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2025 HALTECH HERO OF THE YEAR
Ladies and gentlemen, automotive enthusiasts, and gearheads from around the world, the moment we’ve all been eagerly awaiting has arrived – presenting our Haltech Hero of the Year for 2025
MAD MIKE’S MAD MAC!
Mike’s rotary creations have been strong contenders in several of the past Haltech Heroes competitions, but this is his first time taking the top spot.
Congratulations also to our runner-up, Blaine Johnson with The Super Dart, it was an epic battle that went right down to the wire!
Over the past twelve months, we’ve witnessed these extraordinary cars, each with its own unique story and exceptional modifications, vying for the coveted title. Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey through automotive excellence as we unveil this year’s contenders and celebrate the relentless spirit of innovation in the world of high-performance vehicles.
STEVE’S AUDI QUATTRO
Steve Cox from F40 Motorsport has created this work of art. His tribute to the Group B Audi Quattro. This machine was built with one purpose in mind: Singing the five-cylinder song of its people as it scrambles for grip on the loose gravel roads around New Zealand’s lush forests. And Steve does exactly that at every available opportunity. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
JASON’S FORD CORTINA
Jason Waye’s Sports Sedan is far from an average Ford Cortina family car. Sporting an RB25 and PPG sequential gearbox nested inside the cabin of a full tube racecar, this thing is built to turn laps. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
BLAINE’S DODGE DART
With the drag racing pedigree that’s pumping through Blaine Johnson’s veins, it’s no surprise that this 4000HP, Noonan Hemi-powered, Pro257 Dodge Dart is one wild bit of gear. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
NATHAN’S CADILLAC ECTO-1
Nathan Clark, the President of Haltech and a self-professed “car nerd,” has a deep passion for movie cars. He proudly possesses a replica DeLorean from Back to the Future in his collection – and was fortunate enough to bring another of his childhood icons to life with this supercharged LS replica Ghostbusters Ecto-1. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
JASON’S NISSAN SKYLINE R31
Jason Ferron’s super-unique Haltech-equipped Ford Barra-powered Nissan Skyline R31 Wagon delivers 900 horsepower, with turbo boost and a rev range extending up to 8500 RPM, making it perfectly suited for the demands of drift racing. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
ANTHONY’S “THE DON”
Anthony Maatouk is the genius who gave us “The Don,” Australia’s first 5-second RB, and “VL God,” the fastest VL Commodore ever. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
MAD MIKE’S MCLAREN
This isn’t your average McLaren—it’s a drift machine powered by a rotary engine, redefining the limits of motorsport. Mad Mike, inspired by Bruce McLaren’s legacy and their shared New Zealand heritage, transformed this McLaren into his dream drift car. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE
The Haltech Heroes competition is open until Friday 31st of January 2025 (AEDT). The winner of the iC-7 dash will be notified by email by Monday 3rd of February 2025. Duplicate votes will not be counted.
Sydney Jamboree 2024
The annual Sydney Jamboree Sports Compact Drag Racing event took place at Sydney Dragway over the weekend, and it lived up to all expectations!
Maatouks Racing‘s all Haltech-controlled “The Don” set a new ET World Record for an RB-powered car with a blistering 5.81@251mph!
Jimmy Peksen repping Just Engine Management took the win in the Modified Compact class at his first Sydney Jamboree event with a 9.37@144mph.
Hailing from the BlackTrack Performance team Brad Halyburton secured the Street Compact class win in his 1JZ-powered Cressida.
Justin Gregory, the driving force behind BlackTrack Performance, showcased his dominance in the Pro Turbo class with remarkably consistent performances. However unfortunately, a technical issue at the finish line during the finals relegated him to the runner-up position.
Bonus Gallery
Haltech Horsepower Heroes – Summernats 36
The annual Summernats. A place where the love of loud V8s and questionable haircuts brings the car enthusiasts of Australia together once a year.
There is a lot to see at the 4-day event, but what we’re here for is the Haltech Horsepower Heroes Dyno competition.
Any Summerntas entrant can show the power of their muscle car on the hub dyno, run by the guys at MPW Performance and Race Fab.
The way the competition works is on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, each entrant has 3 dyno pulls to achieve their highest power figure. Then on Sunday in the finals, the slate is wiped clean. Only the power runs recorded on Sunday by the top 3 of each class are eligible to take out the win.
The classes consist of Naturally Aspirated Six Cylinder, Naturally Aspirated Eight Cylinder, Boosted Six Cylinder, and Boosted Eight Cylinder.
The boosted classes were filled with heavy hitters, with nearly every finalist pushing out over 1000hp.
The highly anticipated VL Commodore “MAKDDY” built by Maatouk’s Racing, took the Boosted Six class by storm with an impressive 2365 horsepower run in the finals claiming the win.
“MAKDDY” also managed a 2504hp run at 79psi in qualifying, which locked him in as the outright power record holder for a Haltech Horsepower Heroes competitor.
Wrapping up the Boosted Eight Cylinder class was reigning champion, Cody Hunt in his twin-turbo VE Commodore wagon, hoping to take the outright title for a second year.
While missing out on the outright win, Cody still managed to take home the class trophy with 1747hp.
Jason Kosis won the Naturally Aspirated Six Cylinder class in his beautiful Ford FG XR6 Falcon with 221hp run.
Shadi Tobaji‘s “RAW TC” Cortina took the Naturally Aspirated Eight Cylinder class win with a 728hp run.
HALTECH HORSEPOWER HEROES – ALL RESULTS
Overall Winner:
Morad, “MAKKDDY” Maatouk’s Racing VL Commodore – 2504hp / 1867kw
Boosted Eight Cylinder:
1st – Cody Hunt, 2009 HSV VE Clubsport wagon – 1747hp / 1284kw
2nd – Jason Botterill, VY Maloo – 1331hp / 979kw
Boosted Six Cylinder:
1st – Morad, Maatouk’s Racing VL Commodore – 2365hp / 1739kw
2nd – Lachlan Gow, Ford FG XR6 Falcon – 1061hp / 780kw
Naturally Aspirated Eight Cylinder:
1st – Shadi Tobaji, “RAW TC” Cortina – 728hp / 535kw
2nd – Denis Vidovic, XB GT – 617hp / 453kw
Naturally Aspirated Six Cylinder:
1st – Jason Kosis – Ford FG XR6 Falcon – 221hp / 162kw
2nd – Rick Yates – LJ Torana – 120hp / 88kw
Boost Demon:
Morad, “MAKKDDY” Maatouk’s Racing VL Commodore – 79psi
Rev Monster:
Ellis Dickson, Suzuki Mighty Boy – 12,000rpm
Best Engineered:
Lee Murray, LJ Torana
A massive shout out to the MPW boys for always holding down the Haltech Horsepower Heroes dyno and to all competitors who participated.
BONUS GALLERY
Haltech World Cup Finals 2023
What is World Cup Finals? It’s a unique racing event unlike any other in vision and scale. It features top-notch track prep, ideal environmental conditions, and intense competition that keeps racers and fans on the edge of their seats throughout a five-day event. It’s a premier ¼ mile drag racing competition with cash prizes exceeding $200k, attracting competitors and fans from around the world.
The 27th annual 2023 Haltech World Cup Finals Import vs. Domestic, presented by Wiseco, began on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and continued until late on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Maryland International Raceway. This year’s WCF event drew over 350 racers and a sell-out crowd of nearly 60,000 spectators who traveled to rural St. Mary’s County, Maryland for the show.
The highly competitive Mickey Thompson Outlaw vs. Extreme class features a collection of the fastest cars on the property including the “Blackberry Rocket” driven by Mark Benston Jr. from Selbyville, Delaware. Benston and his team accomplished an impressive feat by resetting the Outlaw Drag Radial ET world record not once, but FOUR times during the weekend!
Initially struggling with the track during qualifying, the Benston team was determined to complete a pass in Q5. Given the highly competitive field, a 5-second qualifying time was essential. The OvE class, the fastest in World Cup Finals history, demanded a flawless pass just to make the show.
During the final qualifying session, Benston’s Nexus R5-equipped, turbocharged Big Block Chevy-powered ’02 Camaro set a record-breaking 5.752 at 254 mph, earning him the 3rd spot on the qualifying sheet but sacrificing an exhausted engine block in the process.
On Race Day Sunday, the team was rebuilt more confident than ever. The car performed exceptionally, consistently improving throughout the eliminations. After securing a first-round win due to an opponent’s breakdown, Benston clocked a remarkable 5.733 at 254 mph in round two, moving on to the semis and setting another world record.
In the semi-finals, he delivered another record-setting run of 5.713 at 252 mph, securing a spot in the finals. There, Benston defeated Street Outlaws star John “The CEO” Odom with a monumental 5.697 at 254 mph pass, not only winning the event but also pushing the world record into the 5.6-second territory for the first time ever.
