A longtime staple in the Ford Mustang community, Nitto showed up strong with the next generation of ultra-high performance tire, the NT555 G2, at Fabulous Fords Forever meet. With Mustangs ranging from a Fox body to S-550s, the G2 brings the latest in tire technology to improve upon an old classic for late model to modern Mustangs.

While the car has changed a lot over the Mustang’s impressive legacy, the reasons we love it remain the same. It’s a fun car to drive, offering the ability to enjoy on both the street and track. Modification lists can get long, but switching to an upgraded performance-oriented tire is often one of the first and most advantageous changes made.

Choosing a tire that has the correct characteristics to match a driver’s intentions is important, with much more than tread pattern and size availability to consider. Cars that will see more track than street time may want the capabilities of a competition tire like the NT01. But Nitto’s answer to the demands of drivers needing a hybrid of quietness, comfort and performance to span daily street and weekend track needs is the NT555 G2.

Owners of the different Mustangs around Nitto’s booth all had different goals for their cars, from daily driver to record-beating track monster, but all found that the street-to-track capabilities of the NT555 G2 checked all the boxes.

The G2 shares the namesake of its predecessor the NT555 but the technology has been updated to provide increased performance, grip and traction. The NT555 G2 also builds upon the size offerings of the 555, with an increased selection of widths 285 or higher.

1986 Fox body “Top Notch”

“This was a rusted out bucket when I found it,” recounts Gary. Wanting to build an American car with American parts and a Japanese influence, Top Notch was born. With a body almost entirely made of carbon fiber and powered by a Coyote Aluminator engine, set back 8” for a 50/50 weight distribution – this is one bad Fox body! The goals in sight are breaking the Fox body’s standing mile world record and Buttonwillow lap record – and Gary wants to do that on a streetable tire, ensuring it’s the car’s engineering which stands out. Choosing a streetable tire that can carry off record breaking feats, Top Notch is fitted with NT555 G2s, 315 in the front and 335 in the rear.

2001 True Blue Bullitt

Falling in love with the blue version of the famous Bullitt, owner Nasario frequently runs road courses and autocross with his Mustang. “I used to run NTO1s, but these 555 G2s have been really good. They’re much more streetable, provide more control on the freeway with less noise and don’t need warmed up for traction.”

2003 SVT Cobra

Adrian never planned on getting a convertible until the Cobra’s supercharged whine won him over. He’s since upgraded to a 3.4 Whipple churning out 850 hp and says his favorite thing is the “power”. “It’s hard to find somebody who can beat me,” he laughs. Although he initially chose Nitto INVOs for their tread pattern, he was convinced to switch over to 555Rs in the rear and 555 G2s in the front. So far he has really been impressed with how well the tires hook up.

See more from Fabulous Fords Forever here or search sizes and get more info on the Nitto NT555G2 at NittoTire.com.

For an event that started out being exclusive to drag racers, the Rudy’s Diesel affair is now synonymous for hosting some of the best drag racing and sled pulling action around. In fact, since allowing the dirt shredders to join in on the fun, the truck pull portion of Rudy’s has morphed into one of the biggest attractions in the diesel industry. Now sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League (PPL), big payouts, points and a chance to be on Lucas Oil’s MAVTV are all on the table — which brings out the strongest running trucks in the land.

From 1,300 hp Limited Pro rigs to 2,000 hp Pro Stock trucks to 3,000 hp Super Stock monstrosity’s, fans got a taste of every diesel truck class in the PPL arsenal this time around. In addition, spectators were treated to the Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers’ 2.5 Pro Street Diesel 4x4 class, where Fords, Chevys and Dodges took to the track.

All told, more than 50 trucks would dig through North Carolina’s red dirt, and we’ve got the scoop on the top finishers from the 2.5 and Limited Pro Stock classes below.

2.5 Class Rules

With a DOT tire requirement and trucks ranging from 600 to 900 horsepower, the Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers’s 2.5 Pro Street Diesel 4x4 class was the most relatable category for fans sitting in the stands. The primary rule in this class dictates that trucks can run a single turbocharger with a compressor inducer no larger than 63.5 mm (2.5-inches) in diameter. Hanging front weights are allowed and the maximum weight limit is 8,500 pounds for this group of trucks.

Undisputed

Evan Davis campaigns one of the hottest-running Duramax-powered 2.5 trucks in the nation and he proved it in North Carolina. After inching out the win on Friday evening, Evan would put nearly 10 feet on the nearest competitor the following night, giving him the undisputed 2.5 Class win.

Limited Pro Stock (3.0) Rules

PPL’s 8,000-pound Limited Pro class rules dictate that all trucks run DOT-approved tires, (such as the Nitto Mud Grapplers shown below) sport an engine with a factory-based block and head(s) and utilize a smoothbore 3.0-inch (76 mm) single turbo (no map width grooves allowed). The smooth bore turbo rule was introduced in 2016 as a means to both limit horsepower and simplify the tech process. Prior to the smooth bore turbo rule, tech officials had an extremely difficult time deciding which map groove turbos fell into the “gray area” and which ones were illegal.

Winning Weekend

It was a good start to the season for C.W. Cartmell and his “Most Hated” Dodge Ram. On Friday, he and his Haisley Machine-built Cummins would go for a 325-foot, First Place ride in the Limited Pro class and then return for a Second Place finish on Saturday.

Tough Luck in a Tight Field

Amongst a very tough field of Limited Pro trucks, Nick Stamm’s second-generation Cummins laid claim to 17th Place on Friday night despite the fact that his Dodge yanked the sled 306 feet. The next night he would find himself in a tight group of trucks, where less than 8 feet separated Eighth Place from 16th.

The Crippler

Josh Land and his ’97 Dodge Ram 3500 have been in the pulling game for more than a decade now and are always in the hunt for a win. His second-gen sports a sleeved and deck-plated 6.7L Cummins block with a 12-valve head, a 13 mm P7100 injection pump from Northeast Diesel Service, a 3.0 smooth bore turbo and competes in the Limited Pro category. The fact that Josh is a paraplegic makes his truck one of the more unique rigs in the sport, as the clutch, throttle and brakes are all controlled by hand.

P-Pumped 7.3L

Speaking of unique, this ’81 Ford owned by Ben Burnworth and Nate Bailor of Unlimited Diesel Performance garnered quite a bit of attention at Rudy’s. Under the hood, an exotic, P-pumped 7.3L Power Stroke — which is nothing less than a work of art — cranks out north of 1,100 hp. Even though the old school Ford would take 18th Place finishes on both nights in the Limited Pro class, it was a good starting point for a brand new engine package.

American Outlaw

The second-gen, P-pumped Cummins owned by Chris Nolan sports a custom 2.5-inch charger from Stainless Diesel and turned in strong efforts in its respective class. After taking home Fourth Place on Friday, Chris returned for Saturday’s encore and nearly put his Ram in the winner’s circle with a 312.97-foot hook, followed by a 310.53-foot try in the pull-off.

Worth the Drive

Chad Perkins and his Cummins-powered Chevy Silverado were right in the thick of things during Friday night’s Limited Pro action, lugging the iron sleigh 320.17 feet to a Fourth Place overall finish. A Missouri native, Chad trekked 900 miles (one way) to attend the Rudy’s Diesel Season Opener.

Goin’ For Broke

Despite campaigning a 600-rwhp truck in a class filled with trucks making 800-plus, Zach Green is a regular on the Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers’ circuit. And even though Zach’s 7.3L Power Stroke-equipped ’01 F-250 is considerably underpowered in the 2.5 class, he’s been known to upset quite a few Cummins and Duramax owners on occasion. At Rudy’s however, it wasn’t meant to be. High-pressure oil issues would leave him with two back-of-the-pack finishes.

Browsing the Pits

This passenger side, rear three-quarter view of a Super Stock engine gives you an idea what the big daddy Cummins mills of diesel motorsports are packing. Notice the triple-turbo arrangement, 12-valve head, deck-plate, water-injection lines and massive side draft intake manifold. Super Stock power plants set up like this are known to produce 120-to-150 psi of boost and belt out 3,000 hp or more.

FRIDAY NIGHT TRUCK PULL RESULTS (4/28/17)

Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers’ 2.5 Pro Street Diesel:

1. Evan Davis – “Recycler” – 308.35 ft
2. Justin Gilliland – “J&J Performance – 307.78 ft
3. Jesse Boehne – “Dirty Addiction” – 303.74 ft
4. Chris Nolan – “American Outlaw” – 299.33 ft
5. Mitch Wesler – “Small Town” – 299.12 ft
6. James Etgen – “Dirty Silver” – 289.02 ft
7. Anthony Trott – “Misjudged” – 287.70 ft
8. Mike Humpe – “Double Trouble” – 278.66 ft
9. Zach Green – “Goin’ For Broke” – 225.09 ft
10. Mike Lonie – “In 2 Deep” - Exhibition

PPL Limited Pro:

1. CW Cartmell – “Most Hated” – 325.16 ft
2. Austin White – “Six Shooter” – 324.19 ft
3. Nathan Byrd – “Ice Farms” – 320.96 ft
4. Chad Perkins – “Perkins Diesel” – 320.17 ft
5. Mac Cottrell – “Cantankerous” – 320.08 ft
6. Josh Land – “The Crippler” – 318.91 ft
7. Jeff Hossler – “Flirtin’ With Disaster” – 318.69 ft
8. Adam Hallien – “Wrecker” – 318.00 ft
9. Jon Manns – “Crazy Ex” – 315.22 ft
10. Adam White – “O’Bryant Diesel” – 315.04 ft
11. Dominique Gambino – “Brothers Diesel” – 314.00 ft
12. Joe Hill – “Durt Gobbler” – 311.75 ft
13. Josh Bowers – “Sound of Madness” – 309.47 ft
14. Ben Braunecker – “Cummin’ Atcha” – 308.53 ft
15. Jay Hill – “It’s Never Enough” – 307.68 ft
16. John Humpe – “Trouble Maker” – 307.22 ft
17. Nick Stamm – “Good Money After Bad” – 306.58 ft
18. Ben Burnworth – “Unlimited Diesel” – 299.51 ft
19. Corrie Baker – “Girl’s Night Out” – 286.57 ft
20. Zak Peters – “Rudy’s Diesel” – 202.69 ft

PPL Pro Stock:

