Road Rumblings

Flat-Plane Crank DOHC LT6 to Power the 2023 Corvette Z06!

It revs to 8,600 rpm, churns out 670 hp, and will power the new Corvette C8 Z06 supercar! Who will be the first to swap one into a classic hot rod? The LT6 engine that will power the new 2023 C8 Corvette Z06 is as game changing as the LS1 was when it was introduced in 1997. Bold statement? Yep, but once you delve into the guts of the LT6, and look at its specifications, that opening claim may end up being somewhat of an understatement. "The new Corvette Z06 defines the American supercar," said General Motors President Mark Reuss. "It builds on the distinctive design and groundbreaking dynamics introduced with the mid-engine Corvette and elevates them to deliver refined but uncompromising track capability with world-class performance." The Z06 is set apart by its beating heart: The all -new 5.5L DOHC LT6, the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 to hit the market in any production car—ever. As hot rodders, we're thinking in terms of salvaged swaps and crate engines, so let's take a deeper dive into this very cool bleeding-edge V-8. The 2023 Z06 is a supercar for those without supercar-sized wallets. Yeah, at around a $85k for the base model, it isn't cheap, but considering that it's on par with Lambos, Ferraris, and the like, it certainly falls on the more affordable side of the ledger. There are tons of stories out there about what an amazing hunk of engineering the C8 Z06 is, but we're here to talk about what motivates it down the highway and around your favorite road course: the revolutionary LT6 engine. Add this all up and you end up with the most powerful naturally aspirated factory engine ever stuffed into a Corvette: 670 hp at 8,400 rpm (with an 8,600-rpm redline) and 460 lb-ft of twist at 6,300 rpm should be enough to get anyone's attention. And, no, the 8,600-rpm part wasn't a typo, thanks to the super-lightweight rotating guts, short stroke, and oversquare cylinders. While this LS6 seems "all new" and fresh on the scene the truth is that a version of this engine has been powering the Corvette C8.R race cars since 2019. All that on track testing helped engineers refine the LT6's performance and durability. When we first heard the C8.R and figured out it was running a flat plane crank we speculated, over a year and a half ago, that due to the rules governing Chevrolet Racing that GM would have to field this engine in a production car and our bets were on the Z06. If you have a keen eye, and look around the engine bay of the Z06, you'll find little rocket ships cast or molded into various parts. Was this an inside joke about how the new 2023 Corvette Z06 will be a rocket? Well, that would be a good guess, but really it was the design team giving the LT6 engine family the nickname Gemini. This is due to its use of twin 87mm throttle bodies, twin cams, twin high-pressure fuel pumps, and other pairs of cool parts. Nice to see they are still having fun over at GM.

Holley Announces LS Fest Event At Texas Motor Speedway

In case you hadn’t heard, Holley is taking their LS Fest event to the Lone Star State! As a third installment of the ever-popular LS Fest series, Holley has opened up the registration for its LS Fest Texas event scheduled for June 17-18, 2022. As with all the other awesome LSbased “Fests,” Holley’s popular event series is dedicated to all vehicles powered by GM’s LS and current-gen LT engines. The roster of events will give enthusiasts ample opportunities to exercise their late-model engines in a variety of competitions. There will be the ever-popular autocross for those who enjoy this type of low-speed competition to highlight your ride’s handling, acceleration, and braking. For those straight-line speedsters, the noprep drag racing in one of a variety of classes is sure to please. All classes will run Heads-Up for the 1/8th Mile on Texas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR pit road. There will be an instant-light start with a win light only finish, no times will be posted. You win or you don’t. Classes include Big Tire Unlimited, Small Tire Unlimited, Drag & Drive (naturally-aspirated), Drag & Drive (power adder), Truck & SUV, and Grudge Test-N-Tune. For those who prefer a little bit of both worlds, there is the Baer Brakes 3S Challenge! 3S Challenge stands for Speed, Stop & Steering, and combines elements of autocross and speed-stop into a single event that will test the ultimate limits of car and driver. If high-speed track action is your thing, Holley’s Track X combines the best elements of autocross and road course lapping into a single event. Utilizing the inside road course at Texas Motor Speedway, Track X creates a fun highspeed event highlighting driver skill and car balance. Track X is open to autocross and all-access participants. For those daring souls who don’t mind scraping melted rubber from their rides, there are a few events you’ll surely love. The Drift Challenge will test your skill at full-lock counter-steering and the burnout competition will test the mettle of your tires in full-on Aussie-style burnouts. Holley’s burnout challenge pits several hand-selected competitors against one another to see who can impress the crowd the most. To be considered, select “Yes” when asked if you are interested in competing in the Burnout Contest during registration. Of course, if you’ve got something to show, you can either do it on the dyno at the Holley Dyno Challenge or for a little slower pace, the Hooker Blackheart/LS1Tech.com Car Show. The Holley crew will be choosing their favorites, and there’s even an “Under Construction” class for those of you whose rides aren’t quite finished. With several classes for the car show, there’s sure to be one to suit your LS-powered ride. Make plans now to attend the Holley LS Fest Texas event on June 17-18, 2022! Spectator admission is $25 a day and the active military gets a $5 discount with a valid military ID. Parking and children under the age of 16 are free. LS Fest is a celebration of all things LS/LT and just like the LS Fest East and LS Fest West events, the Texas-based bonanza is sure to be packed with some of the most fun you can have while burning fuel and tires!

