x2 GTR's & a 1000HP Patrol!
A Sunny Day in Perth With Matt’s Wild GTRs and 1000HP Patrol
There’s nothing better than travelling interstate and connecting with fellow car enthusiasts — especially when they happen to own some seriously impressive machines.
While in Perth, I caught up with our mate Matt, who we first met a few months ago when he visited Brisbane during one of our Cars and Coffee gatherings. Back then, he stopped in on his way home from a Cape trip to check out our cars. This time, it was our turn to see what he had tucked away in the garage.
And trust me — it did not disappoint.
The Legendary 8-Second GTR
One of the highlights of the day was finally seeing Matt’s orange Nissan Skyline GT-R in person.
I’d always heard it was a 9-second car, but it turns out it’s even quicker than that — running an 8.89-second pass around 10 years ago. Back in those days, an 8-second street-style GTR was seriously fast, long before six- and seven-second builds became more common.
The car hasn’t run in around eight years, but the plan now is to bring it back to life. Matt recently bought another GTR at auction to use as a donor car, stealing the driveline and components needed to get the orange monster moving again.
This donor setup reportedly makes around 1100 horsepower, with more still left in it.
Even better, Matt seems motivated again — and that’s exciting to hear.
Old-School Innovation
What made the orange GTR even cooler was hearing how much custom work went into building it back then.
Today, many parts are off-the-shelf. But when Matt built this car, he had to create solutions himself — including a custom dry sump system with a modified cast alloy sump.
Unfortunately, delays with engine work and missing race events slowed momentum over time, and the project sat idle while life moved on.
Now though, the spark is back.
The 1000HP Barrett Patrol “Party Bus”
If the GTR wasn’t enough, Matt also owns an outrageous Nissan Patrol — a lowered, street-focused beast making around 1000 horsepower.
Forget the typical lifted off-road Patrol setup.
This one runs:
- Lowered suspension
- Big sway bars
- Six-piston front brakes
- Semi-slick rear tyres
- Turbocharged Barra power
- E85 fuel setup
It’s basically a giant AWD GT-R in four-wheel-drive wagon form.
Matt swapped the sticky tyres back on before taking us for a drive, because on all-terrains it simply wouldn’t hook up.
And once we hit the road… it made perfect sense.
Fast, Loud and Ridiculously Fun
The Patrol absolutely rips.
It hooks hard, spins tyres when asked, leaves black lines on the road, and sounds wild doing it. On E85, the thing comes alive even more.
What makes it so fun is how unsuspecting it looks. Most people would never expect a Patrol to accelerate like that.
Matt called it the “Party Bus” — and honestly, that name suits it perfectly.
Good Cars, Good People, Good Weather
After some spirited driving, we grabbed lunch and enjoyed another perfect sunny Perth day.
Moments like these are what the car scene is all about — meeting great people, seeing unique builds, and sharing the passion no matter what side of the country you’re on.
Hopefully Round Two Soon
I jokingly told Matt that if he gets the orange GTR running again and takes it to Roll Racing Perth, I’ll fly back over to watch it run.
Truthfully… I probably would.
Huge thanks again to Matt for the hospitality, the rides, and showing us around. It was an unforgettable day and another reminder of how strong the Aussie car community really is.
- Chops
I Found My Old C33 Laurel in Perth!
Reuniting With My Old C33 Laurel: Four Years Later
There are some cars you own that leave a lasting mark on you. They’re more than just metal, paint, and horsepower — they represent a chapter of your life. For me, that car was my C33 Laurel.
Recently, while visiting Perth, I had the unexpected chance to see my old Laurel again — nearly four years after I sold it. It was one of those moments that felt both exciting and nerve-wracking.
A Car Full of Memories
I sold the Laurel around March or April four years ago. It wasn’t an easy decision.
This was the car we used as our wedding car. It was also the car I learned so much on mechanically and as a driver. It helped sharpen my skills and taught me a lot about building and owning performance cars.
Honestly, it was never a car I thought I’d sell.
But when the opportunity came up to buy my Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, sacrifices had to be made. Selling the Laurel helped make that dream happen, so while it was bittersweet, it was the right move at the time.
Finding Out Where It Ended Up
Like many enthusiasts, once you sell a car, you usually don’t want to know where it goes next.
The Laurel was originally sold to someone on the Gold Coast, then moved to Redcliffe, and after that it disappeared from my radar completely.
I had no idea where it was until a funny coincidence happened.
