RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S FIERCEST NATURALLY ASPIRATED BURNOUT COMPETITORS BUILDS A BLOWN DRAG CHALLENGE CAR – AND ALMOST BECOMES SUMMERNATS GRAND CHAMPION IN THE PROCESS!

- ANDREW BROADLEY

IMAGINE setting out to build a car for Street Machine Drag Challenge and ending up with something good enough to be in the final three cars in the hunt for the Grand Champion sword at Summernats, almost by accident. You’ve got to hand it to Sydneysider Domenic Luci, because that’s what he’s managed to achieve with his flawless VK Commodore. Dom is perhaps better known for his antics in his HZ

Holden skid car, LITMUP. Powered by a staunch 416ci LS-based combo, Dom’s all-motor Kingswood has mixed it with the blown brigade for years, with a best of third place in the Summernats Burnout Championship and an eighth place finish in the Masters. It has also proved capable of a 9.7@138mph pass at Sydney Dragway. However, Dom was keen to build something a little more street-able.

“The HZ is registered and it’s a streetcar to an extent, but I really only ever venture 30 minutes from home in it,” Dom says. “That’s why the VK is fairly subtle and driveable; it’s a proper street car.”

This is true in so many respects. The Harrop 2650 FDFIsupercharged LS fits neatly beneath the HDT scoop, and while the 15x9-inch RC Comp rear wheels look tough and sport plenty of dishes, tubs were not required to accommodate them or the 255/60/15 Mickey Thompson ET Street Drag Radials with which they are shod. The factory rear suspension configuration has been retained, with the addition of Koni shocks and tubular arms for adjustability and strength.