After extensive discussions, the organising team behind the upcoming NAC Drag Combat event to be held at Fram Autolite Dragway on December 4 are proud to announce the classes, which will add a new dimension to local drag racing.

With the theory being to break the field up into groups running on similar size and compound tyres, three distinct catagories will be run, each with their own size orientated sub-classes.

The classes include:

Street Tyres (All treaded wof standard tyres including circuit race style semi slicks)

• Tyres up to and including 235 width
• 245 – 295
• 305 plus

DOT Approved Slick (drag racing specific tyres such as Mickey Thompson ET Street and Hoosier Quick Time Pro)

• Up to and including 10.5-inch
• 11-inch – 14.5 inch
• 15-inch plus

Full Slick (Full slick drag racing tyres, including Goodyear Slicks etc)

• Up to and including 10.5-inch
• 11-inch – 14.5 inch
• 15-inch plus

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The big boys of NZ drag racing came out for the Nationals last weekend at Fram Autolite Dragway in Meremere. The weather was fine and the racing was tight with the smell of burnt rubber wafting through the crowd and a symphony of tyre squeals to entertain all.

NZV8 was there snapping away a few hundred photos so check out all the day’s action in the gallery below and keep an eye out for a full event report in the next issue of NZV8 magazine.

There’s nothing greater than the feeling of accomplishment.

I’ve been drawing for quite a few years; mainly it was silly scribbles and doodles to fill in time while at school, including my exam papers… Oops!

I never took any drawing seriously, until after high school. Even then I drew to fill my time in. It wasn’t until I drew my first racecar and showed my dad that I suddenly realised Hey, I can make something out of this. And from there I was determined to get out and get people to notice what I could do. As my dad kindly put it “You have a talent. You can draw like no one else I know. Don’t put it to waste.”

When I started my first cartoon (The funny car) I never realised it would lead me to this. I drew it, thinking “Oh yeah, Ryan will like it hopefully.” And that was it. Little did I know, it would become a hit with everyone and I’d be asked to do drawings for Nigel Dixon and Mike Reid.

But it wasn’t until this year that I really started to think something of it, when I got my break. I’m an avid reader of NZV8 (Like most of you probably reading this are too!) and I saw in one of the issues that they were looking for someone to post blogs on their website. I thought about and approached the idea to dad who said “…Well don’t waste your time, apply if you really want to do It.” and so, after begging a friend to let me borrow their computer, I sent an email and hoped for the best. A few days later I got a phone call. At work. I dashed out the back to answer it. And to cut a long story short after a few more emails I got to go to the heart of NZV8!

Again, cutting an even longer story short, I got to meet Todd Wylie and the awesome gang at the NZV8 office. And so this brings me to where I am now. Sitting here, absent mindedly tapping away on the laptop, thinking about the picture in reference to this blog.
After sneakily emailing Morice, asking some questions about Noel, he asked me something that caused me to squeal in typical girl fashion. Now, I first saw the funny car painted up in her new colours at Speed show this year in July, and I got several nudges in the ribs from Morice who wanted a new drawing of it , which I happily agreed too once I realised why he was nudging me repeatedly… So I thought about it did a few more blogs and doodles and it was put on my “To do List”… Up until a few weeks ago. Morice happily answered my questions and then asked if I could possibly do the funny car… So it could be painted up on the side of his trailer. OH MY GOD. Was what I first yelled, along with a few other words that I’m sure can’t be put on here…But you get the general Idea!
And so this brings me to now, having seen the trailer itself (Bright…yellow??) But Morice reassured me it’s not staying that colour…

…Well I hope it’s not!

Either way, I’m here to where I am now, a few months down the track (Lord help me!) and certainly none the wiser, aside from wanting to cut my poor hand off. Why you ask? Well perfecting sponsor logos was harder than I thought it was! And Morice you owe me a new black colouring pencil!  It’s about two inches short now!! Though it’s good to see the trailer is white now!

Now, what next? I’ve heard down the grapevine that Mr. Neilan is after a doodle of his car. Well Mr. Neilan, guess who gets to be featured next!!

Up Next:
Digga racing at its best!

Last weekend’s V4 & Rotary Nationals was a massive event for the import scene in NZ and while it was mostly about turbo-fours and rotary vehicles there was some mint V8s also on display.

Saturday’s Show at the ASB showgrounds in Auckland, had a special V8 Hall of Fame area that proved popular with many in attendance. Last Sunday was the day for the drags at Meremere and there was also some V8 machines going  down the strip to show the import crowds how it’s really done.

To see all the action from the drags, shiny metal from the show and a few sneaky photos from the bikini comp, check out the gallery below. (more…)