EVs at SEMA 2022

The Electric Age is Upon Us

EVs were one of the major topics at the 2022 SEMA Show. With a dedicated space called “SEMA Electrified”, several EV manufacturers displayed their stock to modified creations. The all-new Ford Lighting was featured with an overland theme. And you can’t miss the abundance of Teslas sitting on air ride suspension.

SEMA 2022: Impressions

SEMA is Finally Back to Its Full Potential

You never know how much something will be missed until it’s gone, and the SEMA comeback continues with pent-up demand for the world’s wildest custom cars, trucks, and everything in between. After pandemic hiccups, 135,000 attendees this year pointed out that the show content and overall vibe felt as bullish as any before. Mix in a few hot platforms like the Nissan Z, the revised Toyota GR86, and exploding trends in the safari car, big truck, and offroad world, and all the ingredients for a killer SEMA Show were present.

The fiery Nissan Z is in high demand, and there were dozens of examples in all stages of modification. A few Z-cars already had widebody kits and high horsepower while many owners are still waiting for deliveries or suffering dealer markups nearly double the sticker price.

We can’t forget legendary platforms like the Mazda RX-7 FD, Subaru STi, Toyota Supra or the Nissan GT-R. Whether a current-gen or throwback creations like the all-carbon R32 GT-R that Garage Active shipped from Japan. This carbon fiber creation is over 1000hp from the HKS-equipped RB30 feeding a sequential gearbox. Their latest carbon fiber masterpiece misted with Midnight Purple paint was just stunning and only rivaled by Pagani V12-powered FD RX-7 that had us conflicted.

SEMA wouldn’t be SEMA without a battalion of lifted trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps in the outdoor lots. Whether built to be a mallcrawler or a legitimate overland contender, most were too pretty to run into a puddle. Every possible approach to truck modification was on parade, right on down to a tub -chassis old school Toyota 4Runner with a big-single 2JZ, a ‘Yoda widebody pickup with exposed suspension geometry, along with Domestic V8 rigs running monster tires and tank tracks.

The 2022 edition of SEMA hosted many driving demos in the lots surrounding the Las Vegas Convention Center and hosted a new Influencer Award that was bagged by photographer, Larry Chen. While the SEMA numbers appear healthy, we expect the current trends to be further boosted by dwindling gas prices and a stable economy.

SBN All-Female Bronco Build Graces SEMA 2022

The Ladies at SBN Show off their Hard Work

The 2021 Wildtrak Bronco is beefed up with Ford’s Performance EcoBoost power pack performance calibration, TurboSmart Kompact EM Plumb Back Valve VR19, aFe Power Momentum GT Cold Air Intake with a Pro 5R Filter, and AWE Tuning 2.7L Cat Back Exhaust suite.

For the chassis, it’s fully equipped with ICON Vehicle Dynamic’s 3-4” Lift Stage 8 Billet suspension system, Bronco Duster stage 3 Billet Aluminum Housing and Bushing kit, and Steersmarts Yeti XM Bronco Rear Adjustable Track Bar.

It features a custom designed and installed wrap done by Terra Strada Design. Equipped with Advanced Fiberglass’ 2” flare, 1” rise fenders, quarters and ram air hood, Baja Forged’s full-size Crawler front and rear bumpers with full size skid plate, Warn VR EVO 10-S winch, Factor 55 Ultra hook and Cascadia 4×4 Hood Solar Panel, Air Compressor, TRED Pro Recovery Boards and Jack by ARB; 37” Spare tire mount, Ford Accessories LockNLoad roof rack, Yakima Skyline tent, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering Lit Bronco Grille, Oracle Lighting, Brackets & Switches, and MEK Magnetic products.

As for the interior, it is furnished with Katzkin Seat custom leather seat covers, Goose Gear rear seat delete and icebox module with storage drawer, Ford Performance 50 QT Classic Fridge by ARB, all-weather floor mats, Molly bags, and In Vehicle Console Vault by Ford Accessories.

It rolls on ICON Alloy’s 17″ Satin Black Thrust wheels wrapped in the all-new 37” Milestar Patagonia M/T-02 tires. Tying everything together are McGuard’s Black Lug Nuts with a custom engraved SBN logo.

Products and companies that supported the build include Ford Motor Company, PPG paint (Paint Supplies), Seymour Paint (Undercoating Products), Summit Racing (Miscellaneous Supplies), Adenna PPE Supplies, TRAC Tire assistant products, UTI Long Beach, CA (Paint Facilities), MRT Performance (Facilities, Fabrication & Paint Supplies), 5 0’ Clock Garage (Build Support & Miscellaneous Supplies), SEMA Garage (CA & MI Facilities), and Duralast Battery donated by AutoZone.

Top Exotics at SEMA 2022

Sexy Wide Body Kits and Big Turbos

When it comes to The SEMA Show, exotic supercars are on another level. From body kits to twin turbos, these supercar builders push the envelope to stand out in a saturated crowd of stunning builds. There’s a bit, or should we say a lot, of everything for you to like here. Take a look at some of the supercars that grabbed our attention while walking the floors of the 2022 SEMA show.

Milestar XPDN4 Cascadia: An Overland Trek Through Oregon’s Many Exciting Landscapes

Rivalry Resurrected at State of Speed LA: BMW VS. Mercedes

Summer is here and the heat is turning up, at least at Mays State of Speed LA where the age-old “BMW VS. Mercedes” was being contested once again. There were plenty of sick builds representing both sides, from classics to modern rides. While the theme this time was Mercs vs. Bimmers, they weren’t the only types of cars out for viewing pleasure. There were other EDM manufactures, muscle, and of course JDM.

…they weren’t the only types of cars out for viewing pleasure. There were other EDM manufactures, muscle, and of course JDM…

A big thanks to all who came to participate and those who came to enjoy the amazing cars on display. Stay tuned for the next State of Speed LA car show, we hope to see you there!

JDM Classics take the Spotlight at State of Speed Los Angeles

March’s State of Speed Los Angeles event was presented by Milestar Tires and was in collaboration with Sonkei Blue Social & OCJM, so it was a special one to say the least. The chosen theme was Japanese Classics, which usually make a pretty big appearance at the meets, but this time around the organizers wanted to specifically highlight that collector community. 

While the cars were the centerpiece, hanging out with friends while sipping Commodity Coffee and eating vegan donuts was, as always, equally important. 

…hanging out with friends while sipping Commodity Coffee and eating vegan donuts was, as always, equally important…

The cars that were spotlighted needed to be 20 years or older. Some incredible examples made the early morning trek out which can be seen in the gallery below.  

The Hot Wheels race track (which has made appearances before) was brought back out for the event and was a total hit with kids (big and small). By 7:30 a.m the whole lot was filled up and the event stayed full and energized until the very end. While Japanese classics were the main attractions, great examples of American muscle, exotics, and everything in between came out.

State of Speed continues to attract consistently high quality vehicles and an ultra- enthusiastic crowd. They plan to continue to host themed events and collaborations for the remainder of the year. Their next spotlight is expected to be BMW v. Mercedes and won’t be one to miss.

2022 King of the Hammers

Taking on the Toughest Off-Road Race on the Planet

What started as a “beer bet” between friends on a dry lakebed in Johnson Valley nearly 15 years ago has grown to one of the biggest weeks of off-road racing in the world: the Ultra 4 King of the Hammers (KOH). The people are just as spectacular to watch as the vehicles. KOH is a week-long party—imagine Burning Man with the excitement of off-road racing. 

The initial premise was simple, blend rock crawling with high-speed desert racing. KOH requires race vehicles that can handle both terrains. The racecourse seems impossible to those unfamiliar with the race, pitting man and machine against a course filled with rocks the size of a city buses and drop-offs over 10 feet tall.

Weeks before, HammerKing Productions employees and volunteers descend on Means Dry Lakebed to build Hammertown, a 56-acre, high-tech camp. It’s the center of King of the Hammers, and so involved even the Navy and Marine Corps lend a hand. It houses thousands of spectators, participants, racers, crew, and those there for the 10-day party. 

Image the sensory overload of an event like SEMA, but where vehicles are actually put to the test in the desert. It’s hard to take it all in, but luckily, you have ten days to do it. Hammertown features pit crew challenges, qualifying races, pre-runs, vendors, driver meet and greets, and various other events. Plus, there’s food throughout the town and music every night. 

Hammertown is like going to a car show and enjoying the cars in the parking lot; participants and their vehicles are just as fun to watch as the races. You need an off-road capable vehicle to see various sections of the racecourses, and KOH brings out the best and most interesting off-road rigs around. From jacked-up Mercedes to Econoline vans straight out of a 1980s summer camp and every genre of Jeep. 

The KOH community makes it a world-known event. With crazy rigs and dedicated enthusiasts partying for a week straight. The off-road community is a tight-knit group looking for fun with dirt-filled grins, hats made of beer cans, and bound fires that last all night. 

…KOH brings out the best and most interesting off-road rigs around…

The lakebed is in the center of Johnson Valley, which is known for having some of the most challenging terrain on the west coast, with large boulders, steep drop-offs, and narrow trail sections. King of the Hammer’s name comes from the notorious “hammer” trails. Many of the nearly 500 registered racers don’t make it back to the finish line. Johnson Valley trails have also claimed many lives over the years. It puts drivers and crew through various off-road racing disciplines from steep rocky mountains, rolling hills, open sections, and a large dry lake bed, with elevations ranging from 4,600 to 2,300 feet. Modern-day Ultra4 cars require indestructible components and produce over 900 horsepower.

The start/finish line is in Hammertown, allowing spectators to get up close to the action, starting with a closed-circuit style dirt course section. This section of track allows for door-to-door action in qualifying and a unique start/finish to off-road racing.

Across the Means Dry Lakebed, is the high-speed section with divots, obstacles, and hard-to-see terrain. Far from a smooth lakebed like Bonneville, this terrain requires faith in your equipment and nerves of steel to keep full throttle. 

After the Dry Lakebed, the land immediately transitions into technical rock trails with boulders of sizes ranging from a few feet tall to those bigger than the vehicles themselves. Racers go from triple-digit speeds immediately into narrow paths up mountain terrain. From loose sand into jagged rocks, these areas require patience, tough tires, and an impenetrable undercarriage. Don’t be surprised to see multiple rollovers throughout the event. 

What started as a single-day race in the Southern California desert in 2007 has grown to a 10-day event in 2022 with multiple classes, including Trophy Truck, UTVs, and Ultra4 cars. They compete on different days leading up to the Race of Kings’ main event.

This year’s Hammer’s week featured four primary races. First, the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge, a classic style lapped desert race. Second, is the Can-Am UTV Hammer Championship, where UTVs race the same course as the big 4400 cars. Third, is the 4-Wheel Parts Every Man Challenge, which features four separate classes 4600 – Stock, 4500 – Modified Class, 4800 – Legends class, and the EV Class. For the 2022 event, every class was packed with competitors, all attempting to tame the racecourse and bring home the coveted King of the Hammers trophy.

…What started as a single-day race in the Southern California desert in 2007 has grown to a 10-day event in 2022 with multiple classes…

The Desert Challenge featured two days of non-stop action, with the limited class racing on day one. Chase Warren in his Class 10 car held off Mitch Guthire Jr. in his Polaris RZR Pro R for the win. Brady Wisdom took the third spot on the podium in his Class 10 car. Day two featured the Unlimited Race with the Trophy Trucks (T1), and the 6100 trucks (T2) laid down the power in the desert. Qualifying for this race featured a prologue included in the overall time to determine a winner. Last year’s winner Bryce Menzies, one of the favorites to win, had drivetrain troubles that pulled him out of the race after one lap. Kyle Jergensen held off the charge from Luke McMillin, who had a throttle cable issue that cost him precious minutes and left him in third place behind Christopher Polvoorde.

 With the desert racing out of the way, it was time to go to the rocks. First up was the UTVs maneuvering through the rocks, flying through the desert, and running door-to-door on obstacles. Kyle Chaney held off Hunter Miller for the win, and Paul Wolff battled his way through for a third-place finish.

One of the most fantastic races to watch is the Every Man Challenge, where you can race everything from a vintage 4400 car to a stock Suzuki Samurai taking on the course. This years’ race had an extra level of excitement as the Ford Performance team was on hand with new Bronco race vehicles. They swept the stock 4600 class with Vaughn Gittin Jr., Brad Lovell, and Bailey Cole, finishing 1-2-3 for Ford.

Dan Fresh was your overall winner and 4800 Legends class winner with a speedy time beating Toby Stacy by over 30 minutes, with Chayse Caprara taking the third spot just minutes behind Stacy. In the Modified 4500 Class, John Mathews held off a strong charge from Joe Gatlin to win, with Kenneth Goodall earning the third podium spot.

Only one race was left to crown the 2022 King, The Race of Kings. With over 100 entrants this year, the field was stacked with plenty of cars and drivers gunning for the top spot. However, the race came down to two guys, three-time king Jason Scherer and longtime competitor and top challenger Raul Gomez. These two battled all day with Jason out front most of the day before a costly flop had him winching early on the third lap.

With Gomez out to a solid lead, a high-center had him winching while Scherer could make up time. Another late-game flat tire made it impossible to catch up to Gomez, who earned first win in Johnson Valley and the first solo competitor to take the title. Finishing in the third spot was Josh Blyler, who battled his way through the field after qualifying 20th for an impressive finish.

 The King has been crowned for this year, and that means guys like Scherer, Levi Shirley, Erick Miller, Shannon Campbell will be looking to take back the crown next year as the target is now squarely on Gomez’s back.

The Basics 

• King of Hammers began as a private event, created by rock-crawler champion Dave Cole and desert racer Jeff Knoll. 

• King of Hammers is typically held on the first week of February. While technically the King of Hammers race is a one-day race, there’s a week of events leading up to that final day. 