One of the event’s most exciting stories was WCF newcomer, Ryan “Speedy Peedy” Pederson, making an impressive journey to the Stick Shift finals. In his first appearance at the World Cup Finals, Pederson demonstrated remarkable skill by outperforming several veteran teams, including the class sponsor, Grannas Racing, and their renowned Orange MKIV Supra. Ultimately, he faced Garrett Mitchell, aka “Cleetus McFarland“, in the finals. Although Pederson started strong, a mechanical issue mid-track took the wind out of his sails and his posted time of 7.563 was fast but not enough to defeat Cleetus’s 7.325.
JPC Racing Street Fighter boasts a wide variety of entries, from Mustangs and Supras to a Lamborghini and even a Cadillac. However, the preferred power adder in this class is boost, as demonstrated by Adam Arndt. He blazed a trail with an impressive 6.825 @ 185 mph run in his Procharged, Haltech-controlled Mustang, securing the top qualifying spot.
Always a dark horse, the Connelley Racing team introduced their #BuiltInABarn Fox Body Mustang, the only entry-huffing nitrous. After several converter adjustments, the Connelley team managed to secure a hard-earned 4th place in the late stages of qualifying. In a 16-car class with less than half a second separating them, there were no easy races.
As Sunday arrived and eliminations progressed, an All-Mustang final emerged between Jon Lund’s ’11 and Martin Connelley‘s ’90. The former bested the latter with a 6.792 at 209 mph, and Martin and his team graciously accepted the first runner-up position.
The 2023 Haltech World Cup Finals, presented by Wiseco, witnessed intense competition among some of the world’s top drag racers, leading to the crowning of new champions in 11 categories. Congratulations to all participants! If you couldn’t attend the Maryland event, be sure to mark your calendars for next year.
For additional results and information about next year’s event, please visit the World Cup Finals: Import vs. Domestic website.
BONUS IMAGE GALLERY
Haltech Unveils EV Concept Car at SEMA
Haltech was the first company in the world to create real-time tuning for internal combustion engines. Back in 1986, we were the future. Now, in 2023 we’re showing you a new future for Haltech.
Haltech’s Electric Vision
This year Haltech is exhibiting at SEMA as part of the Race Winning Brands stand. Featured on that stand are two Shelby Cobras. One represents the “old guard”. Powered by a big internal combustion V8 engine, fed by *shudders* a carburetor. The other represents “the future”.
The matte black machine has been upgraded with a Core EV Conversion Kit. Power comes from a Cascadia Motion SS-250 Gen2 Single Stack motor which sits in the usual spot under the Cobra’s hood. Power is transferred to the rear wheels by a gearbox and conventional driveshaft and diff combination.
Output is 4,450ft lb at the rear wheels. In a car weighs only 2550lbs, that’s good for a 0-60mph time of 2.7 seconds.
In recent years Haltech has moved beyond engine management, and begun to include offerings such as dashes and more recently power management and body control devices. The Nexus R5 and R3 are the first devices in the world to combine both engine management and power distribution in the one box.
This Cobra features full Haltech body control, including PD-16, iC-7 dash, Tyre pressure monitoring, and a very special Experimental Prototype EV Supervisor.
Nathan Clark, President of Haltech said “Engine swaps are at the core of business. We’re making things easier for people who want to LS-swap their vehicles with the release of the Rebel LS here at SEMA, and we see that in the future more and more people will want to EV swap their classic cars, so it makes sense that we begin to explore this technology.
We still have much learning and development to do before a full Haltech EV system will be ready for market, but it is exciting to share this glimpse into the future for Haltech.”
World Time Attack Challenge 2023
The fastest tin-top cars in the world descended onto Sydney Motorsport Park for the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge in pursuit of that #oneperfectlap! The biggest field in the event’s history, boasting a bumper crowd of America’s and Japan’s fastest-time attack weaponry.
One part of the international contingent was Mike Burroughs from StanceWorks and his internet-breaking Haltech Nexus-powered Ferrari. With the help of Haltech, he was able to join the World Time Attack Challenge party all the way from the USA!
Mike made his highly anticipated Aussie debut in the very competitive GCG Turbochargers Open Class. Unfortunately, the gearbox suffered mechanical damage on the first day. However, the comeback was much greater than the setback. Fellow competitor JDM Yard had an identical gearbox in stock, which was luckily back at their workshop nearby. Mike and the Stanceworks crew decided to take the opportunity with both hands and go for it.
Mike and the StanceWorks crew worked until midnight pulling out the motor to gain access to the broken gearbox. On day two, they had done it. With pure determination, blood, sweat, and tears, Mike beat all odds and was ready to finally post a lap time down under.
Mike’s best time was 1:43.15. Even though it wasn’t the fastest of the day, Mike’s focus was purely on getting out there and posting a time on the board.
“I’m still wishing I had gone faster, of course… But experience behind the wheel of this car will come with time, and it’s time I am indescribably eager to spend with it.”
Barton Mawer took the outright win with a record-busting 1:17.86.
This blistering time was enough to set a new track record at Sydney Motorsport Park.
In the Plazmaman Pro-Am, Feras Qartoumy‘s epic twin-turbo LSX Corvette took the gold with a 1:27.16.
GCG Open was snared by Tim Slade driving the menacing Xtreme GT-R.
Haltech Clubsprint was all Trent Grubel in the DC Jap WRX, breaking the class record with a 1:32.91 to seal the win!
HALTECH HIGHLIGHTS
John Boston pulled off a 1:29.911 lap in JET200, less than a dozen Open Class cars have gone under the magic 1:30 barrier since 2016.
“It still hasn’t sunk in that we broke the sub-30 barrier in a car that is so basic and was aiming for 31s coming into the event. Our team was incredible, pushing into uncharted territory.”
Competing in the Haltech Clubsprint Class, Rahul Victor‘s Project 7dere finished up with a PB of 1:37.6770 (one second faster than last year). Also sporting a new eye-catching look.
Team Takumi Drive – Mark Collingwood was spotted out on the field in his Haltech-equipped Mazda MX-5 and hit a new PB of 1:47.51.
PK Racing – Paul Kovaceski steered his beautiful red Porsche 944 in the Haltech Clubsprint Class.
“It’s a fun car to drive and always puts a smile on my face. I love keeping it out there for all of the supporters.”
One Stop Racing Solutions – Artemis Kazangas piloted his blue Mazda RX7 equipped with a fresh Nexus R5 VCU onboard.
SX Developments – Andrew Handmer battled an ongoing cold, he however, soldiered on and gave it all he could in the Pro-Am Class in his SR20-powered and Haltech-controlled Nissan 180SX.
“Is that a Supra!?” It sure is. John Sebelic‘s beautiful Haltech-equipped Supra giving its all in Open Class.
INTERNATIONAL DRIFTING CUP
Once the dust had settled from the WTAC, the madmen of the 2023 International Drifting Cup took over Sydney Motorsport Park.
Epic Kiwi drifter, Mad Mike Whiddett brought out one of his favourite competition cars, the 20B rotary-powered #RADBUL MX-5 and as per usual did not disappoint!
Mitch Pullen and his insane Blown LS Nissan Silvia S13 put on a spectacle for the crowd, drifting around a tank! Yes, you read that right…
“This beast was on song all weekend at 9000rpm and it’s such a blast to drive!”
Keep It Reet‘s Jason Ferron brought his spicy Barra-equipped, Haltech-controlled Nissan R31 wagon “Barrawagz” to the party.
Matty Hill revealed his amazing new livery for his 2JZ-powered Nissan Silvia S15.
Anthony “Hectic” Bilic was also in drift mode rocking a fresh new look for his Haltech-equipped Nissan Silvia S13.
Congratulations to all those who fought their way onto the WTAC 2022 podiums:
Pro Class
1st: RP968 Porsche 968 – Barton Mawer – 1:17.86
2nd: Tanuki Nissan Silvia S13 – Tim Slade – 1:20.45
3rd: LYFE Motorsport Nissan R35 GTR – Cole Powelson – 1:25.94
Pro-Am Class
1st: Chevrolet Corvette – Feras Qartoumy – 1:27.01
2nd: 991 Racing Ginetta G55 – Richard Perini – 1:27.52
3rd: Tanuki Nissan Silvia S13 – Wayne Lee – 1:27.54
Open Class
1st: Xtreme GTR Nissan Skyline GTR – Tim Slade – 1:25.92
2nd: GAS Evo Mitsubishi Evo – Nathan Morcom – 1:27.36
3rd: BYP Racing Honda Integra – Benny Tran – 1:28.58
Haltech Clubsprint Class
1st: DC Jap Automotive Subaru Impreza WRX S – Trent Grubel – 1:32.91
2nd: ERS/EVOLUTION RACING SPARES Mitsubishi Evo 6RS – Jamal Assaad – 1:34.03
3rd: Got It Rex Subaru Impreza RX – Michael Garland – 1:34.19
Bonus Image Gallery
Mad Mike Takes On Pikes Peak 2023
VOTE FOR MAD MIKE’S MAZDA 3 TO WIN THE 2023 HALTECH HERO OF THE YEAR HERE
The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), brought to you by Gran Turismo, is also known as The Race to the Clouds. PPIHC is an invitational automobile hill climb that takes place on a 12.42 mile (19.99 km) public toll road boasting 156 turns.