1. Brad Ingram – “Scheid Diesel” – 298.41 ft
2. Matt Penn – “Penn Farms” – 290.55 ft
3. Rob Wright – “Off Constantly” – 283.92 ft
4. Todd Cox – “Boosted Outlaw” – 279.85 ft
5. Rod Tarr – “Twisted Metal” – 275.62 ft
6. Keith Witt – “Cross Wired” – 268.62 ft
7. Jeremy McDaniel – “Burnin’ Burley” – 268.28 ft
8. Terry Biggs – “24 Valve Blackout” – 0.09 ft

PPL Super Stock:

1. Van Haisley – “Rock Hard Ram” – 316.24 ft
2. Chris Ryan – “Big Bad Dodge” – 306.49 ft
3. Erik Stacey – “Smokinya HD” – 306.37 ft
4. Brad Deeter – “Oversize Load” – 303.66 ft
5. Kent Crowder – “Scheid Diesel” – 302.24 ft
6. Kyle Michael – “Climax” – 299.69 ft
7. Don Bowling – “Pulling for the Cure” – 299.52 ft
8. Will Scruggs – “Outsider” – 280.20 ft
9. Chase Eller – “Caretaker” - 268.16 ft
10. Cody Hastings – “Against the Grain” – 254.44 ft
11. Justin Gearhart – “Cream of the Crop” – 0.59 ft

SATURDAY NIGHT TRUCK PULL RESULTS (4/29/17)

Carolina Truck & Tractor Pullers’ 2.5 Pro Street Diesel:

1. Evan Davis – “Recycler” – 319.46 ft/319.05 ft (pull-off)
2. Chris Nolan – “American Outlaw” – 312.97 ft/310.53 ft (pull-off)
3. Justin Gilliland – “J&J Performance” – 317.64 ft/288.03 ft (pull-off)
4. Mitch Wesler – “Small Town” – 308.18 ft
5. James Etgen – “Dirty Silver” – 307.78 ft
6. Jesse Boehne – “Dirty Addiction” – 306.89 ft
7. Jeff Carroll – “Cummin’ For Ya” – 291.67 ft
8. Zach Green – “Goin’ for Broke” – 229.97 ft
9. Heath Armstrong – “Double Trouble” - Scratch
10. Mike Lonie – “In 2 Deep” - Exhibition

PPL Limited Pro:

1. John Humpe – “Trouble Maker” – 303.98 ft
2. CW Cartmell – “Most Hated” – 301.37 ft
3. Austin White – “Six Shooter” – 301.18 ft
4. Mac Cottrell – “Cantankerous” – 298.26 ft
5. Adam White – “O’Bryant Diesel” – 298.20 ft
6. Adam Hallien – “Wrecker” – 297.79 ft
7. Jon Manns – “Crazy Ex” – 297.22 ft
8. Jeff Hossler – “Flirtin’ With Disaster” – 294.20 ft
9. Josh Land – “The Crippler” – 292.75 ft
10. Nathan Byrd – “Ice Farms” – 292.46 ft
11. Corrie Baker – “Girl’s Night Out” – 292.01 ft
12. Joe Hill – “Durt Gobbler” – 290.00 ft
13. Dominique Gambino – “Brothers Diesel” – 289.62 ft
14. Jay Hill – “It’s Never Enough” – 288.36 ft
15. Nick Stamm – “Good Money After Bad” – 287.79 ft
16. Chad Perkins – “Perkins Diesel” – 286.51 ft
17. Josh Bowers – “Sound of Madness” – 283.96 ft
18. Ben Burnworth – “Unlimited Diesel” – 277.06 ft
19. Zak Peters – “Rudy’s Diesel” – 257.61 ft
20. Ben Braunecker – “Cummin’ Atcha” - Broke

PPL Pro Stock:

1. Matt Penn – “Penn Farms” – 334.53 ft
2. Terry Biggs – “24 Valve Blackout” – 322.32 ft
3. Keith Witt – “Cross Wired” – 320.83 ft
4. Rod Tarr – “Twisted Metal” – 318.16 ft
5. Brad Ingram – “Scheid Diesel” – 304.41 ft
6. Jeremy McDaniel – “Burnin’ Burley” – 302.04 ft
7. Todd Cox – “Boosted Outlaw” – 298.41 ft
8. Rob Wright – “Off Constantly” - DQ

PPL Super Stock:

1. Justin Gearhart – “Cream of the Crop” – 347.45 ft
2. Van Haisley – “Rock Hard Ram” – 347.29 ft
3. Kent Crowder – “Scheid Diesel” – 332.61 ft
4. Chris Ryan – “Big Bad Dodge” – 332.43 ft
5. Erik Stacey – “Smokinya HD” – 332.09 ft
6. Cody Hastings – “Against the Grain” – 331.44 ft
7. Kyle Michael – “Climax” – 329.92 ft
8. Brad Deeter – “Oversize Load” – 323.18 ft
9. Don Bowling – “Pulling for the Cure” – 322.04 ft
10. Chase Eller – “Caretaker” – 319.07 ft
11. Will Scruggs – “Outsider” – 285.85 ft

Photos courtesy of Amy Gilbert at Stainless Diesel

The first rule of the Off-Roaders code is a simple, but important one: No one is left behind. Whether you're a Yota guy, Jeeper, desert racer or overlander, the cree among them remains the same. While most recovery stories are interesting, this one in particular really kept us on our toes due to the mammoth scope of the operation.

This story is about a few heroic members of a local off-road community who came together, formulated a plan and executed one of the longest and most difficult recovery efforts ever documented on the mighty Rubicon Trail — all for a couple of guys they had never even met.

When a post surfaced on Reno4x4.com pleading for help recovering two stuck rigs on the Rubicon on New Year's Day, several local members of the forum sprang into action. Before long, word of the stuck rigs had spread to Pirate4x4.com, and a number of key players had begun to gather their resources to formulate a recovery plan. The recovery effort became known as "Operation Glacier Girl" on the forums, after a WWII fighter plane that was restored to flying condition after being buried under an ice sheet in Greenland for over 50 years. 

The biggest challenge for this recovery was Mother Nature herself. Nicknamed "Snowmageddon," the record-breaking 2016/2017 winter season in California brought over 250 inches of snow to some areas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in January alone. With such a deep snowpack, constant snowfall and no end in sight, the recovery itself had to be put on hold until conditions improved. Although without their rigs, the owners were in good spirits about waiting out the weather.

In late April, Nick Bailey, an experienced ATV rider and off-roader from Stateline, Nevada, made plans along with the owner of the rigs to scout the trail for the first time since January. Treading lightly on track-equipped ATVs, the two left pavement behind to locate the first rig, a Jeep Cherokee XJ, thanks to GPS coordinates the owner transmitted via an emergency satellite beacon the day they got stuck.

Although they had the exact location recorded, getting there was no easy task. Nick had to clear several fallen trees, as well as smooth out transitions to tank traps, which are deep and abrupt holes usually filled with water runoff and snowmelt. The trail itself was very difficult to navigate due to the heavy snowfall. While some areas were heavily covered, others were more shallow, leading to steep drop offs and lots of off-camber wheeling.

Finally, they had reached the GPS coordinates. After four months of relentless snowfall, the Cherokee was buried under roughly 10 to 12 feet of snow. Just out of reach with their 8-foot-long probe, the two decided to head back home and formulate a plan to return with recovery rigs.

After several attempts over the next few weeks of digging the XJ out with other members of the two forums, the group was finally able to completely uncover the Jeep for the first time on April 30. Though heavily damaged, the interior cage held the body from caving in completely under the weight of the snow. The windshield was broken, and a few other parts were damaged, but surprisingly, all the tires were holding air. 

Now that the Jeep was uncovered, it was time to extract it. Tim Wardlow, Matt Wardlow, Scott Bruns of Sacramento and Jim Murphy from Reno4x4.com, along with several other members, all attempted to pull the XJ from the hole by combining their winching power, but the angle of the pull was too steep to yank the Jeep out. They headed home, again, without the XJ.

Fast forward a few more weeks to May 10. Once again, Nick Bailey, joined by his friend Gregg, headed out on the trail with the owner of the Jeep, all riding ATVs with tracks. Their objective for that day was to get the Jeep out of the hole and as far down the trail as possible. After utilizing a combination of farm jacks, shovels and traction boards, the group was ready to give it a shot.

Nick and Gregg were able to fire up the old trusty 4.0L inline-six, then strapped the front end of the Jeep to their ATVs. With Gregg behind the wheel of the Cherokee, and Nick and the owner of the Jeep pulling with the quads, they all put the hammer down at the same time. That coordinated, high-rev pull was just enough to finally get the XJ out of its hole. Finally, there was a light at the end of the tunnel for the Cherokee. 

The three were able to pilot the Cherokee about three-quarters of a mile down the trail before the engine temperature began to skyrocket. With the possibility of overheating and several very difficult obstacles ahead of them, the group decided to park the XJ on a nice flat spot until they could come up with a better plan for getting it back to the pavement. This would be the last time they left the trail without the Jeep.

On Saturday, May 13, three days after getting the XJ out of the hole, a final group effort led by Nick headed out to get the XJ off the Rubicon Trail. Scott, Gregg, Kenny and Mike from Reno4x4, joined the effort with their Jeeps. On this day, the hero was Kevin Fenley, who wired up a pusher fan to the front of the XJ grill. It was just enough to keep it from overheating, and the XJ made it the entire way back to pavement under it's own power — an incredible feat considering it lay dormant under 12 feet of snow for nearly half a year.

With Phase 1 of "Operation Glacier Girl" complete, those who are taking charge of the recovery effort on Reno4x4 and Pirate4x4 have set their sights on a weekend in early June to make way for the second rig that's still stuck out there, likely buried under several feet of snow as well.

The Rubicon Trail is still too treacherous beyond the location where the XJ was found, so a few more weeks of warmer weather may be all they need to get there safely. We can't wait to see how this amazing story ends.

Stay tuned for Phase 2 of "Operation Glacier Girl."

(Photos courtesy of Reno4x4.com and Pirate4x4.com)

Round 2 for the 2017 Nitto Tire Nor Cal Rock Racing Series (NCRR) took place at the Wild West Motorsports Park on the outskirts of Sparks in Northern Nevada on May 13th. Just off of Highway 80, this short course offers hairpin turns, steep hill climbs, elongated jumps and, most of all, some of the nastiest rock piles you’ve ever seen. A haven for spectators that offers a perfect view from any seat in the grandstands, this is the same place where Ultra4's National Championship race takes place.