• King of the Hammers is held on the Means Dry Lakebed, as a part of the Johnson Valley OHV. California has state-run areas known as OHV areas (Off-Highway Vehicles), where off-road vehicles can be used. 

• Johnson Valley is known as the Home of the Hammers, having several intense trails such as the Jackhammer and Sledgehammer trails. 

• The center of King of Hammers is Hammertown, where teams, sponsors, and participants turn the desert into a temporary city of racing. Admission includes access to Hammertown and gets fans close to the start/finish line.  

• Different areas of the racecourse are easily accessible with a stock off-road vehicle. 

• Past winners and those who participated in the first event are invited to return at every race thereafter.
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

A DeLorean Turbo Widebody for the Future

Not Another Back to the Future DeLorean

When fresh automotive news or SEMA builds debut there are many outlets jockeying for position and trying to leapfrog competitor’s publishing dates. But the planets can align when scheduling, connections and a unique angle all work together to capture a feature not seen elsewhere. This time around when the silver twin-turbo DeLorean debuted at SEMA and filled everyone’s feed, we kinda sat back and went: “yeah I know that car, the owner and it’s 15 minutes away,” with smugness. And with that we reached out to builder Tim Moceri of Salvage to Savage garage, who all of a sudden became internet famous in the first few days of November this year.

Tim is a friend for a number of years and we’ve actually collaborated on a build before. Tim crafted an incredible widebody Lexus project that was about to take the internet and SEMA by storm but a number of different factors meant it was mostly a learning experience. The DeLorean has been Tim’s time to flex. He had the hot Gen X platform, a real budget, and the right team at Salvage to Savage garage and well, Tim describes it as “redemption that has solidified future SEMA Shows” for him and we couldn’t hit the ‘LIKE’ button more on that statement.

SEMA 2021 might have been a different show thanks to our old buddy COVID but there was an “it car” from the show and that was this DeLorean. The silhouette of the DeLorean has been made iconic by Hollywood and desired by many 80s kids but if you have ever read a real review, it was hot garbage. An anemic motor, questionable build quality and an assembly line so far in trouble it needed JohnDeLorean to sell cocaine to support it, spelled disaster for the DeLorean… well until now.

If you are wondering about your level of color-blindness, yes the DeLorean is now gold. Wrapped in a sexy satin gold by Von Wraps of Boca Raton, FL, the new look was to set it apart from the SEMA splash. There is also a potential buyer that has an all gold fleet, so draw your own conclusions. 

Conceptualized by the Instagram legend known as The Kyza (Khyzyl Saleem), who put together renderings for this project and is himself stunned at the integrity of the actual build. “Everyone is freaking out how the entire build down to the headlights and taillights emulates Kyza’s drawing,” says Tim “We took what Kyza couldn’t cut and weld together and made it without compromise or changes. It wasn’t supposed to look like anything but the rendering we thought.”

The donor DeLorean DMC-12, was found painted in red and had been in a major accident, so there was no destruction of a perfect collectible car here (not that they sell for much anyway). The stainless steel shell was heavily modified with a widebody flare, which has a carbon fiber composite update in development. A number of bezels and panels along with front fascia were crafted in satin black to work with the SEMA Silver and now the Miami Gold.

The wheels have also made an impact for the build and came from new sponsor Sköl Wheels of California. The custom size and offset Sköl SK17 3-Piece Modular Series were finished in brushed satin face with a polished lip. The aggressive stance of the DeLorean is thanks to Air Lift suspension mated to KW Suspension Variant 3 coilovers made possible by the magic Moceri worked to mount them as there are no part numbers fitting a DMC-12.

Tim is a horsepower addict, this is a guy that built a quad turbo LS truck and for the DeLorean he went with good ol’ GM know-how, the 5.2L LS V8. Not just any LS but a built motor fitted with a pair of Garrett G-Series turbos (unfiltered of course) and modulated by TurboSmart HyperGate 45 wastegates. The plumbing is all TiTek titanium with Vibrant Performance hardware and mastercrafted by Tim to tuck up under the rear bumper in a unique blend of show and go. The whole engine package is orchestrated by a Haltech ECU to make it all play nice together. The twin turbo LS mill is fitted to a Porsche 996 6-speed transaxle to drive power to those fat rear tires.

After the triumphant return from SEMA, Tim didn’t sleep on his accomplishments but got to work with Salvage to Savage on the next steps. Tim is back at the workbench on perfecting the running and driving dynamics of the DeLorean and producing parts in carbon fiber because he says along with this potential buyer, there may be a market. “Thankfully, I have another DMC-12 at the shop if we have to start producing more of these.”

We couldn’t agree more Tim, if we had unlimited car money too we would hop on the list because as fans of all things 80s, there isn’t a better DeLorean tribute out there.

L’Automobile Storms Miami Beach With Concepts, Customs, and Supercars

Second Annual Event Showcases World Class Cars

When you think of Miami, visions of the unhinged 80s immersed in a tropical lifestyle with a dose of narcotics come into focus. However, Miami is now recognized as an international hub of fashion, culture, and art renowned the world over for producing leading-edge designers. The car in Miami is more of a statement than basic transportation and even six-figure supercars are heavily customized and modified to make an impact in South Beach, Brickell and emerging hot spots like Wynwood and the Design District. With this fashion, art and culture movement producing a show like l’Automobile would certainly succeed, transcending car enthusiasts to cater to the design inherent in cars and the talent designers who visualize and craft them as well.

L’Automobile (French for ‘The Automobile’) is in its second year and being a new show, at a fresh venue with an innovative approach, gained momentum as car design aficionados caught on. The founder, Elo is no rookie in the high end, design and custom car scene. That’s right, the founder goes by only one name and comes by it honestly coming from the fashion world in the UK and Europe and setting up shop in Miami to establish a high dose of sophisticated car culture in one of America’s leading arts locales.

The 2021 show forged ahead through the pandemic with strong attendance for international cars and infamous car personalities such as:

• Fabio Lamborghini: The nephew of the famous Ferrucio Lamborhini, Fabio trained in engineering and worked at divisions of the fabled automaker until 2007. He was also active in contributing to the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agostino, Italy, which these days is more of a special guest at auto events around the world.
• Maurizio Corbi: Active designer from Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and responsible for the Ferrari legends, the F355, the 550 Maranello and yes even the exclusive 349 unit F50 flat-12 supercar from the 1990s. 
• Malcolm Bricklin: Most famous for the mid-1970s composite panel V8 supercar bearing his name the Bricklin SV-1. Bricklin is an auto exec that has had many successes over the years and remained a force in the automotive business into his 80s.

Beyond the star power invited to the event, the Miami VIP car elite showed up en masse with millions of dollars in supercars, hypercars and classics sitting out in the parking lot forming a show itself. Dozens of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens graced the lot with the odd Koenigsegg and Pagani to make a statement. But inside the show the collection got even more eclectic, exotic and rare being hand picked by Elo himself.

Likely the most expensive vehicle at the show was the Red Bull HONDA-powered F1 car to promote F1 Miami. The show also included a high value of the late model supercars, as well as an array of customs and prototypes, which are truly priceless. We’ve seen the outrageous coachwork on the Lamborghini Espada rat rod built by Danton Arts Customs of France but in reality, the impact never fades on us. The Espada again graced another Miami show but it was it’s neighbor the Salvage to Savage DeLorean twin turbo widebody that shocked the crowds. This show was the first appearance of the 2021 SEMA hit show car, that easily made the largest impression on attendees at the Vegas show.

Built just north in Boca Raton, FL, the widebody DeLorean is literally a concept from famous 3D designer, The Kyza (Khyzyl Saleem) meticulously crafted into metal and composites. This is a true fantasy-concept sitting at the l’Automobile show but far from a rolling clay shell, this retro supercar makes real jam. Under the bonnet is Garrett twin turbo-powered 5.2L LS V8 channeled through a 6-speed Porsche 996 transaxle to the rear wheels. Not only was the first time anyone has seen the car wrapped in this rich gold hue, there is more to the build we are featuring soon.

A pair of retro highlights captured audience attention, the first was the Maggiore Project M. The limited to 40 units Project M, is based on the venerable Ferrari 308 with a fresh take on wider bodywork, composites and modern technology to make an all new approach to the Magnum-mobile. Another fan favorite was the Miami-themed Land Rover restomod. A nut and bolt restoration of this offroad legend, has been reborn with everything replaced or renewed and in a high-impact color-scheme that got a rumored $250,000 offer to buy the truck after the show.

With all of the gasoline-powered legends new and old, it was in fact a pair of EV concepts that caused a frenzy of activity. While gear heads play out the final decades of the internal combustion era, next-level projects like the EV-powered Shelby Daytona Coupe really commanded attention. This sleek silver car by Superformance was clearly missing trademark design cues like the massive side-pipes and gated manual. Although we did still spot a fuel pump switch, oil and water temp gauges, this work-in-progress has a dual EV motor set up capable of over 1000lb-ft of torque with a sub 3-second 0-60mph claim.

Beyond the Daytona Coupe EV was what appeared to be a Porsche 911 930 that curiously was missing the exhaust pipes out the rear fascia. The car called the Electric GT certainly looked like a gas car, yet had a pair of massive electric motors mounted to the rear axles resulting in one fast, yet silent assassin on the track.

Once again l’Automobile asserted itself as not a traditional Miami car show. Dozens of high-end and rare supercars from Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Pagani are seen regularly at many shows in South Florida but still the unique content at this oceanfront show setting sets itself apart. 

Exotics on Las Olas Takeover of Florida With Supercars Galore

Fourth Annual Show brings Exotics and Race Cars to Fort Lauderdale Streets

South Florida has money. Stupid kinda money where you regularly see yachts cruise by that are more than a lifetime net worth… multiplied by 100 lifetimes. For the supercar, hypercar and racecar scene, South Florida is a flurry of activity. There are collections here that will never see the light of day and having experienced a few in person, I can only verbally describe them as breathtaking because for security reasons, there won’t be any pics shared. However, Exotics on Las Olas is a show that has the owners of dozens of these rare exotics shined up and brought out to takeover the streets of Fort Lauderdale in a premium car show that realistically is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Show organizer Floyd Rag is not only a former NFL’er and celebrity-connected player but he is a huge car enthusiast who created and produces a number of popular car shows in South Florida. Floyd built up a hugely popular event called Supercar Saturdays for local dealer networks:Lamborghini Broward, Bugatti Broward and Koenigsegg Florida. With that show firmly established, he wanted to reach beyond the confines of a dealership or mall as a venue and takeover downtown Lauderdale to bring the magic to a wider audience. And now, for the fourth year in a row, the show plowed through the Pandemic to impress crowds with millions of dollars in supercars tough to find all in one place and certainly not in most states.

Past Exotics on Las Olas shows have showcased rare cars like Bugatti Divo, Pagani Huayra Roadster and even rare birds like the Maserati MC-12 Corsa, of which there are only 12. In 2021, it was more late model madness of pricey supercars, hypercars and tuned exotics that were one-offs of only a handful made. Probably the most impact at the show was garnered by the Apollo Intenza Emotizione from Ikonik Motors of Miami. Owner Barry Skolnick is a mega-millionaire that has stormed the Florida scene with his growing collection of exotics but has parlayed his passion into a retail business being the first customer to secure a V12 Apollo hypercar here in the US.

While many late model supercars graced the show, we took notice of not one but three Lamborghini Huracan STO examples in attendance. The STO is basically a street-legal race car, which in many ways is the peak of the Huracan platform as it enters its eighth model year. It seems like only yesterday the 610-4 trim came out but now there are so many variants, many of which were at the show including three Super Trofeo race versions.

While Italian supercars dominated Exotics on Las Olas, we have to tip our hat to cross-channel rival McLaren as there were many stunning examples on parade. A number of McLaren 765LT and 765LT Spiders baked in the Florida sun along with a handful of unique MSO examples on display with roof scoops and all. While the McLaren factory efforts amounted to loads of eye candy, we couldn’t believe the offering from German tuning house Novitec. The wider, faster and generally more outrageously styled Novitec 720S N-Largo was parked on Las Olas and we’re not sure just how rare people realized it actually is… there are only 14 beyond the one we were looking at!

The Novitec 720S N-Largo delivers on the performance and aero expected of the southern German tuner with a hint of Senna styling. The limited McLaren boasts 806hp and takes the already fast 720 platform to 60mph in only 2.7-seconds on the way to a top speed of 217mph. The wider wheel and tire upgrades increase the track by 2.3-inches up front and over 5-inches in the rear making the stance difference nothing less than intense.

For the 4th straight year, Exotics on Las Olas has weathered the storm and beat attendance numbers year-over-year. We ran into a few automotive media colleagues who traveled quite a distance to cover the show. Seems our little supercar show in the quaint streets of old Fort Lauderdale on palm-lined Las Olas Avenue has made the cut and gone prime-time around the world.

Strange Custom Cars at SEMA

Tank Treads, Fabricated Bodies, and Unique Paint Jobs

These custom cars at SEMA this year really push the limits on what it means to have a modified car. SEMA is a show which primarily focuses on aftermarket performance and cosmetic modifications on cars, and the companies who make them. But among the supercars, tuners, truck, and muscle you get some very creative, and strange creations from some innovative and possibly mentally unstable builders. These guys bring a unique perspective, and love them or hate them, they definitely set the bar for modifications.

These are our best and strangest custom cars we saw at SEMA this year in Las Vegas.

First up we saw a couple of snow track oddities that were not the Ford Bronco. The riveted one being a Custom Bug Out Jeep Gladiator built by Expedition Vehicle Outfitters with custom metalwork done to it. If one of the treads somehow falls off they have a spare Milestar Patagonia Tire attached to the back of the vehicle as well, just in case.

We also saw this Humvee with snow treads, but this one had a giant Battleship horn attached to it by ProdigyTV on youtube.

Artist Rocketbyz, showed off this Pikes Peak ready Audi Quattro with his signature neon paint splatter paint job. Reminiscent of all the previous art cars from the past.

