DRAG CHALLENGE IS ALL ABOUT WHO HAS THE QUICKEST STREET CAR IN AUSTRALIA – THAT PERSON TRULY IS THE KING OF THE STREET

IDON’T know what I’d do without the local wreckers. Just recently I helped get a friend’s car roadworthy so he could sell it. The front seat forward adjustment switch wasn’t working, so we went to the dealer hoping to track down a genuine replacement. Apparently they were no longer available, so we tried some of the parts shops in town. No luck there either, so it was off to the wreckers. They didn’t have one exactly the same, but they found a seat with a similar switch that got the adjustment working.

In this day and age of electric tilt forward/ back/raise/lower, sometimes simple is the best. The base model of my friend’s car has a mechanical seat mechanism, and the seat frame and floor bolts all married up. If I couldn’t make the electric seat switch work I was going to swap the leather seat for the standard-model mechanical seat frame. This would have meant removing the seat completely and stripping both seats. Luckily the seat switch connector plugged straight in and everything worked. But my point is, if you’re faced with some sort of electrically operated device and a switch that is no longer available, don’t forget about a mechanical option. Might be old-school, but it’s more reliable in my opinion.

The car had only just been serviced and was taken to a roadworthy inspection station with new tyres, battery, working seat, wiper blades and the like, and put on the hoist. The mechanic found a hole in the top of the exhaust. Made me wonder about the business that had just serviced the car and why they hadn’t picked up the exhaust leak.

But it just so happened the same wreckers we got the switch from had a similar-model car in really good nick they were pulling apart. I asked for the intermediate exhaust pipe section. They wanted $110 for it, and it only took four bolts and half an hour to replace. But when they pulled the pipe out there was a crack in the muffler. Luckily a local exhaust shop had the exact same pipe in stock new for $165. They charged $67 to fit it, which I thought was pretty good value. I’d hate to think what the genuine factory part would be worth if they had it in stock. Having a good local muffler shop is pretty handy.

The car went back to the inspection station, roadworthy was issued and the new buyer took ownership of the car at the transport department.

If you are going to sell a car registered, it’s really important to do so with a roadworthy from a reputable inspection station; that way there’s no comeback from the buyer. Also, don’t be tempted to hand the keys over to the new owner until the registration is transferred into their name. The buyer might be a good friend, but if he or she crashes the car or gets a photo taken by a flash-for-the-cash, you might end up in a nasty situation, and possibly the end of a friendship.

Similarly, if you’re in the market for a preloved car I’d recommend buying one with a roadworthy from a good inspection station – unless of course you want to build a street machine from a shell and all you want is a good body. Most mechanics value their inspection licence and will not pass anything dodgy.

Last week one of the guys at work brought in a photo of his two-door Monaro. It is superstraight, with a crate 350 in it. He mentioned the previous owner had fitted an aftermarket stereo and wished he could get hold of an original radio. Luckily I had an old HQ Air Chief radio sitting under a bench at home, which I gave him. I see on ebay an original working Air Chief is selling for $400. Where I live there is only one AM radio station I can pick up in my old HZ wagon, and I think it’s crazy the way prices are for some parts like these. Speaking of the HZ, I still haven’t sold it yet and the Queensland Government is about to rob me for another year’s rego.

In October the third annual Street Machine Drag Challenge is on. If you think about it, it’s a big commitment for the participants – the event runs for days, with some competitors travelling thousands of kilometres to race. Drag Challenge is not like a big national drag racing event where 80,000 spectators line the side of a quarter on the weekend to watch funny cars, Fuelers, Pro Stock and all the other classes; it’s not spectacular motorsport in that sense. Even so, I’d probably view a trophy in Drag Challenge as being worth more than a Christmas tree sitting on the mantelpiece.

After all, street racing is where many drag racers in the world start. If you’ve ever had the quickest street car in your area, you would understand the feeling – you rule the street and it feels good. But like a boxer, someone always comes along to knock you out and take your title. In the case of Drag Challenge, it’s not about a particular region, it is about who has the quickest street car in Australia – that person truly is the King of the Street. To build, drive and own Australia’s quickest street car would be something pretty special and a hell of an accomplishment.