http://www.viperformance.ca

VI Performance Magazine 3

WINTER 2013VOLUME # 1| ISSUE # 5

REGULAR CREWLOGO ARTISTDon MacKay

GRAPHIC DESIGNShelby Glasstetter

PHOTOGRAPHERSGord MacKay

Illusion PhotographyCherrybomb Photography

WRITERS/EDITORSSeehorse Creative Media, KW Keating, Alexis Gilchrist, Patr ick Mulvaney, Gord

MacKay & Brent Matsalla

PUBLISHER/AD SALESMona-Lisa Carstensen

VI Performance Magazine is published by Static Entertainment & Publishing. Arti-cles do not necessarily reflect the official company policies or opinions. To contri-bute to this magazine or to advertise, ple-ase contact 250-802-5652 viperformance @ shaw.ca www.viperformance.ca

CONTENTS

04 Ducati Monster

06 Kustom Rod

11Publisher’s2 Cents

24 Centerfold

12 Humanburger

22Fargo

4-Play 16

20 Jeepster

28 Motocross

Rumble on the Runway32

Thunder in the Valley34

Off-Road Racing36

HMCS Algonquin38

44 Business Directory

42 Clubs/Societies

26The Tire Fryer

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Melissa

DUCATI MONSTER

Melissa

Photography by John Burrage

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The 2013 Ducati Monster 696, 796 and 1100EVO celebrates its 20th birthday this year! You’ll know it when you see it with the Monster’s unique and stylish ultra-light Trellis frame and undistinguished sound of the Ducati’s Desmodromic engine.

The most striking feature of the M o n s t e r is the immensely s t r o n g and light tubular steel Trellis frame and aluminum rear sub-frame that makes up the Monster’s backbone. The c o m b i n a t i o n helps deliver maximum rigidity while reducing weight on the Ducati at the same time. Got a thrill seeking lady in your life? Then you must have to look at the 696 with this light weight design and a 64 degree turning radius, it’s very easy for any beginner or lady to handle this sexy beast. What seems like a normal bike fuel tank is really not what it seems. The fuel tank on the Monster is under a faux covering essentially lowering the Monster’s centre of gravity making the Monster even easier to handle.

A great safety feature t h a t sets the Monster a p a r t is the ABS braking s ys t e m designed to reduce a n y potential for wheel-lock when you need to stop the 696’s 80hp on a dime. But if that’s not enough horsepower for

you, you’ll want to look at the 796 or 1100EVO putting out 87 and 100hp respectively. The 796 is best suited for the i n t e r m e d i a t e rider while, the 1100EVO adds a whole new level of upgrades to the

Monster with a combination of hardware

and electronic upgrades that

includes Ducati Traction Control or

DTC, making this one of the safest and most powerful bikes on the road.

Each Monster model is designed from c u s t o m e r

feedback and b u i l t by hand to make t h e Monster a truly

p l e a s u r a b l e experience for every rider in every skill level, while appealing to everyone’s individual taste. Each and every bike that leaves the factory can be personalized and individualized to every customer’s liking setting it apart from any other Monster on the road. With the huge 12,000km service interval, the Monster makes Ducati ownership even more enjoyable.

For those riders that are a bit more environmentally conscious, the Diesel Style Team and Diesel founder, Renzo Rosso, have designed a new ‘urban military chic’ interpretation of the 1100EVO

w it h the same s e x y l i nes a n d

features of the Monster that will surely command attention when you take your factory numbered Diesel to the streets.

Check out Savage Cycles in Langford, near Goldstream Provincial Park Campground to be enticed by one of the many Monsters in their assortment of bikes on display!

–By Brent Matsalla

Tiffany

Tiffany

VI Performance Magazine 5

Ol’ Skool Kustom Rod

6 VI Performance Magazine

Hailey

As a self-professed gear head, I’ve watched many TV shows where sheets of metal are turned into impressive custom choppers and hotrods, but I’ve seen nothing as impressive as what I saw when I met Pete Dreise, from Pete’s Old School Classic Car Restorations in Shawnigan Lake, BC.

Pete restores old metal car bodies or he can fabricate you one totally from scratch. No matter how rusted out, pitted or hole-ridden the bits of metal pieces are, he’ll find it useful, even if it’s only for measurements. Pete says that it’s pretty amazing what he can do with the old metal as it is much more pliable and workable than any new metal you’ll find today.

Pete moved to the Island in 2004 after 27 years of working for the Dutch airline, KLM, where he fabricated metal and aluminum airline panels. At the same time, Pete also had his own shop in Holland specializing in fabricating classic cars. While in Holland, Pete would travel to T e x a s o n c e a year a n d fill a

container with car pieces for the next

Photography by John Burrage

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years builds. By the time he arrived back in Holland, he usually had buyers lined up for his next year’s work.

We first profiled Pete with his Funky Hunch Buggy on pages 14 and 15 in the Fall 2012 issue of VI Performance magazine, but we also met Pete with his latest creation at the Rockabilly Show in Duncan, and it was partially pictured on page 3 of the same issue.

This ride was almost entirely fabricated from scratch. Even though it has the look of a steam-punked ratrod, Pete wanted to build a car that was totally safe, so he built this one with all new running gear and a strong hand-fabricated frame. For that reason alone, we’d have to call it more of a custom rod than it is a ratrod.

Pete states that he’s not a car show kind of guy, but every show he’s taken this custom rod to, he’s won at least one category in the brief few months that he’s had it on the road. He attends the shows to purely show off the work he does and To promote his shop,

opposed to just showing off his car.

For this custom rod, Pete has left certain areas rawer than others to be able to showcase his metal work and craftsmanship that most car

builders would hide under Bondo® or paint. There is very little to no paint on this build, except for the fenders, as Pete used his secret method of

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using a special acid mixture to bring out the patina of the metal. For that reason alone, you have to see Pete’s

creation in person as it’s impossible to capture its true beauty in

pictures. The metal was then clear coated to preserve this patina and true metal beauty.

Most of this car started with flat sheets of metal that have been

m e t i c u l o u s l y hammered and rolled with

E n g l i s h w h e e l s to create all the

beaut i f u l lines and

curves that meld old

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American metal with pure European style. Pete estimates that it took him 1500 hours of his spare time, or the equivalent of a full year’s work, to get this rod from its conception off of a small pencil sketch to being road and wow-worthy.

Originally there was a lot of structural wood inside the 1935 Chevy high-top cab, so Pete started this build with a cab in many pieces, due to all the structural wood being rotted out. He then painstakingly replaced all the wood with metal to make it truly timeless and more structurally sound. This cab included a 7 ¾” chop in the front and an 8 ½” chop in the back and Pete also slanted the front window backwards to change the look of the truck from its original 90 degree straight windscreen of the period. Once the cab was created it was set aside on a dolly and Pete went to work on his frame.

Pete designed and created the frame around a 9” Ford rear-end, with

Lincoln disc brakes, and the front-end from a 1932 Ford straight axle with 4” drop spindles. The fenders on the rear are mounted solid onto the rear and will stay in place no matter how high or low the box is set to ride on the rear air-bag suspension allowing Pete to take this custom rod anywhere.

Some of the cooler parts that make the car look more like a ratrod are the brass gauge cups out of an 1850’s steamboat that Pete made to fit his gauges and angled them toward the driver for easier viewing. The brass mirrors, Pete purchased from Speedway

Motors in Lincoln Nebraska, USA. The door handles are made from brass water taps and the rare brass light enclosures are from a 1930 Chevy. Rare, because brass is brittle and the brass lights of the time tended to crack from the way they were mounted.

The exhaust from the high performance, 320 hp, Chevy 350 small block was fabricated and designed into a collector box hidden in the car’s fenders, which turns up the cool factor, on this rod to 11. This combination makes this rod incredibly fast on an insanely light 1500 lb car.

There is a total of 328 rivets in the build that were all hand drilled and h a n d

Peter DriesePhoto by Gord MacKay

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riveted. An old brass fire

extinguisher supplied the rest of the brass needed for more pop and wow factor. Throughout the entire car, you’ll find many louvers and circles punched with machines that Pete created for the build. Pete started his career as a tool and die maker and if he doesn’t have the tool for the job, he’ll make one, and over the years Pete has created many tools for the job, from numerous hammers to English wheels and sheet metal breaks.

