We were all hoping Paul Wood’s 632ci, full-fat LJ Torana was going to give Kemppi Radial Aspirated class dominator Al Vella and his Mk1 Capri a run for their money last year, but it just wasn’t meant to be. “We fought the car the whole way leading into the event, then a coil-over collapsed in the front on the road out of Mildura, so we were out,” laments Paul. “I guess those fancy Menscer shocks were no match for Victoria’s potholes! Nothing really went right for us; it was frustrating, but that’s cars!”

Last year was Paul’s third crack at the event, so he’s hoping that fourth time is the charm in the improved and enhanced LJ. The Sunset Performance Engines 632 fatty was a single-carb deal last year but has now undergone a conversion to EFI, managed by a Haltech ECU. “We’ve got a tunnel ram for it with the injection, and we’re making a change because we had a big problem with overfuelling last year,” says Paul. “It washed the oil, and I’m getting too old for that stuff!”

On the hub dyno, the LJ made a staunch 1053hp at the hubs.

“We’re looking to be far better prepared this year. It was hell last time, so hopefully this year is a bit kinder to us! We ran an 8.40 at Sydney last year, and that was backing off at 1000ft, so we’re confident about running for that top class trophy this year.”

And in fact, the Torry ran a 8.32 seconds at 166mph at Sydney Dragway on the weekend, popping a monster wheelie on one run and losing the bonnet on another.

2025 Drag Challenge class:

Kemppi Australia Radial Aspirated