Bindoon Burnouts 2014

Its been a while since i've stood trackside at a burnout comp. Yesterday I got on top of that situation by heading up to Bindoon, about 100km's North of Perth, to check out the show that Chris  'Ballistic' Orchard and his crew had organised. 

Upon arrival I was immediately impressed with the work that has gone in to setting up for the event - the brand new 50m x 50m pad is huge! The grandstand made for a prime viewing area, and the VIP area where the serious blown cars were parked was a big drawcard for the punters. One thing in particular that stood out to me was the big push on safety. There was signage put up in the immediate vicinity of the pad to strongly suggest that the crowd wore eye protection (there were safety glasses available at the event, free of charge), as well as hearing protection. Newly erected also was a full height wire fence, as well as rubber 'drop sheets' hanging down from the armco in the pad - to further prevent debris, and in some cases fire, from shooting off in to the crowd. 

As luck would have it, about 30 minutes after I had arrived and scoped out the venue the heavens opened up. After a couple of thunderclaps, a torrential downpour opened up over the pad. A couple of minutes later and the huge raindrops turned in to bloody hailstones! There was a mad rush to cover up air cleaners, close windows and set tents up over cars. There was nothing that anybody could do except wait for it to pass - though there were still a few spectators that quite obviously enjoy splashing around in the mud and rain! 

As soon as the rain stopped, the organisers got the street sweeper and a couple of bobcats out on to the pad to soak up as much of the wet stuff as they could, then let the keenest of entrants get straight back in to it. Once the rain had cleared out, the real beauty of this event became apparent - as long as you were keen to have a go, you were allowed to go through as many sets of tyres as you could muster up. The pad was a free-for-all up until the sun went down, then everyone had the chance to do one skid each in the final. Some of the cars entered had multiple drivers to go with the multiple sets of tyres - The boys from FORDHOLD wreckers went through at least 6 sets of tyres in their LS powered EL Falcon, with Ballistic even having a pedal of the car with a full load of passengers. Matt Hughes had MON5TA out numerous times, performing running repairs between each skid, and at one stage driving off with 3 busted tyres!

The lads from Spectra Chrome quite obviously had a ball on the pad with their RX7. This isn't your average Mazda though - the car looks to be an ex-drifter, with an in your face, blown, EFI'ed LS engine reaching skywards through the bonnet!

The finals commenced once the sun had set, and the boys really turned up the wick - the FORDHOLD lads eventually taking the win in the open class. Fred Watson took the blown class win with a killer skid in the FEAR Monaro. Check out Flinty's video of Freds winning skid below - listen to how hard he turns it from about 1:20!

http://youtu.be/CLXoAa6Vn1Q

Check out the following photos for a taste of the action!

As if the rain wasn't enough, it turned in to a hailstorm!

Fresh from his recent Powercruise win, Nicko Edge was one of the first blown entrants to line up for the soaking wet pad.

Not really what you would expect to see at a burnout comp in Bindoon...I didn't get to see what was lurking under the bonnet, but there certainly weren't any Italian ponies under there. My guess is the Ferrari had an LS or a Chev?

Smile for the camera lads!

This is how its done - you break it, you fix it, you skid it again!

This HR Wagon was my favourite entry at the event. Big revs, big smoke and tough 'street car' styling ticked all the boxes for me.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

I was impressed at how seriously spectator safety was taken, with signs like these, plus hearing and eye protection signage up around the pad. Safety glasses were on hand for spectators wanting to get close to the action.

The 'H O O D' Falcon had a screaming aspirated combo on board, delivering several high speed performances on the pad.

Jason Foekens had a full house on board BLWNWGN in the finals, but unfortunately had to stop the skid early due to a belt slip.

These guys take burnouts seriously - performing an engine swap in the muddy pit area after popping one earlier in the day!

Event organiser Chris 'Ballistic' Orchard gets the job done on two wheels!

'Wild' Mick Hockings is back in the game with his fresh new combo - it was on song every time he hit the pad in his chopped purple tonner.

Peter Flint has had a big week - after wrestling with a wall at Powercruise the previous weekend, he managed to replace, fix and repair what was needed on his blown, big block powered ute in time to make the Bindoon Skids. He scored runner up in the blown class for his efforts too!

The FORDHOLD guys had a HUGE day - with three different drivers and half a dozen sets of tyres, the methanol chugging, LS powered Falcon took out the win in the open class.

371ci Windsor - The Story So Far.

