NZ Performance Car – October 2019

DRIVER/OWNER: Mark Connell

AGE: 29ish

LOCATION: Reefton

OCCUPATION: Shaft fitter

BUILD TIME: Seven years

LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: Seven years

1992 NISSAN CEFIRO

INTERIOR

SEATS: (F) Bride Artis / KW,

(R) factory

STEERING WHEEL: Nardi

INSTRUMENTATION: Defi water-

temp gauge, oil-temp gauge,

boost gauge

EXTRA: Full interior, JVC head unit

SHOES

WHEELS: (F) 18x10-inch (+12) Weds

Cerberus 2; (R) 18x11-inch (0) SSR

A-dish, Work Rezax, Weds Cerberus

TYRES: (F) Nankang NS2

225/40R18, (R) Kenda KR20

235/40R18

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Naturally, the ownership of a triumvirate of peppy RWD turbo

Nissans brings with it a set of inevitable expectations. Knowing

grins flash across the faces off all three when recalling time skulking

off into the rural back roads, initially for a wee burnout or two. After

all, the local cop didn’t really seem to mind as long as it was away

from civilization. Then, as the notion of drifting grew stronger and

confidence grew, Mark, Aaron, and Kieran began throwing their

cars through select back-road corners at pace; ‘drifting’, in its

purest sense.

Meanwhile, regular attendance at D1NZ, whenever the

travelling circus hit town, also captivated the lads.

“It was mind-blowing to us back then; you used to be able to

stand on the pit wall and watch them chuck in big entries off the

main straight,” we’re told.

Witnessing southern superstars like Mark O’Hara and

Paul Tomlin running these big entries in well-presented cars sowed

the seed for what would eventually become ‘Team Produced 732’.

Before long, Ruapuna’s tarmac found itself assaulted by the

three Reefton hooligans. In 2009, Kieran, Aaron, and Mark hit their