Talk with any of the drivers and you’ll discover that many of them traveled with Goodby long ago when Goodby was involved in some of his own motocross activities as a young kid - long before he launched NCRR 10 years ago. Childhood friend and current Nor Cal event companion, Rob Cook, says it took a long time for John to build a working relationship with the Prairie City State Park - but now it’s a smooth relationship, with two of the three NCRR rounds being held there. Nowadays, Goodby continues to do a lot to grow this sport, adding a UTV class and promoting each event through 150 radio spots, along with flyers, social and local billboards! Combined with ample adrenaline at the event, NCRR is a great race for racers and spectators alike.

Nor Cal Rock Racing 4400 Class

JP Gomez battled it out to defend his winning title in Round 2. “It was an intense main race on Saturday!” recounts Gomez, admitting that 2nd place winner, Jon Cagliero, gave him a run for his money. Gomez credits Cagliero for making "some of the best blocking moves I've ever seen." Winner of the 4400 class, Gomez remembers hearing about NCRR when he first started racing Ultra4. “We heard there was a local series with racers that raced in the Ultra4 series, so we decided to try it in return for some seat time and some short course racing.” Winning their first NCRR race in 2012, Goodby gave Gomez the checkered flag. It was the first time the two gentlemen had met, “…that day John was hanging out with us as if we had known him forever. It’s always such a friendly atmosphere!”

4400 Race Results

• 1st Place: JP Gomez
• 2nd Place: Jon Cagliero
• 3rd Place: Cody Addington

4500 Class

Winner of the 4500 class, Bryan Crofts, first heard of the series by word of mouth. Crofts feels the NCRR caters to all budgets more so than other race series. Crofts lives in the same town as Goodby, so having the event local is a plus. Round 2 was Crofts first ever NCRR race!

4500 Race Results

• 1st Place: Bryan Crofts
• 2nd Place: Justin Hall
• 3rd Place: Morgan Derodeff

4800 Class

Winner of the 4800 class, John Lay, was introduced to the Nor Cal series by fellow racer Dan Wyrick. With the calling of Ultra4’s King of The Hammers, Lay felt competing in NCRR would be a great start to get his feet wet. “I did the research and signed up!” Lay said. Round 2 was his second time in the car, first ever NCRR race!

4800 Race Results

• 1st Place: John Lay
• 2nd Place: Justin Day
• 3rd Place: James Hubbard

UTV Turbo

UTV Turbo Race Results

• 1st Place: Darian Gomez
• 2nd Place: Casey Scherer
• 3rd Place: Breckin Miramon

UTV 1000

UTV 1000 Race Results

• 1st Place: Beau Judge
• 2nd Place: Cameron Barbarick
• 3rd Place: Bobby Hodges

UTV 170 Class

UTV 170 Race Results

• 1st Place: Braden Judge
• 2nd Place: Wyatt Blevins
• 3rd Place: JR Thompson

Class 10

Class 10 Race Results

• 1st Place: Max Baggett

Pre-Runner Class

Pre-Runner Race Results

• 1st Place: Tom Flattery
• 2nd Place: Justin Radford
• 3rd Place: Dustin Jones

Group T

 Group T Race results

• 1st Place: Brad Falin

In 2014, Goodby partnered up with Ultra4’s Dave Cole to showcase Ultra4’s “Stampede” at the Prairie City location, attracting and bringing the big teams to town. “The support from local and worldwide sponsors stepping up and believing in what I’m doing has been a huge help. Companies like Nitto, that have the ability to reach beyond what I could do by myself, seems to be paying off in all aspects.” Just like the movie said… "If you build it, they will come!" Join us for Round 3: July 15th 2017 at Prairie City SVRA. Ultra4 will be landing in Prairie City as well, June 9-10th.

Editor's Note: Some results of NCRR are, at the time of publishing, still pending. As such, not 100% of classes have been reported on.

Visit all of Driving Line's coverage of Ultra4 racing, here.

The year was 1967, and what a year it was for a young Southern Californian man by the name of Dan Gurney. By the mid '60s, Gurney had already established himself as one of America's most successful race car drivers and builders; his list of accomplishments in 1967 alone is enough to rival the entire careers of many legendary drivers.

1967 was the year that saw Gurney compete in over 27 different major motorsport events in several different disciplines. The man basically raced anything with wheels. His accomplishments that year include winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ford GT40 Mark IV he co-drove with AJ Foyt, starting on the front row of the Indianapolis 500 in his Indy Eagle — driving everything from a Mercury Cougar Trans Am car to a Can Am Lola T70. If that wasn't enough, he also competed in Formula 1, and in June 1967 at the Belgian Grand Prix, he made history when he became the only American ever to win a Grand Prix while driving a car of his own construction.

To mark the 50th anniversary of that historic racing season, the Petersen Automotive Museum is holding a special exhibition that celebrates the career and accomplishments of Gurney and the All American Racers. During the recent Japanese Cruise-In at the Petersen, I made some time to go in and take a look.

Making the exhibit even very appropriate for the Petersen is the fact that Gurney began his racing exploits in Southern California, building hot rods as a young man before moving to sanctioned motorsport. He also established the Orange County city of Santa Ana as the base of operations for his legendary All American Racers (AAR) team operations.

Gurney founded AAR with Carroll Shelby in 1965, and the company would go on designing and building race for decades after Gurney retired from driving. Under the guidance of Gurney and his son Justin, the company continues operations to this day, most recently developing the Delta Wing race car and is also heavily involved in aerospace engineering.

The Petersen exhibit chronicles Gurney's story as both a driver and builder. It includes several different race cars that he and AAR designed from the 1960s right through to the 1990s, as well as plenty of important artifacts from his career.

Among the memorabilia on display is the bottle of champagne that he was given on the podium after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967. After he received the bottle, he shook it up and sprayed its contents on to all who'd gathered around — unwittingly starting a celebratory tradition that many race winners still do today.

Just a few months later, it was in this Eagle Gurney-Weslake V12 Formula 1 car where he made history at the Belgian Grand Prix. With a lightweight chassis that used both titanium and magnesium, the car made 400 horsepower and had a top speed of 196 miles per hour.

Gurney and AAR also have a long history with Indy cars like this '68 AAR Olsonite Eagle, which won at Riverside and finished second in the 1968 Indianapolis 500 behind Bobby Unser's race-winning Rislone Eagle.

Along with open wheel race cars, Dan Gurney also saw plenty of action in both sports cars and NASCAR stock cars during the '60s. This is the AAR-prepared Plymouth Barracuda that he drove during the 1970 SCCA Trans Am season, which included his final championship race as professional driver at Riverside — although he did make a one-race return to NASCAR at Riverside in 1980.

This particular car was eventually sold to Chrysler France, where it was used in various events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans before returning to the U.S. and being restored in the '90s. This is also the car inspired by the rare 1970 AAR 'Cuda street car that's heavily sought after by collectors today.

The AAR story continued long after Gurney put away his racing helmet, and the display also includes historic AAR Eagle machines like this pair of Indy Eagles from 1971 and 1975.

Among Gurney's contributions to the engineering world is the famous "Gurney Flap," a perpendicular tab across the edge of a spoiler which improves downforce. It was an innovation that wasn't just used in motorsports but in aircraft as well.

He first began experimenting with the flap on this 1971 Olsonite Eagle during a test session at Phoenix International Raceway. A few years earlier Gurney also pioneered the now-standard full face race helmet during the '68 Formula 1 season.

When asked what his favorite AAR Eagle race car is, Gurney points to this car: the 1981 Indy Eagle Pepsi Challenger. With an innovative downforce-creating Boundary Layer Adhesion Technology developed by AAR, the Pepsi Challenger achieved great success during the '81 season before rule changes banned its design the following year.

During the '80s and '90s, AAR enjoyed a close relationship with Toyota. The result was several dominant cars, including this 1993 AAR-Toyota Eagle MK III GTP car that led the GTP field with an incredible 17 consecutive victories.

This Toyota-powered 1999 AAR Eagle 997 Champ Car was the last of the production Eagles built by AAR, wrapping up decades of success in fiercely competitive Indy racing.

Whether behind the wheel, inside the garage or in the wind tunnel, the contributions of Dan Gurney and the All American Racers to American motorsport history will not be matched anytime soon. If you have the chance, I highly recommend getting down to the Petersen to check out the exhibit before its too late.

Check out our coverage of the Petersen's Shelby Cruise-In.

If you have owned or know of someone who has owned a Nissan 240SX, then you are probably familiar with the Nissan SR20DET engine. For those that aren't in the know, the SR20DET is the engine found in the original Japanese version of the 240SX known as the Silvia and 180SX.

A Brief Review

There are more engines in the SR family, however, than just the SR20DET, which include its NA brother the SR20DE and other variations ranging from 1.6 liters to 2.0 liters. But those others pale in popularity when compared to the SR20DET with its turbo and huge tuning market.

Social Media Spread

Every year in Japan there is a gathering of fans to celebrate the beloved SR engine. Primarily announced through Facebook and Twitter, it has a bit of an underground feel, but in reality it is really well organized with vendor booths and media coverage; it is the SR All Star Meeting. 

This year's event was held at Shizuoka Ecopa (Ecopark) — a huge facility with an arena, a sports stadium and many parking lots. Upon my arrival, I noticed the main parking lot was quite full of everyday cars; apparently a boy band was scheduled to perform that day (I promise that's not the real reason why I came). Tucked away in the back corner and scattered through the parking lot were small groups of tuned cars. 

Some were of the Nissan SR-powered variety, but many were not. Walking the lot I came across a rather unique looking Honda NSX. Unfortunately, the modifications took away from the natural lines of the NSX rather than enhancing them. I moved on.

Paradise Found

After roaming around a bit, I finally found the actual meet location. There, in Parking Lot 2, was the largest collection of SR-powered cars I had ever seen. I had arrived at SR Paradise. 

All Silvia & 180SX

The only models in attendance were quite noticeably Silvias and 180SXs, but I was okay with that. They were neatly organized by model, starting with S13s and 180SXs, then S14s and S15s. There were also several vendors present, including big names like Origin Labo, Enkei, Work Wheels, Vertex and G Corporation. 

Famous tuning shops were also in attendance such as Yashio Factory and Garage Mak, signaling to me the legitimacy of this event. However, the stars of the show were the enthusiasts' cars. The diversity of styles was exceptional, ranging from street to stance, time attack and drift. 

