Editorial>> Chasing Cars

Speedhunting isn't as glamorous as you might think. As we spend so much time travelling between photo shoots and events, we often have to do our work on the road. You'll find us in far corners of the world, hunched over our laptops in coffee shops, internet cafes or anywhere we might be able to leech wi-fi.

Our Flash Results from Formula DRIFT for example, are often hasty affairs. Immediately after the trophy presentation you'll find us scrambling to get the post done while the Need for Speed Electro Lounge is torn down around us (often with us begging the crew not to pack up our router).

Indeed, I started writing this editorial while I was some 35,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, wedged in cattle class on a 15 hour red eye flight. Glamorous? Ha!

Don't get me wrong though, because I'm sure none of us would complain about what we do. Because we love what we do. Chasing cars is our thing, and wherever they go, we go.

To most people that inhabit our planet, a car is, well, just a car. Four wheels, a couple of doors and a motor. It's a mode of transport. An appliance that, beyond the colour and number of cup holders, they care little about. It's just a thing to get them from Point A to Point B to Point C. For enthusiasts though, cars mean so much more. We care about what badge is between the headlights, which wheels are driven, and how our engines ingest air.

So for this month, the team thought an interesting topic would be the Top 20 Most Influential Cars from the eyes of enthusiasts.

In the grand scheme of things, cars really haven't been around for very long but the way they've morphed, transformed and evolved has been nothing short of staggering.

 

With each passing decade came further refinements to every aspect of the automobile, from tyre designs to the tactile elements to brake pad compounds. Everything can and has been improved.

But of the thousands upon thousands of cars that have been created, which are the 20 most influential? There have been some tough discussions behind closed doors, and this month we'll show you the 20 vehicles which we feel are most poignant to us. Cars that have captured the imagination of enthusiasts, redefined automotive design, or smashed through performance barriers that were once thought unbreakable. Our Top 20 Most Influential Cars will be split into four parts so make sure you keep an eye out for them.

And since this month's Top 20 looks back at automotive history, why not speculate about the future as well? With that in mind, the Speedhunters team has decided to gather around the table for a Group Discussion on which cars of today will become the rare collectables of tomorrow.

"They will be the 21st century hot rods! Mine is the 1988 CRX Si. I don't want a '69 Camaro."

That was a response from Stephan Papadakis – one of the driving forces behind the sport compact drag racing movement – during our Honda Group Discussion in April.

I'm sure many enthusiasts have had their own debate with friends over what the 'classics' of tomorrow will be. Indeed, a few years ago in Australia I remember a Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III sold at auction for USD$750,000. When it was released, it cost USD$5,800. Will history repeat itself, with today's enthusiast cars fetching exorbitant prices in the future?

While we're on the topic of Group Discussions, last month we had planned on discussing the current racing regulations, however we weren't able to get all of the responses back in time. So you can expect to see that in the coming weeks as well.

Earlier I mentioned that I was on a long haul flight, and the reason for me travelling down to the Southern Hemisphere is for the World Time Attack Challenge, which is on this coming weekend at Eastern Creek in Sydney.

I was born and raised in Sydney and, having left almost nine months ago for EA's studios in Vancouver, it's definitely good to be back albeit only for a short two week trip.

All eyes will certainly be on this year's competition, which will see the Japanese establishment facing a fresh onslaught from a host of new TA weapons from Australia, the U.S. and NZ.

Who will win this year's WTAC? It's anyone's guess really…

And while WTAC is a major reason for this trip, Speedhunters is also keen on shedding some light on Sydney's car culture as well. So joining me on the Sydney Speedhunt are Casey Dhanaram and Matt Malcolm who today flew in from Queensland and Auckland respectively. And bright and early tomorrow morning, Dino Dalle Carbonare will touch down in Sydney after doing the red eye from Narita in Tokyo.

August also means we will once again be celebrating Toyota's AE86, and we'll be calling out to all of the Hachi fans around the world to send in photos of their Sprinters and 86 meets.

The Speedhunters crew will also individually pick their favourite AE86s of all time.

I know I'm going to struggle with singling out one Hachi, as there are so many stunning examples around the world.

To continue our celebration of all things 86, Mike Garrett has a neat Car Life post… 

…On his own experiences with Toyota's diminuitive Hachi.

Our features for this month include more on Canada's Drift Union, starting off with their Subaru…

…As well as their Soarer, all in Drift Union's trademark purple.

We'll have a feature on Just Drift organiser Charlie Ongsingo's tidy Mark II…

…And we'll also show you how 750hp is screwed out of a stock 2J block.