Chevy Revealed a custom desert Off-Road concept truck called the Chevy Beast based off the Silverado platform. It has 5 link suspension, Four wheel drive and a body that looks like its built for the UNSC.

Next Up we have a couple of Custom Trucks, one low one hight. The blue one is a Hodson JRT10 Truck with a Jeep Wagoneer front end and a Viper V10 engine.

This one is a 6×6 C10 with 1000hp and a wing instead of a truck-bed built by Deberti.

Best Modified Supercars at SEMA

Widebody Corvettes, Lowered Ferraris, and Amazing Lamborghinis

These mid engined supercars were built to be fast, but some builders at SEMA this year decided that they did not look cool enough. Widebody, air suspension, big wings and aero, three-piece wheels and of course fancy paint makes these stand out from their stock counterparts. Whether you are a purist or prefer modified cars, this set of cars we saw will definitely stun you.

With the new Corvette mid engined propelling the brand into supercar territory, many companies have jumped on the opportunity to transform the corvette body into something more stunning. Many jaw dropping wide body corvettes were on display here in Las Vegas.

If we raise our budget by a lot we get to see this cool Mint green Ferrari 488 that has been lowered, put on some nice white wheels and subjected to downforce. Brought to us by DNA Motoring.

Also brought to us by DNA Motoring is this AMG GT that looks like its ready for a track day and a clean car show at the same time.

FInally we have a couple Lambo’s that have gotten the treatment as well. This is youtuber TJ Hunt’s British Racing Green Lamborghini Huracan with a 1016 Widebody kit and sitting on Gold HRE wheels.

Classic V8 Muscle Cars

Clean and Low Restomods at SEMA 2021

Muscle cars and Hot Rods have been the backbone of SEMA since the beginning. Year after year not only do they show up, they are some of the most immaculate and classiest builds the 2021 SEMA Show has to offer. As we were perusing the show floor, we happened to see some beautiful examples. Lets take a peek at what V8s are rumbling around SEMA. (none probably, we’d be surprised if anything actually ran at SEMA)

Right off the bat are a couple of Chevelles so clean and modded you can barely recognize them!

Next we have this gorgeous blue Fastback Mustang and this slick Camaro. Both retain that classic styling but have opted for much more modern trim pieces, bringing these old geezers into the 21st Century.

Next up we have a couple of Old Chevy Trucks done in two completely different finishes. One With a nice slick green paint job that highlights those 50s body lines.

The other finished in a patina paint so strong it looks like it was pulled out of a lake! But there probably isn’t a spec of rust on this Apache.

Update: The owner of the build reached out to us and confirmed that this Apache is indeed 100% real patina.

“My Apache literally burned to the ground in the 2018 NorCal Paradise Fire and was on live tv doing so […] No rattle can patina, pure fire, then rain.  […] It was important for me to build this ride so people wouldn’t forget the devastation of that fire and when they see the truck, they know something survived.”Jason Fonte

Rare JDM Cars at the 2021 SEMA SHOW

Million Dollar Skyline GTRs, Special RX7s, and Widebody Nissan Zs in Las Vegas

Spotting a Nissan or a Toyota is something you can do in your grocery store parking lot, but the ones you find at the SEMA Show are a little bit more special. Actually, that is an understatement, these are some of the most sought after JDM cars and some of the most popular styles in the Tuner scene. In terms of JDM and Tuner cars there is all sorts of stuff at SEMA this year, some of which you will never see, and others that you will probably see on retail very soon, with a couple only being JDM inspired. Come check out these JDM gems that we’ve spotted at SEMA 2021!

We never were sold any skylines in the US until Infiniti G35, and so to say that they are rare here is an understatement, especially for these two GTRs. This is the first R33 GTR 400R to come to the US and only 44 400Rs ever made. Named 400R because of its 400hp output, this was the rarest and craziest Skyline to come from the factory. Specifically this is a 400R in Sonic Silver making it a one of 5 ever made. Brought out by Top Rank Imports, this Skyline definitely stole the show

Vehicle: Nissan Skyline GTR R33 400R Sonic SilverThe other one is a Midnight Purple II V Spec GTR which cost about the same as Lamborghinis, one of the rarest color combos and trim packages for the R34 GTR.

We also spotted this Origin Widebody S14 Kouki with a 2JZ VVti Stuffed in it. It is hard to look past those stunning custom headlights though, but you’ll probably be staring at the tail lights of this thing if you caught it on the street.

You know the brand new GR 86/ BRZ? HKS is already making a new exhaust system so that you can sputter and bang your boxer as quickly as possible.

We also Saw this yellow RX7 from Fortune Auto, sporting a full RE Amemiya kit with the aero headlights.

Check out this S30 Widebody Z from Extreme wraps. It might look different from a standard 240Z or 260Z because of the slicker aero front end, referred to as a G Nose.

Finally here’s a couple BMWs that have adopted a lot a of the JDM tuner style and incorporated them into their Bavarian Builds.

Best New Ford Bronco Performance Parts at the SEMA Show

Upgraded, Modified, and Off-Road Ready Broncos

After a couple decades, a few car chases and a whole lot of horsing around, the Ford Bronco is back for 2021! Well, it has been back for a minute now, but after a year we’re all trying to forget, we’ll call SEMA 2021 the official year of the new Bronco.

This year’s SEMA we get to really see what companies have come up with to further develop performance parts for the new Bronco Platform. Turning the Ford Bronco into a very capable machine is not a new concept, in fact it has been the name of the game since the Bronco first came out in 1965. Over the years we’ve seen time and time again that the Bronco is not just a practical suburban cruiser, with some upgrades the Bronco becomes an off-roading monster.

Here’s a sampling of some of our favorites at SEMA with some of the most insane versions coming from Ford themselves!

FIrst off is this Rhino Rack Bronco build by Doetsch Off-Road, fitted with all of the camping luxuries that you can think of! Upgraded Bumpers with LED lights, custom fenders from ADV Advanced Fiberglass Concepts to fit those Big tires on Fifteen52wheels, an extendable cover, and to Top it off, a Canoe!

We also spotted this Black Diamond Bronco from Havoc Off Road, upgraded with bead lock wheels, custom Winch Compatible front bumper, an orange skid plate, and some custom metal side steps to get you in this lifted Bronco.

Don’t like mountains? How about the Desert instead! Look at these race variants also from Ford. These have so many Custom parts that It would be easier just to list what isn’t changed.

Do you wan’t a tank but have a Family too? Well, Ford put some treads on this Bronco, so that you can simply avoid the lines at the Ski Lift.

State of Speed Los Angeles: An August Affair

Three shows down and hundreds of cars rolling through, we are incredibly pleased with the turnout of the State of Speed Los Angeles Car Show, presented by Milestar Tires. From the beginning, we knew the local car scene had a ton to offer, and that the monthly meet would end up being a melting pot of incredible builds and bonafide gear heads of all stripes.

This time around, the Los Angeles automotive enthusiast heads came out in droves.

First, The Cars!

Dusting off then gassing up your ride and heading to the event early is indeed the way to go. Cars start rolling in before the clock hits 7 AM to grab the prime spots, and of course, the glorious early morning photo op!

Most of the time you’ll hear them before you see them, and it’s a guessing game as to what is about to pull in next. It doesn’t take much time before the lot starts filling up with builds of every interest. Restored classics and restomods to old school JDM’s and some serious off-road machines —  there’s sure to be something for every taste.

The People

Great builds take more than some spare change, and it’s the car owners that bring these projects to life.

They’re out there answering questions about each and every minute detail of their ride; whether you’re just genuinely interested in the labor behind someone’s rotary swapped Datsun, or are looking for some recommendations on a bigger turbo, each and every owner is more than happy to chop it up about their ride.

A Day Well Spent

As the shows continue to take place each month, and the crowds continue to grow, we are excited to see the scale of State of Speed Los Angeles in the times to come. We’re grateful to collaborate with Milestar Tires to bring this event to fruition, and there isn’t a better place out there to hold the event than the Tireco headquarters in Gardena, CA.

So for those that have previously shown up for State of Speed Los Angeles, we look forward to seeing you again, and for those who haven’t, stop by, grab a coffee, and bring your ride!

Relic Run 2021: Rally at the Reservoir

The Challenge

Every good trip starts out with a list. You know, that check list that you got all the camping gear, food, recovery gear and maybe even some spare parts to ward off the broken ones. (It’s common knowledge that if you bring spare parts you won’t need them, right?). How much you bring depends on where you are going and what you are driving. For this trip the list of things will be mostly comprised of vintage parts, vintage camping gear and even a couple of vintage guys who grew up before cell phones and GPS.

Where would one take all this vintage stuff? Relic Run 2021 hosted by Expedition Utah. Relic Run is a get together of vintage 4×4’s from all makes and models. The run itself is designed to celebrate the mechanized great outdoors. This means break out those gas Coleman lanterns, look up those camping recipes for the Dutch oven, and grab those aluminum lawn chairs from grandma’s attic.  The official outfit of Relic Run depends on the year of your vehicle. Cut off shorts, 70’s rock band t-shirts and Chuck Taylors fit in well in pretty much any decade. Each year the event switches from a base camping trip to a multi-day journey styled as a car camping Safari of yesteryear. 

People migrate from all over the US to take part in Relic Run, but not just anyone can attend. You need to qualify first. How do you qualify? You need a period correct 4×4 vehicle and matching camping gear that predates 1989. The Vehicles really are the stars of the show. The more period correct, the bigger the challenge. Anyone can get in a New Jeep JL and drive across country, but it takes skill and tenacity to get in a vintage 4×4 and experience the great outdoors the way your grand parents did. By reliving these adventures, we pay homage to a generation that was so tough, they just thought it was normal life.

Getting There

This year’s relic Run was hosted on the banks of Wyoming’s flaming gorge. This is where the true adventure begins. Our vintage 4×4 started life in 1972. The K5 Blazer was Chevrolets answer to the Ford Bronco. Based on the ½ ton chevy pickup, the K5 Blazer shared all the same running gear and cargo capacity as the same year Chevy truck. This made a great platform to haul camping gear, fishing gear, and even tow a trailer. Since this year was a base station Relic Run, we chose to Glamp in a 1975 trillium 4500. This trailer is built like a boat. The fiberglass outer shell and fiberglass interior is incredibly light and strong creating a great overlanding trailer before the term was ever coined.

Getting to the gorge in a 1972 K5 blazer towing a vintage fiberglass travel trailer nearly 1000 miles before the event even starts was the true challenge. With weeks of prep checked off the list, The K5 was finally ready for its first task. Pick up its co-driver “Red” Phil Griffis from San Diego airport. Red is no stranger to Relic Run and old cars. He helped acquire the K5 years ago and has ticked off many miles behind the wheel. No sooner than we loaded his gear Red was handed a paper map as relic navigation and we set off to follow the old routes the best we could towards Salt Lake City.

This would include Route 66 and passing though forgotten ghost towns the freeways bypassed long ago. The old routes cleverly avoid steep hills with names like Cajon pass and Baker grade saving wear and tear on a nearly 50yo rig. Normally we would drive at night to avoid the deserts blistering heat, but our confidence was high in our K5, so we passed through the high desert during the hottest time of the day. The AC was blowing cold, but the interior was still 90 degrees. Turns outs, that was pretty generous since the outside air temp was 110 degrees with 70% humidity.

Verne Simons & the CJ5

Still west of the Colorado river, we got a cryptic text at 11am saying (it’s ready). Our friend Verne Simons had decided to disassemble two CJ5s to create one really period correct original Jeep. He was able to tear the body off the frame and rewire the whole vehicle between 2 Saturdays.

Verne is not only our resident Jeep expert; he’s also been writing 4×4 content articles in multiple magazines for two decades. No sooner did Verne notify us the CJ5 was ready, he quickly loaded up his gear and headed out. Verne’s home base is near Phoenix. High noon in a Jeep CJ would be the ultimate test of determination, hydration, and salt retention as he set out to meet us along our journey.

As the sun started setting the heat remained constant. Cryptic communication continued as we figured our paths would collide on the back side of Vegas about 9pm. Driving the CJ-5 loaded with 10 days of camping and two dogs, he’d actually done it. From a literal pile of parts on the previous Saturday, Verne created a functioning vehicle and put 250 miles across the hottest desert for its first test. Verne arrived a bit dingy from the heat and worried about the additional 700 miles to go. As a team, Red, Verne and Myself went over the Jeep to make sure all systems were functioning correctly and reassured Verne the vehicles and crew were up to the challenge. Once the dogs were fed and watered, the vehicles got one last examination, and we were in search of tonight’s camp. Just north of Lake Mead we pulled off in some mud hills at about 11pm. It was still hot, and the humidity reminded us of Atlanta with not so much as a breeze. This made sleep in short supply. 

Breakdown Day

Some of us slept better than others, but it was time to get up, take some morning pictures, check over the vehicles again and hit the road. We still had 500 miles to go. It was hot and a true oasis sounded like a smart stop on our road day. It’s important to mention that we left days early to the event in anticipation of Murphy’s Law. “What can go wrong, Will go wrong” We live by a code, “you can’t be mad about the situation you put yourself in”. So, when things go wrong it’s just part of the adventure. We were in search of a place called Toquerville Falls. All navigation showed it as 3.5 miles off the highway. Turns out it was a decent 4×4 trail with steep grades, sharp ledges, and dusty desert roads. So, we dropped the trillium at the trailhead, aired down the Milestar Patagonia M/T’s and switched to low range. 

The k5 Trans was not liking the additional heat and stress of low range and without that high-speed air through the radiator, the engine was cooking under the hood. The Carb on the CJ5 was flooding over and wanted more speed also to keep from stalling out. We arrived at the falls greeted by other off-road enthusiasts smiling and splashing in the pools below. The falls were a welcome relief to the relentless heat. We visited the falls just long enough to get recharged. With soaking wet clothes, this made the trail ride to the blacktop palatable.

