Say the name Cowin to any Australian drag racing fan, and they’ll automatically think of Graeme and Wendy Cowin and their fleet of nitro-powered machines.
Now, the famous racing family are set to compete in New Zealand against local and American fuel altereds at the Trans America Shipping Nostalgia Drags on April 1.
The vehicle they’ll bring to compete at Meremere Dragway is the fuel altered known as ‘Psycho’. Partnering the famous Psycho machine will be the Aeroflow Nitro Hotrod stablemate ‘Berzerk’, both cars running nitromethane fuel in seriously short wheelbase packages.
The Cowin cars will be representing Australia in what has become a truly international challenge, which will also include the famous Rat Trap altered, direct from the USA.
Rumour has hinted the possibility that one of the most famous altered of all time, ‘Pure Hell’, might be joining Rat Trap in waving the Stars and Stripes against the very best from down under.
Graeme Cowin explained, “When the opportunity came up to take these cars to New Zealand, we couldn’t jump at it fast enough!
“We are really looking forward to putting on a great show for all our New Zealand supporters. To also be told that there is a possibility of Rat Trap and Pure Hell being there … it was clear this was going to become a huge event that we were proud to be a part of,” beamed Cowin.
Ready to defend their home turf will be local hotshoe Dave Gauld, driving his well-known nitro coupe, and the Lodge/Stables combination aiming to make a return with New Zealand’s own famous nitro altered, ‘Hombre’.
Having run as quick as 6.01 and 5.98 Psycho and Berzerk are very fast cars, but Berzerk driver Rick Gauci was quick to point out it’s not all about how fast these cars go.
“It’s all about the show, it’s all about entertainment, because at the end of the day if everyone in the crowd goes home happy having watched some exciting nitro racing, then we will have done our job.”
Aeroflow Performance’s Products Brand Manager, and Kiwi-expat, Glen Collet, will also be coming to Meremere, a venue he’s very familiar with having competed in numerous vehicles there over the years.
Collet mentioned, “Aeroflow has a huge customer base in New Zealand, so it is exciting to be able to come to [the country] and showcase our two Nitro Hotrods! We will also be bringing with us a big pile of the new Aeroflow catalogues to show the huge range of products that are available from all our Aeroflow Dealers.
To catch the cars in action, make sure you’re at the Trans America Shipping Nostalgia Drags hosted by Bay Rodders Inc on April 1, 2017.