NZ Hot Rod4 min read
Industry NEWS
MIKE Chilando and his team at Alky Digger have stepped up and now make a wide selection of parts for your fuel-injected engine. Their range includes injectors, Barrel valves, nozzles, hoses, stops, arms, ram tubes, pill holders, pills and even abille
NZ Hot Rod5 min read
Deluxe De Soto
For those of us around drag racing in the early ‘80s onwards, you may recall a bright red ’33 coupe campaigned by a team known as” Scotty and the Chief”. Scotty is a panelbeater / hot rod builder. “The Chief” is a tall, imposing, American-Indian-look
NZ Hot Rod4 min read
Then and Now
ON the 9th of February 1933, Ford officially announced the new Model 40 (1933 Ford V8) to the public. It was another revolutionary model, surpassing the firsts of the Deuce. It marked the first year of annual model changes and featured a new, stiffer
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Graham Pattens’ Blues
He was known as ‘The General’ Tough, rough, and tall A man among men And always up for the call. Quick, with a smile And fast with a fist Ready for a laugh And a session on the piss A motorcycle-riding fool And Vee eight boy deluxe Just a damn good w
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
Ace Of Spades
THE first question I asked was about the truck's history and how long he had owned it. I certainly did not expect the answer I got. Mike told me he bought the truck 45 years ago as basically a rolling shell with a “clapped out” flathead engine and a
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Oogah Swapmeet
THE Swanson RSA was the venue for the Oogah Rodders Breakfast and six-monthly Swap Meet. It was an excellent fine day, and after breakfast and coffee, it was time to peruse the good variety of cool cars, parts and memorabilia around the carpark.
NZ Hot Rod3 min read
Just in PASSING
IN the March issue, we published news about the new WoF requirement for a front number plate. Just three days before it came into effect and with the magazine delivered and in shops on sale, we received news from NZTA via the sharp-as-a-tack team at
NZ Hot Rod3 min read
The Lotus Position
Back around the turn of the century and beyond, The Garage used to raffle off diecast 1/18 scale model cars to raise funds: hot rods, muscle cars and classics. Several shops would cut Grazee Collins a good deal when he would bulk buy eight or ten die
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
NZ Hot Rod
PUBLISHERS: Hot Rod Publishing Ltd P O Box 8, Waipu, 0545, New Zealand PROPRIETORS: Paul & Liz Grace Ph: +64 9 432 1270 Email: paul@nzhotrodmag.co.nz Email: liz@nzhotrodmag.co.nz Website: www.nz-hotrod.com MANAGING EDITOR: Paul Grace ACCOUNTS: Liz Gr
NZ Hot Rod3 min read
90th Anniversary Of The 1933-1934 Ford
WE had read about the event recognising the 90th Anniversary of the 33’-34’ Ford but had already booked a hotel in Dunedin for another automotive weekend, also in early March. After some arm twisting, we re-arranged our plans and sent off an entry fo
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
Hot Rod Blowout
ONE of the coolest events on the calendar for the traditional hot rod enthusiasts is the Hot Rod Blowout. This year's event was the 16th since the first in 2002 and featured a range of cool hot rods and race cars from an era and style that never seem
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Graham Patten
16th September 1962 – 20th February 2024 GRAHAM joined the PNHRC in the mid-1980s and was an active member, first building his big block-powered 1927 Track Nose T Roadster which was featured in NZHRM's April ’84 mag. That was followed by his big bloc
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Rebel Roundup
THE 2024 Rebel Roundup was organised by Brett Forlong and held at Backpaddock Lakes, at Takapau, near Waipukura, in southern Hawkes Bay. Backpaddock Lakes is an outdoor wedding venue featuring expansive views to the horizon with a tranquil lake and w
NZ Hot Rod5 min read
Upcoming EVENTS
> 3-5 30th Annual Rod Run hosted by Marineland in Art Deco Napier featuring the 90th anniversary of the ’33-34 Fords. > 5 Hot Rod Breakfast at the Cars Museum, 6 George Daniels Drive, Trentham, Upper Hutt from 8.30 am ‘til 10.30 am. > 11-12 Pukekohe
NZ Hot Rod7 min read
Speed, Danger, Death
2024 is The Scroungers’ 25th birthday, so it is probably time to briefly reflect on what this tight bunch of nostalgia geeks have achieved over the years. Nobody can remember exactly how the Scroungers’ name came about, but they needed a Club Plaque
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Garth Hogan
LAST month, we acknowledged Garth's induction into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. To consummate the achievement, Garth and his wife Andrea flew from Lake Wanaka to Jacksonville, Florida, to attend the awards banquet, saying, “It was quit
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Caroline Bay Rock & Hop
THIS Timaru-based event is one of the newer car shows in the South Island, this being the sixth edition. The local hospice runs the event to raise much-needed money, and it is a very slick operation. According to their Facebook page, the event raised
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
The Way We Were
LAST month's article jogged a few memories and sparked several phone calls and emails to NZHRM. One from Ewen Cameron, who said, “Hi Paul, I love the Magazine and have been subscribed for years. How good is that article on The Way We Were? I remember
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Remember When?
