K I W I M A D E www.engineeringnews.co.nz 19 for his high performance engines, including the pistons in some cases. Nelson is another self-taught SolidWorks and MasterCAM user who uses his models to drive a $400K Centriod 5 Axis Machining Centre brought in from the USA. There are many anecdotes about the challenges posed by integrating an American milling machine into the Kiwi psyche. Suffice it to say there was a steep and entertaining learning curve and that now the machine is producing beautiful components to satiate the colossal appetites of the Sprint Car and Superstock community. The workshop is a petrolhead’s Aladdin’s cave, with all manner of classic and exotic engines and engine components scattered around in various states of disassembly. Classic engines including a custom single overhead cam Ford Kent Engine that Nelson made when he was still at school. Bryan is the local BDA king and legendary Bonneville Mini tuner, so there are various versions of pre- and post Ford based twin cams scattered around the workshop. Hartley Engines develops and produces incredibly powerful engines with an attention to detail that would not be out of place in Formula 1 or V8 Supercars. And yet these engines are used in Sprint cars, Superstocks and Sprint boats that compete, mostly in the hands of local weekend warriors, rather than rockstar racecar drivers. A recent example is a twin turbo, methanol injected V8 based on the Nissan VK56 engine block producing 1500bhp, where every part is designed, machined and hand crafted, by Nelson and his team. The only standard parts in this engine are the bare block, the bare heads (even these are heavily modified) and the tappet covers, every single other item is bespoke. “This engine has been quite a big project,” says Nelson. “About the only pieces we could buy off the shelf were the oil pump and oil filter housing and even then, we had to design mounts to fit around the sump and cradle. The Turbos were supplied by Steve Murch at ‘MSE Turbos NZ’ and ‘Stinger’ fabricated the exhaust manifolds to fit around their hull and roll cage. We did everything else.” A huge amount of hours go into a project like this from the planning to the manufacture. “We couldn’t be more happy with the results,” says Nelson. “We would love to show you more pictures of the inside of the engine, because it’s just as spectacular as the outside, but at some point we have to look after our intellectual property.” “I would love to do more high-end stuff like this,” says Nelson. “Some would argue that we’re already there, in that we develop crazy horsepower from relatively small engines. I tend to regard this as high-end output, but it’s contained within a low- Nelson Hartley in his unique ‘semi-monocoque’ Sprint Car.
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