Pete also showed us his next

future creation which we hope to follow throughout its build-life. A l t h o u g h

he gave us some

exciting d e t a i l s on the n e x t b u i l d , w e ’ l l

h a v e to keep

them a secret for

now to save the suspense. We will tell you that it’s a 1928 Ford 2 door that he plans to vertically and horizontally chop and widen, to make it the only one in the world. He says, “The thing about building cars is that your next build always has to top your last build.”

Pete says he’s never stuck on a build and if the right money comes around, all his builds are for sale. Pete doesn’t do this for the money; he does it for the love, as you can clearly see this

by his incredibly economical and affordable rates. Pete would rather make custom rods more affordable than charging huge money to a few rich enthusiasts.

Pete has some big plans for the future as he hopes to add his son, Jason, to the business as Jason has grown up working next to Pete and learning his craft.

So, if you have a future project or build in mind, or if you’d like some amazing metal work done, Pete is the guy you need to talk to first. You can get in touch with Pete directly at: classiccarrestoration@gmail.com or give him a call at 250-743-0877. – By Brent Matsalla

Photography by John Burrage

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have to say that publishing this magazine has had its perks. The first year has been busy, and full of learning opportunities, with incredible support from my advertisers! Thanks to them, the magazine has been able to stay free for readers and grow in number of pages, distribution, and now printing in gloss!

Out of the many perks, there are a few that really stand out:

The Rockabilly Rumble Weekend, held in Duncan, BC, had a strong presence of Rat Rods, Classics, Customs, and women, literally lined up for the opportunity to be photographed with the hot rides. Reg, from Rockabilly’s in Duncan, put the whole event together. It included a Rockabilly dance, pin-up contest, vendors, camping, and more.

When something like this explodes into the community with such a loud roar, the rumble travels fast. This only means it will be bigger and better every year. You won’t want to miss it next year. So when tickets are being sold in advance, snap them up!

The Jap Import Poker Run was a chase to catch up to. We were at the Ladysmith Show & Shine as the group of imports headed to the Nanaimo Honda Dealership. We made it with barely seconds to spare to snap a couple of photos!

The A&W Cruise Ins’ always produce mouth-watering eye candy. Jason, from the Ladysmith Ivy Green location, made sure to have an all-inclusive, family oriented, fun event with entertaining music and contests. I appreciate the emails inviting me to each event!

A super-charged highlight of the year was when West Coast Helicopters removed the door from their helicopter for me to take unobstructed aerial shots of Port McNeill’s Raceway!

Carl, of CLN Machining, took us on a beautiful picturesque tour of Port McNeill, in his 172 Cessna during racing half-time at the Port McNeill Raceway. Also, at Port McNeill Raceway, my boyfriend put me behind the wheel of

his ‘65 Rambler Wagon giving me three passes down the drag strip; thereby implanting the racing bug deep in my heart!

Burnouts at Rumble on the Runway, Thunder in the Valley, and the Cumberland Motorcycle Roundup, are some of the toppers on my list! I love watching the smoke bellow around the tires as the engines scream to let loose!

Let’s not leave out the burning rubber I

Publisher’s Two Cents...

Continued on Page 47...

I

Carl’s plane at Rumble on the Runway

Carl’s plane at Rumble on the Runway

Helicopter view of Rumble on the Runway

Helicopter view of Rumble on the Runway

Jap Import Poker Run at Nanaimo Honda

Sidewinders at Show & Shine

Rumble on the Runway

Westcoast Helicopter

A&W Cruisin’ the Dub Westcoast Helicopter at Rumble on the Runway

Rumble on the Runway

Drifting at Western Speedway

Cumberland Motorcycle Roundup

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The A r t of Hu manbu rger

JonesJust recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Jones and get to know him and learn about his art, which is very impressive. The talent Jones shows in his artwork will definitely take him very far in art world and I’m very please that I got to interview him. So after a few minutes of chat we got down to it and these are questions and answers to let you all get to know a little more about the art of Humanburger!

Real name?Ryan Kenneth Jones, but I have been going by Jones for as long as I can remember, really.

Age? 29

Where are you from?I grew up in Vancouver, Langley and Richmond. All around the Lower Mainland really. I spent most of my years hangin’ in and around East Van. I’ve since moved away, and don’t know if I really miss the city life...

How long have you been doing this kind of art?Well... as long as I can remember really... I drew all growing up, but never really pursued it seriously until my early 20’s... I have been doing it professionally and

trying to make a career out of it for the last 9, almost 10 years now... Crazy, haha!

Main Influences?I grew up watching old Loony Toons episodes and loving similar cartoon violence like Tex Avery and the like. Growing up, I would wander through the horror sections of VHS rental places and marvel at the horrifyingly awesome cover art, but being way too chicken shit to actually rent the movies themselves. Later I got into heavy metal and the album art for that, but other than that, comics, music, life and personal experience... –it all goes in there I’m sure...

Is this your life’s ambition?I guess so. I just wanna get as much work done before I kick off I suppose, haha!

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Is your art work your main source of income?Totally. I like to use my trade to get myself out of whatever situation I find myself in financially... Instead of having a fall back plan. Usually, in the hairiest and hardest situations, where I’ve really had to problem solve, is where I’ve done my best work or made my best new contacts, so life on a razors edge I guess; –you have no option to slip and fall...

Where’s the money at?As soon as someone finds out, could they please drop me a line and let me know, haha!

Do you design art for bands? Comics? Cars? Anything really, I like to stick with the horror/darker themed stuff, but I’ll do anything or any new job if it’ll pay my bills... I used to feel real uncomfortable straying away from my comfort zone, art wise, but now I love odd ball jobs I’m not used to... Like, recently I’ve done beer labels, and it’s a ton of work; stricter deadlines, and much more interaction with other people than I’m used to, but you learn so much doing new stuff like that, and it always seems to help in the next job I get, so I don’t really turn down too much work these days, unless I’m way too busy and cant schedule it in, which has to happen here and there... but I guess it’s better to be too busy than not busy enough...

Any real big projects?The Scandal Brewing gig was a massive undertaking that I completely underestimated, haha! I had to laugh at myself really. I’m all, ‘no worries it’s just a beer box’ in my head... Well three months later and we’re still going over and over details about the box art, and working every day. I think I took like 3 days off in the first 5 months of this year. It was awesome!!! I love working like that, screw sleeping!!!

Anywhere in public your art can be viewed by anyone?Not so much, I stick with internet publicity really, plus I live on an island for christ sakes; –not in new york or something like that. I think if I’m going to spend the time pump’n’ my art, it should be on the internet, and I’m seeming to have pretty decent success that route. It’s making me a living, thats for sure...

Ever thought of slinging some ink (tattooing)?Well, thats a whole other ball game really, i’ve known tons of people that have made the switch from art to tattooing... you have to start from the ground up again,

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learn a whole new tool with different rules, and really start fresh in a tattoo shop moping floors for the first little bit, not that I’m against doing it, but i’ve already mopped floors in the freelance commission inking and painting game, so ill stick with what i been chipping away at for the last decade almost instead of running out of my half built house and try and build a new one so to speak, haha

What got you into art work?I have always been drawing really. I remember back in grade 1 or something like that when they had a few of these National Geographic style books on sharks; I couldn’t get over that cool shit and I started drawing them from what I was seeing in the books... it just kind of snowballed after that, I guess you could say...

Whats your preferred Medium?Definitely ink, but recently in the last year I’ve been completely obsessed with full colour acrylic paint; Its taking over my gawd damn life man!! Sometimes all I’m thinking about really and trying to catch up for lost time learning all I can... it’s sick sometimes really...

What are some of the other mediums you’ve experimented with?I tried airbrushing for a year or two or something, then I took a few courses and got all paint certified but I just hated doing it really, it drove me nuts, cleaning the

airbrush, the toxic gawd damn paint I was spraying in my homemade spray booth; –not my style... So, really, I keep it on paper, but I still have all the equipment I bought airbrushing, so I might just pull it all out one day and use the acrylics instead of the industry standard car paint...

HobbiesWell, i don’t get out too much as I’m a pretty steady workaholic, or at least that’s what my friends all call me, haha, but I love to exercise, skate ‘n’ snowboard. Live music is always great. I always love all that home body stuff like gardening and canning things. I’m really enjoying living out of town and doing stuff like chopping wood and whatnot... I keep it simple and try to keep busy working...