A quick stop to air up the tires started a chain of events you just couldn’t make up. While the K5 was running at a high idle to keep the ARB compressor putting out 6cfm, the alternator started to smell funny. Little did we know that the electronics in the K5 were about to get a shock to the system. Mind you no electronics like heat, the alternator poured smoke out from under the hood and the ignition cut out. We disabled the alternator and tried to move on, but the ignition started shooting ducks (backfiring and sputtering). Our next move was to install the spare ignition parts and move on. So, we changed out the cap, rotor, and ignition module. The K5 was running again.

On the freeway we went or so we thought as it started shooting ducks again. The next exit was coming up fast, so we pulled off and found a safe place to work. No sooner did we pull off, Verne called on the radio, (he’d picked up a drivetrain vibration). Verne crawled under his rig and we crawled back into the engine compartment for a second ignition module and a coil this time. Verne’s repair turned out to be simple. Remove the offending rear driveshaft and turn his Jeep CJ5 into a front wheel drive.

The CJ5’s rear drive shaft had a bad U joint. This was compounded by a marginal yoke and we suspected the rear shaft was too long. Back on the road again, the K5 was still running without an alternator and Verne needed U joints so our next stop was Napa auto parts. The Auto parts parking lot soon became a repair station as Vern built a driveshaft and the K5 got a new alternator. This was all par for the course. Smiling and joking about the repairs is all part of the adventure. Hungry and tired, we found some great food in cedar city and jumped on the highway again. One mile from our next exit the CJ5 started to sputter. The chatter on the radio diagnosed that we may have forgotten to get fuel.  Dodging through traffic cones Verne coasted right up besides the K5 and we dumped the K5’s spare fuel in the CJ5. The old 304 v8 fired right back up and we were running smoothly again. Camp was right around the corner in a high elevation forest, and this would be the best night’s sleep so far. 

Flaming Gorge

The next day both vehicles ran perfectly covering a mix of dirt and asphalt about 400 miles to arrive at the eastern shore of the flaming gorge reservoir. This would be the base station for Relic Run 2021. Our arrival timing was perfect as the sun set over the water.

We pulled into camp just as the last light slipped away so we could get our sleeping situations arranged. The 1973 CJ5 and the 1972 K5 made the 950-mile trek across deserts, up into forests, and ate up asphalt in true vintage style.  As the morning light brightened with daybreak, we realized how cool our Relic Run campsite really was.

Several miles of abandon shoreline connected to crystal clear water, we were finally able to scrub off the sweat and dust from our travels. The water was refreshing and reminded us of why we love adventures. 

Relic Run 2021

Thursday afternoon was the official start of relic run. Vintage 4×4’s from the tri state area started rolling in filled with vintage camping gear like gasoline stoves, flannel sleeping bags, canvas tents and cast-iron pans for making recipes long since forgotten. The first night was a meet and greet where everyone shared hors d’oeuvres. (Clever snacks your grandparents probably made for parties and mixers). Story swapping went on for hours until Mother Nature sent us all to bed with a stiff breeze and light rain. The next morning campers were up early chatting about tents that blew down or water on their vintage cot and cotton sleeping bags. 10am came around and it was time for a trail ride. 8 of the most eclectic vehicles showed up from a right-hand drive Toyota BJ71 to a Dodge power wagon.

These people loved all things 4WD, but that didn’t stop the brand loyalty rivalry. Toyotas outnumbered Jeeps making them feel superior, and Fords stayed at camp proving Chevrolet was the true workhorse that weekend. The destination of the trail ride was 3 corners monument. This is where Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado meet. A 60-mile round trip consisting of smooth graded dirt roads, broken asphalt, and forest 2 tire tracks didn’t disappoint as the scenery ever evolved. 

 Along the way we saw cattle, pronghorn, grouse and even a moose. Back to camp just in time for one last swim, The Relic Runners needed to get to work building vintage meals for the evening’s potluck dinner. Casseroles, meatballs, pasta salads, along with upside down cakes and baked goods left everyone full and satisfied. 

A Day Off

Saturday was a day with little to do but soak up water and sun. We fished the bay in our vintage boats as others sat in aluminum lawn chairs in the water. This was also a great day to look over the aging 4×4’s and do any last-minute maintenance for Sunday’s trip home. Verne added an additional power port to charge his phone, the CJ and the K5 both took a quart of oil and seemed to be on the same schedule of drinking habits. The highlight Saturday had to be the taco assembly line sponsored by Expedition Utah. Bob Dubois “The Mayor of Relic Run” had picked up 50 lbs. of marinated meat and we aligned camp stoves, BBQ’s and scottles to feed the entire group several times over. The food was excellent, but the company was even better.

It was fun to watch the Relic Runners get competitive as others steered clear of the classic Red Ryder (in fear of shooting their eye out we suppose).

It was time for the annual BB gun contest. Pop cans were hung in the trees with fishing line creating a ‘’tin can alley’’. Each can was awarded points and the points tallied for your team. The most points to a single shooter got vintage prizes collected at yard sales and storage auctions. The team that won got bragging rights for a full year. It was fun to watch the Relic Runners get competitive as others steered clear of the classic Red Ryder (in fear of shooting their eye out we suppose). The sun was setting as the winners of the BB gun shoot were awarded their prizes. The snack tables still had brownies and pineapple upside down cake on it, so people split their time around the dessert table and enjoying the water. Relic Runners continued to swap stories and favorite destinations well into the morning. 

Goodbye

Sunday morning had people stirring early taking down tents and folding up gear. As people gathered around the last coffee pot, heartfelt goodbyes were said, and info was exchanged for new friends. Rigs slowly made their way to the highway until camp was silent again leaving behind only tire tracks and footprints. 

The CJ5 and the K5 would leave camp together but split up about 250 miles into Utah. This was the moment vacation felt like it was finally ending. Each Relic Runner takes home a different experience. For some it’s the love of old 4×4’s, others its to embrace a time forgotten before data plans and streaming networks. For me, it’s the challenge resurrecting a vehicle to its original glory and showing the world its capabilities are still valid in this modern society. So, if you think you have what takes to build a vintage 4×4, love vintage camping gear, then it sounds like you might just be a Relic Runner.

About Ryan Kennelly:
Ryan Kennelly leads a team designers creating aftermarket off road products during the day. After work he builds vintage 4×4’s specifically for off road adventures. To follow along in real time, checkout @dirtstar2002 on Instagram. 

Inaugural State of Speed LA Car Show Recap

Incredible builds, delicious coffee, great people — what more could have come from a successful inaugural State of Speed Los Angeles car show? First off, let’s start off by saying thank you to each and every person that showed up for the event, Milestar Tires for sponsoring the show, and Clutch and Coffee for providing the fresh brews.

It’s refreshing to know that a group of gearheads that share the same passion for their rides can come together for an extraordinary time!

Now, let’s dive on into the turnout of immaculate builds that showed up for the State of Speed LA event! As stated before the event, this was most definitely not a run of the mill car show. It was expected that a truly diverse group of cars would show up, from JDM and Euro to Off-Road and Mini Trucks. There was no shortage of any, either.

Once the clock hit 7 o’clock, people were rolling in to collect their limited edition State of Speed Los Angeles t-shirts, and boy did those go quick! Once parked and hood popped, the next most important thing to do was grab a cup of coffee, and a delicious one at that. Clutch and Coffee supplied the goods, and it was a hit!

By 9AM, the Tireco parking lot was popping, but no, not audibly. A huge thanks to everyone for also being respectful of the show and keeping the engine noises to a minimum! The lot was packed, and the three hours flew by, but there was plenty of time to check out each car and talk to the individuals behind the builds. Once 10AM came, cars slowly started to head out while bystanders headed towards the exits to hear the sweet tones of each car as they departed.

Overall, our inaugural State of Speed LA show was a huge success! Another thank you goes out to our lead sponsor, Milestar Tires, our coffee vendor, Clutch and Coffee, and most importantly, those who showed up with some killer rides. We look forward to the next event and hope everyone can make it out, so stay tuned!

The Inaugural State of Speed
LA Car Show Is Coming Up!

The time has come to gas up your rides and head on over to the inaugural State Of Speed Los Angeles car show! Made possible by our lead sponsor Milestar Tires, this event is more than your run of the mill automotive event. Cars for every taste will be making their way to the show, including JDM, Euro, and Classic Muscle, all the way to rat-rods and mini trucks! One thing we all have in common is our love for all things automotive, so come on by and check out some of the baddest rides from the Southern California area and meet the people behind the builds. 

The SoS LA event will commence at 7:00 a.m., and you better believe that there are perks for showing up early! State of Speed will be giving away limited edition shirts to the first participants who show up (while supplies last). Coffee will also be available for purchase on site just in case the thrill of tastefully built cars and loud engines aren’t enough to wake you up!

Whether you’ve got a show ready ride, or are just interested in checking out some badass builds, stop by Sunday, June 27th at the Tireco Headquarters, located at 500 W 190th St Suite 600, Gardena, CA 90248. The event will begin at 7:00 a.m. and end at 10 a.m.

We hope to see you there!

Burning Man: Wheels on Fire

Black Rock Desert, Nevada, is hallowed ground to car people as it is the current home to the land speed record. Set in October 1997 by Andy Green driving Richard Noble’s Thrust SSC, the record stands at 763.035 mph(1227.985 km/h), over one mile. Back then less than 100 people used up many miles of the 1,000 square mile flat dry lakebed for the record attempt. Nowadays, the desolate lakebed sees a seven square mile, densely populated “city” appear every August for the Burning Man event.

Burning Man can trace its roots back to Baker Beach, San Francisco in 1986 when Larry Harvey and Jerry James built the first eight foot ‘Man.’ The move to Black Rock came in 1990 and back then, thirty years ago, it was a small, word-of-mouth event with just 100 or so participants.

“The Mutant Vehicles are where art meets architecture—whether a bathtub or a ship in motion—ours was called ‘The Grime Machine.”Catherine Dart, Artist and Photographer.

Over the next couple years the event grew to several hundred, and by 1996, 8,000 people participated. Coincidentally with the astonishing growth, Burning Man became a pedestrian, bicycle, art-car-only event—attendees were not allowed to drive willy-nilly around the playa—a restriction that made obvious sense. What now became the ultimate pop-up city also gained a city-like lay out and structure so that emergency vehicles could be directed to an address. Architect Rod Garrett who passed away in 2011 designed the circular grid. The driving ban except for approved ‘Mutant Vehicles’ and service vehicles was an instant success and the ‘Man’ now enjoys an excellent safety record.

That’s quite an accomplishment considering the event has grown from 35 people to a staggering 80,000 in 2019. In the beginning, the event was free. Ticket prices for this year’s event start at $475.But what of those ‘Mutant Vehicles?’ In truth, they’re a little like Rose Parade floats with a lot of visual substance but very little below the surface. Artist and photographer Catherine Dart said, “The Mutant Vehicles are where art meets architecture—whether a bathtub or a ship in motion—ours was called ‘The Grime Machine.’”

Indeed, the regulations are quite extensive and emanate from the ‘Department of Mutant Vehicles’ (DMV) say, “Mutant Vehicles, often motorized, are purpose-built or creatively altered cars and trucks. Participants who wish to bring motorized mutant vehicles must submit their designs in advance to the events own DMV for approval and for physical inspection at the time of the event. Not all designs and proposals are accepted.

“The event organizers, and in turn the DMV, have set the bar high for what it deems an acceptable MV each year, in effect capping the number of MVs at around 600. This is in response to constraints imposed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which grants permits to hold the event on federal property, and to participants who want to maintain a pedestrian-friendly environment.

One of the criteria the DMV employs to determine whether an application for a proposed Mutant Vehicle is approved is “can you recognize the base vehicle”. For example, if a 1967 VW van covered with glitter, dolls’ heads, and old cooking utensils can still be recognized as a VW van, it is considered to be “decorated not mutated” and is less likely to be approved.” Despite all the well-intentioned rules, some of the MVs are recognizable despite being built on chassis ranging from a bus to an airport fire truck.

According to photographer John Rettie, the cars pictured here use GMC, Honda, Ford Crown Vic’, Ram truck, Range Rover, Toyota and VW Beetle chassis as well as three large truck platforms.You can decide which is which. Unfortunately, Burning Man has been postponed due to current events, but we look forward it in the future!

Hot Rodding’s Alive and Kicking at Detroit Autorama 2020

In the years immediately following World War II the hot rod and custom car scene boomed across America as returning service men and women enjoyed newfound prosperity with money to spend on cars. Magazines, car clubs and car shows exploded across the nation especially in the rust belt where the winters were long and the snow was deep. Nowhere was this auto-enthusiasm more evidenced than in the Motor City—Detroit.

In 1952, the Michigan Hot Rod Association (MHRA), that had formed the previous year with 22 clubs and 400 members, held the first Detroit Autorama car show at the University of Detroit Field House. Ostensibly, the profits were to build a dragstrip. In 1956, the MHRA hired a local, professional promoter, Don Ridler whose expertise grew the show quickly until there were funds for the Motor City Dragway that opened in 1957.

Sadly, both the Motor City Dragway and Ridler are gone but his name lives on in the annual Don Ridler Memorial Award established in 1946. Presented by Meguiar’s, the Ridler, with a cash prize of $10,000, is the highest accolade at the annual Detroit Autorama, now in its 68^th year.

Over the years, everything from a Corvette to a ’57 Chevy to a ’65 Impala to ’59 Cadillac wagon have won—it’s an eclectic mix. From the dozens of contenders, selectors choose the ‘Great 8 Finalists’ from which the eventual winner is chosen.

