’04 VZ Holden Commodore Ute
When it comes to drag racing, there is an endless line of “records” and “titles” for the quickest and fastest vehicles in an equally long list of categories. And most of those records and titles may be for frivolous sub-sub-sub-categories buried within tiny fractions of any particular automotive scene. The Australian LSx scene seems to be particularly swamped with drivers claiming titles for “Australia’s fastest unopened L98, manual-equipped, radial-tired, orange-painted sedan with a hubcap missing and with the windows down on a humid day…” You get the idea. So when you come across a vehicle like Steve Petrovski’s incredible LSX-powered race car with a VZ Commodore body shell, you sit up and take notice. After all, it’s not every day you get to look at the fastest LSX in the world. With a current personal best of 6.94 seconds at 207.58 mph, the work CV Performance has done to get it down the strip that fast is impressive.
Based around an LSX block, Steve’s ute runs a bulletproof bottom-end that includes the use of billet alloy rods. A custom roller cam of undisclosed specs is spun by a Jesel belt drive and the valvetrain is rounded out by matching Jesel roller rockers, stainless valves, and Crane springs all housed within heavily ported All Pro heads. However, it’s really the induction setup that gets the adrenaline flowing. A mammoth 106mm Precision turbo huffs and puffs into a custom sheetmetal intake. When asked how much boost the combo was running, Jono at CV Performance just replied, “A lot!” Indeed, when it comes to recording the power output, their chassis dyno maxes out at 1,250 rwhp, but they know the engine is good for more than 2000 hp on the engine dyno. Steve and the guys at CV Performance are keen to retain their crown as the world’s fastest LSx. After a distended absence from the racetrack, the ute is about to make its return with a few refinements to the recipe that should see them improve upon their already impressive results. It’ll be interesting to see just how fast they can go.
Data File
Owner: Steve Petrovski
Block: LSX, 427cid
Engine Mods: Callies crank, GRP alloy rods, Mahle pistons and rings, ACL bearings, All Pro heads, stainless valves, Crane valve springs, custom Crane roller cam’, Jesel roller rockers, Jesel belt drive, custom dry sump, Meziere water pump, SPAL thermo fan, sheet metal intake manifold, 106mm Precision turbo, MSD ignition, mechanical fuel pump (C16), Weldon fuel pressure regulator
Engine Management: FAST, Motec data logger
Exhaust: Stainless 4-into-1 headers, 5-inch downpipe
Power: 2,000hp (1491kW)
Best ET/MPH: 6.94/207.58
Transmission: Powerglide, Neil Chance converter
Rearend: Custom 9-inch full-floater, Mark Williams 40-spline axles, spool
Suspension: Tubular chassis, Strange coilovers, 4-link rear
Wheels: Weld Alumastar 15x4 front, 15x16 rear
Tires: Goodyear front runners, 34x17 slicks
Brakes: Wilwood