TunesMainly 80s-90’s punk/metal/hardcore ‘n’ the like, but I love stuff from Thin Lizzy to Queen, and David Bowie to Easy E. I don’t care too too much, as long as it’s got some heart ‘n’ spirit in it... then I usually find the charm in it. Music is a hard thing to fake when it comes to sincerity...

Favorite carAnything that gets me to the grocery store and back man. Something that won’t break down on me and cost me more frickin money, haha

OK…. Favourite muscle car? Those rad dune buggies they had in ‘The Road Warrior’, and monster trucks are pretty badass, also a big fan of the 1975 flick, ‘Deathrace 2000’.

What are some of the things you definitely want mentioned in this article?Well, basically I’d just like to get across with what I’m doing, and to let others know that anyone can do it... Do what you want in life and make it happen. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t get something done or accomplished... I grew up with no ambition; drinking my life away being a dirt-city punk rocker. I didn’t give a shit about anything and was the laziest dude I knew, haha! If

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i can get off my ass and start working for myself, anyone frickin can, haha!!Whether your looking for some inspiration for your next tattoo, your bands next album cover or an amazing mural on the hood of your rat-rod I would strongly recommend heading over to humanburger.com and checking out Jones awesome artwork. He’s an amazing artist and his work just keeps getting better and better. I just cant wait to see what he draws up next! – By Tyrel Pst

Ipurchased the 1964 Ford-100 short-box in the spring of 1985, along with a 1967 Chevelle from a long-time friend. The truck had the original 6 cylinder, three speed and a brush paint job. I did a ‘quick’ paint job and drove it for a few years. My wife, Denise, got the Chevelle.

When our son Jamie turned 14, the truck became his. A father and son project was born! The 6- cylinder along with the three on a tree had to go. A stout 327 was in the works for Mom’s Chevelle, so we took the 283 and power-glide from her baby and fit it between the frame rails of the F-100.

Jamie worked hard pumping gas, babysitting, and whatever other jobs he could do to put all his spare money into the truck, although It was nowhere near done by the time he had earned his driver’s licence at age sixteen. He wanted some wheels to drive right away, so in a weak moment I took the truck back and gave him his Mother’s (Denise’s) ‘Chevelle’. I have never heard the end of it from my “better half” for that deal!!!

Fast forward fifteen years after sitting in the corner of the shop collecting dust, to the father and son project –now back on the front burner. Jamie –now a mechanic, along with a good friend, Bob Green, (also a mechanic) and I stripped the truck to the bare frame, in preparation for sandblasting.

Then we installed a TCI Mustang 2-rack and pinion steering system with tubular control arms. The frame was C-notched in the front for the tie rod ends, and the rear, for the now flipped ‘69 Torino 9-inch rear end. Studs were welded down the inside of the frame rails to mount the wiring, fuel, and brake lines inside of the now boxed frame. The fuel tank, a ’65 Mustang Fastback unit was mounted

A RAND FAMILY PROJECT

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Owners: Joe, Denise, and Jamie RAND, of Duncan.In Rand family tradition, the following description was written by all ‘4’ contributing members of the family, with the ‘Big Chief’, Joe as spokesman:

behind the rear axle with

a flip-up style ’69 Mach 1 filler, mounted in the bed floor.

A GM ZZ 4, crate 350, and turbo 400 transmission were now between the frame rails. Exhaust gases flow through ceramic coated Sanderson headers into Flowmaster 50 Series mufflers and a custom Mandrel bent 2 ½” exhaust system, built by Jamie. The engine compartment is decked out with lots of ‘shiny stuff’: valve covers, air cleaner, breathers, and V-Track pulley system, from Billet Specialties and Classic Performance Products. We custom wired the truck with a vintage air unit, and Dolphin ‘Shark’ gauges, with the help of an EZ wiring harness. We added a ‘Lokar’ stick shift, and a ‘Flaming River’, polished stainless steering column with a Grant steering wheel. Then, all were test fit, and everything came apart for paint.

An L.E.D. third brake light was put in the back of the cab, and all emblems were removed as well as all

box pockets and seams were filled. I ‘Frenched’ a power antenna in the cab where the old gas filler used to be. I spent many hours in my backyard shop and makeshift spray-booth massaging the body to a ‘near perfect fit and finish’.

The overall paint is a distinctive Ford Zinc Yellow P.P. G. base/clear, finished with pinstripes & graphics by Abby Aspin. Arlen Ness outside mirrors with matching interior rear view mirror serves to see and likewise enhance the finish.

Shawn and Keith Gilbertson (another father and son team) of Visions Auto Glass and Upholstery, went to work modifying the ’99 F-150 seats; building door panels, headliner, and kick panels, before tastefully covering it all with grey leather. Denise helped me with the job of picking the colors for the interior.

Jamie’s daughter, Taylor (who turned sweet 16 this past Hallowe’en) helped ‘Poppa’ with building the fibreglass

c o n s o l e . Together, w e s c o u r e d t h e

wrecking yards to pick out the seat and other ‘experienced’ parts used in the build. Taylor also delivered ‘Nana’s lunches out to the shop for ‘the boys’.

All work was done in our backyard shop, with the exception of the interior leather work.

Our next project is total restoration of Jamie’s ’67 Chevelle, by Father, Son, Mom, and Granddaughter…Maybe my wife will get a chance to drive ‘her’ Chevelle again… “Thanks for putting our truck in your awesome magazine” The Rand Family – Joe, Denise, Jamie, and TaylorTROPHIES AND AWARDS:2011 Shawnigan Lake Show & Shine, Best of the 60’s

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*All photos for this article were provided by Joe Rand *

2011 & 2012 A&W Best TruckVancouver Island Mustang Show: Best TruckBeverley Corners Show Lakeshore Auto Parts Sponsor Pick

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Favorite Songs: “Rolling in the Deep”, by Adele (Taylor’s pick), and anything by The EaglesFamily spirit: Joe’s wife Denise has a 1994 Silverado that they only take to shows and cruises. Jamie is working on a ’67 Chevelle this fall, and Jamie wants to get to 67th heaven in a hurry!Jo e g ive s s p e c i a l t h a n k s t o : S o n Ja m i e R a n d , f o r we ld i n g , f a b r i c a t i o n , m e c h a n i c a l , p l u m b i n g , a n d j u s t b e i n g t h e r e ! Wi f e D e n i s e : Te l l i n g m e t o “G e t o f f my a s s a n d f i n i s h t h e d a m n t h i n g !” G r a n dd a u g ht e r, Tayl o r : P h o t o g r ap hy, a ud i o , a n d t a l k i n g t o p ap a . O u r n e i g h b o u r s , B o b a n d Jo a n G r e e n f o r a l l yo u r h e lp, ‘t o o muc h t o l i s t ’.

Many thanks to friends and car specialists who contributed their expertise to the stunning restoration of “4-PLAY”:

Duncan Auto Parts and Industrial Supply, Ben Marrs at Dickson and Fraser, The Rankin Clan, Doug Jones at Peter Baljet Parts, Rick

Smith at Ken Evans Ford Parts, Paul at Horton’s Hot Rod

Parts, Wayne at B&W Antique Auto Parts, Rik Dinham, Maxwell’s

Auto Wrecking, Victoria Plating, Pat

Lifestyle: Joe loves to go to shows with his family, and considers it a family orientated affair. His clothing and music match his car, being a T-shirt and blue jeans kind of guy.

*All photos for this article were provided by Joe Rand *

and Todd at PC Auto Electric, Rudy at Duncan Automatic, Mike Dunn at Western Drivetrain, Shawn and Keith Gilbertson at Visions Auto Glass and Upholstery, Dale Windsor at J&D tire, and Abby Aspin at Aspin Graphics.

