CARS in the PARK

a top speed of 120mph (193km/h) depending on wheel size.

Mike Grant and his work in progress Nascar truck:

His truck was built by American Race Trucks in Arizona, for Archie Sinclair of American Car Sales in Durban.

The idea was to start a series on the tracks of South Africa.

Zane Pierce was involved at some stage and ran the car at Zwartkops. The engine hurt the bearings and, due to a lack of interest from local competitors, the project was cancelled.

Grant van Schalkwyk ran the car at an oval track in Joburg to see its capabilities and said it was very fast, but the brakes were inadequate.

The car was donated to a school for young kids and deteriorated over the years. Mike Egan found it when Grant was looking for a motor for the Chev Can Am that he was building to race.

As the truck was original and too nice to strip, Grant spent the last eight years slowly rebuilding it. His intention was to race it when it is finished, as the Can-am has been sold. The truck is like the cars raced in the American Craftsman Series. The engine is a 305CI Chevy small block, the gearbox is a fivespeed Tremec unit like those used in Chev Corvettes and Dodge Viper V10s.

The rear differential is a Ford 9-inch unit with a Detroit locker. It has power steering. The diff ratio allows for speeds of up to 280kmh. The engine is restricted to about 300BHP but with a four-barrel carb and a few minor mods, it will run up to 500BHP at 7000rpm.

This project is a work in progress and should be race-ready in four weeks.