THE Auckland Vintage Speedway Club are still going very strong with monthly meets at their track in Meremere. The recent Les Nixon Memorial VW Day was a case in point, with people travelling from all over New Zealand and also across from Australia to
NZ Hot Rod4 min read
Yankie
WHEN he was 19, Tony spotted a pretty much run-down ’56 Chevrolet Sedan for sale minus motor & box. The guy selling it was a well-known Henderson wheeler/dealer who was keen to sell it at a reasonable price as it was a non-runner. Tony was an apprent
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
Repco BEACH HOP™
THIS year's Repco Beach Hop was huge and rumoured to be close to 2.000 vehicles attending. Just over 1,000 were registered for the event, but all the non-entered cars and specialised displays made for an amazing spectacle. The format is always the sa
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
Roger Gorringe
LIFE is full of highs, lows, twists and turns, and I was stunned after receiving an email from Chris Gorringe in England advising of the passing of his uncle Roger Gorringe. We had just celebrated Roger's induction into the British Drag Racing Hall o
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
The Squeak Rod Nationals
THE Squeak Rod Nationals is probably an appropriate name for Squeak Bell's extremely popular March Meet. Squeak hosts it and is now about as big as a Street Rod Nationals. In Squeak's words, it's so popular that the event needs reigning in. It's beco
NZ Hot Rod3 min read
Box 8 Waipu LETTERS
HI PAUL & Liz, I Hope your summer has been going well and that you are enjoying every moment. I know one thing: you've been very busy with the magazine over the last year (2023), and at the start of this year, that mag has been over the top in all as
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Twizel Show ‘n Shine
THIS is the secret little show we all love. It was created by Peter Docherty, better known to most as “Doc”. Nothing is a problem for Doc, he is the perfect host, along with his wife Ira, who cooks for us, brings chocolate and makes coffee! Twizel is
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
Trillo Metals Muscle Car Madness #34
Another great success. The weekend started early for some, with the Foo Fighters playing in Christchurch on the Wednesday. I had organised a bus to take entrants to and from the concert. Some of the bus passengers were from Kaitaia. This year, we had
NZ Hot Rod2 min read
Industry NEWS
AFTER acquiring the legendary Hilborn brand in 2019, Holley has officially decided to end production of Hilborn, the company synonymous with mechanical fuel injection and an eightpack of velocity stacks. After purchasing it and its remaining stock in
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Waipu Car and Bike Show
THE annual Waipu Car and Bike Show welcomed a blue-sky summer’s day for a record 3,500 attendees viewing the stunning display of 856 cars, 200 motorbikes and 23 trade vendors. Elvis was in the building leading the entertainment while Jenny Carr handl
NZ Hot Rod1 min read
Kiwis Overseas part 1
IN October last year, Rotorua’s Neilsen ‘Sku’ Skulander and Matamata’s Dave Green ventured over to California to take in the Nostalgia Drags at Bakersfield’s Famosa Raceway. They met up with ex-pat Kiwi Brett Parkinson, ex-Kaikohe, who now runs Kiwi
NZ Hot Rod4 min read
Living The Dream
JOHN & Arnya Goodall have all the makings of a wonderful life together, including sharing John’s passions, which he’s held from a young boy aged 11 laid up in the Wilson Home Private Trust (more on that later) to where they now reside in Te Aroha, so
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