Competitors climb 4,720 ft. (1,440 m.) from the 9,390 ft. (2,862 m.) Start Line to the 14,115 ft. (4,300 m) Finish Line at the mountain’s summit house.
Haltech Hero Mad Mike Whiddett, Pro Drifter, Redbull Athlete, and Flyin’ Kiwi made history at the 101st running of the race piloting TCP-Magic Japan‘s powerful 4-rotor, RWD converted Mazda 3.
The Mazda 3 Fastback, finalized assembly in late 2022 and tested at the beginning of 2023, showcased impressive performance and consistent, reliable speed that impressed event veterans and organizers alike.
1400 Horsepower is developed by a Twin Turbo 4-rotor engine and delivered to the rear wheels via a Hollinger sequential 6spd transmission and a robust Winter’s quick-change rear-end.
With the help of a Haltech NEXUS R5 and expert tuning by Kawato-San of TCP-Magic, Mike’s Mazda “BULLET” was able to maintain as much speed as the mad driver dared all the way to the summit.
The unmistakable High-RPM brap of the rotary engine echoed through the mountain course, captivating spectators and fellow racers.
Mike and the team went far beyond expectations with a blistering time of 10:34.980, shattering two records previously held by another famous Kiwi, Rod Millen; Fastest Mazda and Fastest Rotary Engine.
Whiddett expressed his pride and gratitude to his team, partners, and supporters for their crucial role in his triumph. Team TCP-Magic aimed to demonstrate the performance and reliability of rotary engines and the speed of drift cars. These goals were accomplished in a spectacular fashion.
Mad Mike Whiddett’s historic achievements at Pikes Peak celebrate his skill, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Conquering the legendary race’s formidable challenges, Mike’s success stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the racing world and a celebration of automotive excellence.
Grudge Kings 2023 – Sydney Dragway
The annual event Grudge Kings was hosted by Sydney Dragway – where the fastest Blown, Turbo, Nitrous, and Naturally aspirated cars race head up in multiple classes.
George Haramis – Maatouk’s Racing
On its first-ever full pass, George Haramis made a strong statement, setting a new record with a 6.71@212mph making it Australia’s quickest Supra!
The Maatouk’s Racing built GH0747 Supra is controlled by a Nexus R5 VCU.
Riccardo Pontonio – MPW
Hailing from Melbourne, Riccardo Pontonio claimed the overall win for the R275 class with a blistering pass of 7.56@181mph putting him at #1 place on the True Street leaderboard!
The brown Holden VK Commodore is controlled by an Elite 2500 ECU and is expertly built, prepped, and tuned by MPW Performance & Race Fab.
Adam Rogash – MPW
Another beast from the MPW stable was none other than Adam Rogash‘s beautiful blue 1970 MK1 Capri. For its first-ever event, the team’s goal was to hit 6s, and that it did with a 6.91@199mph!
Powered by a 3000hp, twin-turbo, 596ci Big Block Chevy with the whole setup controlled by a Nexus R5 VCU.
Trent Blainey – MPW
All eyes were on another immaculate build by MPW Performance and Total Workz – Trent Blainey’s 1800hp Group A Walkinshaw VL.
Trent did not hold back and propelled his car into the 7-second club with a pass of 7.7@187mph. “WALKE” is locked and loaded with a twin-turbo 427ci Dart LS and controlled by a full Haltech system from end to end.
Fox Cullen
After sorting out a few gremlins and a last-minute effort to make the event, Fox Cullen and his wild Valiant ended up smashing out a new PB on small tires with a 4.74@158mph over the eighth mile!
Fox’s blown Valiant is equipped with an Elite VMS-T ECU accompanied by a PD16 PDM, iC-7 display dash, and an 8-button CAN keypad all wired in by Tuned By Dale.
Stuart Bennett
Stuart Bennett ran a super solid 6.17@230mph on Friday’s test day, however, unfortunately, had transmission issues on Saturday wrapping up the weekend for the team.
Chuck Jifkins
Chuck Jifkins set a new eighth-mile PB with a run of 5.0@143mph in his Commodore ute thanks to his new 2JZ combo.
The 2JZ setup is controlled by an Elite 2500T ECU.
If you have a race win or personal victory you would like us to know about, be sure to tag us on social media using #Haltech! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram at @Haltechecu
MotorEx 2023
With a record number of unveils and so many spectacular, new builds across all halls, finding a favourite at this year’s Meguiar’s MotorEx was not an easy task. The judges deliberated long and hard before deciding on their top picks which are, without a doubt, Australia’s finest show cars. Of course tastes vary and we all have our own biases, so below, in no particular order, are our own favorites.
Adam Rogash’s 1970 MK1 Capri. Powered by a 3000hp, twin-turbo, 596ci Big Block Chevy and aiming to run consistent 6-sec passes, this car sets a new standard for dedicated street and track cars.
“It’s got everything from page six of the Haltech catalog to the end! Including a Nexus R5, PD16 and sensors on just about every moving part for data collection when their radial racing journey begins.”
Steve Holland’s WRXMini started its life as a genuine 1961 Mini but is now powered by a mid-mount EJ25 sourced from a 2010 Subaru WRX. The WRX also donated the gearbox, which, remarkably, still fits! It’s all controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU. The RWD Mini is a stunner and, we are told “lots of fun to drive”.
Trent Blainey’s 1800hp Group A Walkinshaw VL replica is a true work of art. The attention to detail is mind-blowing as is the overall build quality and finish. Built by Total Workz and MPW Performance, powered by a twin-turbo 427ci Dart LS and controlled by a full Haltech system from end to end.
This beautifully presented Holden Rodeo Mini Truck was built by Darrell Leemhuis and runs a 2.6L 4ZE1 with a GT35R turbo. The setup is controlled by the old-faithful Haltech E6K. The ECU might be getting a little long in the tooth now, but hey, if it ain’t broke….
Chris Pearson’s 1972 HQ is powered by a 468ci big block with a 6/71 blower, BAU injector hat with Jo-Blo EFI conversion. The whole lot is controlled by a Haltech Elite 2500 ECU.
And how’s this for a modern touch – the interior has been custom-adapted from a VF GTS-R complete with a dash console, seats and even door trims. Aussie utes don’t get much better than this!
Matt McIntosh’s HQ Statesman followed its Summernats success with a whole bunch of awards at Meguiar’s MotorEx for bodywork, engine, and undercarriage. The Statesman is powered by a twin-turbo SBC and controlled by Haltech’s Nexus R5 VCU.
One of the coolest Silvias at this year’s show was the STNDBY S15. Beautifully finished in House of Kolor’s Kandy Apple Red and powered by our “engine of the month” SR20DET with Wiseco pistons and Tomei cams. Boost comes via Garrett GTX3071R turbo with a 6Boost manifold. The whole package is controlled by a Haltech Elite 1500 ECU with an iC-7 dash displaying all the necessary information.
It’s hard to stand out in a sea of Toranas at Meguiar’s MotorEx but Heath’s 1978 LX hatch achieved exactly that, and more. Looking amazing in its blue and orange livery, the Torana is powered by a Holden 383ci V8 with ITBs and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU. Nicely done!
This absolutely stunning 1989 VN Commodore features a custom Group A Kit and is powered by a 6L alloy block with a billet, 8-71, 3-lobe Teflon Blower from The Blower Shop. Controlled by a Haltech Elite 2500.
Those pesky Barras find their way into everything! This 1976 Jaguar XJC looks absolutely stunning in British racing green and with its tastefully restored interior. But what’s that in the engine bay, we hear you ask? Oh, yes, it’s the Australian iconic straight-six – sourced from an FPV FG F6 Typhoon.
Image Gallery
TX2K23 USA – Houston Raceway Park
Over 35,000 fans flooded Houston Raceway Park to attend TX2K23. Among the attractions were side-by-side 230mph roll race battles, ultimate drag race matches, a car show, a dyno competition, and a SwimSuit USA Bikini contest.
Wins, PBs and world records are all up for grabs when the track is prepped and the air is good. And with both the track and the weather coming to the party, a record number of racers made the journey to the southeast shore of Texas to compete in one of the most anticipated events on the racing calendar.
George Benson Jr., the proud owner of “The Fastest Cadillac CTS-V in the World” had to rebuild his engine after Street Car Takeover, and nearly didn’t make it to TX2K. Luckily, with some help from friends and workshops he was able to get it running on Thursday night.
Benson went to the track the next day and ran it like a bracket car with 7.5s and 7.6s all the way up the Heavyweight class ladder and right into the winner’s circle.
