The phenomenon continues. Boundaries get pushed. People fall by the wayside, but the game goes on.
We inhabit the outskirts of what is normal. You could group us with the likes of base jumpers, mountaineers or even fighter pilots because we have made a decision to pursue an extreme avenue of modern society. Our cars make up most of what we live for and, if you believe those overblown television media programs, the lives we lead are dangerous not only to ourselves but also to other members of the public.
Regardless, though, of what the uneducated mass media might have tried to lump upon us, the scene we all populate is getting more hardcore with every year that passes: the average modifier is becoming more and more technically adept, the boundaries of car modification are continually being pushed, and it looks like things are not going to stop anytime soon.
Quarter mile times from late-model hi-tech cars are dipping ever so close to, and in some cases surpassing, the old school experienced V8 boys; late model circuit-style cars built with the wealth of modifying parts now on the shelves are becoming less and less distinguishable from archetypal race cars.
And then there are the all-round street cars, the ones you see punctuating city streets and breaking up what would otherwise be a saturation of sterile, boring vehicles that do nothing much but carry groceries. The most extreme of these cars tread a fine line, with owners often only one modification or a momentary brain fart on the accelerator pedal away from finding themselves on the deep side of the law.
Regardless, though, of what the uneducated mass media might have tried to lump upon us, the scene we all populate is getting more hardcore with every year that passes: the average modifier is becoming more and more technically adept, the boundaries of car modification are continually being pushed, and it looks like things are not going to stop anytime soon.
Quarter mile times from late-model hi-tech cars are dipping ever so close to, and in some cases surpassing, the old school experienced V8 boys; late model circuit-style cars built with the wealth of modifying parts now on the shelves are becoming less and less distinguishable from archetypal race cars.
And then there are the all-round street cars, the ones you see punctuating city streets and breaking up what would otherwise be a saturation of sterile, boring vehicles that do nothing much but carry groceries. The most extreme of these cars tread a fine line, with owners often only one modification or a momentary brain fart on the accelerator pedal away from finding themselves on the deep side of the law.
Whether or not you have noticed it, outright performance has taken the top spot among the things that owners in our scene are striving towards. For our fiftieth issue we searched long and hard for a car that could represent what this scene is presently all about, and naturally we needed a ride that excelled in all-round performance. We also wanted to do our best to represent the workshops that have been pushing the success of our scene, because after all, without them we would be nowhere.
Terry Cook’s PHATASS GT-R crossed our path at just the right time, with its modifications fitting our bill perfectly. It has power, it has an insanely worked exterior, it has serious suspension and brake mods and it has interior work and a killer stereo system; a tick in every box, then. The car also showcases some work from a few of Australia’s best workshops, so it was an easy decision to choose this particular ride for the honour of gracing the cover of number 50.
Terry Cook’s PHATASS GT-R crossed our path at just the right time, with its modifications fitting our bill perfectly. It has power, it has an insanely worked exterior, it has serious suspension and brake mods and it has interior work and a killer stereo system; a tick in every box, then. The car also showcases some work from a few of Australia’s best workshops, so it was an easy decision to choose this particular ride for the honour of gracing the cover of number 50.
Having been following PHATASS throughout the build process, as soon as the car was finished and on the road we let Terry know we would like to shoot it. With Terry hailing from Canberra it took a bit of correspondence and timing to organise the whole process, but as soon as it was feasible we had the car out in the centre of Sydney to capture just what it is that this car is about: real world modifying and driving.
As we get setup for the shoot, tucked away in an alley that is shielded from the weekday business in the city, our talk with Terry immediately enters into a language only a modifier would understand. The words find a basis around vehicle codes, engine numbers, power figures and lap times. Within a minute we have the stats: 1992 R32 GT-R, RB26DETT with HKS twin turbos, forged internals, an estimated 300kW at the wheels with the potential for much more, and 19x13-inch rear wheels, which at the time of our shoot were running an insane seven-degrees of negative camber!
As we get setup for the shoot, tucked away in an alley that is shielded from the weekday business in the city, our talk with Terry immediately enters into a language only a modifier would understand. The words find a basis around vehicle codes, engine numbers, power figures and lap times. Within a minute we have the stats: 1992 R32 GT-R, RB26DETT with HKS twin turbos, forged internals, an estimated 300kW at the wheels with the potential for much more, and 19x13-inch rear wheels, which at the time of our shoot were running an insane seven-degrees of negative camber!
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