GENERATION NEXT

BRETT Battersby is a well-known lad in skid circles, but the cool-as-hell Niki he debuted at Kandos actually belongs to his young bloke, Brent, who wasn’t able to steer on account of a dislocated shoulder.

The pair put the insane-looking creation together in just two-and-a-half months, starting with a bare shell and glass. They fabricated just about everything else, from the chassis to the custom-machined billet steering set-up.

It’s powered by a bone-stock Toyota/lexus 1UZ-FE four-litre V8, with the 8/71 and hat from BLWNLUX slammed on top. “I couldn’t tell you how much power it makes – probably 400-500hp – but it was running like a dog at Kandos,” said Brett.

“We just put the hat off the truck straight on without changing anything, and it was getting buried in fuel and we ended up rodding it – we just ran out of time to get it right. That set-up will go back on BLWNLUX and we’ll put an 8/71 back on the Niki, but with a smaller hat.”

All the factory electronics are dispensed with, and the ignition system is now managed by a custommachined dizzy and MSD box. “Matty Power and I came up with the idea of running the Lexus 1UZ, purely because it’s different, but I think it’ll be nice and reliable once the tune’s right,” said Brett. “We’ve picked up another engine for $500 and hope to have it at Bathurst Autofest!”