I was so impressed with everyone in attendance that it was impossible to pick out a clear favorite. If you're a fan of SRs, then I definitely recommend that you try to make it to next year's event, which will probably be even bigger!

Check out the gallery below for more SR-powered goodness, and see if you can pick out your favorite.

Hard rains, tornados, car-swallowing mud holes and the Campbell family all wearing floaties… the Ultra4 Holley Efi Clash at the Cross Bar was not what was expected, but it certainly did not disappoint! On a killer race weekend that saw every conceivable obstacle try to wreck the fun, Clay Gilstrap stood tall on the top spot as teams tried to wrap their heads around such an exciting, yet bizarre weekend. This was a race that once again underscored what Ultra4 Racing is all about: perseverance, determination, competition, and teamwork.

It is impossible to talk about this race without first talking of the weather. It impacted everything. The Clash at the Cross Bar was the season opener for the Eastern series of Ultra4, as well as a first time visit to the venue in Davis, Oklahoma. No one knew what to expect from the course, plus the weather was calling for 2.5 inches of rain prior to the race. We all know how much the West Coast boys love mud. In retrospect, 2.5 inches of rain would have been GREAT; almost 10 inches of rain dumped on the course and was accompanied by two surprise tornadoes.

Qualifying was cancelled and driver’s starting positions were based on random number selection. Race trailers and haulers became stuck just getting to pit locations. Race day morning also had a surprise in store for everyone: the entry road to the park was closed due to an overflowing creek and an impassable bridge. For teams who stayed in town, this meant they couldn’t even get into the course in time for the start. To accommodate the sudden river at the entrance, all races were pushed back 2 hours and races were shortened from 5 laps to 3.

Ultra4 prides itself in being the Ultimate 4 Wheel Drive racing series. In the 10-year history of U4, there has never been a race cancelled due to weather. Drivers race in rocks, mud, dust, silt, short course, endurance desert, scorching sun, blinding rain, and everything in between. This event would prove the truest test for teams and race organizers alike. The course consisted of an A and a B loop, both of which had their nasty surprises and challenges.

During the driver’s meeting, Ultra4’s Dave Cole warned teams that this would not be a drag race, but an endurance test to see who could keep their car together. Dave predicted that just 8 out of the 40 cars in the main event would finish all 3 laps. He wasn’t far off. 10 cars finished all three laps in time. Cars and teams have to be prepared at all times for whatever the course gives them. For this race, it had given them a doozy.

All photos by Doug Dienelt.

4400 Ultra4 Oklahoma Race Recap

Alex Wacker had the luck of the draw and would line up on the pole for the main event. Wayland Campbell – fresh off his first Ultra4 victory in Sierra Blanco, TX last month – would start 3^rd. Two-time King and Team Nitto driver Erik Miller would start mid-pack in 24^th, and KOH surprise success Josh Blyler would be starting way at the back. The course was already beat to pieces by the earlier races, and the competition would be fierce. Despite all the rain, the sun was out and it was race day. Everything was right with the world. Smiles, focused scowls, and a little bit of “what did I get myself into” would be on the faces of drivers as they lined up for the Eastern series kick off.

The 16-mile course consisted of two loops (A and B), both presenting challenges. Times would be corrected based on starting order, so teams had to rely on their spotters and pit crews to know track position as well as relative race position. Clay Gilstrap, with co-driver and wife Lindsay Gilstrap, worked their way through the course on lap 1, passing both Alex Wacker and Wayland Campbell on their move up from a 12^th place starting slot. While the Gilstraps were pushing their way to the front, both Josh Blyler and Erik Miller were hard charging from deep within the pack.

Lap 2 put teams back onto a course that they themselves had just made much, much worse with 40” tires and high horsepower. New lines had to be found as many lap 1 cars were still on course or completely buried in mud holes… and I mean completely buried, all the way up to their window nets. The hardest-working piece of equipment all weekend was not the engine, but the winch for many teams. Competitors worked together to right each other and help clear the course, only to come upon fresh clusters of cars fighting their own battle against the car-sucking,  soul-sucking mud. Track conditions were wrecking havoc on everything from GPS systems to engines; multiple teams were already out with blown engines.

The final lap, number 3, became survival mode for those still competing. Team Nitto driver Bailey Campbell was one of those drivers still in the running on the lead lap. Bailey would finish the day in 6^th place. Erik Miller had also blasted his way to the front, and Josh Blyer was putting on a clinic. Solid axle, IFS, 37” tires, or 40” tires… it didn’t matter. The course was testing the builds and the skills of both drivers and fabricators. Clay Gilstrap crossed the line in physical first, but had to wait to see who else crossed due to corrected time. After agonizing ticks on the clock, Clay was officially declared first place and victor. Oklahoma doesn’t like it when Texas wins, but today was Texas’ day. Pew pew pew.

Team Nitto driver Wayland Campbell continued his season of consistent dominance by bringing home a 2^nd place finish, making his 2017 finishing positions 2^nd at KOH, 1^st at Sierra Blanco, and now 2^nd at Davis, Oklahoma. Erik Miller crossed in physical 3^rd, but ended up officially in 4^th place as Josh’s corrected time put him on the podium for a 3^rd place finish (and Josh’s 1^st U4 podium) – this newcomer is one to watch, driving his race-proven Miller Motorsports chassis. Lucas Murphy rounded out the top 5 finishing positions, not only putting on an impressive showing, but also qualifying for the 2018 King of the Hammers in the process.

Underclassmen Race Recap

Brutal. Insane. Crazy. These were the top three adjectives used by the 4500 Modified, 4600 Stock, and 4800 Legends classes to describe the race and the racecourse. The Underclassmen races had their fair share of both excitement and disappointments. 2016’s Eastern Series champ Matt Howell entered this year’s season to defend his title, only to lose an engine on the first lap and rack up a DNF in the season opener. Duane Garretson, however, put his Jimmy’s 4x4 4500 car on the top spot to start the year out right. It was ups and downs, twists and turns, and more than a few buried cars by the time it was all said and done.

The 4800 Legends class fielded the largest group in the limited classes with 15 cars bashing it out on course and only four cars completing all 3 laps in time. Casey Gilbert nailed the top spot for an exciting victory, finishing 5 minutes in front of Darrell Shields in 2^nd and just over 10 minutes in front of Jonathan Terhune, who locked up 3^rd place. Team Nitto driver Bailey Cole – fresh off his King of France victory 1 week ago – placed 4^th and was the last car to complete all 3 laps in time. Lovell Racing also made the trek out, after racing in in different trucks for different series both in Chicago and Mexico within the last month. Despite hydro locking the engine on lap 1, the team repaired and persevered and completed 2 laps, finishing in 6^th.

The 4500 Modified class resulted in a victory for Duane Garretson, accompanied by Dustyn Friesen in 2^nd place, the only 2 cars in class to complete all 3 laps. Jesse Oliver was 3^rd, completing 2.5 laps before time expired. Liam Morice took home the top spot in the 4600 Stock class, with a limited field turning out for this event.

The Clean Up

After the race, teams gathered for a few beers, swapped stories, thanked other teams for the help, unburied cars from the mud holes, and enjoyed a great concert with Bo Phillips and Shooter Jennings. The Cross Bar Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma had delivered one of the most exciting and bizarre races in recent memory. This was the first time Ultra4 had raced at this venue, but overall it was a tremendous success.

Teams that participated in the race will tell stories of this one for years to come. The weather wrecked havoc on well-laid plans, but the venue staff, the Ultra4 Racing staff, the volunteers, and the drivers all pulled together to ensure this race was a great one. No matter what, no matter where… Ultra4 is going to deliver. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers for an event hard fought and to Clay for a victory hard earned.

Ultra4 Racing cranks it back up again in two weeks at the 2017 MetalCloak Stampede in Rancho Cordova, California, for round two of the Western series. Mother Nature played her hand in that event last year as well, so teams have very little time to repair, clean up everything, and hit it hard again.

All photos by Doug Dienelt.

Catch the gallery below or read with how the rest of the Ultra4 season is going with Driving Line's coverage, here.

With show season underway, SlammedEnuff hosted their first meet of 2017 in downtown Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. A definite improvement from last year's venue, the showcase cars are housed inside with the rest of the show spilling outside. Entrants fought spring showers the whole day, rolling into the venue soaking wet — but once everything got wiped down, attendees were treated to a solid display of quantity and quality of today's best show cars.

In no particular order, here are the top five picks that caught our eyes:

1. Wolfpack Performance's Acura Integra

Although Honda doesn't get the same amount of love on the East Coast as it does on the West, there are occasionally cars that stand out in a big way. Resurrected from what can best be described as a wreck, this Integra has been fitted with a fully built B20, unique Avant Garde wheels and root beer paint that's impossibly deep.

2. Donte Winters' Toyota Supra

With the vintage JDM revival in full effect, American enthusiasts are finally beginning to explore all of the various styles long associated with these models. Donte Winters has gone wild with this second-generation Supra, sourcing a 6M-GE and transforming the Toyota into a full tribute to bosozuku style.

3. Melvin Jimenez' Honda Odyssey

Enthusiasts transitioning into fatherhood and still keeping the dream alive has been a journey more and more have embarked on lately, thanks in part to the VanKulture movement. You could say that Melvin Jimenez has fulfilled his odyssey with his Odyssey. This van wears a set of Canino wheels, Honda accessory aero and a classy VIP-inspired interior true to anyone representing .

4. Christian Portell's Nissan Skyline

With the mass influx of R32 Skylines in the past couple years, standing out of the pack has been a bit of a challenge believe it or not. Christian Portell has taken the period-correct route, mounting an HKS turbo kit, white TE37s, early '90s Nismo seats and gutting the interior for track work.

5. Bremen Autowerks' Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible

This peanut-butter-and-jelly-colored Mercedes Benz convertible caught our eye just with its sheer classiness. An AirLift suspension keeps the big coupe planted on classic gold-face BBS RS wheels — a timeless combo. The work was done by Georgia-based Bremen Autowerks.

Don't forget to check out more of these cars at Slammed Enuff Atlanta in the gallery below!

Hyperfest kept the tracks hot at the VIRginia International Raceway last weekend – the annual motorsports festival’s 16th Anniversary brought thousands of automotive enthusiasts together by entertaining various niches in the hobby. It was an unforgettable weekend where vastly different car cultures united as one.