Nick Cole-Mann buried the LS stick shift world record a little deeper with a 6.82 pass!
James “Jackstand Jimmy” Taal brought out “McFlurry” a 1990 Foxbody Mustang with a 7.3L Godzilla motor and twin turbos. This entire build was done completely in-house in under a month to be ready for the drag and drive event “Sick Week”.
Making its TX2K debut, it did not disappoint, running in the 8.50 index class. Due to late arrival the team had little data to get the car to slow down to the index. With a stroke of luck, they had bye-runs all the way to the finals where they ran faster but broke out and ended up with the first runner-up trophy.
Ivo Jurisic in his 2J-powered vintage Datsun ran his best pass ever in the semi-finals of 2JZ class. Best 60′, best ⅛ mile, best ¼ mile, best mph, but it wasn’t enough! Ivo left his competition at the tree but they had other plans! The margin of victory was a scant .038s! Ivo’s 7.270@189 was no match for their 7.029@220.
TX2k was a challenging but ultimately successful event for No Prep Kings racers Jim Howe Jr. (orange Camaro) and John Odom (blue R35. With only a week to prepare for an exhibition appearance, they had to assemble two cars from scratch, with no motors, transmissions, or rear ends.
As the rules for the No Prep Kings were not yet announced, they had to make a last-minute decision to take multiple engines and guesstimate the best transmission and rear-end ratios for the event.
Despite tire shakes and a tight, sticky track, Jim and John managed two monumental accomplishments. John won the exhibition championship, and Jim set the record for the fastest side-by-side pass in the event’s history, with a time of 5.73 seconds over the quarter-mile.
Photos by Boostin Photography
If you have a race win or personal victory you would like us to know about, be sure to tag us on social media using #Haltech! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram at @Haltechecu
Street Outlaws NPK Australia – Willowbank
An action-packed weekend of racing filled with fun, familiar faces and a few wins on the board for Haltech teams as Street Outlaws No Prep Kings USA took on the Queensland’s biggest and baddest no prep teams in a true Street Outlaws style.
The spectators were blessed with two days of high velocity head-to-head drag racing. No times, very few rules, first over the line wins! If you were lucky enough to be there, you might have bumped into a few familiar faces from the Street Outlaws NPK USA TV show.
All eyes were on Scott Hipwell and his beautiful blue Ford Foxbody Mustang, known as “WARFARE”. Scott didn’t hold back on Friday, taking the win for the Small Tyre Shootout class before taking on the Street Outlaws on Saturday, racing Ryan Martin and Disco Dean.
“To be able to run Street Outlaws with our team “Team Warfare Racing” against USA was a dream, and to be able to represent Queensland and Australia was massive for us!”
On Saturday, another Queenslander, Aaron Gregory claimed the Small Tyre Shootout class victory in the ASG Motorsports twin-turbo LS Holden Panel Van “HELLRZR”, all thanks to a number of flawless passes.
Aaron called out Murder Nova in the first Grudge race and was paired up against Robin Roberts’ Big Tyre NPK car for the second Grudge race. After a successful weekend, Aaron was given the opportunity to return to the track on Sunday for some more exclusive racing which will be aired on the Street Outlaws TV show.
Justin Simpsons from Horsepower Solutions with his new No Prep car “Kryptonite” came into day one of Street Outlaws NPK as the captain of Team Queensland and called out the Street Outlaws’ fastest racer, Jeff Lutz and his NPK GTO. It was great to see Kryptonite make one hell of a pass and we are looking forward to seeing it in action on the Discovery channel soon.
We look forward to seeing these great cars go even harder in the future as the No Prep Racing becomes bigger and better in Australia.
If you have a race win or personal victory you would like us to know about, be sure to tag us on social media using #Haltech! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram at @Haltechecu
Sick Week, Kenda Radial Series, NZ Nationals
It’s been one helluva week for Haltech teams with an avalanche of wins, trophies and PBs. Here’s the lowdown:
Haltech Trifecta at Sick Week
It’s a feat of strength to just survive the Sick Week, let alone to come out on top but that’s just what these three teams managed to achieve. After five days of racing, each followed by a several hundred mile long drive, Tony Niemczyk emerged as the winner of the Sick Week Freaks class in his 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
“I made some changes to the car this year. We started with a brand new fuel system, different fuel type and different injectors and a bunch of other changes completely untested. But thanks to a great Haltech engine management system and data match technology from Fuel Injector Clinic the car ran dead on target AFR with zero additional tuning on our first test hit.”
After a near-flawless performance all week, Tony proved he can be fast and also consistent, a winning combination for events like the Sick Week.
“I never thought a DSM would be able to pull this off. 8.70s for a week, 800ish miles towing a trailer. And literally didn’t work on it at all other than routine swap over from street to track and back. Absolutely incredible.”
Australian Bean Neal took the runner-up spot in his Barra-powered Cresta with Rob Courtney in the third place in his 1995 Honda Civic AWD. Tony and Ben also claimed “Quickest” trophies in 4cyl and 6 cyl classes respectively.
Cleetus McFarlane debuted his new Haltech-controlled build – a Godzilla powered Foxbody Mustang dubbed “McFlurry”. Driven by “Jackstand” Jimmy, the twin-turbo, 7.3L combo ran a PB of 8.2@156mph on its first pass before hurting the bottom end and forcing the team to retire.
NZ Drag Racing Nationals
Held at Masterton Motorplex, the NZ Drag Racing Nationals attract the fastest teams and the most dedicated drivers in the country. The star of the show was Adam Prestey behind the wheel of the Pirtek Taranaki Racing Pontiac Grand Am. Adam took the win in the Top Doorslammer class with a PB of 6.35 @ 223mph. The twin-turbo, 520ci big block Chevy is controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 and tuned by Mike Ekdahl of Diesel and Turbocharger Service Taranaki.
Graeme Bates campaigned his Vauxhall Cresta in the Top Street class. Graeme pushed the car to a PB of 7.21@193mph claiming the NZDRA National BB/TSi record in the process. He then went on to win the class against Stu Goldsworthy. What an awesome effort by the Haltech New Zealand team!
“I’m still blown away at how well the Haltech system has the car running. We will be back at MMP for the final event there on the 18th and 19th of March where we hope to lean on it a bit further.”
Kenda 660 Drag Radial Series – Sydney
Unpredictable weather played havoc with the Sydney round of Kenda 660 Drag Radial Series but we still got plenty of action and even a few PBs before the storm rolled in forcing the organisers to throw in the towel.
All eyes were on Moits Motorcars / Lotus Caravans brand new Pro Radial Camaro, known as “The Purge”. With a Noonan ProCharged 4.9L V8 and the whole Haltech catalogue onboard, this beast is set to make waves! The guys managed a 4.01 @193mph in challenging weather conditions yesterday getting plenty of data.
A PB of 4.6@157mph for Brad Cullen and his Haltech-controlled, supercharged, big block Valiant ute.
Kenda 660 was also the first outing for Tim and his new Corolla. Powered by a Haltech-controlled, 1000hp RB30 the car sounded awesome and went hard too! Tuned by Micks Motorsports.
New engine, new warpaint and a new attitude for Bennett Motorsports twin-turbo LS Pontiac. The team managed to sneak in an overnight gearbox rebuild, after what we suspect was one too many Page Ups during Friday’s testing.
Aarong Gregory brought the ASG Motorsports twin-turbo LS Holden Panel Van down and didn’t hold back during the Saturday morning qualifying. If you want to see more of this amazing build – check out our Haltech Hero Feature.
Daniel Fisher‘s twin-turbo LS-powered Holden Commodore ute saw plenty of action on both days. This is one quick ute! Controlled by a Haltech Elite 2500 and tuned by Dale Heiler.
It was great to see our favourite pocket rocket, Disco Dean‘s Ford Escort Panel Van out and racing again. Powered by a turbo Barra, the car recently underwent a host of upgrades including a brand-new transmission and a few more Haltech goodies.
Clint Hepburn‘s Gemini is a sight to behold. More grumpy than friendly, this particular “Casper” runs a 540ci big block Chevy aided by two massive turbos. Controlled by a Haltech ECU and tuned by Justin from Horsepower Solutions.
“Go Hard or Go Home” It’s obvious which option Phil Penny decided to go with here! It was great to see the Rising Force Honda S600 in action again. The little Honda S600 is powered by a 2JZ turbo and controlled by Haltech Elite ECU.
Josh Prescott‘s Falcon ute was out testing on Friday. Powered by a twin-turbo Ford V8 and controlled by a Nexus R5 and tuned by Dale Heiler.
Whatever your opinion on Barra-swapping may be, there’s no arguing Nathan Peters‘ purple beast is well done. Very well done. The Haltech-controlled Valiant looks immaculate, sounds awesome, goes hard and turns heads wherever it goes.
Summernats 2023
While car enthusiasts in the Northern Hemisphere tuck their rides away to keep them safe from snow and ice, Australia celebrates the New Year with the biggest Horsepower Party to date.