This year, the Great 8 comprised the following:

George Conrad’s 1966 Ford F100 Custom Pickup

Jeffrey Hess’1956 Oldsmobile 98 Custom Convertible

Frank and Debbi Hinmon’s 1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Jerry Logan’s 1934 Ford Altered Pickup,

Bob Matranga’s ’55 Chevy ‘Brute Force,’

Brad, Brady and Cory Ranweiler’s 1963 Chevy Custom Wagon ‘Impressive’

Tim Wheeler’s 1969 Camaro Pro Touring

Greg and Gail Wilson’s 1929 Ford Model A Woodie pickup ‘Driftwood,’

Of course, seeing the Great 8 surrounded by the not so great is a little disconcerting as you contemplate all the blood, sweat and dollars that went into those unsuccessful builds that didn’t quite make it. Also, one is nagged by the question, “What do you do with it now?” High build show cars are by definition extreme, over the top, caricatures almost and as such hard to get the groceries in. They’re more art than car but rather than wall hangings they are more wall flowers. All the more reason, therefore, to venture down the escalator to ‘The Basement’ where there is a vibrant, alternative show full of old original and recreated racecars, some ratty and some not so ratty rods, customs with a k and a spattering of weirdness and the just for the heck of it. The basement has a totally different, lively vibe that’s missing from the floor above where it’s tangibly more serious.

“The Basement is not the showcase for your home, but it is where you keep things you value and the place only your best friends ever get see.”Larry Erickson, Designer

One of the fun parts of The Basement show is the celebrity picks where automotive stars such as designers Chip Foose, Camilo Pardo, Larry Erickson, and builders Roy Brizio, Josh Shaw and Gene Winfield among others pick the basement cars that appeal to them. It’s a diverse selection that give this particular group of participants a chance at the trophy that they wouldn’t normally get. It’s great fun, not taken too seriously and rewarding. Designer Larry Erickson, said, “This is the Midwest, so The Basement is not the showcase for your home, but it is where you keep things you value and the place only your best friends ever get see.  Participating in the pick is good fun.”

All too soon we escalated back upstairs to the main floor of what was Detroit’s Cobo Hall to what is now TCF for the awards ceremony. Bob Matranga’s ’55 Chevy ‘Brute Force’ was the odds-on favorite but as Barry Meguiar of Meguiar’s made the announcement the trophy went to Brad, Bray and Cory Ranweiler of New Ulm, Minnesota, for their family-built ’63 Chevy wagon ‘Impressive’.

Built upon an Art Morrison frame, Impressive is undoubtedly impressive in its build featuring a home-built 409 bored and stroked to 509 cubic inches producing 615 hp with Hilborn 8-stack electronic fuel injection. However, what makes Impressive so different is that it’s actually a two-door wagon created from a four-door wagon there being no two-door factory ‘Nomad’ wagons that year. Whether the distinctive body mods were the clincher is only for the judges to know but it was, nevertheless, Impressive and a well-deserved if un-expected win.

Spaceport America

The Final Frontier of Land Speed Record Setting

“A rocket friendly environment of 6,000 square miles,” has to be the best description I have ever read about a racing venue. I am, of course, talking about Spaceport America and the East Coast Timing Association’s Spaceport America Invitational land speed record event. Would 6,000 square miles be enough, I wondered?

Spaceport America is the home of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, one of three companies vying with SpaceX, founded by Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, and Blue Origin, owned by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, to be the first business to provide commercial passenger flights in space. Anticipating a flood of would-be moon goers, Spaceport is the first commercial spaceport in the world.  It is located near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, (yes, that’s Truth or Consequences) on 18,000 acres next to U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range. It enjoys 340 days of sunshine, low humidity and low humanity and has a runway 12,000 feet long (2.273 miles/3.65 kilometers)—the perfect place to run a few fast cars, hence the word Invitational.

The East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) was formed to give land speed racers a place to run east of the Mississippi. Their first location was an old-World War II runway in Maxton, NC, where they had a one-mile course. Unfortunately, Maxton only operated between 1996 and 2011 and the ECTA moved to Wilmington, OH. That too is no longer available so the ECTA’s current home is Blytheville, AK, and the Eaker Air Force Base.

Spaceport America is a one-time only (for now), invitational pop-up event open to only to a limited number of racecars capable of speeds in excess of 200 mph. Luckily, StateofSpeed.com was invited along to participate in the action. Spaceport is out there, a long way from nowhere and an hour north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The security is military tight as are the rules. For example, they had us digging stones out of our tires before we were allowed to roll onto the apron which served as the pits. Never done that before.

“I was going just over 190 mph when I began to run out of room and I admit I was a bit slow on the chutes. No harm done though.”

As an untried track the event got off to a slow start and the course is a tad short consequently a couple guys went off the end: David Haas crashed heavily in his lakester which is land speed terminology for a dragster. Also off the end but unharmed was Ron Cooper in his cup car and Ron Hope in his twin-turbo, front-engine 1927 Ford Roadster saying, “I was going just over 190 mph when I began to run out of room and I admit I was a bit slow on the chutes. No harm done though.”

Hope, meanwhile, stepped up to sponsor the ECTA 200 MPH Club donating funds and merchandise from his race team, Rat Trap Racing and his company Capital Auto Reconditioning Services.

Without a doubt the most impressive driver at the event was Dan ‘The Blind Mechanic’ Parker. In March 2012, champion drag racer Parker was racing his Pro Mod Chevrolet Corvette at Alabama Dragway when it crashed into the retaining wall. Luckily, Parker survived but the impact rendered him permanently blind. Parker was devastated, suicidal in fact, but during a dream he realized that he could continue his passion for motorsports and go for a land speed record.

“Not possible,” you say but in 2013 with the aid of friends and sponsors he built a three-wheeled motorcycle and raced at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The following year he achieved an Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme world record in his class with no special dispensation for visual impairment. Following his success, Parker learned that Mike Newman, another blind racer, had just set a record for the highest top speed attained on land, reaching 200.9 miles per hour in a modified Nissan GT-R. Unintentionally, Newman had helped Parker focus on a new goal—racing a modified 2008 Corvette equipped with an audio guidance system developed by a friend of his at Boeing Phantom Works.

StateofSpeed.com watched while Parker piloted his dual-control Vette to a first-run speed of 120 mph. Parker was disappointed, saying, “I had hoped to go much faster.” Unfortunately, the audio guidance system needed recalibrating and the team worked into the wee hours to reconfigure the parameters in the hope of a faster run the second day when Jay Leno would be there to record Dan for an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. Parker eventually ran an amazing 152 mph.

Imagine our consternation when we arrived at Spaceport on day two to find the weather beautiful but the wind gusting to almost 30 mph. We sat and sat and sat, had lunch courtesy of Spaceport and sat some more. Finally, at 2 pm the wind fell to 15 mph and a handful of cars including RJ Gottlieb in the Big Red Camaro went for a run. By the time RJ got to the start line the wind had picked back up to 20 mph and was gusting to 28. 

Finally, we heard that unmistakable roar way off in the distance rapidly getting louder and louder until that blood red bolide rocketed out of the brush and across our sightline. It was hauling’ ass. Suddenly, the chute popped, and the announcer shouted 251.3 mph.  When it was all over RJ said, “What a venue, it’s amazing. It’s probably the best mile and half runway event I’ve been to. We’re really jazzed to be here and to set the fastest speed of the meet was fantastic.”

For further information about the ECTA visit, ectamile.com

Slammedenuff SoCal 2020:

Bagged and Bougie

Bringing automotive enthusiasts together is what every great car show and meet is about, and SlammedEnuff has been excelling at this since 2011. SlammedEnuff SOCAL 2020 took place this past Sunday, February 10th, and let’s just say it was spectacular. The show features some of the most insane builds in Southern California, from OEM Plus to Slammed, from Off-Road 240SX to VIP Lexus LS400, and everything in between.

Walking the aisles of SlammedEnuff had us breaking our necks from one build to the next—whether slammed and VIP cars are your cup of tea or not, you can at least admire the true craftsmanship each car displays.

Euro

“It’s like a never ending project for me.”Clair (@r32queen)

This slick VW R32 owned by Clair (@r32queen) and sponsored by Kormodiv will definitely stop you in your tracks. “It’s like a never ending project for me,” says Clair. “There are a set of 3-piece wheels on order. Interior doors soon to be reupholstered with alcantara honey comb pattern.” As if this R32 wasn’t beautiful enough, it is about to get a heck of a lot cooler!

Sometimes you just wonder how people get the perfect fitment, the right amount of low, and a lot of wow factor. This clean purple wrapped Audi S4 flawlessly perfects all of these traits.

This Widebody BMW E92 shows just how cool and crazy some of these cars at SlammedEnuff can get. I mean, who doesn’t love a nice purple wrap with cartoon animals all over.

JDM

The Subaru WRX and WRX STI have been killing it on showroom floors since their release. These Subarus are a prime example of tasteful modifications all around. We talked to Frankie (@Frankie9512, light grey WRX on the left) about the show. “It was a great turnout […] everything was well organized.” There’s nothing worse than an unorganized and chaotic show, so we are thankful to the team at SlammedEnuff for putting on an epic event!

“…future plan for the Evo is to work on making a bit more power and torque.”Madi (@evo.madi)

When it comes to Evos, Madi (@Evo.Madi) knows how to build a show car, and it’s no wonder she won best Mitsubishi at SlammedEnuff! We had a chance to talk to Madi and she told us that her “future plan for the Evo is to work on making a bit more power and torque.” She also has “plans to rewrap the car and go with a new look entirely.”

We love the way this Evo is looking, but can’t wait to see what she has in store for it.  “I made a lot of big moves last year so this year will be more about fine tuning and adding the little details.”

It’s already hard enough to go wrong with an RX7 FD, and even harder with a Rocket Bunny Widebody kit, but then throw some bright Orange into the mix and you’ve created one beautiful machine.

This Lexus RC F sponsored by FlexiShield will have you questioning why you don’t own a Lexus. Although that grille to car ratio is a bit high, this thing is too mean and way clean.

240SX Takeover

No car show is complete without a 240SX overload. There are so many different routes you can go with a 240SX that it’s just so easy to put your own personal touch on one. Just make sure it’s “slammedenuff”.

Talk about going a completely different route, this next 240SX was completely outfitted for off-road use. There’s no doubt that this car is just as much fun in the dirt as it is on the road!

VIP

There was a plethora of VIP builds at SlammedEnuff—nothing beats a Chandelier in the back seat for some added elegance!

We also had a chance to chat with Adam’s Polishes, a familiar name to anyone in the car scene. When asked about how the show went, they said “The show was awesome. Great variety of cars and high quality builds. We hope SlammedEnuff comes back to Socal soon!” We definitely agree with the show coming back next year.

All in all, this event was one for the books. SlammedEnuff Socal 2020 brought out some of the most amazing cars in the area, and everyone from spectators, to vendors, to participants enjoyed every second.

Metallica’s James Hetfield Brings Heavy Metal to the Petersen Automotive Museum

Google World’s Largest Concerts and likely as not, Metallica will come up in the top five with 1.6 million people attending Monsters of Rock at Tushino Airfield, Moscow in 1991. The images from that concert are staggering and they form a juxtapositional backdrop to ‘Reclaimed Rust: The James Hetfield Collection’ a new exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA, featuring the cars of Metallica front man James Hetfield.

“I believe everyone needs or deserves a second chance or a third chance or a fourth chance. So knock the rust off and continue the story.”James Hetfield, Metallica

Prior to the opening, there was a fireside chat with Hetfield who talked candidly about his love of automobiles, and custom cars in particular. Hetfield was born in Downey, California in 1963, which at the time was the epicenter of the custom car culture saying about the exhibit, “It’s historic for me; as do our albums, these cars mark my life for the past 14 years and it’s great. I love that they are staying together and that youngsters will be inspired by them.” When asked what was behind the name of the exhibit, ‘Reclaimed Rust’ Hetfield said, “I believe everyone needs or deserves a second chance or a third chance or a fourth chance. So knock the rust off and continue the story.”

StateofSpeed was invited to the Media/VIP preview but we first encountered James’ amazing cars at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Duke of Richmond had invited a number of rock stars to display their cars including Hetfield’s 1936 Auburn Speedster ‘Slow Burn’.

Unfortunately, some typical shipping damage put a slight damper on the proceedings but the Auburn, built by long time Hetfield collaborator Rick Dore Kustoms, showed well alongside Billy F Gibbons’ CadZZilla and Jimmie Vaughan’s ’61 Cadillac.

Indeed, five of the 10 vehicles on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum were collaborations between Dore and Hetfield and they included a 1934 Packard-based custom ‘Aquarius’ and an unrecognizable 1948 Jaguar named ‘Black Pearl’.

Both these cars and particularly the Packard lean heavily on European styling of the thirties, specifically the French designs of Delahaye and coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi. Both cars feature swooping, sensual hand-formed one-off aluminum bodies by Marcel’s Custom Metal, Corona, CA.

The other collaborations with Dore include the centerpiece of the exhibit, a 1953 Buick Skylark ‘Skyscraper’ that features, as do some of the other customs, what appears to be a solid but lift-off convertible top. These tops, created in the 1940s are known as Carson Tops, after the Carson Top Shop in Los Angeles that first developed them.

While not as outwardly radical as some of the other collaborations, the 1937 Lincoln ‘Voodoo Priest’ features more subtle modifications below the stunning Candy Apple Red paint by Darryl Hollenbeck, Concord, CA., including a fully hot rodded Lincoln V-12 by HandHFlatheads. The engine breaths through three classic Stromberg 97 carbs and note the one-piece curved windshield by Timo Tanskannen of Finland.

Not all the cars in the exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum are radical customs, some are more hot rod than custom. For example, ‘Iron Fist’ is a tough-looking bare metal, chopped ’36 Ford 5-window coupe that has no paint but attitude a-plenty.  Built by Scott Mugford’s Blue Collar Customs of Sacramento, CA., the ‘Fist’ is powered by a small-block Chevy V-8 and protected by a coat of clear by Darryl Hollenbeck.

