. Thankfully, there weren’t too many on-track incidents, although damn near every Ford Anglia/Pop in attendance came to grief. First it was Fraser Macarae’s. Fraser, having bolted a blower on just prior to the event, found that all that extra power sent the little Ford skywards and bent the front axle on touchdown. Next up was Daniel Barnett’s beautifully prepared ’49 ‘Pharaoh’s Curse’ gasser, which turned hard over the finish line. Thankfully, Dan walked away unharmed. The Brits weren’t finished there. Greg Bullot would overturn his 1948 406-cube ‘Looney Tunes’. This car is a wild one to watch, and we hear Greg is already hunting down a replacement roof skin to get it repaired.
In the Wild Bunch ranks, a bunch of PBs proved that old tin tops still know how to do 0–402. The blue ‘Maverick’
DAMN NEAR EVERY FORD ANGLIA/POP IN ATTENDANCE CAME TO GRIEF
SEE YOU ALL THERE NEXT YEAR!
of Tony Marsh outclassed the field by running a pair of sixes, the best being 6.67 seconds at 202mph. Steve ‘Cowboy’ Carlsen continued to improve on his PB — something he has done all summer long — running a 7.3 at 191mph, and Gary Sinkinson, in his roof-chopped ’63 Nova, also bettered his PB, running 7.41 seconds at 183mph. However, the round honours went to Mr GSS, Steve Milliken, in the ‘Chaos’ ’35 Chev.
It was also cool to see the recently formed NZ Vintage Super Stock class racing, with some very cool ’60s-era, naturally aspirated, limiter-bashing, four-speed machines lining up to do battle. To ensure that it’s period correct, the class’s rules are based on those employed in the heyday of Super Stock here in New Zealand. With so many of these real-steel machines lurking in sheds, there is tons of interest in the class; there are even some new builds joining in — the likes of Andrew Gundry’s freshly finished sky-high Falcon, for example. We would say this class will go gangbusters once the word gets out.
Our hats must go off to the entire Bay Rodders crew, who, alongside Meremere’s staff, worked their arses off in the heat to have the event running like clockwork, and to put on one hell of a show that left us wanting more. See you all there next year!