Special Note: Joe’s article was given to me to get print-ready for VI Performance Magazine, and there truly wasn’t much I needed to do. In reading it though, I felt a real sense of the depth of spirit and heart that went into the whole project. A vision came to mind while I’ve been interpreting what this all means, and this is what I picture: (corny, maybe, but cool, nonetheless) ~Here’s Joe and ‘4-PLAY’, parked in a natural treed setting somewhere. He’s sitting in comfort on the modified ‘99Ford F150, grey leather seats, and feet resting on a pristine charcoal grey carpet. He looks out at the rest of the world through a new tinted glass, wrap-around windshield. He is surrounded by the tangible proof of the many talented artists who helped shape the end results. The padded, vented dashboard is complete, with delete ashtray and vintage AC. All the knobs are from a ’65 Mustang, and Dolphin ‘shark’ gauges have been fine-wired by EZ; spit polished, and properly placed. In immense satisfaction, he’s maybe listening to an Eagles tune, or just visiting with memories, reflections, or resting. I think: “He’s sitting in a time machine”, and he actually made his dream a reality! But Joe doesn’t get stuck in the past, because he’s very much in the present, and looking forward, eager to see what Jamie is fixing to do with his ’67 Chevelle Project

~ “Joe, it’s been a privilege, and thanks for your patience, education & insight” -Alexis Gilchrist, aspiring writer

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In 1950, the ‘V’ shape design of the hood and grille put the ‘V’ in the VJ model. Earl Wiegard, of Bowser, BC has always been a Jeep-lover and he found this one at an auction. He has owned it for more than twenty years and has rebuilt it himself, except for the paint job. He tells us that most people used Willy’s cars to go into the bush and haul stuff. It was a car or truck that the average Joe could afford, and they were good for work. They are well-liked by the public at car shows and he likes how they turn heads! At one time, Earl owned all but one of every kind of vehicle that Willy’s made including: a station wagon, a jeep panel, a half-ton pick-up, the Jeepster, a flatbed truck, and the hay truck. He never did find the cab-over.

He lovingly repaired all of them. At one time, he brought all of them to one car show! He hauled five on his trailer, and had his girlfriend drive the sixth one. They won the award for ‘Most Vehicles’ in the show at the Rocking Horse Pub in Red Gap, Nanoose.

He would love to see odd old cars. He likes to read about cars that have character, not just the common, close, much the same, Chevy or Ford. I’m with you there, Earl!

SPECS:

Upholstery: Interior black leather, split front seat – folded up under dash, so you could step into back seat.Engine: 6 cylinder, 61HPR (46 kW), flatheadTransmission: 3 on a tree with optional overdriveSuspension: Front end and single transverse leaf & apair of longitudinal rear leaf springs Flat top rear fenders copied from the Jeep truck line.

FROM JEEP to JEEPSTER:After WWII, Willy’s observed that only farmers and foresters would want to purchase the military utility-type

j e e p .

Looking to fill the gap for a passenger vehicle, they developed the original Jeepster crossover. Retaining the distinctive boxy styling of the Jeep, it was assembled with rear-wheel drive only.

In 1948, the original VJ Jeepster was powered by the 62 HP “Go Devil” engine, a 134 cu.in. (2.2L) straight-4, also used in the CJ (Civilian Jeep). Due in part to sparse marketing and weak performance, the first model was not that well-received by traditional Jeep fans or its intended market.

In 1949, the VJ-2 Jeepster was built on a Willy’s chassis and began production with a one-model, one-engine offering. Both sales and production were low.

In 1950, the re-designed front end--the hood and grille--put the V in VJ. The VJ-3 Jeepster offered two engines, the “Go Devil” for the four-cylinder VJ-3 4-63, and the VJ-3 6-63 “Lightning” six-cylinder.

Willy’s Overland Motors’ Jeepster production was over 3 years, between 1948-1950, although some leftover models sold as 1951s. Apparently, only 1200 Jeepsters of Earl’s particular model were built. To keep up with the evolution of the models, and to maintain control over quality, Willy’s produced them in small quantities at intervals throughout each year. Currently, they are valued at between $12,000 - $40,000+ as collector’s cars.

Aside from all the technical and mechanical details of the digital minded, I am intrigued by how “Jeep” came to be named. Apparently, it has been difficult to reach

1950 JEEPSTER

20 VI Performance Magazine

Willy’s Overland Motors

an agreement about it, but the most widely held theory is that it was designated ‘GP’ (GeeP), for “Government Purposes” or “General Purpose.” The army also refers to them as bantam-cars, a four-wheel drive of one-half to one and one-half-ton capacity for reconnaissance or other army duty. Another nickname they have for it is ‘gadget’.

Another story suggests that the soldiers were so impressed with the vehicle that they named it after the Popeye cartoon’s jungle pet character “Eugene the Jeep.” “Eugene the Jeep” was Popeye’s jungle pet; small, able to move between dimensions, and could solve seemingly impossible problems.

The most amazing bit of history about the jeep or quad is how it arrived on the scene in the first place. In short, the U.S Army asked 135 companies for working prototypes of a four-wheel drive reconnaissance car. The American Bantam Car Company and Willy’s Overland were the only two companies that took on the challenge .

The Army set a next to impossible deadline of 49 days for a working prototype. Willy’s asked for more time, but they were refused. The tenacious and bankrupt American Bantam Car Company had no engineering staff left on payroll, so they sought out Karl Probst, a talented freelance designer from Detroit. Initially, he turned Bantam down, but at the Army’s request he began work, initially without pay, on July 17, 1940.

“Pro3bst l a i d out full p l a n s for the B a n t a m prototype i n just two d a y s , working up a cost estimate the next. Bantam’s bid was submitted complete with blueprints on July 22.” I’d say

that’s a bit of wizardry, in just 4 days! The hand-built prototype was driven to Maryland for Army testing on September 21.

“Necessity truly is the mother of invention!”

The Army felt the Bantam Company was too small to fill the quota, so it also supplied the Bantam design to Willy’s and Ford, who were encouraged to make their own modifications and changes.

The resulting Ford ‘Pygmy’ and Willy’s ‘Quad’ were very similar to the Bantam BRC Reconnaissance Car.

The original Jeep trademark brand-name application was filed by Willy’s-Overland in 1943. In 1950, Willy’s was granted the privilege of owning the name “Jeep” as their registered trademark.

One more bit of nostalgia is about the amphibious jeep or “seep,” (Sea Jeep), and another from 1950; the engine modified with a snorkel system, so that the engine could properly breathe underwater. This leaves room for a whole other article, so lol!

Personally, I’ll be the one to shy away from riding in an older Jeep quad bucket of bolts. All I can remember is getting bounced and bumped around. Unless you’ve got some extra padding on your caboose, believe me, the ride wears thin really fast. “Nothing like a hard ride in a Jeep to put barnacles on your bumper,” I always say. In comparison, Earl’s 1950 Jeepster looks to be a luxury ride.

Respectfully yours, writer, Ms. Alexis Gilchrist

VI Performance Magazine 21Photos by Gord MacKay

Daily Driver, Project Truck and Beautiful Rare Automobile are all ways to describe Brent Wildeman’s 1955 Fargo Short Box pickup truck. From first glance at the truck, even the least observant of people can spot the hard work and custom design put into the Fargo; from the custom opening hood to the two tone paint job this truck is certainly a head turner for a plethora of creative and unique reasons. For one to understand this vehicle, one must first understand the effort, love and passion that owner Brent Wildeman has poured into it.

The Vancouver Island resident has owned the truck for 4 years, while spending 3 and a half of those years recreating the look and sound to make it purely one of a kind. The transformation consisted of removing the original 6 cylinder stock engine and replacing it with a 383 Stroker powerhouse engine to help get this pickup practically flying. This engine swap changed the sound of the Fargo forever.

Other interesting modifications include the rear tailgate being composed of a Dodge tailgate

flipped upside down and made to mold with the Fargo’s body. This dramatic and truly special mod was the product of 30 plus hours of body work and the inventive eye of Brent. The custom hood opens sideways instead of the traditional front to back hood; just one more custom feature that sets this truck apart from others. Interior customization is a project slated for this coming winter and Brent looks forward to finishing this machine from top to bottom soon.

The Fargo is constructed of 100% steel; no fiberglass was used on the body making this one heavy hitter, while keeping the integrity of the original style intact. Brent is a regular at many local V.I. car and truck shows, which has earned him some impressive trophies for his Fargo, including “Best Unfinished”

Award in C o o m b s . Although a regular at

‘55 Fargo

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Photo by Gord MacKay

Photo by Gord MacKay

Photo by Brent Wildeman

the local shows, he feels at some of the larger venue shows a lot of the same big money owners, who pour more coin than heart into their vehicles, win trophies more often than the owner who did all the hard work himself.

