> DRAG CHATTER

TUFF TIMES

WE FOLLOWED the build of the Muscle Garage ‘Barrahore’ VS Commodore ute in

Street Machine, and the car performed well at Drag Challenge last year, with a PB of 10.50@129.98mph at the hands of Jason Waye.

Jason’s mate and DC co-driver Craig ‘Trop’ Tropeano enjoyed the car so much that he bought it, but recently popped the unopened Barra thanks to some faulty knock sensor wiring. With Drag Challenge 2018 rapidly approaching, the boys bought an FG turbo engine and have stripped and rebuilt it, with new rings and bearings, head studs, an Atomic timing chain upgrade and oil pump, and Pro Cams valves springs, but it still retains the standard rotating assembly.

This year they’ll swap seats and Jason will be co-driver, but he has something of his own in the works for Drag Challenge 2019.

HOLDEN POWER

STEVE Hutchins from Bendigo will be a first-time entrant at DC ’18 in his HZ Kinger. He has cooked up a cool 355-cube Holden combo, with a Torque-power intake, 102mm throttlebody, a Vortech V-2 Ti blower and ’cooler.

Control is via a Haltech Elite 2500 with dual knock sensors and flex-fuel sensor. “It is getting tuned for both E85 and 98,” says Steve. “It should be fun; the last time I raced it was with just a mild 308 and standard diff, and it went 13.2@98mph.”