NZ Performance Car No 290 June - July 2021

When I took over as the editor of this magazine, I had somewhat been out of the ‘game’, as it had been a few years since I had worked full time in Parkside Media towers. With this appointment, there came a few small problems: who would help me produce this kickass printed New Zealand car scene outlet? On paper, there were a few solid contributors in the works that I scooped up on the way in, but what I was really hunting for was a collective of automotive humans bursting at the seams with a passion for not only the car scene but also its preservation and lifestyle. I envisioned myself at the helm of a magazine produced not by me but by a bunch of cool cats from all…

Hi all! I’m honoured to be your hero contributor this month — a dream come true for me growing up as an enthusiast, and an extra page to add some more Mazda madness perhaps? Thank you to all who followed along and enjoyed the previous edition with The Great Rotary Roadie — I’ve certainly paid for it since, buying out the last of the parts on shelves prior to the biggest summer rotary event of the year, REunion. I’m so thrilled to see more of these Japanese enthusiast events come along in a time when we can’t travel overseas for our car thrills, and look forward to meeting more of you at the upcoming Mad Mike Rotary Summer Drags or Impulsive Rotary Only Day. I know; my event tastes sure seem engine limited…

Yeah, you read that right — the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) is back for 2021 after being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19. An event that sees visitors from all over the world, the Government of New South Wales (NSW) has recognised WTAC as a major event, and through its tourism and major events agency — Destiny NSW — is backing WTAC until 2025 as an event that will help stimulate the economy post pandemic. Just recently, the NSW Government has invested A$33M into Sydney Motorsport Park, and it now features an epic new LED-light upgrade around the entire circuit. Why is this cool? WTAC plans to run Time Attack racing well into the night, adding an entirely new element to the popular event. “As much as we will…

Tyler West is now the proud holder of a Formula Drift Japan licence, having earned the right to compete offshore by taking out the recent MSC Challenge New Zealand (MSC NZ) held at Meremere Drift Park. MSC NZ is an affiliated series of the Japanese parent, and in non-Covid times we’d have seen Iwata-san and Robbie Nishida down in New Zealand for the event, which is run using a maximum-width 235 radial rear tyre. This year’s series was held over three separate weekends at the Drift Academy International home venue and used three different layouts to test driver skills. There is a focus on driver development, so there was plenty of practice available each day. West was the benchmark across the series, qualifying first in all three rounds and winning two,…

Contactless ceramic protection in under five minutes flat. Uh-huh. Seems too good to be true, right? No rubbing, no buffing, and no machines required. OK, so it’s not quite contactless, but it’s pretty damn close. Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Wax is a spray-on application that is the simplest and most foolproof waxing process we’ve ever used. Part of Meguiar’s new ceramic range that has its SiO2 hybrid technology, this wax can be sprayed on as part of your regular weekly car-care regime, giving you ceramic protection in minutes. You need to ensure that your panels are clean from contaminants before applying, so it’s best to do it directly after a wash. Work a panel at a time — wet with a hose, and then spray on a liberal coat of the ceramic…

The eighth season of Repco Muscle Garage is due back on screen on Three’s CRC Motorsport from 1pm on Sunday, 16 May. The show takes an in-depth look at the finest hot rods, street machines, and muscle cars from around the country, while also profiling the talented Kiwis behind the builds. As in previous seasons, there are also visits to some of the best sheds and workshops in the country, as well as reports on events like Beach Hop, Morrinsville Motorama, and Americana. Episode one kicks off in fine fashion with action from the return of the Classic Cover Jalopy Dust Up, as well as a look at Glen Eggleton’s blown ’71 Chevelle, and New Zealand’s master of all-things Studebaker, Trev Halstead, throws open the doors of his Waikato workshop to…