Hyperfest is the ultimate event on the East coast, and we could barely contain ourselves: even just walking through the gates caused an energy rush straight to the brain. This year's agenda juggled many activities including drifting, National Auto Sport Association road racing, and various ride-a-longs, such as drifting with Formula Drift pro-drivers, off-road exploration, and supercar, rallycross and monster truck experiences. While the tracks were hot, the off-road experience allowed for rig owners to gain knowledge back on the trails. Among all of the excitement, there were also karting, motorcycle races, helicopter tours, and car corrals. Saturday’s big day was rounded off with an epic burnout contest.

Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. has been a Hyperfest participant since 2003. His passion for the festival is evident, and considering his reputation as a professional fun-haver, his words are held in high regard. VGJ’s face was glowing with anticipation for the weekend; “If any place is the epitome of automotive culture, this is it. Hyperfest is a relaxed event full of fun-seekers like me. There are so many activities to choose from, and it’s great to see everyone bringing their rides out and just enjoying the culture. There’s racing during the day and then partying at night. This is the place to be.”

Vaughn's iconic 900-hp Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR is the equivalent of a 9-second drag car that’s set up for drifting, and it shook the grounds during every nail-biting run around the course. VGJ was giving Slide-a-longs to drift fans all weekend, and participants could be heard saying; “That was the biggest adrenaline rush of my life!” 

Intermediate to pro-level drifters left their mark on the VIRginia Raceway’s 1.1-mile Patriot Course, a smaller circuit located inside the perimeter of the full course. Street Driven was this year’s host for the drifting portion of Hyperfest. Drivers defied the laws of physics by side-sweeping around the course, leaving the essence of smoked tire and rich fuel in their wake, and the fans cheered in their midst.

In addition to the bash-style drifting, competitors also took part in mini-games. Favorites included hard parking, where a driver is allowed two attempts to drift down a portion of the track and stop in time to avoid a barrier of jumbo cardboard boxes. Whoever stops with the least distance between the boxes without touching (or obliterating) the boxes wins. Drift soccer was another crowd-pleaser that challenged competitors to drift into and (hopefully) hit a neon yellow soccer ball with their rear tire, to then (hopefully) score a goal.

Hyperfest’s festivities were surrounded by VIR’s 3.27-mile, 18-turn full course, where NASA-sanctioned road racing and time trials ran all weekend. The diverse lineup included series such as: American Iron, German Touring, Factory Five Racing, the BMW Spec E30 and the new BMW Spec3 Series, the Camaro/Mustang Challenge, Honda Challenge, and the Spec Miata Challenge. (Whew!) As if the track wasn’t hot enough, scheduled HPDE times gave new-to-intermediate drivers an opportunity to throttle it out around the course with an instructor.

A walk around each paddock area was a car show in itself, but with a different feel. There’s something about being in the presence of a freshly raced vehicle; it’s as if remnants of energy from the track follows the car back. Passerbys instantly react to the rev of an engine in the paddock by abruptly turning and walking towards the corresponding noise.

More eye candy was parked in the car corrals, which lined the inner circle of the full racecourse. The vehicles on display were diverse and included the Mustang Fan Club, the dazzling Japanese Classics of Virginia, and an area for off-road vehicles, exotics, and classics. To put it simply: Hyperfest really does have something for everyone.

Just outside of the track’s perimeters was a full off-road experience. On Friday, certified team sessions from UORTC (NC) and NORA (NY) had 25-minute private off-road driving instruction. For Saturday, guided exploration courses were offered for off-road vehicle owners. Obstacle courses and trails were all located around the Dan River, which is a cool, peaceful getaway from the blistering sun reflecting off of hot pavement. Or if you get really overheated, the off-road ride-a-longs will bring you through the shady trees and through the mud. These Jeeps have some big treads, and the owners just might give you an extra mud splash if you ask nicely.

Exedy Rally Ride-a-longs and Rage Buggy rides kicked up dust and dirt in the overgrown fields around the nearby outskirts of the VIRginia Raceway. Attendees were lined up for the alternating rides, eager to get strapped in and racing around the rugged terrain.

Up the hill from the Rally cars were alternating bike and karting races. According to VIR, the karts are equipped with ungoverned Honda GX 270cc motors and are capable of speeds in excess of 50-mph, which means that these are the fastest go-carts around, perfect for the paved 5/8 mile, 24-foot-wide circuit.

The tire massacre came just in time. Nearing the end of Saturday’s festivities, a steadily moving blanket of low, thick dark clouds (the beginning signs of a massive downpour) started to move in. Despite the threat from Mother Nature, the burnout contest commenced, and a select few competitors gathered their vehicles, each eagerly waiting for their turn on the burnout platform. Every remaining spectator in the park joined the masses to witness the carnage. The atmosphere reverberated with high revs and tire smoke billowed into the air, often to the point of the car being completely engulfed in clouds of steamy rubber. The audience cheered in unison, which seemingly lifted the smoke higher. (Or maybe it was the incoming storm.)

Those final moments sealed the deal for us, and there's no doubt about it: Hyperfest is the epitome of what automotive culture is all about. Check out the gallery for a closer look.

One of the easiest ways to personalize your 4x4 is with a new set of tires and wheels. In the off-road world, choosing the right wheel and tire set can be a critical factor in how your vehicle performs. KMC Wheels is company that understands the off-road market better than most. With an assortment of street and off-road oriented wheels, the company has a wide portfolio of products to choose from.

We caught up with KMC at the 51st annual Easter Jeep Safari in beautiful Moab, Utah. The company was on-hand all week hitting the trails in its freshly re-vamped 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, which the company has dubbed the "Black Badger." Fitted with a 6.4L Hemi V8, the Jeep was built to prove out some of the company’s latest wheel sets, which includes its all-new XD229 Machete Crawl beadlock.

While the video above offers great insight to the build and the new wheel line, we’re diving into even more details below.

That thing got a Hemi? Yes, it does. A 6.4L as a matter of fact. KMC has some big adventures in store for its JK, and the company didn’t want power to be a limiting factor. To help the V8 expel some of the under-hood temps, an EVO Mfg. hood breach was installed.

Up front, you’ll find a high-pinion Rubicon Dana 44, which has been paired with an over-the-knuckle steering conversion, EVO Mfg. track-bar mount and Fox ATS steering stabilizer. A set of 4.10 gears are mated with the Tru-Lok differential, while an ARB cover keeps everything protected.

Supporting the rig is a bolt-on coilover conversion from EVO Mfg., which nets 12 inches of usable travel from the EVO-spec King 2.0 shocks. A Currie Antirock sway bar adds extra stability on the trail and tarmac.

Out back, you’ll find a Rubicon Dana 44 built similar to the front with EVO’s bolt-on coilover system as well. It’s important to note that this rig will be getting a serious axle upgrade soon, but we like that KMC is having fun pushing the limits of the Rubi axle set.

The 37x12.50R17 Nitto Trail Grapplers are wrapped around KMC’s XD229 Machete Crawl beadlock wheel. This cast aluminum 17x9 wheel is fit with 3.5 inches of back spacing. This true beadlock wheel is fit with relief holes machined into the clamping ring, which allows water and debris to easily escape. Another trick feature is the dual valve stems, which is extremely hand for airing down on the trail.

Offering up plenty of clearance in front of the meaty mud-terrain radials is an EVO Mfg. Pro Series front bumper. Secured inside of the bumper is a Warn winch using synthetic cable with a Factor 55 ProLink. Additional lighting comes courtesy of Rigid Industries.

Toting the fullsize spare is an EVO rear tire carrier, while EVO’s new high-and-tight rear bumper improves the Jeep’s departure angle. The fender flares also come from EVO’s extensive line of JK products. 

The custom Sign Works wrap extends onto the Rugged Ridge half doors. While a Bestop Trektop NX offers overhead element protection, the EVO rocker guards ensure the body can handle a rough impact on the trail.

Inside, Rugged Radio keeps KMC in touch with others on the trail, while MasterCraft Safety Baja RS seats provide comfort.

Hard Facts

Badgers not your animal of choice? Check out this Spicy Chicken.

Now that's you've seen our coverage of last week's visit to Jay Leno's Garage where he debuted his new line of Advanced Car Care products, I wanted to spend a little more time covering his amazing automobile collection.

As I mentioned in the first story, Jay's collection is both massive and diverse, and picking favorites is not an easy task. Even so, I've singled out eight different vehicles which caught my eye during our tour of the place. Some are well known parts of Jay's collection, while others fly a bit more under the radar. Here they are.

1.  1989 Ford Festiva Shogun

This one might sound like a custom project straight out of his workshop, but it's actually a rare production car that he's owned for nearly 30 years. Based on the lightweight Ford Festiva, the Shogun has the Yamaha-developed V6 from the Ford Taurus SHO sitting where the rear seat used to be. Only seven Shoguns were ever built, and Jay's car is completely original save for a nitrous kit which raises horsepower to about 300 ponies when activated.

2.  1914 Detroit Electric

When it comes to Jay's custom projects, this one might just be the most ambitious yet. While electric cars might seem like automobiles of the future, they've actually been around as long as gasoline vehicles. This 1914 Detroit Electric is in the process of being fitted with modern battery electric running gear, and when finished it will have all the amenities of a modern EV in 100-plus-year-old packaging.

Gasoline might run through Jay's veins but he's got plenty of love electrics, with one of his preferred daily drivers being his Tesla Model S P90D. We can't wait to see this thing parked next to Nissan LEAFs at charging stations.

3.  1959 Nash Metropolitan

A collection as eclectic as Jay's wouldn't be complete without a Nash Metropolitan — the British-built economy car that was a big seller in America during the 1950s and early '60s. Somebody gave him this one a while back, and Jay's plans for this one include a full drivetrain swap from a Mazda Miata. Part of me hopes that he'll leave the paint and body as is, because the patina gives this car a ton of character.

4.  1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

Over the years Jay has collaborated with OEM manufacturers on a number of one-off projects. One of them is this 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. Originally front-wheel drive, Jay's Toronado now has C5 Corvette running gear, including an automatic transaxle and an LS6 with a pair of turbochargers under that enormous hood.

The looks meanwhile are all original, save for a set of custom 17-inch wheels based on the original factory design, but with 1000+ horsepower on tap, this is easily one of the coolest sleepers in Jay's collection.

5.  1970 Mazda Cosmo

Jay is a big fan of cars with unusual engines, and his rotary-powered 1970 Mazda Cosmo Sport is a perfect example of that. Originally purchased new by an American service member stationed in Japan, Jay has since upgraded the car with a more powerful 12A rotary engine along with other bits from a newer Mazda RX-7.

