Other than a
delaminated front-
runner, Josh (left)
had no real issues
to speak of on Drag
Challenge. He was
carrying a spare, so
he fitted it up and
kept on motoringNOT everyone is out there LSing the world.
Josh O’Brien’s VP ute still relies on plastic
power with the assistance of an F-1R
ProCharger, and with 500rwkW on tap, it
does a good job of keeping the Barra and
LS guys honest.
“I’m just a sucker for punishment, I guess!”
Josh laughs. “I suppose it’s the sound, but
really I just like Holden engines in Holdens
and Ford engines in Fords. Who would have
thought that it’d become strange to have a
Holden V8 in a Commodore? But it is, and
it’s getting worse. I’m just bucking the trend,
I suppose.”
There were a number of healthy Holden-
powered rides on Drag Challenge, including
defending Outright champion Bubba
Medlyn, but of all the finishers, it was Josh’s
retina-searing ute that was the quickest.
“It was great to win Quickest Holden; I
didn’t expect to win anything,” he says. “It’sthe first trophy I’ve won on Drag Challenge
and the only real goal I had was to finish. We
didn’t have many issues at all, and after a
tough couple of years at the event that was
a nice change.”
Josh started the week with a
10.01@136mph, and while that was down
on the car’s PB both in terms of ET and trap
speed, he put it down to the high ambient
heat, packed up and moved on. By the end
of the week he’d managed to dip into the
nines and edge out all the other Holden-
powered entries for the win.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Josh
has a new engine in the works for the ute.
“It’s a Torque Power-block Holden combo,”
he says. The plan is to stick with the
ProCharger, and it will be 400ci and dry-
sumped, with a fair bit more boost. It’s an
expensive way to go about it, but we can’t
all have an LS!”QUICKEST HOLDENHOLDEN VP
COMMODORE UTE
Class: Haltech Radial Blown
SPECS
Engine: 355ci Holden
Blower: ProCharger F-1R
Transmission: Turbo 400
Converter: FTI 5800rpm
Diff: 3.7:1
Power: 500rwkWPrevious PB: 9.60@145mph
Best Drag Challenge Pass:
9.93@137mphOthOtherer rthathathathathan an an an
delaminatnatatted ededd frof nt-nt-
runrunrunrununnenernernerner, J, JJJJJoshoshoshsh((l(leftft))
hahadhadhadh nonorerereeal allissississississuesuesuesues
to to spespak akakakkoof on DrDrarararag ggg
ChCChaCallellengenge. HHe w wasas
carcarrryiryiryiryirying ngngng a sa sasaspaparpaparpare,ee, soso
hehehe he he fitfitfitfitfitedtedtedteddiitititititupupupupupanaanandddd
kepkkepkkkepppppt otoon mnmn otoootoototorinrinrinringgggggggNOT everyone is out there LSing the world.
Josh O’Brien’s VP ute still relies on plastic
power with the assistance of an F-1R
ProCharger, and with 500rwkW on tap, it
does a good job of keeping the Barra and
LS guys honest.
“I’m just a sucker for punishment, I guess!”
Josh laughs. “I suppose it’s the sound, but
really I just like Holden engines in Holdens
and Ford engines in Fords. Who would have
thought that it’d become strange to have a
Holden V8 in a Commodore? But it is, and
it’s getting worse. I’m just bucking the trend,
I suppose.”
There were a number of healthy Holden-
powered rides on Drag Challenge, including
defending Outright champion Bubba
Medlyn, but of all the finishers, it was Josh’s
retina-searing ute that was the quickest.
“It was great to win Quickest Holden; I
didn’t expect to win anything,” he says. “It’sthe first trophy I’ve won on Drag Challenge
and the only real goal I had was to finish. We
didn’t have many issues at all, and after a
tough couple of years at the event that was
a nice change.”
Josh started the week with a
10.01@136mph, and while that was down
on the car’s PB both in terms of ET and trap
speed, he put it down to the high ambient
heat, packed up and moved on. By the end
of the week he’d managed to dip into the
nines and edge out all the other Holden-
powered entries for the win.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Josh
has a new engine in the works for the ute.
“It’s a Torque Power-block Holden combo,”
he says. The plan is to stick with the
ProCharger, and it will be 400ci and dry-
sumped, with a fair bit more boost. It’s an
expensive way to go about it, but we can’t
all have an LS!”QUICKEST HOLDENHOLDEN VP
COMMODORE UTE
Class: Haltech Radial Blown
SPECS
Engine:355ci Holden
Blower:ProCharger F-1R
Transmission:Turbo 4 00
Converter: FTI 5800rpm
Diff:3.7:1
Power: 500 rwkWPrevious PB: 9.60@145mph
Best Drag Challenge Pass:
9.93@137mph