SHORT SHIFT

The oldest recorded petrol-powered vehicle in the world was produced in 1885. Not too long afterwards, in 1902, the first electric car was produced to much fanfare. As we all know, the first of those fuel types rose to success; the other seemed to fade into oblivion, despite various manufacturers launching their own electric concepts along the way. It wasn’t until the ’90s that electric power started to gain momentum, as battery technology progressed to a point at which the concept started to become feasible. Electric power hasn’t been petrol’s only competitor; among the other concepts that have come and gone, Chrysler tested a turbine-powered concept in-depth around the early 1960s. Of course, there’s also diesel, which started to take off in passenger cars around the same time as Chrysler was playing with turbines. As this is a V8 magazine, obviously, most vehicles we deal with rely on good old fossil fuel, namely petrol, but — and I’m sure some readers may be disgusted with me for saying this — those other fuels, which were once laughed at, are now really starting to gain momentum, and the technology is good enough to impress even the most die-hard of petrol-lovers. This month has seen the launch of a car that may change the way we look at high-power street cars and drag racing. That car has been dubbed ‘Craz-E-Horse’, and was the concept of Ross Prevette, promoter of the CRC Speedshow. It features a Mustang body full of electric motor. The car was developed as a drawcard and talking point, and my hat goes off to Ross and the team that he’s had build the machine, as that goal has well and truly been achieved. The next goal is to have it become the fastest electric-powered street car in the world. While every single person I’ve spoken to about the build — and there’ve been a few — is waiting to see if the vehicle can live up to the hype before cementing an opinion on it, no one is expecting it to be a dismal failure when it finally hits the drag strip. The CRC Speedshow also saw the unveiling of a diesel-powered rat rod that has the potential to make plenty of power, should they wind the boost up. I’ve been a fan of big-power diesel engines for a while and have waited to see who’d be the first to build something here. Sure, there are a few diesel-powered classics out there, but, to my knowledge, no one’s really gone the full hog as yet. While I’m sure most readers of this magazine, like myself, are self-confessed petrolheads, I don’t think that it’s going to be long before petrol isn’t going to be the only power for those who love high performance. Who’s with me?

Catch you next month, with more petrol-burning madness. Todd todd@v8.co.nz