6.  1991 GMC Syclone

While Jay certainly has no problem driving a vehicle that draws attention from everyone on the road, there are also times when he wants to drive something a little more understated. This 1991 GMC Syclone pickup served as his daily driver for many years, and during his commute he'd use the turbocharged 4.3 V6 and AWD system to shame many guys driving much more exotic machinery.

7.  2017 Acura NSX

You might remember the Super Bowl commercial from several years ago where Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld were fighting over the first Acura NSX.

Well, Jay finally did get his hands on the NSX — serial number #003 to be exact — and it joins the list of other late model performance machines in his collection. Next to arrive? His 2017 Ford GT, which should be showing up any day now.

8.  1955 Buick Roadmaster

Of all the cars in Jay's collection, he might have the biggest emotional attachment to this one. Immediately after moving to LA in the 1970s, Jay went and purchased this 1955 Buick Roadmaster for $350. He even lived in it before he had a place to stay. Jay still kept the old Buick after moving on to bigger and better things, and in the early 2000s, he gave the car the full restomod treatment with the help of GM. It's now got crate big block with overdrive trans, Corvette suspension and other modern goodies underneath.

With so many cars in Jay's collection, you could have 10 different people pick their favorites and come up with 10 completely different lists; that's the beauty of it. With a collection as diverse and eclectic as Jay Leno's, you're guaranteed to find something that any kind of car enthusiast can enjoy. We are already looking forward to our next visit to Leno's Garage.

The 2017 Texas Diesel Nationals proved to be a record-breaking affair for the National Hot Rod Diesel Association (NHRDA). Not only did the event see the first 8-second pass from a full weight, Super Street truck at an NHRDA-sanctioned event, but a new benchmark was set for the fastest crew cab LMM Duramax (’08-’10 GM HD’s) in North America. Throw in mid-7-second passes from a ’41 Willy’s, a P-pumped 7.3L-powered Mustang and the closest 10.90 index racing we’ve seen to date and you start to see why the Texas Motorplex was the place to be the weekend of April 21. And who could forget the dozens of streets trucks that showed up to compete in the 11.90 Index and Sportsman categories.

Check out all the highlights from the NHRDA’s first stop in the Lone Star State below.

6,000-Pound, 8-Second Dodge

It’s one thing to watch a Pro Street diesel truck make an 8-second pass through the quarter-mile, but it’s a whole other animal to see a Super Street truck do it. Reason being, the Super Street class (a category exclusive to NHRDA) mandates a 6,000-pound minimum race weight for 4x4 trucks (vs. 4,500 in Pro Street) and prohibits the use of tube chassis and/or back-halved setups, as well as three-link or four-link suspensions. So when Phillip Franklin’s 6,000-pound, leaf sprung, 5.9L Cummins-powered, ’06 Dodge Ram tore through the 1320 in 8.98 seconds it was beyond impressive. Phillip’s 8.98 made him the first Super Street competitor to run an 8 at an NHRDA-sanctioned event, and his 155.7 mph trap speed confirmed his Dodge was applying roughly 1,600 hp to the track.

Won at the Tree

Even though it’s not a national points class, the 10.90 Index category is a great bridge gap for racers who aren’t fast enough to compete in Super Street but that are faster than the vehicles found in the popular 11.90 Index class. Chris Perales’ ’01 Dodge fit the mold perfectly at the Texas Diesel Nationals, and his consistency throughout the day would land him in the 10.90 finals. In the last, neck-and-neck race of the day, Chris would take home the win thanks to a better reaction time.

Truck Pulls, Too

Rocky Horn trekked down to Texas from Fort Lupton, Colorado, to do battle in the NHRDA’s Limited Pro Stock truck pull class. His old-school, Cummins-powered Ford is named “Southern Cumferdt,” and it turns heads wherever it goes. It’s worth noting that while most sanctioning bodies have adopted the new, smooth bore 3.0 turbo rule for the Limited Pro Stock class (NHRDA included), the NHRDA is still allowing competitors with map groove 2.6-inch inducer turbos to compete in this class through 2017.

The Batmobile

The fastest vehicle in attendance was the G&J Diesel/MBRP’41 Willys (best known as the “Batmobile”) driven by Jarid Vollmer. The chopped and fiber-glass bodied Willys sports Duramax power and makes use of a three-speed Bruno’s Automotive-built Lenco transmission to get down the track. At the Texas Diesel Nationals, Jarid would pilot the Batmobile to a new personal best (within the NHRDA) of 7.56 at 177 mph.

Demented Mustang

Matt Kubik’s Mustang was a fan favorite before it ever hit the drag strip, thanks to being powered by a mechanical version of the 7.3L Power Stroke (courtesy of Hypermax Engineering). The competition-ready V8 sports a compacted graphite iron (CGI) block, a single Garrett GT55 that sees just under 100 psi of boost and an 8-cylinder P-pump that consumes the lifter valley. Shifts are handled via a Bruno/Lenco transmission with a Neal Chance billet converter. Although Matt didn’t get to lay down a full-power pass at the NHRDA event, his car looks promising so far with a best eighth-mile effort of 5.24 seconds and an 8.60 in the quarter while coasting.

Show 'N Shine Winner

As for the show 'n shine winner, this ultra-clean first-gen Cummins owned by Aaron Acker would collect the most votes. Aaron’s ’93 Dodge showed up wearing fresh paint, a Skyjacker 4-inch lift and American Force wheels.

Still Kickin’

Mixing it up in test and tune was Dylan Cink and his old body style Ford F-250. His lightweight, 7.3L-powered, two-wheel-drive Blue Oval would go 12.29 at 112 mph on this pass, although it’s been slightly quicker in the past. It’s always nice to see strong-running, 20-year-old diesels still chugging along — and it’s even better when they can keep pace with today’s high-powered trucks.

10.38 at 130 MPH

Thanks to near-perfect track conditions and the right man behind the wheel, Willie Lewis was able to send his ’08 Chevy Silverado 2500 down the track in 10.6 seconds on fuel. He then squeezed a 10.38-second pass out of the four-door Bow Tie with the aid of nitrous — which is a new record for an ’08-’10 crew cab GM-powered by an LMM Duramax.

Bone Stock = Ultimate Consistency

What’s more consistent than a bone-stock truck? That may or may not have been the mindset for Gaylon Singleton when he entered his brand new Chevy Silverado in the Sportsman (E.T. Bracket) class. For the most part, it worked, as Gaylon would stick close to his 14.90-second dial-in all day. His one break out would come in the form of a 14.83-second pass at 90 mph in the final round (against Jacob Baman), which earned Gaylon the Runner-Up overall position. On a side note, Gaylon’s 90 mph trap speed is indicative that the new GM’s (with the L5P Duramax) send roughly 380 to 390 hp to the wheels in stock form. Not bad!

Dialed In

Veteran bracket racer Robin Ridgway traveled 1,000 miles to compete at the Texas Diesel Nationals. Her ’01 F-350 is another good example of consistency as she piloted it to a 16.02, a 15.994 and a 15.974 before the day was through. While Robin didn’t make it to the finals, she used the Texas event to kick off her NHRDA season points collection.

Multi-Tasking

Amalee Mueler was on a roll in her ’04 Dodge regular cab. Thanks to a recent tuning change from Firepunk Diesel, her common-rail Cummins was as repeatable as it’s ever been at the Texas Diesel Nationals. Amalee and her Ram would make it to the quarter finals of the Sportsman class before getting beat and she would also take Second Place in the 10.90 Index category. Her 10.96 at 122 mph loss to the aforementioned Chris Perales’ 11.03 at 108 mph in the final made for one of the closest drag races of the day (Perales’ 0.112-second reaction time would give him the win vs. Amalee’s 0.235).

(Photos courtesy of the National Hot Rod Diesel Association)

The 31st annual Mooneyes Street Car Nationals rolled into Odaiba, Japan, and it was massive. All eyes were on over 1,200 entries plus a swap meet, and there was definitely something for everyone.

We are always impressed with the variety of cars that are on display. Entries include hot rods, trucks, muscle cars and Japanese domestics whose owners come from near and far to participate.

It's easy for people to spend the entire day checking out everyone's build and perusing the swap meet. For us, we were interested in finding the new standout entries, and this year didn't let us down.

These are a few of our top picks from Street Car Nationals:

1. The Family Station Wagon

This late '50s Chevrolet Brookwood may not have been the shiniest, but we loved its street rod look. Air suspension, matte finish and simple steel wheels means that this is a car that can be driven virtually anywhere without worrying too much about what might happen to it.

2. Lines for Days

The first generation Buick Invicta is a long car that appears to be swimming through the air with its streamlined design. With its clean doors, superb finish and clean interior, this was one of our favorites. We didn't discover any contraband as we looked it over, but saw a period-correct Life magazine laying on the front bench seat. Nice touch.

3. Confident and Stylish

Japan car owners and manufacturers seem to love the retro look and aren't afraid to produce vehicles that look several generations out of place. Vehicles like the Nissan Sunny Truck, Daihatsu Mira Gino and this Mitsubishi Debonair. The Debonair Executive was produced from 1964 all the way to 1998.

4. LS Everything

In the U.S., everyone knows that swapping an LS engine into anything is possible, and there are plenty of installation kits that make it as easy as can be. In Japan, LS engines come at a premium, especially the supporting parts, so we are always impressed to see them here, as seen in this Datsun Fairlady Z. We know some may consider it sacrilegious, but to each their own, right?

5. Definitely Deluxe

This '30s era Plymouth P4 Deluxe had us breaking out the tissues to wipe the drool running down our chins. A perfect mix of custom and classic with full restoration and customization throughout, even equipped with a Thermador Air Cooler — this was one rare ride.

6. Mad Max Odyssey

Being fans of the Honda Odyssey RB1 and RB2, we were a bit taken aback by the treatment customization of what we saw in front of us. After the initial shock wore off, we had to credit the owner for the thoroughness of the Mad Max theme execution. We kept waiting for a flame-throwing guitar show, but it never happened.

7. To Protect and Show Off

Cosplay is huge Japanese cultural phenomenon that ranges from the usual anime and video characters to the more extreme military and law enforcement. This group mixed their love of law enforcement so accurately that we were put on guard a bit when we walked by. From their cars to their uniforms, only in Japan — and America.

Check out all the variety that was on display at the 2017 Mooneyes Street Car Nationals in the gallery below.