Brent finds his passion in comparing ideas with other car enthusiasts at these shows, and truly enjoys being around friends, family and custom cars on the open road breathing in the speed and absorbing the good times. Lately he has been working with a buddy to get his friend’s truck back and running and as many car and truck devotees, Brent truly finds happiness working on projects, whether they are his own or for a friend. Car and Truck Customization is certainly a wildly inventive and unique hobby and as the 1955 Fargo proves, with hard work and creativity comes one damn fine custom truck! –Patrick Mulvaney

VI Performance Magazine 23

Photo by Brent Wildeman

http://cherrybombphotography.net

Raquel Jack

Dan Harcourt’s 2010 Harley Davidson FX Deluxe Wide Glide

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If you are a fan of high-speed racing, high octane, and mind-blowing maneuvers, then you must be a winged Sprint Car fan. These cars are light-weight and very powerful machines that achieve speeds of up to 130 mph at a track like Western Speedway or 160 mph, racing on a track such as Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington. They are extremely quick and leave very little room for error, but are very exciting to watch, especially when there is a full field of cars on the track and a skilled driver that will take his car to the outside to make passes that seem almost impossible. No one does this better than Mr. Excitement, “The Tire Fryer,” Duncan’s Scott Aumen. On many occasions, Scott has had the fans standing and cheering as he threw his car in a virtual four-wheel

drift through the corners to capture the fast car of the night or while racing for the chequered flag in close races.

Scott began racing a stock car on the dirt at Cassidy Speedway in 1992 and did so for a couple of years. A friend, Darren Kennedy, offered Aumen the opportunity to drive a Sprint Car and after getting out of that car he said, “I want a Sprint Car!!” He raced at Cassidy for several years where he picked up a few championships and also went to Skagit Speedway for a few years for the Northern Sprint Tour. He won a couple of feature events at both Skagit and Yakima along the way with the feature win at Skagit in 1999 standing out in Scott’s mind as a favorite win. In 2000, Scott made his way to the A-Main at Alma, Washington, in a World of Outlaws race with Sammy Swindell and Steve Kinser, among others, also in the field, which is one of the highlights of Aumen’s career. “They were way faster than me and destroyed me in the race but just to make the A-Main was an accomplishment and be on the track with these guys was a thrill,” says Aumen. He then drove on several tracks in a Tony Menard VMac car for several years before turning to the local WilRoc Sprint Car Series in 2005, with the earlier closure of Cassidy Speedway playing a major role in places to go for mid-Island racing.

It was at Western Speedway that

Aumen started to put up a resume that would be the envy of many a race car driver in any Series. In 2006, Aumen captured the first of four straight WilRoc Championships. On March 31st, 2007, Aumen joined the ASA/N.S.R.A. on opening night at Evergreen Speedway and won the Doug James Memorial race driving the Whitcomb/Stewart/Turner entry with a brand new Neil Montgomery motor. For the ASA/NSRA, the club in general was happy just to race at Evergreen. That event was the first ASA/NSRA race at the Monroe oval not to be rained out since the same race in 2003. Fans who braved the

The Tire Fryer, aka Scott Aumen

Illusion Photography

VI Performance Magazine 27

cold under the threat of more rain were rewarded with a first-time winner in the 35-lap main event. Aumen, who had won previously on a dirt track with the former Northern Sprint Tour, was a first-time winner in ASA/NSRA competition on pavement and the first time ever racing at Evergreen. “It feels really good. Anytime you get a win is fun. We had a good time all weekend, and winning the race was just the topper. I’ve heard rumors this was a big speedway, and now I believe it,” Aumen said.

As well as the consecutive WilRoc titles Scott won between 2006 and 2009, he also was the Strawberry Cup

Champion in 2006, 2007, and 2011; Daffodil Cup Champion in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011; won the Billy Foster Memorial Trophy and the Kershaw Cup in 2011; in 2010 won the Roy Smith Memorial Trophy, John Bokma Memorial Trophy, had the most Main Event wins, and tied Jeff Bird for the Surgenor Trophy as the Saratoga Champion. Throughout his many wins, you could see Scott in the outside groove, almost in no man’s land, passing cars two and three at a time, coming through turn three and four at Western Speedway, which is exciting to see if you’re a fan, and according to Scott, “A lot of fun to do” if you’re a racer capable of doing that. This season, Scott has concentrated on helping his brother Cody with his Stock Car and Brad, his son, with the Hornet Car Series. He will take part in the Daffodil Cup as it is the only winged Sprint Car race at Western Speedway this year. They did race at Stateline Speedway and the two-night show at Meridian Speedway in Boise, Idaho, and plan to race another two-night event at Roseburg later this season with the Sprint Cars. Scott has a crew that can reach fifteen with family members and friends keeping his car in top-notch running mode. Dan Wickham, Tom Turner, and George Stewart own the #44 Sprinter while Mid Island Engine own the powerful motors and Scott says, “That’s the only reason we can race as there are a lot of people and sponsors that contribute and that

allows us to go to these events.” Scott has a lot of support from his wife Jennifer, thirteen-year-old daughter Ashton, and his sons Brad and Bray and live fairly close to Western Speedway which is “his favorite track because it is a good facility and easy to get to,” he says. He doesn’t have a favorite competitor to run against, he just likes to race with all of them. He has done a great job of that wherever he competes.

– by KW Keating

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VIMX Club Series: Rain or Shine, The Show Can’t Go On!

The VIMX Club series started off great, the first round in Nanaimo was one of the best attended fall MX events in recent memory. The second round was almost as good, but a conflict of race dates with another series did cost a few entries. It all started going wrong by the third event. An unprecedented dry spell forced the cancellation of the Port Alberni round due to fire hazard, then a torrential down-pour forced the cancellation of

the fourth round in Campbell River. The series squeaked out two final rounds at Port Alberni, but by the time the ‘rain dates’ rolled around it was cold and wet, and many racers had decided to pack it in for the season; the momentum was gone.

Despite Mother Nature’s determination to rain on our MX parade, or set fire to it, the series was finally completed. The series combined many classes in an effort to fill the gates and increase competition, and the result was fun

VI Performance Magazine 29

to watch or participate in. Instead of having 6-8 riders in many classes, the newly designed ‘combined’ classes often saw closer to 20 racers lining up at the gate (at least at the first two rounds!). This was especially interesting in the 85cc class which is usually broken into age categories, but was run as a single ‘all-in-one’ class for the fall. What we learned is that racing is much more fun with more bikes on the line, and age isn’t necessarily a deciding factor in skill level. While Harrison Bradley did win the class, and he is from the older group, a younger class rider, Wyatt Youland, finished second and proved he’s very capable of running with the older boys. In fact, three of the top five riders in the Open Mini class were from the younger age group, and two younger riders cracked the top five in the Open 85cc class.

Another highlight of the fall series was seeing Joe Nikirk move up to Junior. Nikirk has been the top mini rider on the Island for several years running, and is this year’s Provincial 85cc Champion, so his advancement to the big wheel bikes was highly anticipated. Skeptics suggested it would take him some time to get used to the bigger bike, but Nikirk demonstrated why he’s won so many races over the past couple of years. He didn’t skip a beat and handily won the VIMX Club Series title in the Junior class. Daniel Vanderbasch, who is the current Island Champion in both Youth and Intermediate, rode with a severely damaged knee throughout the series, but still battled with

30 VI Performance Magazine

VI Performance Magazine 31

Dylan Hansen for top honours in both of these premier classes. In the end each rider took one title after some very close and intense races. This VIMX Club Series did all the right things and had the potential to be awesome, but there are some forces you just can’t control. I’m afraid Mother Nature was the real winner this fall, and the VIMX Club Series had to settle for second!

–Seehorse Creative Media

PORT MCNEILL RACEWAYRUMBLE ON THE RUNWAY!

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Photography by Mona-Lisa

VI Performance Magazine 33

THUNDER IN THE VALLEYPort Alberni Airpport

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Photo by Mona-Lisa

Photo by Gord MacKay

Photo by Gord MacKay

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Photo by Mona-Lisa

Photo by Mona-Lisa

Photo by Gord MacKay

ISLAND OFF-ROAD RACINGWoodward Pit, Port Alberni

36 VI Performance Magazine

Photography by Gord MacKay

Kaleb 3.5 yrs

Len Bodley

Dave Winterburn“101 Rocks”

Allan Rowlinson

VI Performance Magazine 37

Fear Less”

“Regret Nothing,

#68 Darryl Hickey

Our readers at VI Performance Magazine sure know how to appreciate a fine piece of engineering & machinery, and of course, the profiles of the people that work with it on a daily basis. So it’s only fitting, that so soon after this Remembrance Day, we profile a fine piece of

engineering and machinery on a much grander scale.