Between burnouts, cruising, car shows, live bands and trader displays there really was no shortage of things to do and see at this year’s Summernats.
Naturally Team Haltech was out in force with a full size merchandise stand, product display in the Rare Spares Pavilion and assisting the MPW Performance dyno crew in the Haltech Horsepower Heroes Hall.
The Best of the Best
The Mequiars Elite Hall featured some of the best machinery in the country and the competition for the top spot was stiff. The judges deliberated long and hard eventually awarding the Top Judged award to Matt McIntosh for his HQ Statesman.
The Statesman is an absolute gem. Powered by a twin-turbo SBC and finished in Carpathian Grey with a set of very distinctive rose gold Simmons. The whole car is controlled by Haltech’s Nexus R5 VCU. A well deserved award for what is a magnificent build. Congratulations to all involved.
Another car getting plenty of attention in the Elite Hall was Nathan Shepherd‘s 1979 VB Commodore wagon. A true shed find, this Commodore has been meticulously rebuilt in a HDT theme with a crazy attention to detail. Powered by a 355 V8, mated to a TH400 three speed and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU.
Luke Mitchell‘s EVIL LJ 1973 Torana was one of our Elite Hall favourites. Powered by a 430ci Dart LS with a BDS 8/71 Blower and using a Joe Blo EFI system – all controlled by a Haltech Elite 2500. The whole package is good for 1400hp. Covered in a gorgeous PPG custom blue pearl.
While it might not have won any awards, we still loved Heath’s 1978 Torana hatch. The finish, the detail and the overal look of the car is on point. The blue beast is powered by a Holden 383ci V8 with ITBs and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU.
Haltech Superstars
Haltech’s display in the Rare Spares Pavilion featured two cars. The first was a stunning Group A Walkinshaw VL. Built by Total Workz and MPW Performance and controlled by a full Haltech system from end to end.
The other was a rare 1961 Plymouth Valiant 2-door. Painstakingly rebuilt over 180 years by a father-and-son duo of Ken and Nathan Clark. Powered by a 369ci Hemi, and mated to a Mercedes 5-speed auto with a Ford 9″ diff. The whole car is controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 VCU.
Hidden Gems
Top notch builds weren’t confined to indoors either. We spotted this super clean SLR-408 Torana parked in front of the Mequiars Hall. Powered by a 408ci iron block with Callie’s crank and rods, JE Pistons and Higgins race heads. S480 Borg Warner turbo provides the boost. The power gets down to the ground via a Turbo400 and a 9″ diff. The whole package is good for 955hp at the wheels on 17psi of boost and a little help from a Haltech ECU. A very tidy package and a credit to its owner and builder.
We bumped into Millsi’s infamouse Barra-swapped Bedford van. Controlled by a Nexus R5 with an iC-7 display dash and a CAN keypad this thing is legend-ary!
This blown VE Commodore really needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. Controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 with an iC-7 display dash.
All the boosts – and then some! Ben Bolton‘s Barra-powered Cortina has it all: two turbos AND a supercharger. Controlled by Haltech’s Elite 2500 ECU hooked up to an iC-7 display dash.
Curtis Ryan‘s award-winning AGREV8 Torana looks absolutely stunning no matter where it’s displayed. Powered by 383ci LS and controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU this build is a perfect example of style and grace coupled with perfect execution.
Haltech Horsepower Heroes
The competition was even stiffer in the MPW Dyno Cell with Barra challenging LS for the top spot. When the dust settled it was Cody Hunt and his 2009 VE Clubsport sitting at the top of the table. Laying down 1643hp at the hubs during the finals on Sunday, Cody’s, 427ci, twin-turbo Dart LS wagon took out both the outright win as well as the Eight Cylinder Forced Induction award. The Clubsport is controlled by a Nexus R5 system and tuned by Aaron from ASG Motorsports.
Andrew Copley took the Six Cylinder Forced Induction class with his turbo Barra powered 2010 FVP F6. Andrew’s ute laid down 1438hp securing not only a class win but also the Outright Runner-Up trophy. The ute is controlled by a Haltech Elite Pro Plugin ECU and tuned by Canberra’s Extreme Street Performance.
The first four cylinder ever to crack a 1000hp on the Summernats dyno was Michael Silk’s Datsun 1200. The orange wagon laid down 1077hp in the finals, good enough to earn him Rev Monster and Boost Demon awards. The little ute runs Nissan’s SR20VE turbo controlled by a Haltech Elite ECU.
Andrew Hawkins‘ R32 GT-R, produced 1095hp claiming the runner-up spot in the Six Cylinder Forced Induction class.
Haltech Horsepower Heroes – All Results
Overall Winner: Cody Hunt, 2009 HSV VE Clubsport wagon – 1643hp
Eight Cylinder Forced Induction:
1st Cody Hunt, 2009 HSV VE Clubsport wagon – 1643hp
2nd Ryan Shloes, HSV VY Senator – 816hp
Six Cylinder Forced Induction:
1st Andrew Copley, 2010 FPV F6 FG – 1438hp
2nd Andrew Hawkins, Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R – 1095hp
Eight Cylinder Aspirated:
1st Mark Biffin, 1969 HK Premier – 627hp
2nd Richard, Holden Commodore VF SS – 464hp
Six Cylinder Aspirated:
1st Tony Spasonoski, 1976 Chrysler Centura – 442hp
2nd Zane Heath, 1995 Ford Fairmont EF – 370hp
Rev Monster:
Michael Silk, Datsun 1200 wagon – 10,500rpm
Boost Demon:
Michael Silk, Datsun 1200 wagon – 50psi
Thank You
A big thank you to Adam and the whole MPW Crew, Street Machine Magazine, the Summernats team for putting on a consistently awesome event, and last but not least everyone that came by our stand be it to grab some merchandise or to chat about their projects. See you all next year!
Summernats 2023 Photo Gallery
FL2K and The Shootout 2022
As the motorsports season comes to a close in the U.S., the events are ramping up with racers trying to set personal bests before the cold sets in. With multiple races on the calendar, the Haltech team has been busy providing track support and catching up with customers from all over.
The Shootout
The formerly DSM-exlusive event in Norwalk, OH is in its 29th year and has seen more popularity than ever. Hosted at Summit Motorsports Park, there is no shortage of spectator seating and parking as hundreds of racers invaded the famed drag way. This year was the first time that non-DSM vehicles were invited and it provided some excellent grudge racing and exciting clashes between fans.
Ben Hochman brought out his “Black Zenith” Evo to try and set a new personal best. The Hochman Fabrication four-door made over 1000 HP on Boostin Performance’s all-wheel drive dyno earlier this year. After some carnage inside the transmission on Friday, the team put their heads down and cranked up the boost. Setting a new personal best of 8.15 @ 187 MPH, Ben looks forward to breaking into the elusive 7-second zone.
“Supra” Chris Beard had his MK3 Supra out for the first time this season and shook off the cobwebs with a string of 9-second passes. After some datalog reviewing, Chris hit the page up button on his boost control and made a 9.35 @ 146 MPH to finish the weekend off.
Tony Marx had a wild weekend, with a transmission issue on Thursday, they made it through tech inspection and then raced to rebuild it at the track. A turbo change, a transmission rebuild and a hurt converter just kept piling onto the rollercoaster of emotions. Qualifying #4 in the Street 32 class, Tony kept pushing through the field. Ending the week with a runner-up finish, his experience is a great example of how perseverance can pay off!
FL2K
After the Hurricane damaged the Bradenton facility leading up, the FL2K promoters had to scramble and find a new home for the hundreds of racers traveling to Florida. Luckily Gainesville Raceway opened its doors, and the event that followed was one filled with excitement and great racing.
Jon Rogers has made a lot of changes to his 240SX including moving to a stick shift class. The Haltech controlled 2J is making some serious power and it was awesome to see him make into the Top 10 list for manual transmissions. He ended the week with a semi-finals finish, and a best of 7.35 @ 190 MPH.
James Rupert brought his “Starbucks” Supra to the track for the first time. The Drag International prepped 2J made a ton of power and rocketed to an 8.1 off the trailer. James kept making adjustments and eventually ended with a personal best of 7.62 @ 178 MPH, an awesome finish to a first outing.
David Farlow and Eric Gold have been getting their feet wet in Import racing this season. Their new Toyota Starlet build is running a turbocharged Honda K24 controlled by a #Haltech Nexus R5. Although a torque converter issue ended their weekend early, it’s great to see experienced domestic drag racers make the jump over.
Have an event or race win you want us to know about? How about a new build or project you’re really proud of? Be sure to tag us on social media using #Haltech or @HaltechECU !
2022 Kenda Tires Radial Riot
Haltech heavy hitters take on the cream of Australia’s radial racers at the 2022 Kenda Tires Radial Riot held at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway. There was plenty of action, PBs and drama – all before the rain hit.
