ANOTHER first-timer at Drag Challenge,
Radelaidian Steve Ramsey took home the
Quickest Stick-Shift prize with his single-
digit VL Commodore Turbo. It’s powered
by the venerable 3.0-litre Nissan-designed
OHC straight-six, fed, in this case, by a
huge Precision 64/66 turbo on a 6Boost
manifold and with 38psi boost.
The recipe is by Maatouks, who know a
thing or two about these Holden/Nissan
sixes. Management is by Microtech and it
spins the rollers to around 800hp.
The car cruises at 2200rpm at 100km/h
and Steve crosses the line in fourth
gear at around 6500rpm. He runs the
Commodore on E85 both on track and
for the commutes in between, using
a reasonable 20L/100km – including
towing the trailer!
Steve has owned the car for nine years,
and started Drag Challenge well with a
9.66@145mph. In fact, that was Steve’s
best result of the event and a PB with
the car. “Being a fresh build, we had a
few teething problems,” he admitted. “Wehaven’t driven it for four years. We fitted a
towbar and got it registered on the Friday
[before the event]!”
The rear end is a Boss Differentials-built
nine-inch and bolts up to the Commodore’s
Boss-reinforced suspension mounting
points with chrome-moly adjustable arms.
A real nice touch to the interior is the
pair of Kirkey alloy race-spec front seats
trimmed in Berlina ribbed cloth to match
the original interior.
Like many other cars, the Commodore’s
fuel pumps suffered in the hot weather on
Day One. Later, a concern with the noise
from the Mr Transmissions-built, R33
Skyline-cased, PAR straight-cut cogged
manual meant the guys had to do a quick
in-and-out at Mildura.
“We had to take the ’box out to check the
thrust bearing,” Steve said. “We changed
the oil to a synthetic at Swan Hill and that
seemed to fix it.”
Sadly, that didn’t fix the popped
intercooler that eventually took its toll on
the turbo.
QUICKEST STICK-SHIFTHOLDEN VL
COMMODORE
Class: Turbosmart Outlaw BlownSPECS
Engine: Nissan RB30ET six-cylinder
Turbo: Precision 64/66
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Clutch: Twin-plate NPC
Diff: 3.89:1
Power: 800rwhpPrevious PB: 9.71@143mph
Best Drag Challenge Pass:
9.66@145mphManuals are rare at Drag Challenge – Kim
Smith’s Maloo was the only other – but
Steve’s times in the nines prove that pulling
your stick can be great fun!ANOTHER first-timer at Drag Challenge,
Radelaidian Steve Ramsey took home the
Quickest Stick-Shift prize with his single-
digit VL Commodore Turbo. It’s powered
by the venerable 3.0-litre Nissan-designed
OHC straight-six, fed, in this case, by a
huge Precision 64/66 turbo on a 6Boost
manifold and with 38psi boost.
The recipe is by Maatouks, who know a
thing or two about these Holden/Nissan
sixes. Management is by Microtech and it
spins the rollers to around 800 hp.
The car cruises at 2200rpm at 100km/h
and Steve crosses the line in fourth
gear at around 6500rpm. He runs the
Commodore on E85 both on track and
for the commutes in between, using
a reasonable 20L/100km – including
towing the trailer!
Steve has owned the car for nine years,
and started Drag Challenge well with a
9.66@145mph. In fact, that was Steve’s
best result of the event and a PB with
the car. “Being a fresh build, we had a
few teething problems,” he admitted. “Wehaven’t driven it for four years. We fitted a
towbar and got it registered on the Friday
[before the event]!”
The rear end is a Boss Differentials-built
nine-inch and bolts up to the Commodore’s
Boss-reinforced suspension mounting
points with chrome-moly adjustable arms.
A real nice touch to the interior is the
pair of Kirkey alloy race-spec front seats
trimmed in Berlina ribbed cloth to match
the original interior.
Like many other cars, the Commodore’s
fuel pumps suffered in the hot weather on
Day One. Later, a concern with the noise
from the Mr Transmissions-built, R33
Skyline-cased, PAR straight-cut cogged
manual meant the guys had to do a quick
in-and-out at Mildura.
“We had to take the ’box out to check the
thrust bearing,” Steve said. “We changed
the oil to a synthetic at Swan Hill and that
seemed to fix it.”
Sadly, that didn’t fix the popped
intercooler that eventually took its toll on
the turbo.
QUICKEST STICK-SHIFTFTHOLDEN VL
COMMODORE
Class:Turbosmart Outlaw BlownSPECS
Engine: Nissan RB 30 ET six-cylinder
Turbo:Precision 6 4/ 66
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Clutch:Twin-plate NPC
Diff: 3. 89 :1
Power: 800rwhpPrevious PB:9.71@143mph
Best Drag Challenge Pass:
9.66@145mphManuals are rare at Drag Challenge – Kim
Smith’s Maloo was the only other – but
Steve’s times in the nines prove that pulling
your stick can be great fun!