NZV8 No 192 May 2021
NZV8 Magazine was conceived when the passionate muscle car scene was in need of an authority. Thanks to a large population of baby boomers, muscle car and V8 culture is booming in New Zealand. NZV8 is not only riding that wave, but leading the way by providing a world class magazine that features the cars, events, like the annual Beach Hop and people that make the scene so exciting. NZV8 covers an extensive range of high-performance V8-engined vehicles. Wherever the local ground shakes to the beat of a tuned eight-cylinder machine, from a drag race meeting to a car show, NZV8 is there and bringing you all the action.
in this issue
passing the torch
From a very early age, cars were something I couldn’t escape. My Uncle Andrew, a hot rodder, always had something on the go — that guy was my hero whether he knew it or not. I’m guessing my mum did though, because, for my fifth birthday, I didn’t get a clown, a magician, or even a bouncy castle; no, she organised for my uncle to come and take me and all my mates for a blast up the road in his hot rod of the time — a Ford Pop — the same car I’d go to watch him race on occasion at the Port Road Drags in Whangarei. It was also in his shed that I saw my first blown motor later in life — oh, what a sight! It…
hot wheels hunt
The famed Hot Wheels Legends Tour, which is a global search for the next Hot Wheels Legend to be immortalised as a 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast model, is set to make its way down under for the first time ever, hitting both New Zealand and Australia with tour stops. Each stop will be live-streamed, with ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett, Tarydown Kelly, Scott Taylor of Street Machine, and Hot Wheels designers Tyler Charest and Phil Riehlman forming the local judging panel. There will be one winner from each stop, who will then go on to the global semi-final live-stream events. The event will culminate with a grand finale in November. The tour now spans all five continents and 14 countries, and is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our unique car culture…
win a’stang gt-h
Who wants to win a limited-edition Mustang — while also helping out a great cause? Shelby New Zealand has built a very special Shelby GT-H, which will be raffled off as a fundraiser for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. The GT-H (Heritage) features all the GT upgrades, as well as Shelby’s performance suspension package, forged 20-inch matte gold alloys, brake ducting, redesigned front aero, and that black-and-gold paint scheme. Raffle tickets are on sale from 19 March and will be available through selected Ford dealers, Shelby New Zealand, and at the likes of Beach Hop 2021. Tickets are limited to 6000 — or 5999 after we grab ours.…
gen-7 development complete
The development phase of the next-generation Nascar, dubbed ‘Gen-7’, is now complete as testing continues with Goodyear to develop a suitable tyre ahead of the 2022 season. Similar to what we’re seeing in Supercars, the biggest driving factors in the change have been to cut the ever-growing cost of the sport and to attract new manufacturers to join Ford, GM, and Toyota on the grid. The chassis design is a huge departure from the traditional Nascar chassis that saw teams design their own. The Gen-7 is a spec item constructed using a carbon-fibre tub and chromoly chassis, which each manufacturer’s body type will be a flange fit to — similar to the Supercars Car of the Future (COTF). The chassis will, for the first time, run independent rear suspension (IRS) and…
more american drama
Both SEMA and Performance Racing Industry (PRI) are currently going to war with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the right to build race cars — yip, you read that right. Last issue, we spoke about new laws in California that, as a by-product of stopping cowboy backyard wreckers, could spell the end to driveway oil changes and backyard rebuilds — and, this month, it would seem that the freedom to modify a factory car into a race car hangs in the balance. While it might seem crazy, it’s actually been going on since 2015, with the EPA attempting to prosecute aftermarket supplier Gear Box Z, which manufactures piggyback chips for diesels. It’s a much bigger issue than one lawsuit, however; it all harks back to the Clean Air…
super snake speedster
The 2021 Shelby line-up has been unveiled in Las Vegas, and, for the first time, a speedster has been added to the range alongside the Shelby GT, Shelby GT500 SE, and the fastback Super Snake. Only 98 of each of the four models will be available, to celebrate 98 years since Carroll Shelby was born. Both Super Snake variants are offered with an 825hp supercharged five-litre, painted stripes, a widebody package, Penske track suspension, and rear seat delete with harness bar. The Speedster Edition features a unique convertible tonneau that converts the car into a roadster unlike anything you see on the road today. The base model Shelby GT starts at US$132,995 and is designed for personalisation over and above the Shelby fitted package, with options such as a supercharger to…