“Disco Dean” Ferris – Escort Panel Van
Dean and his Barra-powered Ford Escort panel van made it into the Winner’s Circle, winning the 2022 Radial Renegade Championship Belt. Dean was also the runner-up in his class at the event, walking away with some big cheques and a big smile. The bright orange panel van is controlled by a Haltech Platinum Sport ECU.
Clint Hepburn – “Casper” Gemini
All eyes were on Clint Hepburn’s 2500hp Gemini “Casper” as a little mishap during the week almost put him out of contention. However, thanks to the Horsepower Solutions team, Casper was ready to play by race day and made it into the finals of the OG315 class. Unfortunately, the finals got rained out which resulted in a countback on previous rounds resulting in Clint taking the runner-up spot.
Casper kicked a lot of goals at the event and performed flawlessly with the highlight pass of 4.3 @ 176mph. The twin-turbo, big block Chevy is controlled by an Elite 2500 ECU combined with a Race Expansion Module, and an iC-7 display dash.
Chris Sword – Ford Falcon
Chris took out the Rumble class in his purple Barra-powered Falcon running a 6.408 in the 6.400 bracket. The Haltech-controlled car was super consistent throughout the whole weekend.
Terry Androutsos – Mazda RX3
Terry Androutsos’ twin-turbo, big block Chevy Mazda RX3 was flying all day winning 3 from 3 rounds. Sadly, Terry’s winning streak came to an end in the last run with Terry walking away with runner-up spot of the Outlaw275 class and nursing a hurt engine back to the pits.
The RX3 is equipped with the Nexus R5 VCU, iC7 display dash, CAN keypad and an array of sensors.
Jamie Jefferys – “NOTSORY” Foxbody Mustang
After retiring early from Brisbane Jamboree, Jamie’s twin-turbo LS Foxbody was on song at the Kenda Radial Riot running a whole string of PBs at the event. The car is controlled by Haltech’s NEXUS R5 VCU.
“The car literally went PB after PB on each pass. We made huge progress on this car and how it was working. Finished with a 4.57 @159.5mph which is a big jump in the right direction. Huge thanks to all the people and sponsors who help keep this dream alive.”
Aaron Gregory – “H3LLRZR” Holden Panel Van
Aaron’s “H3LLRZR” made a string of consistent passes and is currently in the running for the OG315 class series championship. The Holden panelvan is locked and loaded with a Nexus R5 VCU and an iC-7 dash.
“I’m loving this ASG Motorsports built street car, it’s so much fun to drive with lots more to come in the next season of Kenda.”
Scott Hoffman – Corolla KE10
The Hoff campaigned his Haltech-controlled KE10 Corolla gave it his all in the Outlaw235 class, putting on a show with some massive wheel stands.
Next Level Motorsports – Toyota Supra
Running a time of 6.42 in the Radial Rumble class, this street-spec Toyota Supra came knocking at the door of a near-perfect index time.
Big thumbs up to the event organisers for trying to see the completion of the event but making the right call by putting safety first and cutting it short. Well done to all competitors for keeping racing alive!
2022 Brisbane Jamboree
The all-Haltech final in the Pro Turbo Class at the annual Brisbane Jamboree was a race worth waiting for! With Gary Halpin‘s Datsun taking on Maatouks‘ VL GOD Commodore, it was a battle of the sixes with the 2JZ Datsun against an RB30-powered VL Commodore.
Anthony Maatouk didn’t take any chances with a near-perfect launch and kept his foot firmly planted on the gas pedal all the way to the finish line claiming the Pro Turbo class victory as well as the “Best Burnout” trophy.
Gary Halpin took home the Runner-Up trophy after a weekend marked by mechanical issues. Rest assured – there’s plenty more in this little Datto!
Maatouks’ Monsters
Maatouk’s flagship – The Don R35 GTR took the Runner-up title in the Factory Extreme.
Another member of the Maatouks Racing Team, Aaron Stubs finished runner-up in the GTR shootout. His R32 GTR “GTRWPN” consistently ran low 7-second passes – even after destroying its drive shaft!
And staying with the Maatouks Team, the quickest and fastest R33 in the world – Assaf‘s “BYPOLA” GTS-T was consistent all weekend running 6.7, 6.8, and low 7-second passes and qualifying at the top of the J275 class.
Ben Clark took out the Modified Compact class. Ben’s VL Calais is powered by a single cam RB30 making over 700hp on 38psi. Nitto rods and pistons, GTX3582, C4 auto. R35 coil kit. Built and tuned by Micks Motorsport.
Goleby’s Gunners
A new PB for Naomi Van der Togt and her 2JZ powered S15 Silvia. Naomi ran a 8.42@165 and backed it up with 8.49@167mph.
Luke Redman was the top qualifier in the Modified Compact class in his 1JZ-powered Toyota Corona. He managed to run a PB of 8.36 with a malfunctioning turbo.
Without its chute, Kristian Goleby‘s 1JZ Corolla might look like an old, rusty delivery wagon, but those who underestimate it – do so at their own peril. This wagon can boogie!
The Barras are coming!
Will this be the World’s first Barra in the 5s? With 6.054@237mph at this year’s Brisbane Jamboree TBRE Performance came oh-so-close…
It was great to see Dion from Dyno-mite Performance in action again. With a PB of 6.29@227mph Dion’s Barra-powered drag car is on a mission to break into the 5sec zone. One thing is certain – the Barras are coming!
Guy King‘s Barra-powered Corolla. The tiny coupe makes over 1400hp at the wheels and runs mid-7s. We are still amazed at how Guy managed to actually fit a Barra in that engine bay!
Troy Denning‘s UIDIOT Barra-swapped Cortina looks awesome and goes hard too! With Barra swaps getting popular, Ford’s venerable inline six is quickly becoming a viable alternative to Toyota’s 2JZ and Nissan’s RB sixes.
The Wheelie Wagon
Michael Silk does his obligatory wheelstand at Brisbane Jamboree. His instantly recognisable, bright orange “KAOTIC” Datsun 1200 wagon is powered by an SR20 turbo.
Fox Trot
Jamie‘s NOTSORY twin-turbo LS-powered Foxbody Mustang. The car suffered from mechanical gremlins all weekend but despite that, it showed plenty of potential.
Is that a Supra?
Slaughter Motorsports MkIII Supra made its public debut on the Haltech stand. It’s such a beautifully executed project – and very close to completion too! Powered by a 2JZ boosted and controlled by a Haltech NEXUS VCU.
Image Gallery:
If you have a race win or personal victory you would like us to know about, be sure to tag us on social media using #Haltech! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram at @Haltechecu
GridLife Midwest 2022
If you haven’t made the trek to Gingerman Raceway in Michigan for Gridlife Midwest, you’ve missed out on one of the best automotive gatherings of the year! Thousands of spectators invaded the South Haven facility for a weekend of epic racing. Let’s get you up to speed on what happened.
New Party Bus!
In case you missed it, we recently became a part of Race Winning Brands which includes a ton of great companies like Dart Machining, JE Pistons, Wiseco, Manley and more! As part of this new merger, we got a chance to debut the new Race Winning Brands experiential truck. GridLife visitors got to see our new limited-edition merchandise and interactive displays with our iC-7 dash and Nexus R5 VCU.
We also got to debut our new PD16 PDM on Andrew’s Drift-prepped SC300. Andrew is the wiring specialist at Haltech USA and this was his first outing with the car since it went under the knife. He said the PDM saved several pounds over the factory wiring in the car and retained all functionality including the power sunroof!
Grant Davidson goes 2 for 2
Grant Davidson and his Acura Integra have been on a tear in Gridlife’s Track Battle, racking up his second win in ClubTR this past weekend. His K24 swapped monster also set a new class record for front-wheel drive vehicles on the 2.2-mile course. The 1:38.9 lap and overall victory was a clean sweep for Grant and put him comfortably in the points lead for the rest of the season!
RIDE-ALONG TIME!
Jump onboard with Grant Davidson for one of his wicked fast laps around Gingerman Raceway in his K24 swapped Acura Integra.
Tom O’Gorman wins Race 1 in GLTC
Tom O’Gorman has been on a roll with his K24 swapped Honda S2000, after racking up a few wins earlier this year at GridLife’s Bunny Bash, he came into the weekend fast in qualifying. Tom went out in Race 1 and put on a clinic, easily coming home with the victory over 53 other competitors. However, a rock punched a hole in his radiator ending Race 2 with a DNF. Starting from the back in Race 3, Tom managed to claw back 51 positions over the next two sprints to finish Race 4 in 2nd place right on the bumper of race winner Paul Curley’s Corvette.
Track Battle Podiums
Mike “Pug” Puglisi brought home a podium finish in TrackMod, the second-fastest class in GridLife Track Battle. His Evo 9 is running a 4G63 controlled by a Haltech Nexus R5 and was one of the fastest cars on track with a 1:32.3 lap. It was good enough to bring him home second place, a great showing for Mike.
