Whilst to some it may come as a surprise to see a VL Commodore in the Open Class at World Time Attack, to Melbourne based plumber Jason Clements, it is realisation of a boyhood dream. You see ever since he was a kid, Jason has always had a fascination with the Nissan powered Commodore from the late eighties. Whilst most other VL Commodore enthusiasts normally follow the well beaten path to the drag strip or show arena, this was never going to be the case for Jason Clements. After several years on the street with all the usual modifications the vehicle was making a stout 380KW at the wheels the bug bit hard and the vehicle was stripped bare with a dedicated effort to build Australia’s best Time Attack Commodore.
Working with the guys at AVO in Melbourne Jason set off on a mission with the emphasis on “do it once, do it right” and starting with the original RB30 block a set of big dollar Carrillo rods swing CP pistons off a knife edged crankshaft. An RB26 cylinder head was then prepared using only the best goodies including a set of 280 degree Tomei camshafts and Ferrea 1mm oversize valves. Feeding this beast is a huge Garrett GT42R ball bearing turbocharger that produces a mind numbing 630 kilowatts on the AVO dyno at the wheels on 30psi boost!! “We will probably be running bit less boost for the event” said AVO operations manager Lee Wilson when we spoke to him “although it is always good to have something up our sleeve should we need to use it”
Walking to the rear of the car and opening the boot reveals more of the vehicles intentions and looks more like something out of a Lemans racer than a VL Commodore. On one side is the dry sump tank that feeds the 5 stage dry sump set up and the centre piece is a fuel system that feeds the thirsty RB copious amounts of E85. The quality of the fabrication is first class throughout and this is one car you must make a point of checking out in the pits at WTAC as it certainly looks like it would be as much at home on the show circuit as it is on the track. The competition theme continues with a CAMS spec cage and a set of big AP racing brakes all round. The suspension has also has also had a big makeover as you would expect and features amongst a million other things a set of custom Koni shock absorbers and a 9 inch Ford diff with a Wave track centre. So now you can certainly see…… first appearances CAN be VERY deceiving indeed and we can’t wait to see this yellow missile in action at the creek in August and you can sure there will be a huge contingent of VL fans there to cheer him on as this car certainly has a cult following!
pictures by Kane Latham
About AVO Turboworld
AVO has been in business since 1987, it started as a family business and still remains that way today. Terry Wilson was the founding engineer.
Terry Wilson started as a Mechanic when he was 15. He did not join the family business with his father and brother until he finished his apprenticeship at 19.
He started motor racing in the Sports Sedan series when he was 16. Over a 15 year career, he finished with 3 Six Cylinder Series Championships. He finished with a Turbocharged 6 Cylinder EH Holden with approximately 500 hp. The EH was one of the first turbocharged race cars in Australia.
The business started in Springvale and relocated to the current facility in Cheltenham in 1999.
AVO now have a DTS 4WD dyno, Engine Building Room, Welding & Fabrication Shop plus Customer Showroom and warehouse facility.
In 2002 Ross Wilson relocated to Tokyo with his family and started AVOTurboworld Japan. AVO Japan only sell only Subaru Parts and have become a market leader in a highly competive market and now have workshop facilities with a Dynapac Hub Dyno & Hoists for fitment of the AVO parts.
In 2007 Terry Wilson relocated to Thailand after the passing of Lorraine Wilson who was a really strong contributor to the growth of the business. We started a manufacturing and R&D facility. AVOTurboworld Asia has a large factory that has race car preparation facility, engine dyno, mandrel bending machine, several welding machines, CNC lathe, milling machines, powdercoating machines, plasma cutter, and various packaging machines. It now has a team of 15 or so workers and building by the year.
In 2008 AVOTurboworld USA started and exists currently as distribution and marketing. Plans are to start a workshop facility in the USA.
AVO Turboworld Australia
57 Taunton drive, Cheltenham, Victoria, Melbourne 3197 Australia
Part Sales 61-39-584-4499
Workshop 61-39-584-4094
www.avoturboworld.com
not sure if serious,
that things going to be skating everywhere. it has no downforce aids
As you can see it is serious. good luck to him, hope he has fun.