CAT KILLER

DECEMBER 1986

PHIL Scott, Street Machine’s second editor, always knew how to generate some hype, so when he featured Gary Walker’s twin-turbo XJS Jaguar in the April-may 1986 issue, the challenge was put to all red-blooded street machiners to defend V8 honour against this Euro upstart in a drag battle. When push came to shove, Walker didn’t turn up to the showdown at an Oran Park street meet, leaving a pair of sleeper Clevo-powered Cortinas and Barry Birt’s specially built HQ Monaro to duke it out.

Barry’s HQ came packing a blown 427-cube big-block, topped by a pair of Predators and built by Warwick Jones. The Capris were both built by engine conversion guru Bob Pinnell, with Bob driving one and customer Michael Fritsch the other. Barry stomped the Fords by more than a second, with Fritsch’s Corty being the quickest streetlegal car on the day.

For whatever reason, the event was only allocated a page in the news section, but it was the start of a long tradition of Street Machine-brokered shootouts that continues to this very day with Drag Challenge.