Also completed by Blue Collar Customs is Hetfield’s ’56 Ford F-100 pickup known as ‘Str8 Edge’. Powered by a 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine, the ‘Edge’ features a 5-window, extended cab with a 2-1/4-inch top chop, a side-opening hood and a ’60-’61 Chrysler grille with Thunderbird trim. The wild paint was handled by Jason Haskin.

The other late-thirties custom in the collection is the 1937 Ford ‘Crimson Ghost’. More of a custom than a rod, the pan-draggin’ ‘Ghost’ is different because of its pillar less door opening and sweeping roofline that flows seamlessly down into the decklid.

The only real hot rod in the show is a quintessential ’32 Ford Roadster tagged ‘Black Jack’. Built in the traditional style by Josh Mills of Marietta, GA., it’s an original, all-steel 1932 Ford with no parts newer than 1949 on the entire car.

The rod, which is actually brown rather than black, appeared in the 2017 Grand National Roadster Show but did not win the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster Award. Instead, that went to Bruce Wanta’s Packard built by Troy Ladd’s Hollywood Hot Rods. As do some of the customs ‘Black Jack’ features a padded, lift-off Carson-style top and a flathead Ford V-8 under the hood.

‘Reclaimed Rust’ is a worthwhile exhibit especially if you are a fan of Hetfield and customs spelt with a ‘K.’

No doubt a little tongue in cheek, the final car on the roster was the 1963 Lincoln ‘Dead Kennedy’. Painted satin black and looking a little road worn, the side-piped Lincoln with shaved door handles was perhaps the black sheep of the show and did not express the workmanship of the other cars on display.

‘Reclaimed Rust’ is a worthwhile exhibit especially if you are a fan of Hetfield and customs spelt with a ‘K.’ Incidentally, all of the vehicles on display were donated by Hetfield to the Petersen Automotive Museum and the ‘Reclaimed Rust’ exhibit, sponsored by ESP Guitar Company, will run through October 2020. For more information visit Petersen.org.

The Best Cars of the Grand National Roadster Show 2020

Now in its 71st year, the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California, is still alive, and very much kickin’. 

Roadsters from around the Nation show up at GNRS, the longest running indoor car show in the world.  

There is no shortage of Awards at the show, but the most sought after is America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, last year won by a ’36 Ford named ‘3 Penny Roadster’.

As you can see, some of these builds are crazy enough that they just work.

The show will continue to run through Sunday, 1/26, so grab a friend and check out some of the coolest Roadster builds around, you won’t want to miss it!

Barrett Jackson’s Wildest Rides

Every automotive enthusiast has unique taste, whether you’re a purist, hot rod connoisseur or rat rod junkie. These worlds tend to collide every once in a while, however, every enthusiast can respect a properly restored, resto-modded, or custom built ride. 

We happened to take a trip down the aisles and across the block of Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona, only to find some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring builds the show has to offer.

’72 Dodge Challenger Custom Hardtop

When it comes to Resto-Mods, this Challenger is the cream of the crop. 

Incorporating a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 with a 727 5-Speed automatic transmission shows that this beast is utilizing the best of modern technology while still utilizing tried and true parts. 

’39 Chevrolet Custom COE Pickup

Grabbing the attention of attendees at Barrett Jackson is no easy feat as there are so many cars to look at, but this custom pickup shows how it’s done.

This old tanker turned modern beauty is a sight to behold from the outside, but what you don’t see is the LS1 sitting under the seats and coilovers on all four corners. It’s no wonder this bad boy sold for $95,700.

’67 Volkswagen Type II Double-Cab Custom Pickup “Double Deluxe”

Going all out and creating a car that never existed is taking a custom build to the next level.

Kindig It Design in Salt Lake City, Utah, integrated the best parts of a Deluxe bus and a double-cab to create this unique “Double Deluxe”, a true masterpiece.

You’d better have deep pockets to get your hands on this puppy as it was taken home at $161,700.

’69 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Custom Coupe

For the fans of Pro-Touring builds, this Camaro is one you’ll want to take a nice long gander at. What started as a 396-ci V8 soon turned into a 502-ci V8, but why stop there?

The 502-ci crate engine was bored to a 540-ci, squeezing every ounce of extra ponies out. To add a unique touch, the dash is straight out of a ’59 Chevy Impala, proving that this car is all in the details.

’67 Ford Mustang Eleanor Tribute

What started as a ’67 Fastback soon became a licensed Official Eleanor Tribute Edition Mustang after a ground-up restoration. With a signed dash by none other than Carroll Shelby, this Eleanor is the definition of a custom build, and a jaw dropping one at that.

’70 Plymouth Barracuda Custom Coupe

At first glance, you might think this ‘cuda rolled off the assembly line yesterday. After a two and a half year build, this Plymouth Barracuda comes complete with a 528-ci HEMI, rebuilt 4-speed manual transmission and a Dana 4.11 rear end.

’62 Morris Mini Cooper

There’s something about the simplicity of a Mini Cooper that always looks good, and with some subtle touches, they can really stand out.

All it took for this custom Woody wagon was some fender flares and a set of wider tires to get an aggressive stance and become a real attention grabber.

’67 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback

For those of us that like to go fast, and look good doing it, this is the ride to be in. With a supercharged Ford Racing Coyote 5.0 L V8, this thing is sure to throw you into the back seat.

’58 Volkswagen Custom Roadster

Last on our list of fine Barrett Jackson customs is one ride that is sure to make you look twice. This take on a steampunk VW is nothing shy of perfection, and the craftsmanship behind this build is even more intriguing.

With only 40 miles on the build, the next owner will be proud to break in the fresh 1.4 L, four cylinder, air-cooled engine.

Overall, the builds you’ll see at Barrett Jackson consist of top-notch craftsmanship and creativity, and definitely cost a pretty penny!

Odd and Obscure Cars You’ll Find at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale

There’s no doubt that the majority of cars at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona are Muscle and Super Cars, but there’s also a small niche of odd and obscure cars that may pique your curiosity.

1956 BMW Isetta 300

The first car on our list is a ’56 BMW Isetta 300, which some may recognize as Steve Urkel’s ride of choice from Family Matters. The beautiful two-toned red and white exterior catches your eye in a heartbeat. It even has a sunroof and an air-cooled 2 cylinder engine, just make sure the door is closed up front!

1937 Morgan F4 Roadster

Next is a ’37 Morgan F4 Roadster, and while in today’s day and age we see three wheeled “cars” on a daily basis such as the Polaris Slingshot, they probably weren’t your every day occurrence in the ‘30s. 

1952 Kaiser Henry J Custom Coupe

This ’52 Kaiser Henry J Custom Coupe looks like it could have come straight from Whoville, but that doesn’t take away from its coolness factor. Just look at that scoop!

1985 Ford LTD Custom Station Wagon

Here we have an ’85 Ford LTD Custom Station Wagon, the “Family Truckster”. Whether it’s the wood paneling, the green paint, or the fact that whoever built it doubled down on the headlights, this thing sticks out like a sore thumb, and we are kind of digging it.

1971 Lawil S3 Varzina

This boxy car is a ’71 Lawil S3 Varzina, built by a company known for making these microcars. Nothing like some chains to keep you feeling nice and secure while driving. You’ll want to stay out of this bad boys way with its whopping 12 horsepower.

1957 Jato Golf Cart

This executive ’57 Jato Golf Cart is definitely one unique ride. Just imagine hitting the back 9 in the ‘50s cruising around in this puppy. From a fringed fabric top to original chrome, this thing is sweet! From the looks of those handle bars though, you better hope your passenger turns at the same time as you.

1972 Cadillac Custom Wagon

We end this list with what once was a Cadillac Hearse. While we’re still trying to figure out what exactly is going on with this thing, we do know that it’s named the “Pirate Surf Mobile”. We are also sure that this thing purrs and definitely catches attention.

That does it for our list of some of the most odd and obscure cars at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona!

Barrett Jackson Goes Bavarian

Cool, Collectable and Unusual BMWs

BMW is known for some of the most refined, performance oriented, and sometimes unusual, vehicles known to man, and many found their way to the Barrett Jackson auction block.

From the unconventional Isetta 300 to Paul Walker’s collection of some of the rarest E36 M3 Lightweights, Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona is a treasure trove for BMW collectors. 

Paul Walker’s collection easily steals the spotlight. The collection consists of 21 cars, 7 of those being BMWs, including 5 E36 M3 Lightweights and 2 E30 M3s.

It doesn’t take an expert to know that Paul Walker had great taste in cars.

BMW 2002s, the company’s major milestone after World War II that pretty much secured their future, also made a statement at the auction.

While some of these cars are either kept pristine or restored to their original state, others take on a whole new look, including new wheels, wraps and even engine swaps.

This particular ’73 2002 was stripped down and sandblasted, then wrapped up in the signature Louis Vuitton monogram. Some may not go down the same road as this owner, but it’s all about creating a car that suits your taste.

Barrett Jackson

Prep for the Gavel

Some of the most extraordinary cars you’ve ever seen are auctioned off at Barrett Jackson, and with the swing of the gavel, another pristine automobile goes off to the highest bidder, but not before some of the most extensive preparation.

There is more to the process than meets the eye, and a ton of patience and elbow grease goes into each vehicle that crosses the Barrett Jackson auction block.

From paint-correction and detailing to frame-off restorations, each car has a unique story and an owner that has put their blood and sweat into maintaining their cars legacy.

Days leading up to and even the day of the auction, the owners meticulously inspect and clean every nook and cranny of their prized possessions.

It’s no wonder the largest sponsors for Barrett Jackson are some of the biggest detailing names in the game, such as Meguiar’s, Mother’s, and Adam’s Polishes.

But it doesn’t stop at the exterior, every inch of these vehicles is polished to perfection.

Cars of all shapes and sizes enter the block at Barrett Jackson, but one thing they all have in common is the pure joy they bring to their owners.

Prepping a car for auction is more than securing the highest bid, but a final farewell.

A Whole Lotta Supra:
The SEMA Edition

The new Toyota MKV Supra is a BMW Z4 with a different body.

If you walked the miles of aisles at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas, you couldn’t help but notice the number of Toyota MKV Supra builds littering the show floor. Not only were they in the Toyota corporate display but they were in numerous booths of aftermarket speed merchants from Milestar to Yokohama.

Now, not a lot of people know this beyond the cognoscenti—the most serious enthusiasts—but the new Gen 5 Toyota GR Supra is really a BMW G29 Z4 wearing a Japanese suit. Indeed, the two cars are assembled side by side in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr.

It’s been more than two decades since the last Supra was available and this version was apparently seven years in the making. That said, we had a taste of what was coming when the concept FT-1 first appeared at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2014. McLaren F1 designer Peter Stevens said, “The front nose is silly, but it does the upper window line to top of screen better than I have seen before and has sensuous surface through the door.”

So, if the MKV Supra which is a real, iconic enthusiast’s car, is a re-dressed BMW, how do those enthusiasts feel about that? StateofSpeed.com spoke to racer Stephen Papadakis about it. PapadakisRacing.com, is, of course, the winningest team in Formula Drift and earlier this year Steph’ attacked the in-line Bavarian B58 six in search of the magic 1,000 horsepower asking the question, “Is this a worthy successor to the 2JZ Toyota engine? Time will tell but so far, I’m pretty impressed.” Stephen actually reprised this build live at the SEMA Show.

The aluminum block evidences racing heritage with a deep skirt, a built-in cast aluminum windage tray and a forged steel crank. Meanwhile, everything is modular and/or integrated. The plastic intake contains an integrated water-to-air intercooler. There’s direct coil-on-plug ignition and there is also an oil-to-water heat exchanger that uses radiator coolant to control the oil temp. Unusually, the engine has no dip stick and no traditional timing marks.

The biggest structural difference from most common engines is that the chain driven DOHC cam timing assembly is on the back of the block rather than the front. Other differences appear in the four-valve head that has motor-driven variable inlet cam timing and direct fuel injection into the combustion chamber. The head also contains an integrated six-into-two exhaust manifold.

“Is [the B58 engine] a worthy successor to the 2JZ Toyota [Supra] engine? Time will tell but so far, I’m pretty impressed.”Stephen Papadakis, PapadakisRacing.com

In his target-1,000 rebuild Steph’ used the stock crank and bearings but installed custom chrome moly Carrillo rods fitted with forged and coated 11:1 JE pistons with stock rings. Major work came in the cylinder head that was ported and flowed and fitted with valves, springs, retainers and keepers from SupertechPerformance.com. The head is secured by custom made ARP head studs. The gasket, however, is stock.

Two things Steph’ did ditch was the direct injection that will be changed out for six 2,000 cc port fuel injectors, one for each cylinder, and the motor-driven viable inlet cam timing that will be disabled and set to max. He also junked the Supra’s stock plastic intake and went for a 3D printed aluminum intake by Mountune, however, the stock throttle body was retained.

The other big change was to dump the stock Supra turbo, replacing it with a much larger Borg Warner EFR 9282 turbo fitted with a Full-Race.com turbo header and dual wastegates.

In stock configuration, the MKV Supra is good for 335 bhp and 369 lb-ft of torque as is the Beemer. Sixty mph comes in just 4.1 seconds and it tops out at a reasonable but electronically-limited 155 mph. Papadakis’ modifications unfortunately remain unresolved because the factory computer is not able to be re-programmed to work with his ‘old school’ modifications. Steph’ said, “The B58 is a really good engine but until we can go out there and make the power there is work to do with the fuel system and the ECM.”

The styling of the MKV Supra is soft and organic through the sides but very aggressive in the front and rear facias that are perhaps a little busy but then it is a Supra. Aftermarket body kits and wings can make it more so. One of the car’s distinctive features is the ‘double bubble’ roof that references the signature of the Italian styling house Zagato.