Ever since I was old enough to get a car of my own, I have wanted nothing more than a stomping v8 powered Falcon that can destroy tyres at will. Several bad decisions and compromises left me without for a few years, until I came across an XR Falcon that was for sale in the same suburb. I decided then and there that it was going to be mine no matter what. By the end of that weekend, the deal was done.

After cruising it around for about 12 months with a stock 302 Windsor, I decided it was time to give the XR a freshen up, and get serious with the running gear. After the body was stripped and sent off for panel and paint, I started looking around at possible engine combos. In 2011 a plan was formed to build a high revving combo based around a Dart SHP 8.2" block, and a set of 208cc CHI 3V heads, with 600hp being the goal. The bores were punched out to 4.165", and a K1 forged crank, K1 5.4" rods and Racetech forged pistons were purchased to make up the rotating assembly. The combination of the 3.4" stroke and the oversize bores brought the capacity up to 371ci.

Sorting out the intake side of things was next on the agenda. The limited available intake manifolds that would suit my CHI heads and 8.2" deck height all needed a bit of work to bring them up to scratch. The biggest problem was the massive difference in runner length between the two middle runners when compared to the outer runners. I started looking at other options - like ITB fuel injection manifolds. Most setups were incredibly expensive, but it didn't take too long to stumble across Hilborns range of EFI manifolds - and they were very reasonably priced. After a few back and forth emails, Hilborn were able to get some drawings off of CHI, so they could then make me a one off, modified 351 Windsor manifold that would fit my combo. Awesome!

The remaining bits and pieces were sourced, including a crank angle sensor, a cam position sensor (off an AU Falcon 5.0L), 8 individual coil packs and the MegaSquirt ECU to provide the brains for the whole deal.

Nearly 2 years later, the combo hit the dyno and fired up in anger for the first time! It did everything it was supposed to do - it made 630hp, 505lb/ft and spun to 8000rpm.

Check out the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwjUExd8xUo

The excitement was short lived, however, as some serious oil leaks became apparent after I took the XR for its first test run. After much deliberating, I made the decision to pull the engine back out to see what could be done. Whilst pulling the sump off to sort that leak out, my mate and found a couple of teaspoons worth of swarf clumped up under the baffles...not happy, but bloody lucky none of that got sucked in to the oil pump!

The next surprise came when the camshaft lip seal was removed from the timing belt drive cover. This was an expensive bit of gear, and the bore that housed the lip seal had been DEVCON'ed up and repaired - sort of. This looked to be the obvious source of the major oil leak at the front of the motor. That setup got banished to the back of the garage while I sourced a Rollmaster timing chain and a trick looking Bullet timing cover to replace it. I might try and salvage the timing belt setup to use on another motor one day.

The new plan was to completely strip the combo, and replace the bearings, gaskets and seals. I didn't wan't to be caught out by any more surprises! I started working on it with a mate, but we both ran out of time with our hectic work schedules. I made the decision to send it off to the professionals instead, and now, nearly 3 years after I first bought the Dart block, it is finally ready to go again. With a bit of luck i'll get a couple of free weekends towards the end of the year to lift it in to the XR!

The combo will be backed by an AllFast 5000rpm convertor, a manualised Dynamic Racing Transmissions C4 with all the fruit, and a Final Drive built 9" with 3.9's and a Tru-Trac centre. I've never even raced down a drag strip before, but i'd love to give it a go in the XR. On paper, it should run in to the 10's with the right setup...but even more so than that, I cannot wait to cruise in to Collie with dad driving his XR Fairmont as well. The whole petrol head thing starts in Collie for me, (I've got several Uncles and Cousins to thank for that), and dad and I have talked about how great it would be to roll in to town with both of our XR's one day!

I took the opportunity to get some photos of the engine last weekend before it goes back in to the car again - It really is a great looking motor, and I wanted to show off the ITB injection manifold, and the cool looking accessories before everything gets covered up under the bonnet. As cool as the ram tubes look uncovered, I will run a single, large K&N sprint car air filter over them to make sure the engine is sucking clean air. The air filter definitely won't fit under the bonnet though, so i'm still working on that one :-)

Hot Rod & Street Machine Spectacular 2014

 

 

I have to say, the Hot Rod and Street Machine Spectacular 2014 is one of the most enjoyable car shows that I have been to. The event organisers really proved that a completely successful static display of vehicles can be done over here in the west, without the need to fill a burnout pad with smoke to attract the punters. I had planned on spending just a couple of hours there in the morning, catching up with some mates that I hadn't seen in a while - but I ended up staying all day until the show closed. I absolutely loved it!

