“I LITERALLY have changed almost nothing, but it just went out and ran 9.01@154mph,” said the Summernats Horsepower Heroes legend on Day One at Calder. “I did upgrade to a spool diff with a 2.96 final gear in it. I am happy with the mph, as it is still an HQ-headed 355 Holden. If I can run a single-digit average this year I will bring it back to Calder on Friday and have a real go then.”

The 355ci stroker Holden motor and custom 76mm Garrett snail were good for approximately 711rwhp in 2018, running on methanol at the track and pump fuel on the street. With a TH400 auto and nine-inch, the big-tyre Torana pulled some wild launches in 2019, lifting a front wheel and driving off the line with a fair amount of twist on board.

Jake managed to nail his single-digit daily average goal, as his 5.93@108mph and 6.10@105mph at Mildura equated to mid-nines on the quarter, and 5.82@120mph at Portland equated to a 9.05.

It wasn’t without incident, though, as his turbo ate a horn wire from the LH’s chassis loom on Day Three. After getting the car to Portland, Jake pulled the compressor cover off and carefully filed the chipped blades on the compressor wheel. “I tested it on the two-step at the motel to make sure it is making boost, and it is all good,” the Canberra dyno-tuner said.

At Calder on Day Five, Jake had the fuse well and truly lit on the yellow sedan, running another 9.0 before pulling an 8.95@148mph out of the bag. Jake wound up fifth in class and took home the Quickest Holden-Powered going for the second year in a row.

TROPHIES:
QUICKEST HOLDEN-POWERED

1974 HOLDEN LH TORANA SL/R
Class: Turbosmart Outlaw Blown

SPECS

Engine: 355ci Holden V8
Turbo: Custom 76mm Garrett
Transmission: TH400
Converter: Custom SDE
Diff: 9in, 3.08:1 gears
Power: 711rwhp
Previous PB: 8.90@180mph
Best DC 2019 Pass: 8.95@148mph