Supercheap Auto Powercruise hit Taupo Motorsport Park for the third time over the weekend, and as we’ve come to expect it was a mammoth event. Turnout was well up on last years event, with over 420 cars were entered of all makes and models.
For the full event report, check out the next issue of NZV8, which will be on sale Monday next week.
The Supercheap Auto Powercruise event hits Taupo Motorsport Park for the third time this weekend (18-20 Nov). There’s been a bunch of new cars in the build specifically for this event, so it’s going to be huge.
Event organiser Gup will once again be bringing ‘Elvis’ his monster-power HQ Holden from Australia for the event to impress the crowds. If you’re looking for a chance to do everything you’ve always wanted to do in your car, but in a safe environment, Powercruise is it.
To find out more go to www.powercruise.com
There are street/drag cars that get driven on the road once a year, then there are true street cars like Steve Wall’s kick-arse Malibu¦
There’s truth to the saying about being in the right time and the right place. That’s a statement Steve Wall must believe in, as if he hadn’t known the right people, and been in the right place at the right time, his long-held dream of owning a Chev Malibu might not have come 
true.
Steve works as an industrial pipeline welder, and was enjoying smoko with his workmates one day when one of them, Rod, got a call asking him to go and work in the US. He accepted, and Steve soon convinced him to bring back a car from over there to make a bit of cash. Although not a car guy at the time, Rod took Steve’s advice and did just that, bringing in a ’68 Mustang.
Fast forward a few years and Rod was back Stateside again, this time with a plan to fit four cars into a 40-foot container. After buying three Mustangs he ran out of time, so did a deal with an ex-pat Kiwi to put his old Chev in as the fourth vehicle and see if he could sell it back in New Zealand.
Six weeks later Steve was helping Rod unload the container, and much to his surprise “that old Chev” that had made up the numbers was a ’66 Malibu, the very type of car Steve had always dreamed of owning. (more…)
On this week’s show we wrap up our Powercruise Taupo coverage with some V8 feature cars on the track. A supercharged ’77 Torana, ‘Clutch’ a former NZV8 cover car and a ’79 Chevy C10. We also show you the burnout competition finals with the top 5 burnouts of Powercruise and we take a look at an XB Falcon from Matamata Panelworks that took out the Show and Shine Prizes.
Our Meguiar’s feature car for this week is a blown XP Falcon which will really show viewers how to build a great classic V8 on a budget.
It’s an epic show and not to be missed so don’t forget to tune in this Sunday.
NZV8 TV is on at 2:30 pm, this Sunday on TV1. It will run each week at the same time so check it out.
Also watch this week for your chance to win a 3D LG TV and other prizes. Click here to find out more.
Click here to view profiles of this season’s presenters.
If you missed the first five episodes of this season’s NZV8 TV, no worries, click here to view them online.
Episode 6 – Part 1
Part 2
On this week’s show, we get down to the huge Powercruise event held recently at the Taupo Motorsport Park. We have full coverage of the Powerskids and all the Off Street Racing. It was an awesome event and it’s no suprise that’s where we found this week’s feature car – a supercharged Holden HQ Kingswood that had no issue turning rubber into smoke.
After all the excitement of Powercruise we needed to relax by the water so we caught up with Australasian GP Hydroplaning champion Graeme Weller as he attempts to set the World GP Hydroplane Speed Record.
It’s an epic show and not to be missed so don’t forget to tune in this Sunday.
NZV8 TV is on at 2:30 pm, this Sunday on TV1. It will run each week at the same time so check it out.
Also watch this week for your chance to win a 3D LG TV and other prizes. Click here to find out more.
Click here to view profiles of this season’s presenters.
If you missed the first four episodes of this season’s NZV8 TV, no worries, click here to view them online.
To watch this episode of NZV8 TV, click on the boxes below. (more…)
The recent Powercruise 2010 event had something for everyone, for some it was the drag racing, others got into the burnouts but for import fans it was all about the drifting.
