The Dinosaur that is

So has the speed inducing, growl and formidable lumbering of the locally grown V8 come to an eventual end? Has the rise of the opposition and call for the dismemberment of fossil fuels finally put an end to Australia's home grown and much lauded V8 franchise?

It has been a long 47 years since the inception of the first locally produced V8 and much has happened over the years.  Between the introduction of independent rear suspension to the whine and pull of a factory superchager, the Australian automotive scenery has much to thank for the humble Holden Commodore.

So is this truly the end of an era or did it merely open a door for future possibilities? I feel as if most of us have come to the realization that we won't be rumbling around with the sound of masculinity through the suburbs for the rest of our lives. Some of you may have seen the end coming and snapped up a few of the last, reasonably well-kept models, and have them lovingly kept within the confines of your man cave.  Some of you may have been a tad late and picked up anything you can at the expense of a few stockies and a loud Friday night at the legal or not so legal skid pan.

Regardless of whether you have one or not, the Commodore as we know will soon cease to exist.  Will the next incarnation be pulled around by a 4 cylinder along the lines of a larger Astra? Will anyone buy it?  Bottom line is we will end up with another Camry, a white econo-box that gets us from A to B with the possible weekend getaway to C.  That's what the big automotive manufacturers see at least anyway. Small cars that use minimal amount of fuel with the least possible personality so as to not detract from the functional machine it is meant to be.  The automotive equivalent to those Styrofoam boxes the lite 'n' easy meals come in.

Whilst Holden and Ford's bottom line numbers have improved this year, especially over the Korean multinational that everyone knows and loves - Hyundai -  the fate of the pants tightening V8 is all but sealed.

What is to happen with the automotive scene now? We know now that Mazda executives have approved the design of the RX9, the eventual successor to the RX7, but what are Holden to do? reinvent the Torana with a turbo 4? Import as many GM produced yank tanks ala Ford's Mustang? I guess its back to yard finds and troweling the dust pages of old auto magazines.

End rant


See you at the track
- Willie

A new era of Summernats?

Another January is over and with it another Summernats is done and dusted.
With the influx of flagship cars as well as what is always regarded as the hottest day of the year, the 29th year of Summernats was the second in a row in which a non-V8 came away with the prestigious Grand Champion award.  That being said however, the much acclaimed Mazda that came away with the top honours was a shoe in amongst the sea of lion and blue oval badged behemoths.

Much can be said about the spectacle that is Summernats.  Some say the belligerent wrong-doers with reckless attitudes towards personal and not so personal safety that attend this festival of fire do nothing but promote the maligned and degraded brand the name Summernats was identified with in days gone by.

Others say that since Chic Henry sold the carnival of chaos, the new owners have continuously raised the bar and ushered in a new era of automotive debauchery, just without as much debauchery.  The emphasis of family days, the assurance of safety and the inclusion of key cars such as the Red Bull Racing V8 Supercar wheeled by Jamie Whincup assist in stimulating the friendly attitude and encourage local law enforcement bodies to praise the lack of attacks on a Saturday night.

I love the Summernats as much as the next red meat eating, methanol whiffing male but to me it feels like the makeup gun that Homer made Marge "Homer, you've got it set on crack whore!".  At the end of the day the Summernats will always be a celebration of all that is masculine. You can tone down all that made it everything it was to begin with, but as long as people are willing to shred compressed rubber to appease the shirtless masses who are willing to pay $8 for a can of beer, then you will have 100,000 people streaming through the gates at $70 a ticket.

I for one think that the Summernats as a brand will go from strength to strength doing just what they're doing:  providing a locale at which to perform burnouts as much as your hearts content and present your hard earned and built ride for the inspection and admiration of your peers. So long as they show that they are making an attempt to curb the alcohol fuelled violence and endorse a family friendly event, then the public just may be appeased.

Next year will be no different, with Summernats turning the dirty 30, it will prove to be a true spectacle.  Lets just hope the ACT government doesn't have other plans.  With the revenue the Capital receives from this revelry of rev-heads I highly doubt anything will happen to waylay the event.


See you at the track
- Willie

South Coast Nats 2013

In its 24^th year, the annual South Coast Nationals had netted itself a glorious day, making the trip down from Canberra was well worth it, not only for the cars but it was just nice to get out of the gloom that we’ve been putting up with these last few weeks.  A hint of the coming spring perhaps? 

I’ll be honest, this is the first year I’ve made the trip down to Moruya for the show in a number of years, as in 2009 they came under fire at the usual venue from surrounding homes as the smoke and noise from the burnout comps and go-to-whoa made them a little bit upset.  Boo Hoo. Once a frickin year… anyway, since their relocation to the Moruya High school, I’ve been quite hesitant to go as there would be no more driving events and would merely be static show.  If you went to see a variety of cars you would be a little disappointed as it was (and pretty much always been) a v8 show, with a light sprinkling of V6 toranas.  There was a lone RX7 and a single minitruck.  I think the boys and I might try and change this next year as the only Japanese car I spotted was a fairly standard S15 in the sound off.  There wasn’t even a VL with an RB anywhere.  I might even pick up a trophy next year!

Anyway, what it missed in variety, it certainly made up for in domestic grunt, with a fair few big trophy cars.  Onto the pics!

This beach cruiser had some rad authentic patina on display

This Torana was super clean, not too super about the colour matched wheels though

The paintwork on this rod was amazing, apparently the only thing not modified on this was the windshield surround

These guys looked pretty rad until old mates bike broke down and didn't start again

Some displays were more .... interesting than others

The lone VL, not sure what i think about that

Poor rotor fans didn't have much to keep them amused

A Mustang club had a few pony's on display

This F truck had some killer pinstriping 

Old mate went around the show flogging his skills, not too shabby at all 

Pro style bike, wonder if this kid will grow up and be one of these boys

The Speedway museum had a display on ....

... got to say, they were some pretty cool cats

Not really sure why there was a standard FT86 on display

The bay in this commodore had my jaw on the ground, super tidy and effective

I loved this old mercury with matching camper

Vintage details in this thing....

.... Down to the leather hood straps

Couldn't make up my mind about this wagon

Spotted this as i was leaving the show, it was nice to hear something at SC Nats other than the sound off.  Hopefully one day they'll be able to bring back the driving events.

Till next time

-Willie