A-GRADE CARNAGE

I N TWO HASTI LY BU I LT MACH I NES 33 CREW HIT UP SUMMERNATS TH E CARNAGE

THE build-up to Summernats 33 was nothing short of chaotic for the Carnage crew, who worked through most of the Christmas break to get two mad machines ready for a weekend’s cruising and burnout action. After some long hours, many swear words and crossed fingers, both cars somehow made it to Canberra, and fans couldn’t stop gawking at the new-look, now Barra-powered MX-5 and laughing at the 1Jz-powered Trolvo (yep, a Volvo at Summernats).

Both cars impressed on the MPW Performance hub dyno, too, with the Mazda massively exceeding Scotty’s expectations. “I was hoping for around 500rwhp, so 562hp is just awesome!” he said.

The Trolvo also put in a good showing, screaming out 491rwhp with its (arguably) oversized turbo. While you would think 490 horses would be more than enough to help the Trolvo let rip on Skid Row, unlike the MX-5 it initially struggled to turn a tyre in the burnout alley, even with the single-legger diff.

“The problem is the rear housing on the turbo is too big and it doesn’t make boost until 4500rpm,” said Scotty. “So getting it to get on boost on all the rubber that’s been laid down isn’t happening.” Not to be beaten, Scotty pulled an old trick out of the bag, clamping off the rear brakes to finally get the Trolvo smoking to the tune of JZ glory down Skid Row.

Both cars took on the ’Nats go-to-whoa comp, as well as the Supercruise on Saturday night. Aside from a melted fuse in the Trolvo on Thursday, ay, the two cars were performing swimmingly – until ntiltil the MX-5 spat a belt on Sunday, punching a hole ole in the radiator with the destroyed pulley. “I wondered dered why it was getting a bit hard to start, so I looked ooked under the bonnet and, sure enough, the belt t was just hanging there,” said Scotty. To top off the e day of, er, carnage, the Trolvo copped a flat rear r tyre just hours from being carted away on the trailer. ler.

Despite this, we consider our Summernats rnats exploits a roaring success, given neither car looked oked like it was even going to make it a week out from the event. You’ll be able to see all the wins, losses and general mayhem unfold in upcoming episodes of Carnage on both the Streetmachine website and our Streetmachinetv Youtube channel.

STO R Y

With a spare set of burnout tyres replacing the meaty drag radials, the freshly Barra-powered MX-5 had no issues lighting it up on Skid Row. The Trolvo, however, had to have its rear brakes castrated before it would turn a tyre down the alley, but eventually it managed to lay down a few singletyre fires

The punters couldn’t stay away from the cars during the event, with the MX-5’S new Lightning Mcqueen look and Barra pulsating out of what’s left of the bonnet proving to be a major drawcard. And the lol factor of the big single turbo hanging inside the Volvo’s engine bay was another attention grabber!