Eric “Dewey” Dewitt has one of the fastest Subarus in GridLife Track Battle, this 600+ HP all-wheel-drive Impreza is still boxer powered and controlled by a Haltech Elite 2500. He wheeled the blue and purple “StreetMod Boogeyman” around Gingerman to a 1:33.5, which put him in 3rd overall in StreetMod.
Drifting Exhibition
Drifting is always a popular attraction at GridLife and the Midwest Festival did not disappoint! With the RTR Mustangs, Adam LZ and Drift HQ displaying vehicles and tons of professional and amateur drifters on the property, it was guaranteed to be an awesome show.
Rob Dahm shakes down his AWD RX7
Rob Dahm brought out his all-wheel-drive four-rotor RX7 to do his first shakedown run. The Nexus R5 controlled beast put on quite the show and was more than happy to burst eardrums and blow flames around Gingerman raceway. This was a great outing, and we can’t wait to see his upcoming video on the car and its performance.
Haltech HyperFest 2022
Tens of thousands of spectators flocked to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for the 2022 Haltech Hyperfest. With NASA Mid-Atlantic roaring around the full course with multiple classes, and professional and amateur drifting on the “Patriot Course”, there were plenty of thrills and spills throughout the 3-day weekend. Let’s catch you up on what all took place!
Drifters Invade the Patriot Course
Arguably one of the most popular venues around the 500-acre facility, the Patriot Course is a 1.1-mile road course with a ton of elevation and challenging curves. Over 50 drift cars showed up on Thursday and Friday to put on a show for the thousands of visitors parked right outside of the safety fence.
What was great about this course, was that it offered excellent views from just about every angle, and the steep elevation change towards the end of the run meant there were crazy high entry speeds and mountains of tire smoke to see. We saw professionals like Dirk Stratton in his Elite 2500 controlled Lingenfelter C6 Corvette, mixed in with amateurs looking to hone their skills out on track.
There were also plenty of drivers willing to give spectators ride-alongs, like Mike Perez’ in his Elite controlled Toyota Supra MK4 who gave at least a dozen visitors the ride of their life as he made drifting the Patriot Course look easy. While the weather gave us a few fits on Friday, it didn’t put a damper on the fun whatsoever, as we saw over 20 cars slide around in the rainy conditions until the party ended at sunset.
NASA Mid-Atlantic Rockets around VIR
NASA Mid-Atlantic is a major sanctioning body for both amateur and professional road racing along the eastern seaboard. Their variety of classes and rules meant spectators could see a Ginetta cup car mixed in with a Trans Am prepped Mustang. With races like the Bimmerworld Spec BMW challenge and GRM’s Ultimate Track Car Challenge, you never knew what wild racecar would come around the bend next.
With “Lightning” and “Thunder” races featuring a mix of GT and Spec racecars, we saw retired NASCAR’s racing alongside Dodge Vipers and Tube-Chassis roadsters. Providing us with plenty of hard racing in both the wet and dry conditions throughout the 3-day weekend.
There were also High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) where visitors could register to have an instructor guide them around the track in their own car(s)! Meaning no one was feeling left out as we raced from sunrise to sunset around the gorgeous VIR facility.
Pennzoil Proving Grounds
The Pennzoil Proving Grounds was nestled right in the heart of the event, with Adam LZ and the Drift HQ gang, alongside Team RTR and the “Fun Havers” putting on an exhibition nearly every hour of the day. We got to see tandem drifting, fan ride-alongs, and a ton of free-swag handed out by the Monster Energy girls.
At the end of Saturday night, we also saw a massive burnout competition that saw standing room only as thousands of spectators crowded around the skidpad. With flaming tires, blown engines and major crowd hype, this was one of the most popular events in all of Haltech Hyperfest.
Rally Short Course & Chaos Trails
You’d be wrong if you thought the party stopped there, as VIR’s massive facility also had its own rally short course and miles-long off-road trail around the perimeter of the property. With the rain late Friday, we got to see plenty of muddy action as amateur and professional rally drivers put on a show for the crowds. While the off-road trail managed by the crew at Chaos Fabrication gave rides in their long-travel Baja style raptors to visitors all weekend long.
KONI Powerwheels Attack
We have to admit that the Koni Powerwheels Attack was one of the most fun “races” we witnessed at Haltech Hyperfest. Over 50 competitors entered the near ⅛ mile downhill race in a variety of wildly decorated barbie jeeps, plastic tractors and monster trucks. Fans were encouraged to throw water balloons at the drivers as they navigated the obstacles set around VIR’s roller-coaster section of the track.
Our own tech support specialist Cole, entered the event in his Haltech Elite equipped plastic dune racer where he got pelted with balloons and eventually got stuck in traffic while trying to navigate the carnage of broken plastic wheels and ejected racers on track.
All in all, this had to be one of the best automotive festivals we’ve participated this year! There are few places in the United States where spectators can come and see drifting, burnouts, road racing, rally-racing, off-roading and all of the other fun shenanigans that were on display. This will definitely become a bucket list event for thousands of motorsport enthusiasts and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!
Want more about the Haltech Hyperfest – check out the event website: https://www.hyper-fest.com/
2022 Mequiars MotorEx
After a few years of postponement due to this little thing called a pandemic, it was great to get our feet back in Melbourne for MotorEx, and we were blown away by the quality of vehicles that were on display at the event. These are just some of our favourites from the weekend.
Peter Sauer’s HG Brougham
Peter Sauer’s new HG Brougham was unveiled at the show and immediately caught our eye, and that of the judges. It looks fantastic with its Glasurit Tennyson Turquoise pant, factory-style gold pinstripe and vinyl roof, it has plenty of “go” to match the “show”. It’ll need it too because this big banger is built for Drag Challenge competition.
The HG is powered by a Dart-based, 565ci big block chevy, with Brodix BB3 heads and all the good internals. 88mm Garrett Pro Mod turbos push the boost into a custom inlet manifold and water to air intercooler.
Justin from Horsepower Solutions in Queensland is in charge of providing tunes for the Haltech Elite 2500T. It won Best Engineering at Motorex 2022 and deservedly so, too.
Paul Tinning’s XP Falcon
Another Haltech-equipped beast to take home some tinware was Paul Tinning’s XP Falcon, which won the very special Laurie Starling Engineering Excellence award.
The Pro-Touring spec Falcon has been in the build since 2016, and as they say, good things come to those who wait. Nestled menacingly beneath the one-piece, slide-forward bonnet and nosecone is a twin-turbo Dodge Viper V10, with the whole car being controlled by a Haltech NEXUS R5.
The interior is a work of art, featuring an iC-7 dash and Haltech CAN Keypad mounted ingeniously within the diamond-stitched leather-clad driver’s seat.
Meguiar’s MotorEx is the largest and most prestigious car show of its kind in Australia.
Held in Melbourne and covering over 40,000 square metres, the show features 700-plus vehicles with a collective value of over $50 million dollars along with the country’s best automotive businesses showcasing the industry’s newest and most exciting products.
The Castlemaine Rod Shop’s V12 Torana.
As always, one of the crowd favourites at MotorEx was Castlemaine Rod Shop’s Ferrari-powered Torana. It’s already looking great despite still being a work-in-progress. Can’t wait to hear it roar!
EVIL LJ
This blue beast lives up to its name, with a blown 430ci Dart-blocked LS under the hood. The Jo Blow EFI system uses a Haltech Elite 2500 for fuel delivery and ignition, with the whole set-up being good for around 1400HP.
Richard Swindel-Hurst’s Barra Landcruiser
It wasn’t all elite-level show cars at MotorEx, though. There was plenty for all car lovers, including the not-so-ordinary Land Cruiser. What looks like a pumped and lifted FJ45, is in fact a modified 45 body, sitting on an 80 series chassis.
Powered by an all-Aussie Ford Barra Turbo, the Cruiser is definitely going to have the low-down grunt needed for some serious bush bashing.
Owner, Richard Swindel-Hurst tells us he’s so happy with his Haltech iC-7 that he’s going to upgrade the stock ECU to a Haltech unit in the near future. You can follow the build on his Youtube channel: Designed and Built.
Danko Knezevic’s C7 Corvette
We were over the moon to see Danko Knezevic’s brand new, Adicted Performance-prepped, C7 Corvette n the metal… er… carbon fibre on the GJ Drivelines stand. Details are scarce, but with its twin-turbo Hemi powerplant and Haltech NEXUS R5 in control, we’re sure this car will shake up 315 radial racing in Australia.
SexSpec is back baby!
Plenty of the late 1990s and early 2000s Auto Salon vibe at this year’s MotorEx with chameleon paints, airbrushing, scissor doors, monster tachos and giant chromies. We’ll leave it to you to decide whether that’s a good or a bad thing…
Judith Menso’s LX Torana
Judith Menso’s lovely lilac LX Torana hatch was on display in the Superstars Hall. Featuring a Haltech Elite 2000-controlled, Whipple-blown Holden V8, this hatch has been Judith’s pride and joy since she bought it as a six-banger way back in 1992.