I have to say that it was more than a true honor, for the crew at VI Performance, to be asked aboard the destroyer, HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283) at its home base in Esquimalt, BC. Although we have 5 Frigates on our West Coast, Algonquin is our only destroyer stationed here.

Being Canadian has sometimes meant that we may have heard a joke or two about the state of our military forces, and I assure you, HMCS Algonquin with her commander and crew is absolutely no joke. It takes a special type of person to live aboard a ship

and away from your family for what could be up to 7 months. However, our military offers a great service in a Family Resource Centre that helps

military families when their loved ones are deployed.

Algonquin harbors some of the most advanced communication and weaponry that rivals the world’s best naval forces. Built and commissioned in the early 70’s, Algonquin was extensively refitted with sophisticated anti-air and advanced weaponry, modern propulsion and modern

multi-band and mult i-channel communications

i n the early 90’s. She is now equipped with

HMCSALGONQUINDESTROYER

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5

4

6

an advanced integrated combat control system. This ship is not only capable of stopping the “arrows” but it can also cripple the “archer” when stopping potential threats at home, or abroad.

In peacetime, she is capable of providing support for a variety of important tasks from search and rescue to patrolling our shorelines. This ship can even supply electrical power and endless fresh drinking water to a devastated area in need, if a disaster was to strike. Algonquin easily produces 40 tons of fresh water a day, just for regular day-to-day operations aboard the ship. Couple all of this with Algonquin’s capability to carry 2 twin-engine CH 124 Sea King Helicopters and the ship becomes even more equipped to handle whatever threat or task is thrown upon it. But one of the most important tasks of the Sea Kings being aboard is to search and destroy any underwater threats that submarines may cast upon the fleet or the ship and her crew.

It took us many hours to tour Algonquin with her crew, lead by a transplanted prairie boy, Commander Lorne Hartell, Commanding Officer of HMCS Algonquin. We were also accompanied on our tour by Army Captain Linda Coleman, Maritime Pacific Public Affairs Officer, who coordinated our visit. The great hospitality aboard the ship included a massive amount of information, so there is no way we could put it all in a single article. We encourage you to view the ship’s own website at: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/algonquin/

The 130 metre long Algonquin has a beam of 15.2 metres and a draught of 7.6 metres. It can be easily compared to a floating city of 312 people when fully crewed. The crew works together at their own designated tasks to keep the ship in operation. This takes many organizational departments that divide the ship into 2 basic areas; “Fighting” and “Functioning”.

For a big ship, Algonquin is really agile and can complete a 180 degree turn in 2.5 minutes. When she does a complete 360 degree turn, she turns inside her original path, all inside a mere 750 meters according to Lieutenant (Navy) Kyle Aubrey, Navigations Officer.

We began our tour with Lieutenant-Commander David Roberge, Maritime Systems Engineering Officer in the “Functioning” department and toured the engine compartments below deck where the 2 massive Pratt & Whitney FT-0A4s are housed. These massive beasts, the size of minivans, resemble and function like jet engines and are capable of producing a whopping 50,000 shaft hp together. These incredible pieces of engineering will propel this floating city to a speed greater than 27 knots. Both motors are fed with 50 hp fuel pumps through a 5-6” fuel line. Sea water is pumped into the ship for compensating all the weight displaced by the burned fuel, keeping Algonquin’s stability in the water. She carries a whopping 800,000 liters of fuel when she’s at full capacity and can be refueled at sea by one of our Naval tankers.

The engine bay also includes 2 Allison 570KF cruise

engines each producing 6,440 shaft hp. The engine bay also houses numerous other pieces of equipment such as generators, filters and pumps, alongside a myriad of pipes and valves, which would all be sure to give any gear-head a pure thrill.

We then proceeded on our tour with Lieutenant (Navy) Dany Normandeau, Naval Combat Systems Engineering Officer in the “Fighting” department where we got to see and hear about all the many weapons and communication systems contained aboard the ship. The most impressive to me, was the Fire Control Radars that are able to detect and assess possible threats from a distance of 100 nautical

VI Performance Magazine 39

3

1

miles.

Threats are assessed and tracked in milliseconds using long or medium range radar. Targets are tracked using pencil beam radar and illuminated with RF energy. The Fire Control System then calculates where in 3D space, that intercept point should occur, and in a long distance threat, a missile would be launched to eliminate the threat. In shorter distances, Algonquin may use the Vulcan Phalanx 20mm Close In Weapons System (CIWS), to eliminate the threat. This weapon is essentially a Gatling gun with 6 rotating barrels firing 20mm tungsten rounds at 4500 rounds per minute, until the threat is eliminated. Algonquin also carries a 76mm Oto Melara Super-Rapid Gun capable of firing 120 rounds per minute. She also includes 29 vertical launch standard missiles and 2 triple torpedo tubes that launch MK46 torpedoes.

Potential threats to Algonquin or the fleet are dealt with in 2 ways. A “hard kill” is hitting the target or threat with one of its many weapons. A “soft kill”, which is the more efficient of the two, is where Algonquin will either fire a chaff cloud of fiberglass covered aluminum or deploy a decoy to hover off ship, in an attempt to attract or distract the threat away from the ship or fleet.

Our tour then proceeded to the operations centre and bridge where the commanders and officers control the ship, all the communications, and all the weaponry in a

coordinated and choreographed effort to get any job done in the most efficient and safe way possible.

Last but not least, we got a peek at the 2 massive helicopter hangers on the rear of the ship. It was slightly hard for us to imagine how big the currently absent Sea King helicopters really would have been to see in the hangers. The empty hangers were huge, but the Sea King folds its blades and tail to fit entirely inside the ship.

To land the helicopters safely on the deck, the pilots use an artificial horizon as the ship will be rocking up and down in ocean waters. To get the helicopters into their hangers from the rear deck landing area, Algonquin uses a Canadian invention called the “Bear Trap”. The Bear Trap slightly resembles an overgrown camera tripod mount to secure the bird to the deck. Once secured, it then moves the Sea Kings into Algonquin’s hangers using a cable and track system.

Algonquin often represents Canada, along with the US and Mexico, by participating in exercises such as NAMSI (North American Maritime Security Initiative) off of the coast of Southern California and Northern Mexico. NAMSI has many goals but the primary is the tri-laterally testing of the interoperability and mutual understanding amongst all participating commands. This exercise is integral for protecting the waters off North America.

Algonquin also just completed its participation in

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Photo by Gord MacKay Photo by Gord MacKay

2

Artwork we spotted in otherwise dark places aboard the ship

RIMPAC 2012, which is a major international exercise off the coast of Hawaii. This year the ship was deployed for RIMPAC for 62 consecutive days, joining 25,000 personnel from 25 countries and a total of 42 other ships.

RIMPAC offers some of the best hands-on experience to seamen and also involves coordinating with other Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines. According to Commander Lorne Hartell, their length of deployment is integral in the training of seamen as the first 3-4 weeks of deployment are mostly learning and the few weeks after that, the learning is more consolidated and refined to really hone their military and naval skills.

I have to admit, it was a real honour and a huge learning experience meeting the men and women aboard Algonquin, and seeing the massive equipment, weapons, and technology that protect and patrol our fine coastlines of this great country. I will never forget this experience and I now sleep better knowing how safe we really are.

–Brent Matsalla

PICTURES PROVIDED TO US:

1) SM2 Firing during Rim of the Pacific Exercise summer 2000 DND Photo - Cpl Dave Payne : HMCS Algonquin fires an SM2 missile from the Vertical Launch System or VLS during a live fire exercise near Hawaii while HMCS Algonquin was on RIMPAC 2000 a massive Naval exercise

2) HMCS Algonquin 76mm Gun Firing 1 - PO2 Stickley

3) Sea King Helicopter Landing on HMCS Algonquin - DND Photo

4) HMCS Algonquin Flying its battle Ensign - DND Photo

5) HMCS Algonquin - DND Photo

6) HMCS Algonquin - DND Photo

VI Performance Magazine 41

http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/site/index-eng.asp

Combat Camera

Photo by Gord MacKay

Photo by Gord MacKay

42 VI Performance Magazine

MID-ISLAND ATV CLUBinfo@midislandatvclub.com

Has well over 100 active members in Nanaimo, established in the mid-island since 2003. Club Motto: “Responsible Quadders Care About Our Environment”, working to promote the sport of ATV riding, and enjoying the sport themselves.