When it comes to off-road oriented midsized trucks, there are few new options. For years, the Toyota Tacoma has ruled the roost with its TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro variations. This is largely due to the selectable rear locker, excellent ground clearance, and trail-ready suspension packages with the aforementioned Tacoma platforms. Thankfully, there is a new player in town: the 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2.

If you’re familiar with the Chevy Colorado, and its S-10 predecessor, you might think the ZR2 is just another shock-and-sticker package. While the ZR2 badging is carry over, there’s never been a Colorado (or S-10) equipped with such a dynamic assortment of off-road goodies. For starters, the ZR2 is 3.5 inches wider and rides 2 inches taller than a standard Colorado. Beyond the girth increase, the truck received front and rear selectable lockers, rocker guards, a unique high-clearance front bumper and shock technology derived from F-1 race cars (more on that later).

To get a closer look, we hopped a flight to Gateway, Colorado, and got behind the wheel of both the diesel and gas versions of the all-new 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2. While the video above will give you good insight into how it performs, we’ve broken down the 10 most important takeaways of the new ZR2.

1. Two Lockers!

A class-exclusive front and rear locker set makes the Colorado ZR2 a true contender on the trail. After all, what good is a four-wheel drive if you can’t send power to all four wheels? While the front locker can only be actuated in four-wheel drive low range, the rear locker can be used in two-wheel drive as well as 4x4 high range.

2. Nannie Defeats

The federal government works with companies like Chevy to ensure it's putting out the safest vehicles it can possibly make. This often equates to electronic nannies that cut power at the worst times off-road. Don’t fret! The ZR2 allows you to disable the fun police on the trail so you can actually cut the truck loose.

3. Big Wheelwells

Large wheelwells mean big tires are an easy fit. We’re told a 33-inch-tall tire fits nicely, but we would love to see one of these machines on a meaty set of 35x12.50 Nitto Ridge Grapplers. The bigger wheelwells also mean you won’t have to lift the truck much to squeeze on taller treads.

4. Real Body Protection

Those aren't step bars below the doors, they're actually rock sliders that have been thoroughly tested. In addition to proper rocker guards, there’s an assortment of skidplates below. We’d probably add a few more skids, along with swapping the aluminum driveshaft for a more durable one for the trail. Overall, you’re starting off with some solid protection.

5. Trail Tested

The development team for the ZR2 was serious about making sure this truck was capable on the trail. So, they ‘wheeled it all across the country over places such as the Rubicon Trail, Moab and an assortment of trails at Windrock Park in Tennessee. These were just a few of the proving grounds, and much of the information learned on the trail helped them revise things such as the oil pickup for the 3.6L engine.

6. Two Cabs, One Wheelbase

There's only one wheel base available (128.50 inches). So, either decide if you want the longer bed with the extra cab or slightly shorter bed with the double cab.

7. Duramax Diesel

Another segment-exclusive option is the Duramax diesel engine. It’s a 2.8L inline-four cylinder that pumps out 186 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. While it doesn’t feel as sprightly as the standard 3.6L V6 gasser on-road, the torque-rich engine makes trail ‘wheeling a breeze. The 308 horsepower gas V6 will come backed by an eight-speed automatic, while the diesel gets a six-speed auto. 

8. Electronic Steering

To get the efficiency and horsepower numbers up, Chevy (along with many other auto manufacturers) have moved to an electronic steering system. We were skeptical at first, but we found it to be incredibly responsive on-road and off. Even with the front locker engaged on the trail, we never had to fight the steering.

9. Competitively Priced

If you’re looking at the only other midsized pickup with real off-road chops (Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro), you’ll find the starting price ($40,995) of the Colorado ZR2 is only $35 more. Those 35 bills get you standard appointments such as a front selectable locker, navigation and rock sliders.

10. Shockingly Awesome Suspension

With 8.6 inches of front and 10 inches of rear suspension travel, the ZR2 has good trail legs. More importantly, the Multimatic DSSV shock absorbers are well-tuned. Using a total of three spool valves in lieu of conventional valve shims to control the shock fluid, Chevy was able to place on a more versatile shock to meet both on- and off-road demands. While this suspension technology is more commonly found in high-performance track cars, its use in this platform is brilliant.

Having driven the standard Colorado on-road and off previously, the improvements with the shocks alone are outstanding. On-road, the ride is extremely smooth and controlled. Despite this supple ride over the tarmac, we found the shocks still had plenty of dampening control in the dirt. In fact, we even went airborne a few times with the truck (for testing purposes, of course…) and were surprised at how controlled and effective the shocks were at taking large and small travel events.

In the sport of diesel truck pulling, DOT tire classes have always presented countless options for competitors. However, for more than a decade, all-terrain patterns seemed to be as aggressive as anyone was willing to go — that was, until three years ago.

In the spring of 2014, Nitto Mud Grapplers broke new ground in the all-terrain dominated sport. After the top four trucks running the 3.0 class at the esteemed TS Performance Outlaw Sled Pull were equipped with them, a trend began, and the Mud Grappler instantly became the tread of choice for more than half the field. In addition, drivers in the next category down (the 2.6 class, at the time) took notice and promptly put their orders in for Nitto’s extreme-duty tire.

After years of no one going anywhere near a mud terrain, the Mud Grappler had found an unlikely home in diesel truck pulling. Read on to see why so many truck pullers prefer to run Nitto’s most rugged off-road tire.

Added Sidewall Bite

The Nitto Mud Grappler has one of the most aggressive sidewall designs on the DOT tire market. Its massive lugs provide exceptional traction in all types of terrain, especially rocky environments. But, as a lot of truck pullers found out, the extra sidewall bite could be put to good use in hard-packed and/or loose dirt.

Coincidence or Foresight?

Wes Kusilek is rumored to have pioneered the Mud Grappler craze when he showed up at the 2013 Scheid Diesel Extravaganza with them on his GMC Sierra — and proceeded to put his truck in the winner’s circle. It makes sense if you know the history behind this Duramax-powered GMC. Wes and his crew are known for trying different, out-of-the-box things in order to find an edge amongst the stiffest pulling competition in the nation. While many pullers seem to follow the status quo, the Kusilek team has always been fond of mixing things up to see what works and what doesn’t. On that hot August night nearly four years ago, we’d say they definitely found something that worked.

Beginning of a Movement

This was, perhaps, the turning point for the all-terrain-or-nothing mentality in truck pulling. When the top four finishers were all running Nitto Mud Grapplers at the 2014 TS Performance Outlaw Sled Pull, other competitors took note. Over night, the Mud Grappler would infiltrate the likes of both the 3.0 and 2.6 classes, with nearly every competitor wanting to try their hand with a set. And even though the class the Mud Grapplers seemed to support the most has now moved on to running cut tires, they’re still seeing success in lower horsepower classes.

Loose Track Success

While the Mud Grappler seemed to shine the most on the 3.0 class trucks in the 1,600 to 1,900 hp range, many pullers have had great luck with them in the former 2.6 class (now the Limited Pro Stock class), where horsepower ranges from 1,200 to 1,400 hp. In the Limited Pro Stock class, looser tracks seem to be the Mud Grappler’s strong suit.

High Void Ratio

The advantage of running a Mud Grappler on a looser track can best be attributed to its high void ratio between tread blocks. While the tighter grouping of the lugs on an all-terrain tends to make the tire spin over the inconsistencies in the track, the Mud Grapplers’ tread blocks are able to take a larger bite out of the soil and clear dirt from the pattern very effectively, maintaining traction. While not purposely designed for truck pulling, Nitto did intentionally engineer this aspect into the Mud Grappler by arranging the tread blocks so that a portion of the lugs are always biting the ground.

WHAT COMPETITORS THINK

Joe Hill

Veteran truck puller and current competitor in the Limited Pro Stock class, Joe Hill, seemed to confirm our thoughts on which track and class the Mud Grappler is best suited for in 2017.

“The higher horsepower trucks seem to utilize them a bit better [on tracks that bite],” Hill said. “I’d say they are definitely more effective at our power level (1,200 to 1,400 hp) on a looser track versus a hard-packed one.”

Daniel Whalen

Although Daniel Whalen has moved on to the 3.6 turbo, Pro Stock class (where cut tires are allowed), he campaigned Mud Grapplers for two years with great success. His tenure with Mud Grapplers included a championship in the Illinois Tractor Pulling Association’s 3.0 Pro Stock class in 2015 and a win at the aforementioned TS Performance Outlaw Sled Pull event. As a result of his successes, Daniel highly recommends Mud Grapplers to anyone in a DOT tire category.

“I always found that they liked wheel speed, but they also helped lock in hard at the end of the track,” he told us. "If you’ve got a turbo that stays lit at lower rpm, they can get you those last few inches before you spin out.”

Joe Wiltse

Falling into the 1,600 to 1,900 hp range was Joe Wiltse’s old body style Ford. According to Joe, his 3.0 class, P-pumped 7.3L loved Mud Grapplers.

“I think they loaded the engine more than other tires could,” he said. More load equaled more boost, which led to more power being produced and applied to the track. As a result, Joe’s 7.3L V8-powered Ford ran neck-and-neck with some of the strongest Cummins-powered trucks in the country.

Donavan Harris

Even with the option of running cut tires at the Ultimate Callout Challenge, a handful of competitors chose Mud Grapplers. One such competitor was Donavan Harris of Armor Inc. and his 1,600 hp Dodge Ram. Thanks to driving skill, his truck’s overall setup and the employment of six Mud Grapplers on a very loose track, Donavan clawed his way to a 312-foot, Second Place finish.

Jim Greenway

Jim Greenway’s Baillie Diesel, MBRP-sponsored ’07 Dodge Ram has earned multiple NHRDA championships over the last four years and now runs the Limited Pro Stock class. After making the switch to Mud Grapplers a few years ago, they remain his tread of choice for DOT-mandated pulling classes.

In the early 1990s Volkswagen produced a special version of the Mk.II Golf known as the Golf Country which featured Syncro four-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, brush guards and some pretty decent capability over medium terrain. It was never sold in the United States, but it quickly developed a cult following among VW fans around around the world.

In many ways the Golf Country was a preview of the crossover SUVs that would become immensely popular over two decades later, and Volkswagen has decided to pay tribute to that car with a new concept vehicle built for this past weekend's SOWO show in Georgia.

Based on the new Golf Alltrack with its 1.8 liter turbocharged TSI engine and 4Motion AWD, the concept takes the Alltrack's adventure-friendly image and ramps it up further with some fitting aftermarket additions.

