We’ve dropped two full videos covering the 2026 edition of the VPW Allstars Drag & Drive event over on our Street Machine TV YouTube channel and we’ve sent our epic, 10-page coverage of the event to print, which will be out in the September issue.

But for now, let’s check out 15 of four favourite rides from the event:

VANTASTIC

1. Disco Dean Ferris came second in the Pro 8.50 index class at Allstars 2025, and went one better this year to take the class win ahead of David McLeish’s Lexus IS200. Dean’s 1970 Escort van runs a built Barra with a Turbosmart 78/90 turbo, E85 fuel, and a Powerglide/9in driveline.

“It has a PB of 7.80 over the quarter, and while the car is built to run 1000hp, I turn it down to 800hp to keep it reliable – I can’t afford to blow it up,” he said.

FUN MACHINE

2. Jason Davidson’s Camaro went through three gearboxes at Drag Challenge 2025, but that hasn’t put him off the drag-and-drive game one iota! Jason ran a best of 10.28 at Allstars, but he and crewmate Greg Semple were already eyeing their next adventure: “After this, we’ll be heading to the US to race at Bonneville in Chris Mursick’s Karmann Ghia.” Jason met Chris and fellow Americans Keith Turk and Dave Freiburger when they brought out three Camaros to race at Lake Gairdner’s Speed Week in 2017.

DRAG CHALLENGE TEST RUN

3. Kate Woodbridge used Allstars as an awesome practice run for Drag Challenge later this year in her stunning XP hardtop, powered by a 363ci BK Race Engines SBF making 650hp, backed by a Bob Grant C4. The front end is full of RRS goodies, while a McDonald Brothers four-link lives out back. The XP ran a best of 10.87 at Willowbank on Day Three, and Kate plans to run in 235 Aspirated at DC.

TAVO’S REVENGE

4. Mick McMullen was another Drag Challenge veteran at Allstars in his stunning Charger. “It’s been a great car,” Mick said. “The Indy-headed 408ci engine was built by Kevin Kent in 2019, and it has done 330 passes since then!” Backed by a 727 and running 235 M/T ET Street R rubber, the Val ran a best of 10.66 on Day Three in the aspo 235/255 class.

BAD BREEDING

5. There were plenty of Nissans and Datsuns running all sorts of powerplants at Allstars, but Mitch Hamilton’s Datto 1600 wagon was the only one with Mitsubishi power! Last time we saw the wagon was at Drag Challenge Weekend 2018 with CA18DET power, but the new set-up is on another level, making 925hp at the hubs, thanks in part to a 78/80 turbo and nitrous. With a Powerglide auto, HiLux diff and 1120kg fighting weight, Mitch managed an 8.65sec best but would like to see the wagon crack a seven.

TONNER APPEAL

6. Matt O’Meley’s sweet HX One Tonner is powered by a pump-fuel 436ci small-block, backed by a ’Glide and 4.11 9in. Allstars was the first proper drag event for the Canberran, and with the HX running an 11.23 best, he was hungry for more: “As soon as we get home, it’s getting a new converter and heads; we’ve learned a lot on this trip.” Matt and his crewmate, 2015 SMOTY winner Nathan Booth, packed super light, with just a tool bag, rattle gun and jack behind the seats. “I didn’t want to scratch the tray,” Matt laughed.

E-SERIES DELIGHT

7. Dave Ritchie’s EB GT replica is based on a Fairmont Ghia and has been in his custody for 21 years! “I bought it with the Vortech V-2 blower on it; it was pretty basic,” Dave said. The EB now runs a rebuilt 347ci Windsor with Dart heads, Link ECU, LS coils and a Bob Grant BTR auto, with a best of 10.80@126mph at Allstars. Dave was ably assisted over the weekend by his crew chief, his 10-year-old son Corey.

S1NBIN

8. Running in the Forced 28s class, Vince Silver had the best of both worlds in his EK Holden van, with a blow-through turbo 406ci Dart up front and plenty of room to sleep in the back. “We’re actually camping at the tracks in the back; it’s like the Taj Mahal,” Vince laughed. “I don’t think I’ll ever paint it or do the chrome – just enjoy it as it is. It’s only at 10psi so far, leaving at 5psi.” The EK ran a best of 9.77@134mph but copped a 3.378sec penalty at the tree.

SWEET AS A NUT

9. Trav Beckmann has had his tough little Datsun for 18 years but only recently got it out of hibernation. The Datto runs a CA18DET with a GTX35 turbo, transbraked C4 and Emtron ECU. Allstars was Trav’s first shot at a drag-and-drive event, and the car did him proud, running a best of 10.52@128mph.

BALLISTIC S14

10. Jono McDade has had his S14 since 2009, and while the car has been through a few iterations, he swears it’s now in its final form! Powered by a Dart-blocked, 3.2L 2JZ with an 88mm G47 turbo huffing 51psi, the Nissan is good for 1600hp at the hubs. Last year, Jono finished second in the Forced 235 class, and is now the class sponsor! This year he ran a best of 8.35sec and took out third behind Dan Smith’s Celica and Juan Kudnig’s wild HG.

SHOW & GO

11.Jason Van Der Laan’s LJ is a show-quality sweetheart, but she ain’t no trailer queen! Jason removed the car’s tough but temperamental 2JZ combo and replaced it with a 2650 Harrop-blown LS2, along with a Holley ECU and Powerglide. Running a full exhaust and on E85, the LJ ran an Allstars best of 9.51@132mph – close to the car’s all-time PB of 9.48. “This is my second Allstars,” said Jason. “We did the show circuit for a couple of years and won a few trophies, and now it is time to race.”

BUDGET-BUILT BLASTER

12. Mytchell Horsfall was another drag racing newbie who caught the bug at Allstars in his sweet LJ Torana sleeper. “I’ve done stacks of roll racing, but I told myself to stop being scared of breaking it,” he said. “I did a test-and-tune a month ago, and here we are.” The LJ is powered by a basic Ecotec with L67 rods, head studs and cast pistons, with a 35/84 turbo strapped to the side, and it ran a best of 10.75@133mph on Day Three.

IRON LION

13. Drag Challenge regular Marcus Hamilton brought his sweet HJ GTS tribute up to Allstars from Victoria. “I’ve got other cars with LS engines, but this one has always been Holden-powered,” Marcus said. “A made of mine got the Senator 215i stroker for me years ago, and now it’s making 530hp. Hellbent has just done a coil-over conversion for me; it used to do big wheelstands, but now it sits flat and I can put more power into it. It has run 11.30 aspo, so I’m going to put a 150hp shot on it and see if we can run 10.50s.”

2JZ VC

14. Anthony Lagana ran a twin-turbo LS combo in his VC Commodore until his father-in-law got in his ear about swapping to 2JZ power. “He was involved in the Gas Racing team back in the day, and what we’ve built for this car is basically what those guys used to run 6.20s,” said Anthony. With an 88mm GTX50 turbo swinging off the side, the 2J makes 1480hp at the hubs on 52psi, with more to come, and the VH ran an 8.59@161mph best at Allstars – impressive for a very fresh build.

IN RUST WE TRUST

15. Mick Thomas’s HG ute is a patina-clad pearler, and we’ll see it in the DYO class at Drag Challenge ’26! “It was a shed find out of Roma,” Mick said. “I haven’t touched the paint or panel, apart from some minor rust repairs. We left the dings in it to give it a bit of character.”

Competing in the 10.50 class at Allstars, the ute runs a turbocharged, SBE LS1 on E85, along with a Powerglide, Race Products 9in, Gazzard Brothers rear suspension, and – for now – a factory ECU.