We are a responsible group of motorized environmentalists, who care a great deal about wildlife and habitat, and we understand what a wonderful place it is we live, work, and recreate in.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at ABC Restaurant, Mary Ellen Drive, at 7:00 P.M. Some come early for dinner. Rides are planned for the last Sunday of every month; the location is posted on website for members.

The Island is a beautiful place to explore! Some places we ride include Qualicum Bay Resort outback (ATV friendly), or in by Horne Lake. We do parades and charity rides as well. Nanaimo, contact: Brent Cherry 250-755-1654 bc.cherry@shaw.caATV Course Instructor: Steve 259-754-0654

Alberni Valley Hill Climbers, contact: John L.Smith, bearsan13@gmail.com

Comox Valley ATV Club: rmacd777@telus.net

Cumberland, contact: 250-336-8947

Cowichan/Duncan, contact: Mike Lees, cowichanvalleyatvclub@gmail.comDuncan: www.cvatv.ca

Membership contacts also at: Westwood Power & Marine, Nanaimo 758-5285Tuff City Motorsports, Nanaimo 591-0415Mile Zero, Ladysmith 245-5414V.I. Insurance, Parksville 248-3229 (Karen)

VI BIKERSwww.Vibikers.com

Email: victoriasupermoto@vibikers.com

VIBikers has been around since 2009. I think the biggest thing that sets our group apart from other local groups is that we’re all about encouraging motorcycling in all its many forms... it seems most other groups are more specific to either one type of bike, or one riding style. We find we have a lot of members who actively ride more than one type of bike, like street bikes, dirt bikes, and/or supermoto bikes. A lot of times it seems the riding community is divided by “what you ride”. We’re trying to change that, at least locally, and it seems to be working. :) Our slogan is “It’s not what you ride, it’s THAT you ride.” We don’t have meetings or many formal get-togethers, but we do coffee nights, rides, and encourage other VIBikers members to host and post rides on our forum, so that they’ll have people to share that ride with. We’re very close to the Victoria Supermoto Association too, which runs practice nights on the paved track at Western Speedway every Tuesday throughout the summer. It’s a pretty interesting local thing to do... or to watch (it’s free to watch!)

Connect with local riders or the forum, meet up for rides, ask technical questions, buy & sell bikes and gear. Registration is free. Visit our on-line discussion forum; we are also on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/vibikers. Rides are updated on-line, for the VIHSS (Vancouver Island Hare Scramble Series) 2012. They have included the Oct. 14 Qualicum and Whiskey Creek - Crown Royal Enduro, and Nov.4 Campbell River - Trick or Treat Hare Scramble.

NANAIMO SIDEWINDERS 4-WHEEL DRIVE CLUBwww.nanaimosidewinders.com

email: Nanaimo.sidewinders@hotmail.com

The Club was founded in May of 1975, and membership rides highs and lows, from 4 to 75 members at a time. Meetings take place the first Wednesday of every month at the soccer pavilion at Beban Park, across from the pool, at 7:30 p.m. The Club Run is monthly, on the Sunday following the meeting. We meet at Terminal Park Burger King at 8:00 a.m. and by 8:30 a.m., the destination is decided by the group. We host annual campouts, Christmas Party, and summer BBQ. Ph: 756-4462

CLUBS/SOCIETIES

VI Performance Magazine 43

MID-ISLAND SNO-BLAZERS (MISB - Snowmobile Association)

Contact: Blake Erickson 758-5440Email: info@midislandsnoblazers.ca

Mail to: P.O. Box 972, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5N2

Founded in 1970, we became registered as a non-profit society in 1975. We have about 140 members, and are the largest snomobile club on Van Isle, and one of the largest of over 30 in B.C. MISB meets the first Monday of each alternating month between Nanaimo and Chemainus, beginning in October and ending in May.

Low ‘n’ Slow Vancouver IslandContact # 250-713-6387

Email: low1n1slow_vi@yahoo.caLike us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/low1n1slow

We are a group of people with a love for trucks & cars all over Vancouver Island. Our club is for lowered trucks, mini trucks and custom cars! If your ride is slammed –YOU belong in this group! The more aftermarket your ride is, the better.

T-BIRD CLUB / ISLAND VINTAGE Contact: Joe Fort, Ph: 250-754-7138

NANAIMO VINTAGE CAR CLUBRay Koch, Ph: 250-616-6317

CIVIL AIR SEARCH & RESCUE ASSOCIATIONCarole Wright, Ph: 250-390-2595

Rick Henry, Ph: 250-754-4993

CLUBS/SOCIETIES

www.westcoasthelicopters.com

www.marksimportauto.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

CHEMAINUSEnnerdale Engineering

250-246-36323292 Henry Rd. (pg.10)www.super7cars.com

R.E. Cycle250-246-1551 (pg.29)

9385 Trans Canada Hwyrerob1956@gmail.com

motorcyclebc.com

ADVERTISERS

CAMPBELL RIVERCampbell River Motocross Assn.

campbellrivermx.com (pg.29)

COURTENAYHypertek Motorsports Ltd.

250-871-8118 (pg.15)2420A Cliffe Ave.www.hypertek.ca

Kinetic Powder Coating 250-334-4250

736 D 30th St. (pg.23)www.kineticpowdercoating.com

Performance Products 250-338-6441 (pg.43)

3170B Island Highway South

LANGFORDJB’s Colwood Langford Auto

250-478-5538 (pg.47)895 Goldstream Ave

MILL BAYShawnigan Mill Bay Auto Parts

250-743-3355 (pg.46)Pioneer Square Mall

DUNCANArrow Cycle

250-746-0370 (pg.28)3255 Trans Canada Hwy

arrowcycle.comarrowcycle@shaw.ca

Cowichan Collision Ltd. 250-746-7532

5194 Mearns Rd. (pg.27)www.cowichancollision.com

Bronson Muffler Ltd. 250-748-1541

6-2955 Boys Rd. (pg.33)http://bronsonmuffler.com

Mid Island Engine & Machine 250-746-4546

5115 Polkey Rd. (pg.23)www.midislandengine.com

OK Tire250-746-4488 (pg.32)nikirkbros@shaw.ca

Rockabilly’s Clothing 250-597-1666 (pg.19)

134 Trans Canada Hwywww.rockabillys.com

Visions Auto Glass & Upholstery

250-746-9988 (pg.17)3031 Allenby Rd.

visionsupholstery.ca

LANTZVILLEChip’s Customs

250-933-0778 (pg.2)7439 Industrial Rd.

www.chipscustoms.ca

Shooters Speed & Fab 250-390-7400

250-802-6970 (pg.2)

LADYSMITHJB’s Ladysmith Auto Supply

250-245-992226 High St. (pg.47)

NANAIMOA&B Alternators

250-245-9775 (pg.43)3357 S. Island Hwy

AandB.caabaltstart@me.com

Apple Auto Glass250-755-1440 (pg.34)Unit H-11 Cliff St.

www.appleautoglass.com

Active Motorsports 250-591-6055

321 Watfield Ave. (pg.33)activemotorsports@shaw.ca

Budget Brake & Muffler250-758-8991

3575 Shenton Rd. (pg.18)www.budgetbrake.com

Broco Glass Group 250-390-2204

6450 N. Island Hwy (pg.22)www.brocoautoglass.com

Classic Brake & Auto Repair 250-716-6634 (pg.15)

D&S2250-714-2381

250-591-1091 (pg.36)

Duke Point Truck Recyclers250-722-2005 (pg.3, 17 & 34)dukepointtruckparts.com

Ecstasy Audio 250-713-8810

5811 Parkway Dr. (pg.23)www.ecstasyaudio.com

44 VI Performance Magazine

Extreme Fiberglass Solutions 250-714-0931

640 Pine St. (pg.40)www.extremefiberglass.ca

Flesh Auto-Truck Electric 250-756-1391 (pg.15)1814 Northfield Rd.

