Street Machine Magazine September 2024

The September 2024 issue of Street Machine is on sale now, and it’s overflowing with hot-car hotness! Our cover star is an Aussie staple, an HQ ute – tubbed front and rear, slammed on the deck, and unapologetically stuffed full of blown and injected big-block.

Wollongong’s Craige Lewis has a shedful of pro street beasties, and his latest creation, an XY Falcon 500, is the most street-focused of his current crop. It’s powered by a howling 700hp Windsor, with a nitrous kit waiting in the wings to add even more shove if required.

Steve Carkeet’s HG ute bucks the turbo LS trend by rocking a dirty old small-block Chev, similarly equipped with nitrous. It’s early days in the car’s development, but it’s already dipped into the eights on pump fuel – how good’s that?

For the Mopar faithful, Matt Turner’s VG hardtop rocks a staunch EFI Chrysler big-block, mini-tubs and a set of drag radials.

Mitch Rando’s gorgeous, blown LS-powered EH Holden from over in WA is an absolute stunner, while Adam Bickerstaff’s ’56 F100 runs a Whipple-charged Coyote, is packed with incredible engineering, and wowed the judges at Meguiar’s MotorEx

Martin Micallef’s XB GS coupe would be great to have tucked away in the shed for sunny Sunday cruises. An iconic shape, searing Tango Orange paint, a warmed-over 351 and a great stance make for a kick-arse streeter.

We also head north to Darwin for Gazzanats, and take a guided tour of the Aeroflow Funny Car team workshop in Western Sydney.

One of the coolest yarns this issue comes from first-time Street Machine scribbler, Heath van der Waerden, the owner/builder of the epic UC Torana hatch we ran on the cover of our September 2023 issue. Recently, Heath and a couple of mates with a genuine XB GT packed their cars with camping gear and set off on a pilgrimage from Melbourne to Mount Panorama to race at the Bathurst Light Car Club’s Speed Weekend event. They camped out of their cars each night, took on roadside repairs, saw some beautiful parts of our country, competed at the best race track on earth, and then cruised on home with smiles on their faces!