SLEEPERS

> THURGOONA, NSW

YOU don’t need to have joined Mensa to know that Holden’s HQ Kingswood is one of the most iconic Aussie cars you can poke a servo pie at, and – resplendent in factory Barbados Green – Andrew Mcqualter’s longroof is a slice of 70s Australian motoring royalty. However, this family-hauler hides a 909rwhp sting in the tail courtesy of an iron-block LS and Borgwarner snail hanging off the heads.

Running at Drag Challenge 2018 in Haltech Radial Blown, Andy’s HQ was a picture of reliability, except for a torched plug lead and boot at Swan Hill on Day Two. This consistency is the result of a well-sorted combo that has seen plenty of testing.

“It is an LY6 iron-block LS with CP Bullet pistons, Lunati H-beam rods, Camtech 233/244 cam and LS3 heads,” Andy said. Holley HP EFI runs the E85-swilling unit, while up to 26psi boost is provided by a big S488 Borgwarner snail.

Behind the iron-block LS is a Pro Converters 3600rpm converter and Powerglide, while a nine-inch lives out back with road-friendly 3.55 gears. Before Drag Challenge 2018, the big green monster had pushed 909rwhp and done a 9.43@147mph.

This combo came after Andy’s original budget turbo LS1 threw a leg out of bed on its first drive, leading him to bin the lot and start again.

“I bought the car off an 83-year-old gentleman from Sunbury who said it had never been in a road accident, and the dent on the front quarter was from him hitting the letterbox,” Andy said with a grin. “My goal has been to compete in Drag Challenge and run a low nine, or a high eight if I’m lucky!”

Working on a plan to get his passes done and hit the road early, Andy knocked out a 9.11@149mph on Day Two at Swan Hill before hitting the highway to Mildura. “I’m stoked!” he said afterwards. “That was awesome, so hopefully we can get back here and go even quicker on Thursday.”

He certainly did that, cracking out an 8.99@151mph on Day Four, finishing Drag Challenge 2018 in 12th in the Haltech Radial Blown class.

“Man, I am just absolutely stoked,” said Andy on Day Four. “We’ve done a few laps today because I knew the car had a number in it and I just went out for one more pass, and got that eight!”

I BOUGHT THE CAR OFF AN 83-YEAR-OLD GENTLEMAN FROM SUNBURY WHO SAID IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN A ROAD ACCIDENT