After some hard fought battling it was Ben Belcher who had the skills and went home the big man in first place. Todd Curtis took second in his old school Toyota Corolla and Travis Edwards and his Silvia scooped up third place.
It was great to see the imports out there burning up the track but don’t just take our word for it, check out the images in the gallery below. (more…)
The January 2011 issue of NZV8 has just hit the shelves, so grab a copy today.
In this month’s issue we have a stunning Ford Mustang ‘Elanor’ replica built entirely from new parts. It’s an awesome machine with immaculate build quality, all new components and comes packing a 650hp World 427 crate motor. We also feature two of Australia’s fastest small-tyre race cars and take a close look at a 1957 Ford Country Wagon which has been turned into a super cool summer cruising machine. We have a huge event report from the recent Powercruise in Taupo and also report back from the 2010 Chevy Nationals. We check out a 1961 Dodge Pioneer which is a very rare locally assembled model and our ‘Dream Shed’ section turns up an eclectic mix of cars and artwork. We also have a bumper Christmas Gift Guide with all the hottest products included to help you with pressies for the family and some ideas for yourself.
All this plus the usual advice and technical information, readers’ rides and competitions to keep you up to date with all that’s happening on the NZ V8 scene. Pick up a copy now before they sell out!
The drag racing, the cruising and the bikini comp were all great events at the recent Powercruise in Taupo, but nothing got the boys revved up quite like the burnouts. With tyres screaming out for traction and smoke trails filling up the sky no one could look away from the machines taking centre stage. It was a top comp and burnouts are exactly what P0wercruise is about.
Check out images of imports and V8s spinning it up hard in the gallery below. (more…)
At last weekend’s Powercruise in Taupo not all the action took place on the track, there was plenty to see in the pits and behind the scenes. Lots of mad tinkering was taking place as final preparations were made to get cars ready for their respective events. There was also plenty of people-watching to indulge in and, of course, a bikini competition which brought out the finest in local talent.
To see what was going on behind the scenes at Powercruise 2010 and to have a perve at the bikini comp – check out the gallery below.
Last weekend’s Powercruise went off with a bang and the event that really drew the big crowds was the Powerskids. Imports and V8s alike filled the sky with smoke as they took their traction starved cars down the track. It was a right spectacle and proved popular with competitors and those cheering from the stands.
Check out the images from the Power Skids at Powercruise 2010 in the gallery below. (more…)
The annual Powercruise event has finished for its second year and what a great show it was. Masses of cars and crowds of people headed to Taupo to watch and take part in the action. It was a huge event and while we need to take some time to recover from all the excitement we have the first in a series of images to show you from the day’s action.
The cruising proved very popular with loads of cars getting out on the track. Check out the images in the gallery below and keep an eye out for a full event report in the next issue of NZV8 magazine – out Mon 29th Nov. (more…)
If you don’t love big smokey burnouts you need to have your pulse and your nuts checked over. Burnouts are a man’s god-given right and a big part of the reason why we have events like this weekend’s Powercruise. To celebrate, we have found a video that shows just how beautiful and classy a well executed burnout can actually be.
It’s the Rembrant of burnout videos, an absolute masterpiece of tyre on tarmac action. Playing the lead roll is a Snakeskin Green Dodge Viper in this ultra crisp HD video.
It’s been talked up enough, check out the video below. (more…)
Supercheap Auto Powercruise #27 kicks off this weekend in Taupo with festivities starting from tomorrow. There’s something for everyone at Powercruise, whether you’re into the big V8s or the import scene it’s an event that caters for all tastes. Held at Taupo Motorsport Park it’s sure to be an awesome weekend in the sun for all car fans.
The good news is that even if you haven’t already entered, you can do it on the day so you can still get your ride out on the track. Powercruise is all about being out on the track having fun doing all the things you’ve always wanted to do in your car without fear of reprocussions. Be it a drift car, drag car, skid car or pedal car, theres something at Powercruise for everyone to enjoy.