Ingress to the MKV Supra necessitates ducking your head but once in the seat the double bubble top affords good headroom. According to several reviewers, the interior looks like that of a BMW but now that we know it is a BMW perhaps that is to be expected. Soft -touch materials and BMW features, design cues and details give the interior a premium feel. However, one design feature that some find uncomfortable are the twin cup holders aft of the eight-speed shift lever. If you use them, the cups get in the way of your elbow. I don’t have an answer for this other than not to use them but then why are they there if you can’t use them? Another issue is the lack of trunk space and spare tire?

Overall, the Supra interior is snug, and I just don’t see two-meter tall (6ft 5in) Jeremy Clarkson having much room for him, his ego and a camera man.

So, when all is said and done, how do we feel about the new BMW Supra. My guess is it’s a bit of a compromise. It’s not a Beemer and it’s certainly not a Toyota but, it’s a great sport coupe that is going to please lots of enthusiasts even if it rolls off the floor at around $50K or more.

Tony’s Top Ten SEMA Builds

At this time of the year there’s a worldwide buzz in the auto industry as it gears up for the annual SEMA Show. Today, the acronym stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association but back when it began in 1963 the letters stood for Speed Equipment Manufacturer’s Association. These were the boys that made cars go fast and to spread the word they formed a trade association and got together under Dodger Stadium to sell their speed secrets.

Now, almost 60 years on, SEMA has grown to be an international powerhouse with the largest automotive trade show in the world. Unfortunately, the show, held annually in Las Vegas, is not open to the public but through the wonders of modern technology the world can see what goes down in ‘Lost Wages.’ What happens in Vegas no longer stays in Vegas.

When I began working the show almost 30 years ago there were almost no vehicles displayed in the show. It was purely a trade event with sellers and buyers. Then vendors began to realize that displaying their products on a vehicle attracted attention and the concept of display and project vehicles began to explode. SEMA is now regarded as the largest auto show in the world with more than 1,500 custom vehicles on display.

As you would expect, there’s everything from the sublime to the ridiculous and everything in between. StateofSpeed.com was there to capture the craziness and here are my Top 10.

’53 Lincoln Capri ‘Golden Sahara’

Back in the fifties, George ‘King of the Kustomizers’ Barris created the ‘Golden Sahara’ from his wrecked ’53 Lincoln Capri complete with glowing tires. Restored, it’s now part of the KlairmontKollections.com

Datsun 510 ‘Brock Buster’

There were a lot of vintage Japanese cars on display and this Datsun 510 ‘Brock Buster’ created by Cobra Daytona designer Pete Brock even had a vintage 1979 Revell model of the car on the dash.

’61 Chevy Apache by Honda

It take cajones to put a different brand of vehicle in your corporate booth so I admire Honda for putting this vintage ’61 Chevy Apache truck in their display complete with a vintage Honda 50 and a CB160.

Webasto Electric Ford Mustang

I’m not big on eco design but this 900 hp electric Mustang caught my eye and won a Ford Design Award for builder Webasto.

Chevrolet ‘E-10’ Concept

Yet another electrified vintage vehicle was Chevrolet’s ‘E-10’ concept based on a ’62 C-10 pickup fitted with a double stack of Chevrolet Performance concept electric crate (eCrate) motors.

Rick Dore and Marcel’s Custom Metal Custom

The art of coach building automobile bodies is disappearing but Rick Dore working with Marcel’s Custom Metal continues to build outstanding automobiles, many for James Hetfield of Metallica.

Chopped ’59 Chevy El Camino

I love ’59 Chevy El Camino pickups but I’m not sure about this chopped, sectioned, shortened specimen complete with blown Chevy and side pipes. I might have preferred the uncut version.

#89 Mercedes-AMG GT4

It was almost too far in the air to see but once spotted you couldn’t take your appreciative eyes off the #89 Mercedes-AMG GT4 built by renntechmotorsports.com.

Dodge Charger Wrapped by Rastaman

Wraps and graphics are a huge part of SEMA because they can be easily removed when the show is over. Rastaman built this wrap design.

Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth Inspired “Bubbletop”

I’m not sure I like this but I do like the concept of a tribute to Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth whose  ‘Bubbletop’ creations of the 1960’s turned me on to the wilder side of auto customizing.

SEMA 2019: Impressions

SEMA 2019 is here and bringing the all-around automotive goodness we’ve come to expect. We don’t know if you’ve heard, but there were a lot of new A90 Toyota Supras out there. Despite this year being called “The Year of the Supra”, the show had an abundance of other fantastic builds that deserve some love.

Here are some of our Supra-free highlights from SEMA 2019.

IMPORTS

This Datsun 240z has a completely carbon fiber body and is powered by 5.3L Chevy V8 out of a Silverado. This truck powered beast is owned and raced by Shawn Bassett and is built to tear up the track at any time attack.

MUSCLE

Check out this ’72 Riviera by Gas Monkey Garage of Discovery Channel’s Fast n’ Loud. It’s powered by a Katech LT4 and boosted with a Magnuson Supercharger.

Koni showed off their heritage with a Shelby GT350 at their booth sporting the shocks they developed for the original release in the 60s.

OFFROAD

Milestar Tires displayed their newly released UTV/Side-by-Side specific Patagonia SXT tire.

CLASSICS/HOT RODS

The AMC Gremlin was once classified as one of the ugliest cars ever made, but that title definitely doesn’t fit this one. This custom Gremlin hot rod is built by Jacob Griffin and proves that these ugly little cars do have some potential.

EURO/EXOTICS

Eibach collaborated with Hot Wheels to present this clean BMW 2002 along with its miniature version at their booth. Some lucky attendants even got to take home their own Eibach x Hotwheels collectible 2002.

World Fuel Altered Challenge

If you trace the history of that unique American motorsport drag racing back to its roots in 1949 at Goleta Airport, now Santa Barbara International Airport, you can see that most of the racecars were really hot rods, street-driven roadsters and coupes modified for racing. As the racing evolved so did the cars becoming more and more venue and class specific. Some evolved into rails, what we now call dragsters that were little more than the frame rails with an engine, a driver and four wheels. Others still resembled their production roots but grew more cartoon like with short wheelbases, giant raised engines for weight transfer, huge tires for grip and somewhere back there a driver hangin’ on life.

These hot wheels on steroids were called Altereds, because they were altered from stock and the top of the class was the AA/Fuel Altereds as they ran the biggest engines on nitro methane. Their short wheelbase—minimum 92 inches—and their high center of gravity made them insanely unpredictable and hugely exciting to watch, as you never knew which way they would go as the leapt off the start line.  According to Lou Hart in his book Drag Racing Fuel Altereds they were “Pure entertainment” and the crowds loved then.

They heyday came at the end of the ‘Swingin’ Sixties’ when a bunch of them including Pure Heaven, Rat Trap and the famed Winged Express went on a nationwide tour. They killed it but in 1973, at the height of their popularity, the NHRA’s new ruling bounced the Fuel Altered class from national events forcing many racers to become ‘Outlaws’.

Their short wheelbase—minimum 92 inches—and their high center of gravity made them insanely unpredictable…

Fuel Altereds kinda disappeared from the scene until the advent of nostalgia drag racing in the late eighties. Soon, guys like Ron Hope were resurrecting historic Altereds such as Rat Trap while other like Randy Bradford and ‘Mousie’ Marcellus were dusting off cars such as Bradford’s Fiat and the by now infamous ‘Winged Express’. Hope is actually a driving force behind the resurgence and has been touring the world with Rat Trap racing across the US and in Canada, Europe and New Zealand and most recently in Australia in the inaugural Aeroflow World Fuel Altered Challenge presented by Gulf Western Oil (WFAC).

The idea of the Challenge came about when Hope was talking to ‘Kiwi’ Morice McMillin who happens to be the head honcho at Australia’s Aeroflow Nitro Hot Rods & Funny Cars. Over the course of three weeks they thrashed out a plan to host the event at Sydney Dragway, Australia and bring in teams from New Zealand and the US to do battle with the local Aussies.

The American team comprised of Randy Bradford’s Fiat, Ron Hope’s Rat Trap, Rich Guasco’s Pure Hell driven by Ron’s son Brian and Hughie Callen’s High Heaven driven by Shawn Callen. The Australian contingent comprised Agro driven by Paul Messineo, Berzerk driven by Justin Walsh, Chucky’s Toy driven by Rick Gauci and Pyscho driven by Shane Olive. The two New Zealanders were Nightmare driven by Dave Gould and Spooky driven by Morice McMillin.

For the Americans Australia was an awful long way to travel for a one-day race. For Hope’s Rat Trap it was more than 9,000 miles from their home just south of Nashville, TN. Nevertheless, the four cars were trucked to Los Angeles and shipped in containers to Sydney. The Aussie customs released them only the Thursday before the Saturday race and to make matters more stressful the weather forecast was rain.

Thankfully, as Saturday dawned the skies cleared and the cars were paired for a Chicago-style event whereby there would be three rounds with the two fastest cars going to the final. Despite the Aussie cars being mostly shortened Funny Cars fitted with Altered-style bodies the ten cars were fairly well matched and all we’re running in the low- to mid-6s at in the 230 mph range. The US’s Randy Bradford, a tough competitor at the best of times, ran a 6.07 and a 6.19 that put him in the final against Aussie Rick Gauci driving Chucky’s Toy.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. While the teams were all thrashing to perform repairs after a tough second round a few spots of rain turned into a downpour and the race was called. There was huge disappointment in the pits. Everybody had worked so hard to pull this event together and here they were with no result, however, co-organizer Ron Hope declared, “This has been a fantastic experience. We made a lot of new friends and saw some great racing but there’s unfinished business. To paraphrase The Terminator, ‘We’ll be back’.”

21^st Shelby American Reunion

Perhaps nobody other than Enzo Ferrari commands as much loyalty as American racing legend Carroll Shelby. Unlike Ferrari, Shelby switched allegiances depending on the prevailing climate. In the 1950s, he raced for Allard, Aston-Martin, Healey and even Ferrari. He even raced Formula One in 1958 and ’59 before launching his own car in 1962. Even then he switched from Ford to Chrysler/Dodge to GM’s Oldsmobile as the business climate shifted. However, it is the Cobra and associated vehicles such as the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT500 that are logged in our memory chips as iconic American performance cars.

The Cobra came about because Shelby had learned to like American-powered, lightweight European sports cars with the Cadillac-powered Allards. When the time came to build his own sports car he planned to combine the lightweight, aluminum-bodied British AC Ace chassis with a Ford V8. The AC had an aging Bristol 4-cylinder that was underpowered and outdated. In 1962, the Ford V8 was as modern as it got.

“…[We] worked around the clock to build the first Cobra in Moon’s cramped shop. Shelby sat on a stool and watched the action. I was just a kid.”Roy Gammell

Sans engine and paint, an Ace was shipped to Dean Moon’s hot rod shop in Santa Fe Springs, California. There, a small group of rodders including Phil Remington, Roy Gammell and his son Doyle installed a 260-cubic-inch, small-block Ford and had hot rodder Dean Jeffries paint it yellow for the 1962 New York Auto Show. The rest, as they say, is history. Incidentally, that first Cobra, now painted blue, sold in 2016 for $13.75 million.

Hugely successful on the race track but less so in the showroom—only 654 small-block Cobras and 350 big-block cars were sold—the Shelby Cobra is possibly the world’s best known sports car and its legacy continues to this day with related car clubs, clothing lines, and continuation cars—the Cobra being possibly the most copied car on the planet. They say there are probably more Cobras now than there ever were ever built originally and I don’t doubt it.

There are also numerous events such as the recent 21^st Los Angeles Shelby American Automobile Club Shelby Tribute and Car Show at the Shelby headquarters in Gardena, California. This huge facility is now home to a small museum of Carroll Shelby’s vehicles, an event space and Original Venice Crew Mustangs (OVC) building continuation GT350s using original ’65 Mustangs. The show is an annual free event open to the public. The several hundred cars on display can be anything relating to Shelby automobiles from Falcons, Ford-powered Sunbeam Tigers and De Tomaso Panteras to an array of the new Ford GT including the custom painted black, white and orange one owned by ex-Ford designer Camilo Pardo who designed the previous GT model. And, of course, there’s a huge selection of Cobras and Mustangs that included a rare station wagon built out of a ’66 coupe and one of only four Mustang GT350 convertibles. What’s literally very cool is that many of the cars are displayed inside the cavernous building out of the hot sun.

You get the run of the building; get to see Shelby-associated celebrities such as Roy Gammell who worked on Cobra numero uno to Doug Dwyer, Ted Sutton, Jim Marietta who operates OVC Mustangs and racing driver/instructor Bob Bondurant. All are approachable and have great stories to tell. We spoke to StateofSpeed.com friend Roy Gammell who worked with his father on that very first Cobra: “We had no time, so dad, myself, Phil Remington, Larry Maldonado and Fred Larsen worked around the clock to build the first Cobra in Moon’s cramped shop. Shelby sat on a stool and watched the action. I was just a kid.”

Two of our favorite cars on display were the one and only 1968 Shelby Lonestar that was built as a stillborn supercar continuation of the Cobra and CSX 3047. This ‘survivor’ Cobra was one of only two painted Hertz gold by the factory in 1965. Despite its well-patinated paint, it is said to be the most original 427 SC left in existence.

…The Shelby Cobra is possibly the world’s best known sports car and its legacy continues to this day.

For more information about LASAAC and the Carroll Shelby Tribute Car Show visit, lashelbyclub.com

Goodwood Revival

The World’s Premier Classic Motorsports Event

StateofSpeed.com has visited the Duke of Richmond’s glorious Goodwood Estate several times for the Festival of Speed but this was our first trip to the fantastic Revival. 