Ford GT Holman Moody Heritage Edition Honors 1966 Le Mans Sweep

In a special nod to the debut of the original Ford GT40 prototype at the 1964 New York Auto Show, Ford is returning to the Big Apple for the first public appearance of its new GT Heritage Edition – the 2022 Ford GT Holman Moody Edition, the automaker announced.

This marks the final 2022 Heritage Edition paying tribute to the GT40 MK II race car that completed the famous 1-2-3 sweep at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.

“Of all the Ford GT Heritage Edition liveries we’ve done, the Holman Moody Heritage Edition’s can’t-miss signature gold and red theme is an epic tribute to our 1966 Le Mans finish,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “Inspired by one of the most well-known Ford GT40 race cars, this latest Ford GT honors the Holman Moody race team’s knowhow and ability to out-innovate global competitors.”

The Holman Moody team played a critical role in the GT40’s race success, Ford said. Following the 1965 Le Mans race, Ford’s newly formed Le Mans committee tasked Holman Moody (and Shelby American) to rework the GT40 MK II. Driven more than 265 laps over eight days in January 1966, chassis No. P/1016 became a laboratory on wheels as the teams worked to redesign brakes, suspension and tire setups to be more competitive, even trying an experimental automatic transmission, according to Ford.

This spirit of innovation continues today, with the 2022 Ford GT’s track-capable hardware, paddleshifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and carbon fiber body.

The limited-production GT Holman Moody Edition supercar will be on display at the 2022 New York International Auto Show side-by-side with the podium-placing Holman Moody Ford GT40 MK II, chassis No. P/1016. The unique gold and red livery of the limited-edition supercar includes Oxford White roundels with No. 5 stamped on the doors, hood and rear wing – all matching the appearance of the 1966 Ford GT40 raced by Holman Moody. Exposed gloss carbon fiber components are prominent, including on the 20-inch wheels, front splitter, side sills, mirrors, engine louvers and rear diffuser. Brembo brake calipers lacquered in black with silver graphics, plus black lug nuts further modernize the aesthetic, designers said.

Carbon fiber carries into the cabin, appearing on door sills, console and registers, and even features a cleaver matte No. 5 roundel on the door panels. Ebony Alcantara-wrapped carbon fiber seats feature gold accent stitching, while embossed seating surfaces and head restraints carry a debossed GT logo. The instrument panel is wrapped in Ebony leather and Ebony Alcantara, while pillars and headliner are wrapped exclusively in Ebony Alcantara.

Gold appliqués on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace are paired with the matte carbon fiber on the registers, door sills, lower A-pillars and console. The steering wheel is finished in Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, while dual-clutch paddle shifters are finished in exterior-matching Holman Moody Gold.

Buckle up and Race to the National Corvette Museum with the Most Famous Toy Vehicles on the Planet, Hot Wheels®

All roads lead to Bowling Green, KY as the National Corvette Museum opens Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™. This new family exhibit will get visitors revved up with immersive activities for three generations of Hot Wheels® fans. There’s something for parents, grandparents and today’s youngest Hot Wheels fans. Hot Wheels: Race to Win will make a pit stop beginning May 27, 2022 continuing through September 25, 2022 at the National Corvette Museum. Introduced by Mattel in 1968, Hot Wheels have come a long way, both in the diecast and life-size varieties. More than 800 models and 11,000 variations of Hot Wheels cars have been created and more than 4 billion Hot Wheels diecast cars have been sold. “Generations of children have enjoyed the thrill and speed of racing with Hot Wheels, and this new interactive exhibit now brings families together to learn what brings racing to life in a fun and memorable way,” said Julie Freeland, Senior Director, Global Live Events & Attractions, Mattel. n the exhibit Hot Wheels: Race to Win, visitors can be part of a dynamic race team working together to build and test the fastest and safest speed machines on the planet using Hot Wheels diecast cars to experiment and play. This behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling world of racing investigates the scientific process for designing super-fast cars and helps families who have the need for speed understand how it is achieved. The exhibit was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Mattel. “This family learning experience provides hands-on opportunities for parents to explain complex physics concepts in fun ways utilizing the popular Hot Wheels toy cars as they experiment with different principles to see which makes a car go fastest,” said Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO of the museum that produced the exhibit, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Children and families will love the Pit Stop Challenge in which they can race the clock - and their family and friends - to change tires and refuel cars. A 6-lane downhill speed track, booster power track, adjustable angles track, and timing track are just a few of the ways visitors will be able to test their theories regarding the science of racing and cause and effect. Real race car parts, authentic artifacts, and captivating memorabilia including Corvettes from the National Corvette Museum’s collection will round out the experience. According to National Corvette Museum President and CEO Sharon Brawner, "We are eager to showcase the Hot Wheels: Race to Win exhibition at the National Corvette Museum for Hot Wheels fans of all ages to experience the history of America's sports car in an educational and interactive space. The Corvette's long-standing representation within Hot Wheels is one that carries across generations and we can't wait to see the appreciation for both brands at our museum. This Limited Engagement Gallery Exhibition will be a place where everyone feels like a kid." The museum invites Hot Wheels fan of all ages to push the limits of imagination and learn about the world of racing in this all-new exhibit.