For the record, there will be cruising on the track, Powerskids comp, Drifting comp, Off-street Racing, Burnout comp, Dyno Shootout, World Record Powerskid attempt, Hour of Power, Sound Off and of course a Miss Powercruise bikini competition.
An often overlooked part of the event is the Show and Shine, where its not so much about how much power you’ve got under the hood, as how well its presented.
We’ve seen the entry list, and theres a bunch of ex NZV8 feature cars going to be in attendance, and both NZV8 Magazine and TV will be covering the event, so brush your hair, wash the car and get ready for the wildest crusin’ car show New Zealand has to offer.
All spectator tickets are available at the gate, Saturday is $35 per person, Sunday is $25, a two day pass is $50. Kids under 12 are free and it’s only cash sales at the gates.
To find out entry pricing, event rules and everything you need to know about this year’s Powercruise event, visit www.powercruise.com
All you will see is the tyre smoke as this 1890hp street-legal HQ passes by
If you invent a competition called Powerskids, you’d better have a car that can back it up and set a standard that other cars can aim for. That’s the situation in which Australian Michael ‘Gup’ Gilbert found himself in 2003. The event he pioneered ” Powercruise ” was growing rapidly, and one of the elements getting attention was the Powerskid competition.
Being a typical Aussie bloke, Gup has always loved the HQ Holden shape, and sitting in the garage at home is another HQ with a nitrous-snorting 308. But although it runs 11-second quarters and lifts the wheels, the nitrous car is very tame compared to the turbocharged big block HQ known as Elvis.
The Name Stuck
After shelling out just $500 for the rough body shell, a T106MM Turbonetics Pro Thumpa turbo was the first thing Gup purchased for the car. “One of my mates picked it up and said how it was bigger than Elvis; ever since, the name has stuck,” Gup explains.
With Powerskids, drag racing and dyno comps on his mind, before building the engine combination Gup did plenty of research into what parts would last the distance and be hassle—free. After all, the car would be a rolling billboard for his events, the last thing he wanted was mechanical failure.
Michael Gilbert, or Gup as he’s known, is the man behind what is set to be the biggest event to hit NZ shores. He was in town recently, and we pinned him down to find out more about the upcoming event.
We know Powercruise is coming to New Zealand, but what is the event all about?
That’s a pretty broad question, mate. Okay, here we go.
Powercruise is all about doing all the things you’re not allowed to do on the streets anymore. You can cruise in your car no matter whether it is a hot rod, street machine, rotary, drift car, import, cruiser, drag car within reason, and so on. And you can cruise the track, race a few cars over short distances on the track, all with your mates in the car with you. Like I said, you can do all the things you’re not allowed to do anywhere else.
Powercruise is all about the cruising. It’s where you can just be casual and cruise around watching what everyone else is doing. Or you can line up your mate’s car and give him a run down the straights. It’s where rotaries can race the V8s, Skylines can race the 
rotaries, anyone can give anyone a run¦ It’s all about having fun in your car no matter what sort of car it is or how good it looks (within reason again) or how fast it is.
Powercruise gives everyone a go at what they want to do. That’s why we say you can cruise, race, drift and skid your way around a race track.
Powercruise saw one of the largest crowds ever assemble at Taupo Motorsport Park to watch an awesome array of V8 muscle and import performance cars do what you can’t do on the road: drive to have fun. Powerskids, burnouts, dyno shoot-outs, show and go and more.
Powercruise saw one of the largest crowds ever assemble at Taupo Motorsport Park to watch an awesome array of V8 muscle and import performance cars do what you can’t do on the road: drive to have fun. Powerskids, burnouts, dyno shoot-outs, show and go and more.
