There were a few years of research and planning while saving for the project. During this stage there were many people who gave invaluable advice such as Terry Bowden of Terry's Chassis Shoppe, Grant Brifault, Steve Wells, Brian Webber and countless others.

The first plan was about back halving the car and putting in a Hi-po small block, but as planning progressed things got a little carried away and the car was gutted. The build up that followed included a space frame chassis, new front and rear suspension, diff, interior and panel work including a 2 door conversion and all fibreglass parts. The engine was replaced with a stock 2 bolt block with a Lunati stroker kit taking it out to 512ci fitted with aluminium cobra jet heads and a single 4 barrel.

The Falcon was entirely built in Squig’s garage and 95% of the build was done by Squig himself.

Four years later 1996, the car debut in primer green at Champion Dragway as a supergasser with the new big block Ford engine. The car managed to run 9.7s at 140mph, which was perfect for the 9.90s class.

In its first full season with a new Steve Levene (Imagin-Airing) paint job Team Squig managed to get a 5th placing at the Nationals and to come runner up in the Meremere Dragway Supergas points score. The next season with the aid of a transbrake resulted in runner up at the Nationals, first place in Supergas and runner up for overall points in all classes was achieved.

However, Squig wasn’t entirely satisfied, he wanted to go faster and get into the 8’s. Most of all Squig wanted to race properly, not on a fixed index. Squig had always looked at competition eliminator as one of the toughest classes to succeed in, as there were some very good teams with talented drivers. With a myriad of different cars and engine combinations competition eliminator was a real tough and innovative class. Of course to do this the current 2 bolt block wouldn’t cut the mustard and was about 300hp shy of the mark.

Squig had met Kerry (STA Parts engine builder) at Paines Engine Reconditioners, when Squig was building the 512ci. Kerry had showed an interest in Squig’s project as STA Parts competition boat motors were all big block Fords also. So when Squig was looking to upgrade Kerry suggested he come and talk to Mark (manager of STA Parts) and look at buying one of his old boat engines. Squig purchased one of Mark’s engines and Mark along with the loan of a Kinsler fuel injection offered to supply parts etc. at a good rate. From there the partnership blossomed.

Squig took a season off, to adapt the car for it’s new lease of life, while this was happening the Falcon was channelled a further 2 inches and given a 3 inch roof chop, a new funny car style roll cage, complete new interior tin work, a rewiring and of course another stunning Steve Levene paint scheme.

First meeting out half way through the season 2000-2001 after a couple of aborted passes and some chassis tuning to harness the new found power the Falcon stormed to a 8.8s at 154mph, good enough to break the long standing record of Rhys Harrison (9.05s at 150) by two tenths and 4mph. By the end of the season Team Squig had managed to lower the record to 8.5s at 157mph and win two meetings while they were at it.

The next season the team had big plans to up the compression, run on alcohol, add new diff gears and slicks. But things don’t always go to plan. The engine didn’t even survive the dyno. After this disaster Mark offered Squig a second block and pistons at a good price and Team Squig were back in business, albeit a few meetings late. The engine was thrown together as quickly a possible with whatever could be scrounged from the old engine and what STA Parts and Squig had available. With a low compression engine on alcohol it was expected to run in the high 8s, but at least the Team could make a showing. It actually ran 8.6s at 159mph – a tenth slower but 2mph faster, go figure.

So with the 2003-2004 season apon them, Team Squig with a good block, new high compression pistons and on alcohol again and a few more little refinements like an Edelbrock Data logger from STA Parts managed 8.4s at ~161mph.

But it wasn’t all bad news as they lasted the whole season, did quite a few shows and appearances including Burnout demo’s at the V8 Super cars at Pukekohe and later again at The Best swap meet & show, both of which were very well received and publicised and a lot of FUN!!

The engine could have had another tenth or so out of it, but Squig felt it was time to move onward and upward, not only for the endless pursuit of speed but also to keep the sponsors in the spot light, and the best place for that was Top Doorslammer!