Nitro-powered drag car thrills crowds at Tauranga show

Dave Gauld and his sensational nitro-powered drag car wowed the crowds at the swap meet and car show in Tauranga yesterday. Photo/George Novak

A liquid nitroglycerin drag car which toppled the longest-standing record in New Zealand motorsport history was the "headline act" at yesterday's automotive swap meet and car show in Tauranga.

"It's the most volatile fuel known to mankind," owner Dave Gauld of Te Puke said.

He gave the hundreds of people who turned up to the 19th annual show in the Spring St Parking Building a taste of its awesome power.

Only three other cars in New Zealand were built to run on nitro, with the effects of the fuel so profound that nitro was not used in competitive drag racing.

Mr Gauld said there was no longer a drag racing class in New Zealand that used nitro because of its explosive impact on engines, cars and drivers. Nitro had six times the energy of alcohol.

"New Zealand stepped away from nitro a long time ago."

It boosted his 431 cubic inch big block Chev motor from maybe 900 horse power using normal fuel to 2000 horse power.

Mr Gauld said he felt justified in having a crack at the 40-year-old Double A Fuel Alternative (nitro) drag record because his motor had older components, making it a level playing field.

He blasted the quarter mile strip at Meremere in 7.2 seconds, reaching 174 miles an hour before the two parachutes brought his car to a halt. The 1977 record was 7.76 seconds.

Running on 34 inch slicks, it also won the first run against American and Australian nitro-powered drag cars in a series of exhibition runs last Easter, before the motor gave out.

"We had fun being able to run against these guys."

One of the organisers of yesterday's event, Lynne Paton of Bay Rodders, said several hundred cars filled the building to the top floor, with many trade and swap sites. Families were treated to hot rods, drag cars, classic cars, a drift car, vintage cars and even a Fiat Bambina.

''It was nice to see the families coming out. The young kids just loved it."