FROM the near-2000hp turbo small-block lurking under the bonnet to the incredible attention to detail throughout, Darren and Leah Dubbelman’s LX Torana drag car is one of the toughest and most well-sorted radial rides around. But the couple’s journey to get the car to the track has been far from easy.
Back in December 2018, Darren was just 42 years of age and fit as a fiddle, and the car was 95 per cent built. But at 1:30 am one morning, he had a massive stroke and heart attack. Leah performed CPR on him for 20 minutes and the paramedics lost him a number of times while attempting to revive him. Amazingly, Darren eventually pulled through, but the incident left him with permanent damage and confined him to a wheelchair.
The road to recovery was long and hard, but the true love of his wife and the loyalty of real mates shone through to see Darren live his dream of getting the Torry to the track. His good mate Simon Graham (who drives the car now that Darren cannot), father Arie Dubbelman and friend Marvin Bridge spent the next two years finishing the Torana behind the scenes while Darren convalesced.
A custom-built trailer and new team golf buggy were just two of the many pieces required to make the dream a reality, but earlier this year Darren and Leah finally debuted the car at a Kenda Tires 660 Drag Radial Series round at Willowbank, with support from crew members Steve Cini and Andrew Odlum. The Torana went 4.60 over the eighth, without even a trip to the dyno – a world-class effort by mates and loved ones!
This story is from the Yearbook 2021 edition of Street Machine Magazine.
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This story is from the Yearbook 2021 edition of Street Machine Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
ARBY’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HIS VG VALIANT’S 60-FOOT TIMES YIELD PROMISING RESULTS IN THE RUN-UP TO STREET MACHINE DRAG CHALLENGE
ANIKA HODGES
THE CAR DROVE INTO OUR SHED AS A CREAM 202CI VC AND DROVE OUT AS A SILVER CAR WITH A 355 V8
STAGE FRIGHT
IT TOOK OWEN SCOTT MORE THAN 20 YEARS TO BUILD A TROPHY-WINING, 600HP EH HOLDEN UTE THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME
THE Ummmal SUSPECT
FORGET WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW ABOUT MINI-TRUCKS. THIS SUMMERNATS TOP 60 HILUX IS A PROPER STREET MACHINE
FULLY UTILISED
HARDWOOD ROD & CUSTOM TURNS DARREN ISON'S HAND-ME-DOWN HT INTO A SMOOTH OPERATOR
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
ARBY’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HIS VG VALIANT’S 60-FOOT TIMES YIELD PROMISING RESULTS IN THE RUN-UP TO STREET MACHINE DRAG CHALLENGE
PEOPLE POWER
WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT 36 YEARS OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS - AND MOST DEMOCRATICALLY AWARDED - HONOUR IN OUR SPORT: STREET MACHINE OF THE YEAR
OUT-AND-OUT MAYHEM
STREET MACHINE DRAG CHALLENGE IS ALREADY A ROLLICKING GOOD TIME, BUT WHAT CAR EVENT CAN'T BE MADE EVEN BETTER BY ADDING A BURNOUT COMP? INTRODUCING OUR INAUGURAL RODS OUT!
BAD TO THE BONE
THANKS TO HIS SON, ANDY, THE LATE MARIO COLALILLO’S 39 PLYMOUTH COUPE IS BACK ON THE ROAD AND STILL ONE OF THE BADDEST HOT RODS IN THE COUNTRY
THE CHALLENGE IS REAL
FROM TRACK DRAMAS TO SOARING TEMPERATURES, DRAG CHALLENGE 2024 THREW US SOME OF ITS TOUGHEST TESTS YET, BUT IT ALSO BROUGHT SOME OF THE QUICKEST TIMES THE EVENT HAS EVER SEEN