Goodwood, located near Chichester on the south coast of England about 60 miles from London, has been the home of the Dukes of Richmond for more than 300 years and a house has been on the site since the early 1600s. However, it was Freddie March, the 9th Duke who instilled the 12,000-acre estate with its motorsports heritage. Freddie trained as a mechanic and became a racing driver. After World War II, in 1948, he turned the perimeter road of the wartime Westhampnett airfield into the 2.367-mile Goodwood Motor Circuit that hosted Britain’s first post-War race and was Britain’s most prestigious circuit for eighteen years from 1948-1966. Over the years, the circuit fell a little behind contemporary standards that is until Charles, the 10th Duke, took over and initiated both the Festival in 1993 and the Revival in 1998 on the 50th anniversary of the circuit opening. The circuit is now fully restored to its original glory and can often been seen in movies and on TV.

Twenty-one years on, the Goodwood Revival, with around 150,000 attendees, is one of the world’s most prestigious and yet fun events. There really is nothing quite like it. Notwithstanding all the hoopla that includes air displays, auctions, on-track demonstrations and parades which this year included one celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the Mini, the Revival is above all an event of classic circuit racing for cars and motorcycles. In fact, no modern vehicles are allowed within the circuit perimeter throughout the weekend. That said the new Land Rover Defender was introduced at the Revival.

The gates opened on Thursday but the ‘tra-ction’ began on Friday and ran full throttle beginning at 9:45 am through Sunday at 6pm with the Freddie March Memorial Trophy race.  And these are no parade laps; this is serious racing with the likes of Le Mans’ superstars battling real Cobras against Corvettes, Ferraris and XKEs just like it was in the sixties. Andre Lotterer and Chris Wilson won the Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration race in their ’65 Cobra when Olly Bryant hit the tire walls and, well, retired. Fastest lap was Oliver Hart in a Trojeiro Ford in 1m25.5seconds with an average speed of 100.18 mph.

There was another fantastic race, the Brooklands Trophy, for Pre-War Bentley sports cars that look more like green London busses they are so big. The start looked like a bus jam on London’s Oxford Street but the checkered flag was taken by Martin Overington in a 1929 Blower Bentley. They were averaging 75 mph. 

One of the most prestigious races is the Goodwood Trophy for 1930-’51 Grand Prix and Voiturette cars. That was won by Gareth Burnette driving a 2-liter 1938 single seater Alfa Romeo. His fastest lap was 1m30.909seconds with an average speed of 94.24 mph.

While the historic, pedigree racecars put on a terrific show; a crowd favorite is the St. Mary’s Trophy for 1950-’59 Saloon Cars (sedans to Americans). Here you get everything from large lumbering, Brit-speak Yank tanks that this year included Patrick Watts’ 1957 Studebaker Silver Hawk to diminutive British Austin A40s that look like shoe boxes compared to the Kelvinator-sized American counterparts. Nicolas Minassian and Mike Jordan were the eventual winners in a tiny A40 that was about as big as the trunk on the Festival’s ‘Fastest-man-up-the hill’ Romain Dumas in a Ford Thunderbird that ran a credible 1m34.907seconds with an average speed of 90.27 mph.

In all, there are more than a dozen trophy battles ensuring that every race fan gets his or her fill. One of the cutest races, however, is the Settrington Cup for kids in tiny Austin J40 pedal cars. There were 64 entries including a lot of young ladies but young Harry Dark, the darkhorse, took the flag.

“The Revival is a truly smashing day accompanied by lashings of ginger beer and noisy parp parp, bang bang cars.”Jessica Helen Reinhold

The Revival is not all racing though and there is so much more to see from the themed corporate displays from companies such as SU Carburettor (Brit spelling) to the fifties’ British beach scene for toddlers to the ‘The Wild One’s’ Lee Marvin-inspired Boose Fighters motorcycle gang. Thankfully, they were no more threatening than the kids kicking sand. At Goodwood for the first time American Evonne Morton, dressed as ‘Rosie the Riveter’, said, “Give me Goodwood on a summer’s day and you can forget about the rest of the world”

And while there is no official dress code for the Revival, if you don’t want to feel out of place you’d better be dressed in some kind of relevant outfit from the 1920s, through the 1960s. You can mix ‘n’ match decades and even styles but you’d better be cool or look conspicuously out of place. StateofSpeed.com caught up with Revival regular Jessica Helen Reinhold whose husband Tom is in charge of McLaren Heritage had the last word saying, “The Revival is a truly smashing day accompanied by lashings of ginger beer and noisy parp parp, bang bang cars.” We couldn’t have said it better. For more info visit www.goodwood.com

Bonneville – The World’s Fastest Racetrack

The World’s Fastest Racetrack is a big name to live up to but Bonneville is a big place and folks have been chasing records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, since the 1930s. The fastest man on the salt is Brit Richard Noble who went 633.468 mph in 1983 in Thrust II. His next car, Thrust SSC, driven by Andy Green, upped the land speed record to the current 763.035 but that was at Blackrock Desert, now home of Burning Man, consequently, Noble remains the fastest man at Bonneville.

I’ve been making the pilgrimage to what we racers call The Great White Dyno since 1975, mostly as a spectator/journalist but in the early 2000s myself and hot rod builder Jimmy Shine raced a 1928 Model A Roadster that eventually set a land speed record at 208.454 mph. It wasn’t easy, it took us about six years to get the record and involved taking the car to the wind tunnel at MIRA in England where we gained some ‘free’ horsepower.

The main sanctioning body for land speed racing in the US is the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) that was formed in 1937 by car clubs that were racing at the various dry lake beds north of Los Angeles. Eventually, they settled on El Mirage where they still race May through November except in August when the group decamps to Bonneville for the annual Speed Week that began in 1949.

Unfortunately, heavy winter rains cut a groove north to south right through the 1.3-mile El Mirage course. The Bureau of Land Management, the SCTA and a group called The Friends of El Mirage have been trying to fill the fissure but so far to no avail. It may mean no racing at all this year. Thankfully, the SCTA has access to the Bonneville Salt Flats but that too is a living desert where this year rain on the night before Speed Week all but devastated the event turning the salt into a spongy, mushy mess. Plenty of runs were made but few records were broken.

For example, in October 2018, Rick Vesco’s Turbinator II became the first wheel-driven car to exceed 500 mph with a run at 503.332. Driver Dave Spangler manage only 81 mph this past August because of the fast deteriorating surface. Fastest speed of the meet and the associated HOT ROD Magazine trophy went to George Poteet driving his Speed Demon streamliner to 369.533 mph that was well below his previous top speed of 469 mph. Other ‘fast cars’ such as Marlo Triet’s Target 550 driven by bike race Valerie Thompson managed 270.762 while Tom Flattery in Salt Shark topped out at 290.568.  Less than 25 records were broken and none were over 200 mph.

And therein lies the problem with land speed racing and record setting, the lack of test facilities and indeed tracks. Besides the SCTA-BNI.org there is the Utah Salt Flats Racers Association that hosts the World of Speed event at Bonneville in September. There is also the East Coast Timing Association that sanction speed events on airfields including Blytheville International Airport, a disused Strategic Air Command base in Arkansas, north of Memphis. 

Unfortunately, land speed racing is a tough sell as a spectator sport as apart from the start area the vehicles are some distance away for safety reasons and the action is less than exciting. That said, at this year’s Speed Week our friend Dave Davidson spun his #911 ’34 Ford Roadster and went through the speed traps at 241 mph—backwards. Conditions notwithstanding, Dave usually wheels his roadster to speeds in excess of 300 mph but salt conditions this year were not conducive to record breaking.

Electrics and hybrids could well spell the future for land speed racing…

That said, over on the 1-mile, so-called ‘Rookie Course’, some found traction including Greg Tracy driving Dennis Palatov’s all-electric D2EV sports car. On that slippery, one-mile track Greg went a staggering 196.96 mph. Incidentally, Greg also came second in the unlimited class at this year’s Pike’s Peak hill climb in the same car.

Electrics and hybrids could well spell the future for land speed racing and the current top speed record for an electric vehicle is 314.958 set in 2004 by Roger Schroer driving the Ohio State University’s Venturi ‘Buckeye Bullet’.

While the world of land speed racing will no doubt eventually succumb to modern technology for the present the ‘infernal’ combustion engine continues to rule the roost. However, old school brute force is quickly giving way to electronically controlled turbo’d engines. Evidence Ron Hope who has been chasing the elusive ‘red hat’ for many years.

Most people are under the misconception that any run over the magic 200 mph automatically gives you entry into the exclusive Bonneville200mphClub.com and the celebratory red hat. Not even a record in excess of 200 gives you automatic entry because the Club has set arbitrary minimums. No doubt to keep their club somewhat exclusive.

In Ron’s case, he chased the Blown Modified Roadster record with a traditional top-blown Chevy but it was only when brother Steve switched to an electronically controlled, twin-turbo Chevy that they reached a speed of 257.729 mph, setting the record and getting the hat.

Brit Geoff Stilwell found himself in a similar ‘no hat’ situation. Geoff was bitten by the salt bug when Ron’s son Brian Hope let him drive his Rear Engine Modified Roadster. Hooked, Geoff purchased a record-holding rear-engine ’27 Ford Roadster and after a valiant effort from Bob Muravez, Bill Schultz and the late Sparky Perry set a record in 2018 at 258.569 mph, however, that was not good enough for the hat as the arbitrary minimum is a staggering 290 mph. Determined to get his $14 hat, Geoff turned to Mick Jenkins at MicksPaint.com for a complete rebuild with a big, blown Hemi built by Jon Beck, VintageHotRod.com, Chico, CA.

Brad Anderson supplied the 494 ci billet aluminum block that Beck filled with a Sonny Bryant crank and Bill Miller pistons and rods. Atop the motor is a 14-71 Blower Shop supercharger with a new Enderle progressive injector feeding a 63-percent nitro mix. Controlling the parameters is a Holley RacePak system ably installed by fellow racer Donny Cummins. Basically it’s a $100,000, Top Fuel engine de-tuned to produce about 5,000 hp. 

Unfortunately, some transmission problems and the abysmal salt conditions prevented Geoff making any runs at the August 2019 Speed Week. That hat will have to wait. Geoff wasn’t alone though and all of the almost 500 racers who came from all corners of the globe faced the same problems. Within a couple of days the salt surface had deteriorated so much that the meet was called. Land speed racers are a resilient bunch though and they’ll be back hoping, as always, for ideal conditions.

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019

Often copied but never duplicated, The Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is perhaps one of the most amazing events on the motorsports calendar. This year the FOS celebrated its 26^th anniversary and StateofSpeed.com was there for the party.

“The Festival is a fantastic event that I always enjoy but running up the hill in the rain is a definite challenge.”Duncan Pittaway, driver The Beast of Turin

The Festival occurs every summer on the grounds of The Duke of Richmond’s ancestral home, Goodwood House, Chichester, West Sussex, 100 miles south west of London, England. The event is centered around a timed hill climb up the Duke’s 1.16-mile drive. The long-standing record for the run was 41.6 seconds set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld driving a McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car. His average speed was 100.385 mph. Nick’s record for an F1 car remains unbroken as they no longer allow F1 cars timed runs for safety reasons, however, this year Nick’s 20-year-old record was broken by Romain Dumas driving the all-electric VW I.D. R with a time of 39.9 seconds. Dumas might have gone faster on the Sunday but rain prevented a faster run.

The hill climb, which is by invitation only, sees an eclectic field of racecars. We went as a guest of Brit Duncan Pittaway, who muscles the amazing, fire belching “Beast of Turin” up the hill. Built originally in 1911, the 28.5-Liter Fiat ran 132 mph in 1913. Duncan, who recently drove the Beast through the streets of London, restored the car (that’s a book in itself), and drives it with gusto and even ran up the hill in the Sunday rain which sidelined most competitors saying, “The Festival is a fantastic event that I always enjoy but running up the hill in the rain is a definite challenge.”

“[Driverless cars] would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.”

Unlike most big-time events, the FOS pits are open to everybody and you can walk around, get up-close-and-personal with the cars and talk to the mechanics, owners and drivers: I bumped into a wide range of drivers from three-time F1 Grand Prix Champion Sir Jackie Stewart to NASCAR star “King Richard” Petty. Others in attendance included Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and his 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, now valued at an estimated $85 million.

This year, the FOS celebrated more than 40 categories of Motorsports from Early Speed Record setters through Brickyard Heroes of Indy, to the Giants of Rallying both past Group B cars to the Giants of Modern Rallying. There were also special celebrations of Aston Martin, that made its Goodwood debut in 1949, Bentley, March Engineering, Mercedes’ 125 years of motorsport, Porsche 917, and Michael Schumacher. Indeed, there are so many and so much to see it makes your head hurt.

Besides all the historic gas guzzlers, there’s an obvious and growing technological shift toward electric and even autonomous cars with no drivers. Call me old fashioned, but driverless cars to me means slot car racing and while skill is involved, I just wonder if removing the driver removes the point. It would be like climbing Mount Everest using virtual reality—who cares.

That said, as mentioned earlier, this year’s fastest time was set by the Volkswagen I.D. R electric car that recently won Pikes Peak. Driver Romain Dumas scorched up the driveway in 39.9 seconds during the Saturday practice. Rumor had it that he would have killed it on Sunday had rain not prevented it. It’s also a sign of the times that the fields of Goodwood were littered with supercars. Everywhere you looked there were lines of Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins and McLarens, et al. Time was they were a rarity on British roads but no longer.

The FOS’s accessibility to the cars and the drivers, particularly if you are a Formula One fan is amazing in this day and age of restricted access. You can get within a few inches of the cars, check them out, hear them run and meet and greet the mechanics and the drivers. I don’t know of anywhere else you can do that in such a casual atmosphere.

Besides the summer FOS, Goodwood hosts the fall Revival, this year scheduled for the weekend of September 13-15. The Revival is held on the old Goodwood Grand Prix circuit that is also on the Duke’s estate that was an airfield during World War II. The Revival features historic circuit racing with everybody in period dress. Like the Festival, it’s a fantastic event to add to your bucket list. For more info visit Goodwood.com