The Foam Guy250-933-0600 (pg.20)

6481B Portsmouth Rd.www.thefoamguy.ca

General Autopro Service Centre 250-753-1331

12 Campbell St. (pg.35)

Geri’s Behind the Cuts250-739-2201 (pg.43)

919 Brechin Rd.

Hub City Spring & Machine 250-758-1341 (pg.26)

2320 McCullough Rd.www.hubcitysprings.com

Mark’s Import Auto 250-758-7785

2-4350 Wellington Rd (pg.43)www.marksimportauto.com

Mid Island Automotive 250-756-7871

2210 Wilgress Rd. (pg.46)www.midislandautomotive.com

Millenium Auto Repair Center 250-716-1620

110 Nicol St. (pg.26)

Nanaimo Motocross Assn.nanaimomx.com (pg.29)

Precision Detailing & Car Care 250-390-2423 (pg.23)

6400 B Hammond Bay Rd. precisiondetailingnanaimo.com

Speed Merchantspeedmerchant.ca (pg.28)

Stone Bros. Auto Body Ltd. 250-753-2948

624 Comox Rd (pg.19)www.stonebrosautobody.com

STS Racing250-722-2639

1940 Harmac Rd.stsracing.ca (pg.29)

The Transfer Studio 250-327-3200

235 Milton Street (pg.15)

Thompson Machine 250-758-4671

1718 Kidson Rd. (pg.36)www.enginebuilder.ca

VI Honda250-754-6638

1-855-754-66381809 Bowen Rd. (pg.30)

behondapowerhousedealer.comWest Coast Helicopters Paint Shop

250-754-54481985 Boxwood Rd (pg.43)

Western Drivetrain & Machine Works Inc.250-740-0328 (pg.18)2-221 Southside Dr.www.driveshaft.ca

PARKSVILLESurfside Automotive 250-248-1133 (pg.16)6-1009 Alsbrook Rd.

Terminal’s Quality Assured Collision Services

250-248-2082 (pg.35)440 E. Island Highway

qacollision.ca

PORT ALBERNIAlberni Motocross Assn.

albernimx.com (pg.29)

Exhaust Masters 250-724-6833 (pg.23)

4521 Margaret St.exhaustmasters.ca

M&D Auto Parts 250-723-2464

4966 Southgate (pg.34)www.members.shaw.ca/

toyrun/page34.html

Underground Performance250-723-8358 (pg.13)hardhead@telus.net

undergroundheads.com

QUALICUM BEACHQualicum Auto

& Marine Supply 250-752-5621

119 E. Fern Rd. (pg.9)

SAANICHTONJB’s B&B Auto Supply

250-652-5277 (pg.47)6777 Kirkpatrick Crescent

SALTSPRING ISLANDJB’s Salt Spring Auto Parts

250-537-5507106 Jackson Ave. (pg.47)

SHAWNIGAN LAKEPete’s Old School

Classic Car Restoration250-734-2163

250-732-2163 (pg.7)classiccarrestoration@gmail.com

VICTORIAAction Transmission

& Auto Repair 250-388-7999

2417 Douglas St. (pg.18)www.actiontrans.net

ONLINERiders West Mag

riderswestmag.com (pg.31)

NANOOSEIslandvolks Automotive Ltd.

250-468-2004 (pg.27)1451 E. Island Hwy.

VI Performance Magazine 45

Blast It! 250-480-7263

2639 Turner St. (pg.16)www.blastityourself.ca

JB’s Downtown Auto Supply250-384-9378 (pg.47)2017 Government St.

JB’s Precision Engines250-475-2515

3340 Oak St. (pg.47)

JB’s Paint & Body Supplies250-361-9136

3340 Oak St. (pg.47)

Lejeune Performance 250-381-4513 (pg.32)

201-1492 Admirals Rd.www.lejeuneracecars.com

Savage Cycles250-475-8885 (pg.5)

2956 Westshore Parkwaywww.savagecycles.ca

SG Power250-382-8291

730 Hillside Ave.sgpower.com (pg.31)

DISTRIBUTIONA&W www.aw.ca Vancouver Island

Chapters(250)390-0380

Nanaimo Location6670 Mary Ellen Drive

www.chapters.indigo.ca

Lordco Parts Ltd. Warehouse 604-291-6839

5325 Still Creek Ave.www.lordco.com/locations

Vancouver Island Public Libraries

http://virl.bc.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNNANAIMO

MB Signs & Design250-753-5504

Midnight Design& Communication

778-426-3452www.midnightdesign.cainfo@midnightdesign.ca

BLACK CREEKShelby Art

250-337-5014 (back pg)www.shelbyart.com

shelby@shelbyart.com

PHOTOGRAPHERSNANAIMO Gord MacKay250-616-1183

macmech@shaw.ca

John Burrage johnburrage@shaw.ca

LiLou Photographs by Linda Millar

(250)741-6592 www.modelmayhem.com/

SURREYCherrybomb Photography

778-688-4035cherie@cherrybombphotography.net

www.cherrybombphotography.net

MODELS/ARTISTSHumanburger

www.HumanBurger.com

Hailey Eakinshailey11_@hotmail.com

Melissa

Raquel Jack

Tiffany Otsig tiffanyotsig@gmail.com

PRINTERMitchell Press

Rep: Gale Penhall778-837-7956 (Victoria, BC)

gpenhall@mitchellpress.comwww.mitchellpress.com

WRITERS/EDITORSCROFTON

Seehorse Creative Media250-710-9223 (pg.28 & 30)

seehorsecreativemedia.comseehorsecreativemedia@gmail.com

VANCOUVERPatrick Mulvaney

p.mulvaney187@hotmail.ca

NANAIMO Alexis Gilchrist

250-753-8141alexisleelady@gmail.com

Brent Matsalla brent.matsalla@planithotspot.com

VICTORIAKW Keating

illusion@shaw.ca

46 VI Performance Magazine

VI Performance Magazine 47

sacrificially inhaled to watch the drifters skid in the turns of Western Speedway! Of course, boarding the HMCS Algonquin, in Esquimalt, was another pretty big event for us. It was nice to meet the crew, find out where they came from, and what inspired them to choose the Navy as a career. It was mind blowing to see the size of the ship’s engines! I was shocked by the fact that the ship makes its’ own fresh water, from the sea, and that it produces its own hydro. It was touching to hear that the ship can provide a small community with fresh water, and power, in the event of a natural disaster!

Something that has always produced a slight feeling of jealousy, has been the unbelievable talent of those kids on dirt bikes! I regret not learning to maneuver a spunky little machine on the dirt of our little hobby farm I grew up on. Never-the-less, I quite enjoyed watching the Moto-Cross events, and admired the abilities of all the riders, regardless of age!

Getting down and dirty at Woodward Pit came naturally for this country girl. Growing up on a farm in Victoria will never leave my blood. I will always enjoy playing in the mud, and partaking in ‘redneck entertainment’. I absolutely loved watching the thrill seeking

truckers fling dirt as they blazed through the bends of the 4x4 track in the Island Off-Road Racing event! I was amazed at the shots my boyfriend was able to catch as trucks flipped, caught fire, crashed, etc. I am fortunate to have a life partner that shares so many interests with me. It is most excellent that we can spend time together while getting ‘work’ done. I am grateful for his support and contribution to making my dream a reality.

Another significant highlight, of this past year, was the early arrival of my precious little grandson, Allister! He will definitely be on a dirt bike as soon as he can walk! I’m very proud of my daughter, Alexis, for being such a wonderful mother, and ecstatic for the addition of such a bundle of joy into my life! Raising children means they eventually grow up. My youngest, James, is now on his own, and doing very well.

I love living on Vancouver Island for so many reasons. But, a big one is that it doesn’t take long for my boyfriend Gord,

James, and I, to take our dirt bikes in the bush and let out steam on the throttle!

I feel so much gratitude for how life works out, even when it seems impossible in the moment! Now it’s my time to shine. With my kids out on-their-own, and even raising their own children, this means more time for my magazine!

I wish I could share more photos from all the awesome machines we get to see, but there’s only so much space in print form. This is why I made a website. If you want to see more pics, go to the website: www.viperformance.ca

Publisher’s 2 cents continued... Island Off-Road Racing

Woodward Pit, Port Alberni

Holding my Grandson

Allister