I was selling some side skirts on Facebook Marketplace and sent a photo of the Laurel to a buyer, explaining I’d never fitted them. The buyer sent back a nearly identical photo laughing — because he actually owned the car.
That buyer was Hugh.
Seeing the Laurel Again
Meeting Hugh and seeing the car again was surreal.
Out of respect for his privacy and work situation, I didn’t film the visit, but I did snap a couple of photos.
The car has changed slightly over the years:
- Bigger turbo fitted
- Five-stud conversion completed
- Different wheels installed
- Roll cage removed
- RB26 engine swap and dog box planned for the future
It also sits lower now — something I always wanted to do but was too cautious about back then. As my first real street car, I was worried about defect notices and legal ride height issues. Looking back, I probably would’ve lowered it more and fitted spacers to perfect the stance.
Still Serving Its Original Purpose
The best part of all?
The Laurel is still being used exactly how I built it to be used: a practical four-door street car.
Hugh uses it as a family car, taking his kids to school and picking them up. That genuinely made me happy. It means the car is still being enjoyed, not hidden away in a garage.
A Full Circle Moment
Seeing so many of the parts and touches I originally added still on the car brought back a flood of memories.
I jokingly told Hugh that if he ever wants to sell it, he knows who to call.
And honestly… I meant it.
Some cars never really leave you.
-Chops
Trying To Find Fast Cars In Perth!
Roll Racing at Woo Raceway - A Surprise Night of Speed in Perth
Sometimes the best experiences come when you least expect them. I’m on holiday about 30–40 minutes north of Perth, and as luck would have it, there’s a Roll Racing event happening at Woo Raceway. Naturally, I couldn’t miss the chance to check it out.
Upon arrival, I immediately ran into Neil, an old mate who used to run the drift events back at Queensland Raceway when I was still drifting. It’s been years since those days, but seeing a familiar face at the track brought the memories flooding back. Neil mentioned that there’d be some serious machinery here tonight - and he wasn’t wrong.
First Impressions and Pit Walk
Even before the racing started, the lineup was impressive. Two twin-turbo Audi R8s, turbos sitting proudly behind the rear grilles, wearing thick Mickey Thompsons that mean business. Nearby sat a carbon-front R35 GTR with a full roll cage and bucket seats, clearly built for more than just show.
I’d also heard whispers about a white R32 GTR, running a billet 3.2L block, apparently owned by a bloke named Ben. And let’s not forget the monstrous purple F6, pushing out around 1,300 horsepower and running mid 8s at 170 mph - proper weapon status.
Even the Euros were out in force - everything from RS3s and RS6 wagons to the expected fleet of R8s. Perth’s car scene clearly brings the heat.
Racing Kicks Off
As the briefing finished and engines started firing up, you could feel the excitement across the track. Cars lined up for their first runs, the light marshals waved them in, and soon the night was echoing with turbo spool and tire smoke.
Every pass seemed quicker than the last. The R35s looked brutally fast, the rear-wheel drive Falcons lit up the strip, and even some old-school muscle was throwing down serious numbers. The red VL was spinning like crazy, while an orange EK ute surprised many by holding its own.
By the time eliminations rolled around, the top contenders were all familiar faces:
- Blue RS3
- Two twin-turbo Audi R8s
- Carbon R35 GTR
- Orange and Blue Barra Falcons
- A sneaky little blue Escort that everyone underestimated
Down to the Finals
Round after round, the field narrowed. A few heavy hitters like the Boss Falcon bowed out earlier than expected, but the pace up front was red hot. One R33 GTR was absolutely flying with a sequential gearbox - brutal shifts each pass.
Eventually, it came down to an epic R8 vs R8 finale - both twin-turbo monsters, both flawless off the line. The purple R8 looked slightly quicker all night, and when they crossed the line, it sure looked like it held the edge again.
A Perfect Finish
The atmosphere as the night wrapped was electric. The cars, the people, the energy - everything about Roll Racing feels like the modern heartbeat of Aussie car culture. Huge thanks to Neil and the Roll Racing Australia crew for giving me pit access and letting me get up close to the action.
For a first Roll Racing experience, it absolutely blew me away. I’ll definitely be back for more - and I’ve been told that Sydney’s event takes things to another level.
For now, it’s time to enjoy the rest of the Perth trip, soak up some sun, and maybe sneak in a few more car-related adventures while I’m here. Thanks for checking in - stay tuned for the next video and blog drop soon!
- Chops