01 May 2008, 11:22pm

Classic Challenge ‘08

Its been run and won. By top human Franz Esterbauer. Top Work Son.

Workshop Mananger Marc Palmer and I competed in our recently constructed Twin Turbo LS1 Laurel. It was tuned the Thursday Night before the Rally and made a maximum power of 830 horsepower at the hubs on Allstar’s Dyna Packs. Stout figures in anyone’s book. Particularly on a totally stock 117,000km bottom end. Erm - No Substitute For Cubes. The boys knocked it back to 770 in the interests of reliability, and the addition of a muffler would have knocked a little more off.

Marc and I had an absolute ball. The car ran faultlessly. I drove incredibly well and the kudos flowed thick and fast from some people I really respect. Magic weekend.

Here is part of a magic run in one of the top carparks of the Galleria:

Marc said to me after that run that I was fucked because that was near on perfect, and the second run would struggle to beat it. Which it did.

This one is from one of my favourite bits of competition tarmac in Perth - The Midvale Speed Dome.

As a guide I was running on 265/35/18 Toyos. As you can see they got awfully hot halfway through the run. The Laurel has some stick though. We were starting in second…

I have to thank my boys for building me such a spectacular bit of machinery. I cant even begin to convey to you how hard it is.