1969 Chev Camaro RS group NC racer, Ford XA Falcon Coupe (madder than Max!), ex-drifters turned stuntmen for hire, Twin HDT Toranas worth a fortune and still racing. Powercruise preview with powerskids. It’s all on NZV8 TV
Classic V8 racing from Eastern Creek, genuine 1978 Group C Holden A9X Torana that raced Bathurst in 1978 and 1979; 1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible; Powercruise and more
Classic V8 racing from Eastern Creek, genuine 1978 Group C Holden A9X Torana that raced Bathurst in 1978 and 1979; 1967 Pontiac Firebird convertible; Powercruise and more
Big burnout with the rear tyres reaching 320kph
In addition to the events shown last week from Powercruise, there was also the Sound Off & DB Drag Racing Competition, run by Taupo’s Insane Car Audio, where competitors aimed for the highest stereo decibel reading. A bikini comp, which needs no explanation, although, in contrast to many similar competitions, there wasn’t a complaint to be heard about the calibre of entrant. Local lass Kimberly Powell was deemed to be better than the rest, and took home the inaugural title of Miss Powercruise NZ.
Throughout the day, a Show and Shine was being judged, thanks to Nulon. The show awards were split into three categories: Show Class, Street Class and Competition Class. Show pony Jarrod Mahon in his stunning QUPNCY HT Monaro took home no less than five awards out of the seven on offer in the Show Class. Street Class saw a much wider mix of winners with everything from T-Buckets, Skylines, Triumph Stags, Camaros and Commodores taking home impressive-looking trophies.
Competition Class was the domain of the tubbed cars, with Reece Fish’s twin-turbo ‘56 Chev taking out Top Judged Engineering, Ross Mission’s late-model Holden ute taking out ‘Tough As’, and Darren Saunders/Sheryl Brokenshire’s SS540 Camaro taking home Top Engine Bay thanks to its newly fitted 454 crate motor complete with supercharger atop.
Check out images from the Show and Shine and the Bikini Comp in the gallery below.
Last weekend’s Powercruise went off with a bang and one event that drew the big crowds was the NZV8 Magazine Powerskids.
Being only a practice session on the Saturday, competitors could keep coming back as many times as they liked within the hour-long period.
Drag racer Bruce Cox, in his second generation Camaro, was out to prove he had what it took to earn himself an Hour Of Power sticker by setting the standard for others to follow. An unexpected hero was Lindsay Stalker in his blown HQ Wagon, who also had what it took, along with Nissan Silvia driver Phil Otene.
Just so the drivers didn’t get too cocky, event organiser Michael ‘Gup’ Gilbert fired up ‘Elvis’, his turbo big block HQ Holden, and proceeded to smoke the tyres until he almost ran out of track.
The burnout comp also proved popular, and after many overheated engines, melted tyres and cheers, the top five was a good mix of import and V8.
Mazda RX-3 driver Ben Moorcock showed no mercy to his immaculately presented car, to the delight of all the rotary fans. Denis Beaver added blue tyres to the rear of his HQ to help nab some extra points from the judges, but in what was rapidly becoming an event ruled by HQ Holdens, he couldn’t take out Aaron Jenkins.
Jenkins’s car looked flawless at the start of the weekend, but by the time he was finished it needed some serious paintwork, as once the tyres popped, he kept going like a mad man, until there was nothing but rim.
Check out a full event report from Powercruise in NZV8 issue 56, on sale Monday.
To see 230 images from the Powerskids and Burnout comps view them in the gallery below.
One of the coolest things about Powercruise, is that no mater what you drive, you can take your mates out for a skid around the race track. The reality is, you could do everything you’ve always wanted to do on the road, but couldn’t. Some people choose to take it slowly, while others choose to line people up on the straights. Some liked to do big smokey skids.
NZV8 were lucky enough to get a ride in Elvis, the mental turbo HQ Holden, and it was a ride that wont be forgotten in a hurry. Infact, there’s talk of NZV8 trying to build something similar for themselves, they just need to find a healthy money tree!
Check out cruising images from Powercruise in the gallery below.