It starts underneath where the car has been lifted an additional two inches  and fitted with downsized 15 inch wheels and beefy all terrain tires. A roof-mounted tent setup has also been added for those weekend camping trips.

Other upgrades include additional foglights and an LED light bar up front, while the rear features a Thule bike rack with a pair of Trek mountain bikes. There's also a solar-powered media center in the rear with USB ports to charge all your devices.

Not only is the Alltrack Country Concept a fitting tribute to the Mk.II Golf Country, it provides a very cool glimpse at what's possible with the new Golf Alltrack with some simple aftermarket modifications. Look out Subaru, you've got some stiff new competition in the lifted station wagon segment.

But how does the Golf measure up to other hatchbacks? Read our Hot Hatch Guide here.

For us automobile enthusiasts, starting a family can have a huge impact on our hobby. Adding a child to the household can mean less money to spend on project vehicles, less time to spend in the garage wrenching and it could also mean saying goodbye to that two-seater in order to get something more kid-friendly.

But by no means does having a child mean that automotive fun is over. And just because you have a kid or two shouldn't mean that you are forced into driving a minivan everyday. These days there are plenty of practical AND fun daily drivers that can help keep the mom or dad life interesting.

After welcoming my son into the world earlier this spring, I faced a dilemma that many other gearheads have faced. I needed a safe and practical daily driver that could haul the baby and associated gear, but still be fun when I wanted to be. It also had to be wife-friendly – which in my case meant no manual gearboxes.

Depending on your budget there are plenty of choices on the new market that should fit these needs, but for me the choice didn't require a whole lot of thought. When it comes to being a jack-of-all-trades, few cars can beat Volkswagen's iconic Golf GTI.

Since its introduction back in the '70s, the GTI has defined the hot hatch. It's relatively affordable, it's quick, handles well, is safe and has plenty of room for a small family. It's a sensible hatchback when you need it to be, and a fun backroad mate when you want it to be - and it delivers decent fuel economy while doing so.

I may have come in with a biased opinion, having formerly owned a 2012 GTI that I really enjoyed. And the latest Mk.7 version takes everything I loved about that car and improves on it. A bit more room, a bit more power, a bit more tech and a little less weight. I knew it would be the perfect compliment to my loud, and slightly obnoxious muscle car project that only seats two and lacks creature comforts of any sort.

What truly pushed me over the edge to GTI ownership was the addition of the new Sport trim for 2017. Sitting one step up above the base GTI, the Sport adds the vaunted Performance Package (larger brakes, 10 extra horsepower and and a trick electronically controlled mechanical LSD), adaptive HID headlights and keyless access/pushbutton start. All while retaining the cool plaid cloth upholstery that the GTI is known for (higher trims force you to go with leather).

While I certainly love to row my own gears, Volkswagen's GTI DSG transmission delivers excellent performance and my wife won't complain about having to operate a clutch when she gets behind the wheel. There's shift paddles behind the steering wheel of course, along with adjustable drive modes to alter the character of the transmission.

And it's really that dual character that makes the GTI so great. It will eat up highway miles comfortably and quietly - which is always important as I do lots of driving up and down the state of California to shoot events, feature cars, shops and more. But find a twisty stretch of mountain road or a tight freeway onramp and the car just comes alive. With 220 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.0 TSI engine, it won't break any track records, but there's no shortage of fun to be had.

While the interior space isn't going to shame any Honda Odysseys or Chevy Tahoes, it's perfect for most people's needs. The backseat can accommodate adults comfortably and also handle bulky rear-facing infant seats without jamming the passenger's legs into the dashboard.

The same goes for the rear cargo area. It's not gigantic, but there's sufficient room for a baby stroller and any other gear we'd reasonably need to bring along. And being able to fold the rear seats down allows for even more cargo space if needed.

After driving the car for a few weeks and taking it on a couple road trips, I keep coming away more impressed with the overall package. In terms of performance its easy to see why the electronic LSD gets so much praise as it puts the 220 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque to the ground without any noticeable torque steer and helps the car attack corners without the heavy understeer that most front-drive cars are known for.

Being a car that does everything so well out of the box, you always wonder if there's room for improvement. Like past GTIs, the Mk.7 has been welcomed by the aftermarket with open arms and there are no shortage of upgrades available. It's basically a question of how far you want to go.

While I'm very happy with the car out of the box, with no plans to make this into a race car or flashy show machine, my mind is already contemplating future upgrades. Wider wheels and stickier rubber would be nice, as would some modest suspension upgrades and a slight power bump.

The challenge will be finding the right balance of parts to improve the car without ruining its wonderful balance – while maintaining it as a completely friendly baby hauler, daily driver and comfortable road trip car.

There should be plenty of adventures to come with this car, so stay tuned for more as we see if we can make a good car better and show that there's plenty of fun to be had with a sensible everyday family hatchback.

Then again, there's always VANkulture.

Hydrogen cars. They seem to be popping up everywhere these days. From the Toyota Mirai to the Honda FCX Clarity, and the Hyundai Tucson FCEV to the Mercedes F-cell, the options are plentiful. If you live in California, it gets even more real because the California Fuel Cell Partnership is in the process of opening 50 hydrogen stations by the end of 2017. But as an enthusiast, does it really matter to you?

One could argue that these models aren’t exactly the sexiest vehicles on the road, so why should you care? Listen up:

First, let’s just get the whole process straight. Hydrogen cars are a lot like electric cars in that they both use a high-voltage electric motor to move the vehicle. But while EVs use electric energy that's stored in a big battery, hydrogen vehicles use a fuel cell system that generates electric power to run the electric motor.

Think of it this way: Electric vehicles run off of electricity, hydrogen vehicles make their own electricity by splitting hydrogen and oxygen into water and electricity. That's why a F-cell's only emissions is water.

So that brings us to the first reason to embrace hydrogen.

#1. No range anxiety and quick to fuel.

Because they make their own fuel, the whole range anxiety is less of an issue in a fuel cell vehicle. In fact, the Toyota Mirai has the same range as a Tesla Model S 90D. The only difference is the quickest you can charge the Model S is an hour and refilling an F-cell takes about five minutes. That's because you’re not charging anything, just refilling your hydrogen supply. God knows, no enthusiast wants to be waiting at a charging station while his friends motor by.  

#2. Hydrogen is the most plentiful element on the planet.  

This means we don’t have drill into any polar bear dens or invade any countries to be sure we have it. It can be produced quickly, abundantly and domestically. The most common process is Steam Methane Reforming, meaning that the hydrogen is actually created out of waste — which makes this video of a guy drinking hydrogen tailpipe water even more hilarious:

#3. Big automakers are really committed to hydrogen.

Car companies have been pursuing hydrogen vehicles for longer than you think. In fact, the first internal combustion engine was powered by a mixture between hydrogen and oxygen, invented by a Swiss dude Francois Isaac de Rivaz in 1806. GM’s first hydrogen project was in 1966, and Mercedes released an experimental hydrogen vehicle in 1975.

But thanks to the renewed interest in sustainability, hydrogen is back and bigger than ever. Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and Ford have all been very open about betting on a hydrogen future. Tesla? Not so much. Elon’s got a battery empire to protect, so don’t expect much out of him.

#4. Hydrogen could revolutionize your passion.

Lastly, because supercar enthusiasts have really benefited from electric motors (think Porsche 918, Acura NSX, McLaren P1, BMW’s i8, the Ferrari La Ferrari… the list goes on), the unique benefits of hydrogen power could revolutionize the type of supercars, off-road vehicles or race cars we see in the future. The H2 Speed by Pininfarina is just the beginning. Here's to the next wave of motoring!

When it comes to ‘wheeling, Texas is one of the most diverse states. We’ve spent time all across the Lone Star state on various off-road adventures and can attest that the western half of the state is extremely different from the east. For the 2017 NittoJeep Xperience Texas, we found ourselves in two of West Texas’ premier off-road parks: Katemcy Rocks and Wolf Caves. Both parks are situated just outside of Mason, Texas, with each having hundreds of acres of dedicated ‘wheeling territory.

This year, 75 participants, along with a host of sponsors, made the journey out to Mason. While Friday was spent taking care of paper work, Saturday things got going bright and early. Since rockcrawling is the core focus of both parks, ‘wheelers dropped air pressure in hopes of getting the most bite from the Texas boulders.

With such a diverse group of vehicles and experience levels on hand, three trail categories were made. Extreme Overlanding, Intermediate and Extreme. With body damage practically guaranteed on Extreme, the Intermediate groups became the most populated.

We spent most of Saturday tagging along with a few groups at Wolf Caves. This beautiful piece of property has been in the same family’s hands for seven generations. Its 430 acres of accessible off-road land is filled with rock outcroppings everywhere you turn.

After 17 years in the business, Katemcy Rocks owners Shain Chapman and Randy Kruse understand what it takes to keep an incredible off-road park in business. K2 would play host as not only a top-notch ‘wheeling venue, but base camp to the Jeep Xperience event. Here, participants would get in some world-class rock crawling, win thousands of dollars’ worth of raffle prices (including a new set of Nitto Ridge Grapplers) and enjoy a BBQ dinner and live band on Saturday night.

While our video above gives you highlights from the event, please enjoy some snapshots below.

Ready for something new in your career? Driving Line has two positions open, and we're looking for our next superstar! Our hardworking team lives, breathes and eats cars — if you do too, that's the first step in fitting in. The first position, a Content Intern, is a great opportunity for a current student or recent college grad looking to break into automotive media. The second, a Project Coordinator, will help be the glue that sticks our team together and keeps initiatives rolling. Get to know our staff, browse the descriptions below or jump over to our job listing pages to send in your application today.

Driving Line Content Intern

You'll do: Content review and optimization, partner support, social media marketing and web analytics.

You'll need: Demonstrated ability developing on-brand messaging and content, ability to work with minimal supervision, in-progress or completed Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Marketing or Communications and meticulous proof-reading skills.

Find out more in the Content Intern job posting.

Driving Line Project Coordinator

You'll do: Task management, research, event and project planning, status reports and team support.

You'll need: Bachelor's degree or similar job experience, demonstrated ability in team and project organization, ability to work with both internal and external team partners, excellent collaboration and agility.

Find out more in the Project Coordinator job posting.

As part of the Driving Line team, you'll be an integral member of a cutting edge team that's always looking to push the boundaries and create passion surrounding a wide array of automotive niches.

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