Since then it has been through a number of different looks, but this most recent elite-level makeover is by far the best yet.
Mini Muscle Cars
No, this isn’t an ultra-rare Ford Falcon coupe. It is in fact an even rarer one-of-one Mini Muscle Car! This, along with its sister Holden Monaro Mini Muscle Car, was on display at MotorEx. Both cars run a fuel-injected Rover V8 with Haltech engine management. These two prototypes will soon be joined by another five race-ready chassis and then we’ll see a whole race series of these little beasts hit the track.
Hackshop Garage
If you only watch one Youtube channel all year, it should be the Haltech Youtube channel, but if you have time to watch more, definitely think about checking out the guys from Hackshop Garage. Their Haltech-equipped EL Falcon was on display at MotorEx looking like it hadn’t just completed 1000km of Drag Challenge Weekend.
Greg Bowden’s Barra Cortina
Yes, you can fit a Barra into a Cortina, and then race it! If you don’t believe us watch our video on this tarmac weapon here.
Hot off the back of setting PB after PB at Drag Challenge Weekend, Jason Waye’s Barra-Powered Fox Body Mustang took pride of place on the Muscle Garage/Tuff Mounts stand.
Shaun Cole’s VL
Shaun’s VL has been steadily worked on since it won the six-cylinder class at Haltech Horsepower Heroes at Summernats 31 in 2018. Now sporting an i-C7 dash, it is one of the neatest street VLs in the country.
Moits Motorcars ’68 Camaro
MotorEx was the first public outing for the Haltech-equipped Moits Customs 4 Cancer Camaro, and this thing really has to be seen to be believed. The car will be auctioned to raise funds for Cancer Council Australia and someone is going to walk away with one amazing vehicle.
Some more automotive eye candy for y’all…
World Time Attack Challenge 2022
The Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge team made up for their 2-year hiatus by raising the bar once again with a new format and night racing under lights.
Record rainfalls and widespread flooding did not bode well for WTAC and the weather forecast looked rather gloomy with only 24 hours to go.
Miraculously, the rain clouds parted and even allowed a bit of sunshine on Saturday with not a single drop of rain falling on the Sydney Motorsport Park during the event.
The Haltech display was at the centre of attention, with people flocking to see the Zacaria supercar up close.
Our project R31 Skyline made an appearance at the Stylized show’n’shine much to the delight of the build series followers.
The quantity and quality of automotive eye candy on display at Stylized was incredible with all modifying tastes catered for.
Racing on Day 1 was now untimed, with the teams taking advantage of the long days to get in as many laps as possible at each session.
The extra-long day allowed for racing to go well into the night as the Sydney Motorsport Park lit up like a small city.
The sun came out in the morning of Day 2 as did all the local big guns.
Even though the outright WTAC lap record has not been broken this year, both the winner and the runner-up in the Royal Purple Pro Class laid down 1:20 laps with just 0.8 sec separating the two.
The lap records did get broken however, with the most impressive lap time going to Jamal “Jimmy” Assaad who took the win in the Haltech Clubsprint Class.
The reigning class champion set a blistering lap time of 1.33.7 cutting 5 seconds off his previous best and setting a new benchmark for the class.
Sharing the podium with Assaad were Idin Ahangar in the GotItRex STi GD Impreza and Trent Grubel in the DC Jap Automotive Subaru.
A new lap record was also set in the GCG Open Class with Nathan Morcom stopping the clock at 1.27.247 in the Insight Motorsports, Mitsubishi Evo VIII.
Congratulations to all those who fought their way onto the WTAC 2022 podiums:
Royal Purple Pro Class
1st: RP968 Porsche 968 – Barton Mawer – 1.20.1
2nd: Tilton Mitsubishi Evo IX – Brad Shiels – 1.20.9
3rd: GotItRex Subaru WRX STi – Nathan Antunes – 1.28.68
Plazmaman Pro Am Class
1st: Tilton Mitsubishi Evo IX – Konstinken Phorukov – 1.26.102
2nd: Gingerbread Racing – Subaru WRX STi – Jay Davidson – 1.33.59
3rd: 991 Racing – Ginetta G50 – Richard Perini – 1.33.65
GCG Open Class
1st: Insight Motorsport – Mitsubishi Evo VIII – Nathan Morcom – 1.27.247
2nd: Xtreme GTR – Nissan R32 GTR – Tim Slade – 1.27.379
3rd: BYP – Honda Integra – Benny Tran – 1.30.320
Haltech Clubsprint Class
1st: Team ERS – Mitsubishi Evo VI – Jamal Assaad – 1.33.70
2nd: GotItRex – Subaru WRX STi – Idin Ahangar – 1.35.22
3rd: DC Jap Automotive – Subaru WRX STi – 1.36.08
Haltech Highlights
Our “Standout Performer” award has to go to Rahul Victor and the 7dere team.
Competing the Haltech Clubsprint Class, Rahul reset his PB twice during the event, shaving over 3 seconds off his previous PB.
“We came out of the doors blazing, setting PB after PB with each lap but we had issues making boost and were only hitting around 18psi (last WTAC we were at 24psi)”
After the crew resolved the boost problems Rahul set his sights on getting into the Superlap Shootout and went into full attack mode in the last session.
“We could now wind it all the way up to full power! It was the last session so I sent it a bit too hard and tried to take Turn 1 without braking at a higher speed.”
Unfortunately the notorious Turn 1 claimed another victim with Rahul losing control mid-corner at about 220kph, barely avoiding the wall. While both the driver and the car escaped unharmed the incident did cost Rahul a spot in the shootout.
“I know every team says this every year, but my car has plenty more in it and we have some unfinished business at Sydney Motorsport Park!”
Rahul’s Mazda RX7FD uses Haltech’s Elite 1500 ECU to control the bridge-ported 13B turbo.
SX Developments debuted their SR20 powered and Haltech-controlled Nissan 180SX. Driven by Andrew Handmer the car laid down a 1:35.81 lap time, good enough for a 5th spot in the Plazmaman Pro Am class.
“I’m super happy with how the car ran, and it has a ridiculous amount of potential. The weakest link now is the driver, but it should be a lot of fun improving that problem!”
Only 0.3sec behind was Brian Bugh in his “Winefuelled” Nissan R35 GTR. It was great to finally see the beast stretching its legs around a fast circuit.
Check out our build/wiring vlog on this car here: https://youtu.be/OjBsaF34Ts4
Motive DVD’s S14 Silvia drew plenty of attention with its new engine setup. In the capable hands of John Boston the car recorded its fastest lap of 1:33.79. The car is still running Haltech’s venerable Platinum Sport ECU.
Paul Koveceski campaigned his Porsche 944 in the Haltech Clubsprint Class. It was Paul’s first outing since a major overhaul of the car’s engine setup. Paul battled mechanical gremlins all throughout Day 1 but when the car finally went out it performed well.
“It was great to get it out on the track, I’m looking forward to more seat time to bring the times down!”
Mark Collingwood’s naturally aspirated MX-5 was one of the best-sounding cars in the Clubsprint Class.
Artemis Kazangas from One Stop Racing Solutions narrowly escaped damage after an off-road excursion in the morning session. We were glad to see his beautifully presented RX7 back racing soon after, unscathed.
Close Enough Racing MR2 Spyder is a menacing sight. One of only two MR2s competing at WTAC, it certainly stands out on the track! Despite appearing unchanged on the outside, the car underwent a major overhaul since the last WTAC.
The driver, Justin Gaujenieks says: “This was possibly the hardest event for myself as a driver I’ve ever competed in. I was struggling to gain confidence in the almost completely new car but having an amazing partner and group of friends/team kept the drive going to improve and push on.”
Australasian Drift Titles
The 2022 Australasian Drift Titles Presented By Garrett Advancing Motion started with a 34-car field and, after the dust settled, Brad Tuohy emerged a winner in his Zestino Tyres Toyota 86.
Brad battled through a star-studded field defeating Matt Harvey and Pat Barlee on his way to the crown.
Jason Ferron’s absolutely mental, Barra-powered, Haltech-controlled Nissan R31 wagon. So much WIN right there!
Anthony Bilic’s freshly re-done S13 Silvia. One of the best-presented cars in the drift comp. Anthony battled his way through to the Top 8 where he succumbed to the eventual winner Brad Tuohy.
In a sea of Nissans and Toyotas, this car stands out like the proverbial… Anthony Probert’s Barra-powered and Haltech-controlled XD Falcon is a good-looking and capable beast.
Matt Hill’s brand new S15 Silvia looks a treat and goes hard too. Powered by Toyota’s 2JZ and controlled by a Haltech ECU, we expect to see more of this car soon.
The Pullen Spec Engines boys brought their LS-powered Hilux ute down from Queensland. It was hands down the most angry-sounding drift car at the event!
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