Our feature on this FC RX-7 may stir the pot, as it's no longer rotary powered. But more on that later.

Mike will also be roaming the rows of cars at Nisei Showoff…

…So you can expect to see full coverage shortly after the event, as well as spotlights on our picks of the bunch.

We'll also have some historics love with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. 

And did I mention a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre?

In the world of supercars, the big news for this month is the Pagani Huayra debuting in North America. Linhbergh will be on hand to show you what happens behind the scenes. 

On the Team Need for Speed front, our Z4 is off to Slovakia next and we're hoping to continue our strong form from the Spa 24 Hours. 

In North America, Team Need for Speed's Matt Powers and Fredric Aasbo are headed to Sin City for FD Las Vegas.

We will also revisit Art Morrison in Washington…

…Who are true artisans in building automotive perfection.

Nestled in the back corner of a San Jose body shop is a small one-man operation that is churning out some fine performance cars, and this month Linhbergh will be taking a look at their wares.

And then there's Bonneville. That's right, Speed Week is on again this month.

Linhbergh said visiting Bonneville is like visiting another planet.

And you only need to look at these photos to understand why we had to include it in our Things to Do Before You Die series.

Unfathomable speeds in the most unlikely of locations makes this a Speedhunting magnet. Utah, here we come!

Over in Europe, Jeroen will be dedicating a big chunk of August to shooting VWs. First there's the massive M.I.V.W. event…

…Followed by VW Fanatics, which Jeroen has nicknamed the Dutch Wörthersee. Jacco will also head to his first ever hillclimb event: the Bergrennen hill climb. 

Before he flew out of Japan, Dino snapped a feature on Mugen's CRZ.

And although there's plenty of other events and cars we'll be covering in August, jet lag is starting to sink in. So I'll leave you with this teaser for Australia's drag racing spectacular: the Jamboree.

This monster event has become part of the racing DNA Down Under, and Casey will be armed with his 400mm lens to capture all of the 400m action.

So there you have it. A taste of what's to come. While half of the team is recovering from the Spa 24 Hours and X Games, the other half is about to spring into action to keep your Speedhunting fix coming exactly the way you like it: thick and fast.

- Charles Kha

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23 comments

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1

Sleep is overrated anyways.

2

Sorry, what is sleep?

3

I would think the GTRs, Supras, AE86, 510, CRX/Civic would have to be in your top 20

4

I thought that the russian stage was replased by slovakian, due to Smolenskring isn't ready yet

5

Oooh, Syndey! And Queensland! That means JDMST Meets! They always have the sickest cars come out, makes me wish I lived there. And I know for a fact the FD RX7, JZA80 Supra, 300ZXTT, Honda Civic, S2000, and Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 are gonna be on that most influential cars list...well, maybe not the S2K and the VR4, but the Civic for sure! And the 86 too! Oh quick question...since you guys do things like 86 day, and Schassis week in January, you think on January 30 you could do a day for 280ZXs? They were awesome Z-cars, they need some love too :)

6

Amazing pictures!!

7

Will i see you guys at Spocom??

8

Looks like its gonna be a spectacular month, cant wait. And are the Top 20 influential cars, the top 20 influential tuner cars or just cars overall?

9

Love the pics. First shot is epic!

10

And def the RX7 to.

11

In the top 20 :



The Datsun 510, the Datsun 240zg, the ek and eg civics, all the s-body nissans & all the skylines. The model t, the Prius and the fc and fd rx7s

12

Holy crap, this is going to be a sick month!

13

You are addicted to Work and we are addicted to the SpeedHunters !!

14

Stopped reading this after the first two graphs. You guy need to figure out some other intros besides, "speedhunting isn't always so glamorous...etc..."

Still the best website ever made tho. Thank you guys!

15

When are the speedhunters going to be in Utah at bonneville? I plan to head out this year, would be awesome to find you guys while there.

16

your doing some great work charles. that was a great write up about our relationship to cars

17

Can't wait for WTAC, be sure to keep an eye and an ear out for a 16 year old guy dragging around his less than keen dad on the saturday :). Wish he would let me skip school for the friday though!

18

F40!!! ................. has to be the LM though. ;)

19

most influential cars? Rusty!!!



20

This editorial alone sums up pretty much everything that SpeedHunters is awesome for.. So much variety!

21

This text is like my dream, no sleeping, no eating, speedhunting everywhere



Chile

22

most influential cars? jaguar e type has got to be on there.

23

Most influential cars? I hope you at least throw the McLaren F1 in there... and I know the AE86 will be there. Shuichi Shigeno... what have you done?

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