288D Glen Newlove & James McLean
“Old Blue”
Drivers
Sponsors
Truck Details
| Name | (Old Blue) |
| Make | Homebuilt/Howat |
| Year Built | Rebuilt in 2005, Built circa 1990 |
| Weight | >1300kgs |
| Engine | GM 3.8 V6 Supercharged |
| Transmission | Probably a Holden auto with Cruiser Transfercase |
| Diffs | Toyota Hilux 8″ Front & Rear |
| Lockers | Howat Hydraulic Lockers |
| Suspension | Fox Shocks, 4-Link Front, 4 Link Rear |
| Wheels | 35×13.5-15 Maxxis Mudzilla’s on 15×10″ Steel Beadlocks |
History
| Previous Drivers | Accolades |
| Glen Newlove (2023-) | First season in new truck |
| Nathan Smith (2014-2017) | |
| Campbell Hudson (2014-2015) | |
| Kevin Galbraith (2002-2014) | |
| Someone else in the Wairarapa | |
| Rodney Whatshisname (1990’s) |
A few new heads and handles but still the same broom, the same can be said for this little old Suzuki LJ50 that made its debut from the Wairarapa in the mid 1990’s. Originally featuring Land Rover running gear and various Chevrolet V8’s, from Jetboat motors to a dinky 283…
Ultimately it would end up getting a spruce up by the big man himself at Howat Engineering in 2004, where it would end up with some rather similar running gear to their brand-new build that would take the Walton’s to a maiden title in 2005.
The original Suzuki chassis would make way for box section, a Holden Commodore 3.8 was sourced with a SC14 supercharger strapped to it, and the suspension replaced with airbags cantilevered off radius arms, which were popular at the time.
Kevin Galbraith would rally the Blue Suzuki for several years, before Wanganui boys Nathan Smith & Campbell Hudson would make their debut with newly dubbed “Old Blue” in 2015.
Glen Newlove now makes his debut in 2025 after doing more modifications, which the truck now sitting on Fox Shocks and link arms.