Typically, I have been all about car shows with plenty of smoke, blowers, noise and action, but I have had a big change of heart in recent months. After spending a bit of time with some owners and their cars throughout the first half of the year, I have certainly developed a much greater appreciation for the work that goes in to these machines. There really is so much more than meets the eye with any modified vehicle, and you can also guarantee that there is a story worth telling to go along with it. Whether you bought the car when you were 15, or bought it yesterday, there is always a story.

There were plenty of hotrods and customs on display, an army of our top burnout cars, a brilliant lowrider display, offroad vehicles, model cars and some of our toughest street machines - some of which were still 'in the build'. There were plenty of familiar faces there too, and it was really great to chat with some of the guys I haven't seen in a while.

I learnt a hell of a lot about the design aspect of a build whilst wandering around the Robinson Pavilion too, and I gained a much greater understanding and appreciation for some of the top level show cars. The lengths that some people go to when building these cars is simply mindblowing! There was some seriously impressive engineering on display, some wild paintjobs, immaculate engine bays and super stylish interiors. I reckon it takes a lot of vision, a lot of imagination and a lot of planning to combine all the different elements of a build - and do it tastefully.

 

Anyway, have a flick through my photos to get a taste of what was there this year, and make sure you check it out next year!

I'm a big fan of this A Model Roadster - built in a traditional, 'less is more' style, it really ticked all the boxes for me!

 

Dave Cleary scored an invite to Motorex with his supercharged and airbrushed Commodore, 'Sickle'. The detail in the airbrush work is seriously impressive - the car is covered in characters from Horror movies!

David Cocciolone's 1974 Mazda RX2 Cappella (I hope I spelt all that correctly!) was on display for the first time since it underwent a major rebuild. The tough, rotary powered Mazda looked immaculate, and David won 'Best Displayed Vehicle' for his efforts.

This cool Pro Touring Camaro from the SRM camp certainly gets the stamp of approval!

The setup in the boot of this Lowrider Impala really is something else. Take a minute or three to take it all in...

Out of all the Lowriders on display, this bright orange Impala is my favourite - its clean and tidy, and that colour stands out a mile away. I could see myself cruising in this!

I cannot remember for the life of me what this model club was called, but there were some super cool models on display - from FED's to hotrods, to classics and customs, and even planes and tanks.

This '33 Ford Coupe was one of my favourite Hot Rods at the show. I loved the wheel combo, the paintwork, the 'late model' blown engine and those pipes...

Ashley Jackson's crazy Lowrider Impala always turns heads. I can only begin to imagine how many hours must go in to a paintjob like that!

James England, better known as 'ProShine', had his super cool airbagged Toyota Crown on display. You don't see too many cars like this around Perth!

The ITP Race Cars GT40 was a huge hit with the punters. The GT40 has to be one of the most iconic, and best looking vehicles ever produced, and this is a perfect example. The guys really had to dig deep too, pulling an all-nighter to get this to the show on time!

Craig Moars big block powered Valiant is one tough bit of gear.

 

This 'in the build' Falcon Coupe, also part of the ITP Race Cars display, is destined for the burnout pad! With a huge engine combo planned, and plenty of show to match the go, I really can't wait to see the finished product.

I first layed eyes on this DeTomaso Pantera last year at Antilags RaceWars - it looks just as good standing still as it does when its going flat out.

This '53 Chev is just...perfect...The paintwork on this always spins me out - I just love that colour!

 

There were a heap of these super cool scaled down hot rods on display. For a fraction of the price of the real thing you can buy one of these - and with an electric motor in the back they drive too!

I have never seen a Gen 2 Mustang before. It kind of looks like a Camaro if you squint?

 

Brent Tanian's BA Falcon, on show at the Cronic Customs display, was definitely one of the wildest vehicles from the weekend. The work that has gone in to the Falcon really has to be seen to be believed - from the crazy 14/71 blown small block up the front, to the twin 5" (yep, 5"!) polished exhaust system out the back, to the air jacks built in to the tube chassis...there is some serious engineering that has gone in to this car. The ride height that you see here will be the final ride height too - and not an airbag or hydraulic hose in sight. Adam and the guys at Cronic's have modified the front wheel track, so full wheel lock can be achieved without scrubbing the guards.  Everything that you look at just oozes quality, and a well thought out planning process. Brent's Falcon will be an absolute showstopper when it is completed - and can you believe it is a burnout car!? I cannot wait to see this finished and tearing up the pad once it has completed the show circuit. 

Matt James had his killer blown Compact Fairlane on display - another burnout weapon in the build. It would seem Cronic Customs have made a bit of a habit of turning out tough Fords!