Almost everyone who enters Street Machine Drag Challenge has a goal in mind for the week. Most are just happy to finish the five-day marathon, while others want a PB, or even just to give their car a shakedown. But folks like Paul Wood are there to chase ultimate glory.

First published in the April 2026 issue of Street Machine

Paul’s goal was lofty indeed: to dethrone Alon Vella, one of the most accomplished racers in DC history. Al has long been a force in the Kemppi Radial Aspirated class; a nine-time champion, and the undisputed king of aspirated racing at the event. Paul knew it was going to take something special to be able to mix it with Al, so he and crewmate Scott Constable concocted this wild, 1050hp big-block Torana during the COVID lockdowns.

The car had already seen action at Drag Challenge prior to this, when it was running a 355 Holden V8. Paul finished third in Outlaw Aspirated at DC 2017, but 2018 wasn’t as fruitful. “Leaving Swan Hill, the engine ate the cam and lifters, so it was game over for that engine,” he says. “The original plan was to put an LS in it, but then Scott found this all-alloy big-block combo, so we thought, let’s do that and throw some radials on to have a crack at Al.”

Being a boilermaker by trade, Scott spent all of his spare time renovating the LJ-fronted LC to suit the big-block. “He’d have about 1000 hours of fab into this car, unstitching and keeping the factory chassis rails,” says Paul.

To squeeze that big-block behemoth in, the steering column had to be moved over, with a third steering uni joint added to clear the BBC headers. The floor was extensively modified and raised, a new tunnel was installed, and it was tubbed to the rails in the rear with stretched arches. The firewall was recessed, and Scott fully braced the car and rear end with chrome-moly to help it cope with the 632ci fatty.

“I have to give massive thanks to Scott, who has put his heart and soul into the build,” says Paul. “The car would not be what it is today without his knowledge and dedication.”

As for that 1050-odd horsepower big-block, it’s a Sunset Performance Engines-based alloy-block package. Specs include a Bain Racing intake manifold topped by a pair of 4500 Accufab 2100cfm throttlebodies and a set of 1000cc injectors, all controlled by Haltech Elite 2500 EFI. Heads are Brodix DN-9 items, with a Comp Cams bumpstick controlling the valves, and a rotating assembly comprising a Manley crank, Oliver rods and Diamond pistons. In race trim, it sucks down ETS XPD 105 fuel, while using a 20-per cent blend with 98 pump on the street.

Unfortunately for Paul, Al chose last year’s DC to throw nitrous on his new Capri to run in the PowerPlus Fuels Outlaw Blown class; the first time he has ever migrated out of Radial Aspirated. “I’ll admit, I was a bit disappointed; I wanted that Chev-versus-Ford battle!” says Paul.

After a DC ’24 campaign that ended on Day Two with a broken damper, Paul and Scott were keen for redemption last year. They had eyes not only on winning the Kemppi Australia Radial Aspirated class, but also on toppling Al’s 8.29 class ET record.

Barring the first day, Paul led Alon’s daughter Hayley Vella – piloting her dad’s nine-time-winning green Capri – from start to finish in the class, running a low nine on Day One at Dragway at The Bend and several low 5.3s at Mildura’s eighth-mile strip. On the last day back at Tailem Bend, the boys were amping up to chase that 8.29, and clocked an early heater with an 8.35@164mph. “We were ready for a Hail Mary after banking that pass to finish the week, but then the rain came,” says Paul. “It was a shame, but that’s racing. We’re already making plans to come back faster. Hayley put in a hell of an effort, and hopefully Al re-enters the aspirated class again, and I’m expecting them both to come back faster this year.”

Not long after DC ’25, the Torana punched out a PB of 8.17@167mph in poor air, so it has given the lads confidence for 2026. “We’re going to send the engine off for a freshen-up, and the car is going to go on a diet,” says Paul. “Scott is going to re-do the ’cage, and we’ll play with the rear end. We’ll see if we can be the first aspo car into the sevens at Drag Challenge.”

PAUL WOOD
1971 HOLDEN LC TORANA

Class:

Kemppi Australia Radial Aspirated

THANKS
Scott Constable; Justin at BlackTrack Performance in Newcastle for tuning; Brett Gillespie for the engine; my wife and daughters.