Track & Camera - Issue 1
FUEL FEST 2023 - Westworld, Scottsdale, Arizona - Where my spark was lit
“There’s something about your first real car event that stays with you forever.”
Several years ago, mine came in the desert heat of Las Vegas, Nevada. I had no idea I was about to walk into an experience that would change the way I saw cars forever.
Matt Field - Fuel Fest 2023
Photo by azx visual media
The Moment the Gates Opened
From the second I walked through the gates, the atmosphere was electric. The air was thick with race fuel and burnt rubber. Engines roared in every direction, each rev sending vibrations through the ground beneath my feet. Drift cars tore across the track with surgical precision, throwing plumes of tire smoke into the desert sky like an artist’s signature.
“This wasn’t just a car show - it was a living, breathing celebration of speed and style.”
Big LS RX7 - Richie - Fuel Fest 2023
Photo by azx visual media
Capturing Chaos
Armed with my camera, I set off to try and capture everything I could - the colors, chaos, emotion, and grit-it was impossible to take everything in, but I couldn’t stop trying!
The Fuse Was Lit
That day transformed something inside of me. What began as a casual fascination became a full-blown obsession. I wanted to be closer to the action, to live in those fleeting moments and tell their story through my lens.
Now, years later, I can trace every frame I have shot, every trackside moment I have chased, back to that one evening in Las Vegas.
“FuelFest didn’t just host an event-it gave me the push to become an artist.”
Mazda RX-7
Photo by azx visual media
Boostlogic’s twin turbo Lamborghini
Photo by azx visual media
Moddedkulture’s New Year’s Bash: “Baptism” by Tire Smoke
“Bihoku Fest marked my inaugural event-a first taste of Arizona grass roots drifting culture in its rawest form.”
Moddedkulture’s New Years Bash wasn’t just another date on the calendar-it was the perfect storm of skill, style, and smoke. Hosted by Moddedkulture and held at the legendary Firebird Motorsports Park-a track that most people might remember by Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Moddedkulture’s New Years Bash
Photo by azx visual media
A Track With Teeth
This wasn’t your typical drift event. Sure, the atmosphere has all the staples-rev-happy engines, tire smoke curling into the warm desert air and a crowd buzzing with anticipation-but the course itself was something else entirely.
“This wasn’t a layout for beginners-it was a proving ground for precision.”
Instead of a forgiving, beginner-friendly track, the layout demanded surgical precision, split-second throttle control, and the guts to push right up to the k-rail without ruining their cars. Every corner tested a drivers skill, either rewarding or punishing for hesitation.
Big LS RX-7 - Richie - New Years Bash
Photo by azx visual media
Prestige Meets Passion
The reputation of this event preceded it, and for very good reason. The level of talen on display, combined with the challenging technical layout, made it as thrilling to watch as it was intimidating to drive. It was more than a meet-it was a masterclass in what grass roots drifting is all about.
“It wasn’t just about horsepower-it was about harmony between driver and vehicle.”
The Legend of Toyota’s 2JZ-GTE
“In the world of performance engines, only a few names spark as much reverence as Toyota’s 2JZ-GTE.”
Born in the early ‘90’s, this iconic inline-six wasn’t just ahead of its time-it helped define and era of Japanese performance engineering. Decades later, it still commands respect from tuners, racers, and enthusiasts all across the world.
If you’re not steeped in car culture, you might be wondering: Why all the hype? Why does an engine matter this much?
The answer lies in the 2JZ’s bulletproof design, insane tuning potential, and the way it blends force with silky-smooth delivery. From the factory, it was built just right-capable of handling far more power than Toyota ever officially rated the engine for. Drop a 2JZ into a platform that can put out some serious horsepower.
“It wasn’t just an engine-it was an open invitation to chase limits.”
Toyota’s 2JZ-GTE: Breaking Down the Legend
“In the '‘90s, it wasn’t just an engine-it was a statement.”
First things first-what does “GTE” mean?
G = Dual overhead cam (DOHC) performance setup
T = Turbocharged
E = Electronic fuel injection
Put it all together, and youve got one of Toyota’s most celebrated powerplants: a 3.0-liter inline-six with a cast iron black and an aluminum DOHC 24-valve head. Thats four valves per cylinder-times six cylinders-for a total of 24 valves.
Specs Are Just the Start
Of course, a spec sheet alone doesn’t make an engine legendary. Yes, the 2JZ-GTE had all the ingredients-strong bottom end, robust twin turbo setup and smooth power delivery. But, it was the potential hiding under the stock hood that earned it’s cult-like status.
The ‘90’s Heavy Hitter
If you’re thinking, “Okay… it’s just a six-cylinder. What’s the big deal?”-Here is the answer. In the mid-’90s, you could walk into a Toyota dealership and drive out with a Mk4 Supra packing a twin-turbocharged 2JZ-GTE. It wasn’t pushing Hellcat numbers off the lot, but keep in mind the year. Factory output was approximately 320 horsepower. But, once again, for the era, those numbers were amazing!
State 48 Performance meet - Mk5 Supra
Photo by azx visual media
State 48 Performance meet - Mk5 Supra
Photo by azx visual media
The Secret Weapon
The 2JZ-GTE was built from day one. The research and development team at Toyota built an engine that was very capable of power being thrown at it. Swapping the turbos, upgrading fuel injectors and tuning the car would put you in the ballpark of 650+ horsepower.
Side note: Paul Walker’s iconic orange Mk4 Supra in The Fast and the Furious cemented the 2JZ-GTE’s status as a tuning legend.
Strength in the Steel: Why the 2JZ-GTE Lasts
Horsepower numbers look great on paper, but those numbers mean nothing if the engine can’t hold the power reliably. You can put forced induction on most engines, but how long will it last on stock internals?
Being a car guy, and a person who loves Subarus (I promise, I have owned 2) there are still many issues that come with the EJ engine powerplant if you don’t take supporting mods into consideration. You first build a foundation, then you build a home. Same applies to an engine.
Built for the Beating
The 2JZ-GTE, on the other hand, was built differently. This engine features a:
cast-iron block
aluminum cylinder head
The aluminum cylinder heads are able to handle an immense amount of heat and pressure, while the pistons are able to take a lot more force. Ultimately, this combination of strength and resilience made the 2JZ-GTE the go-to choice for everyone from grassroots drifters to pro drift and drag racers and clean street builds.
All of this is to show why the 2JZ-GTE is such a revered engine. But, what is another motor that is just as popular? Read more below!
With all of this being said, please keep in mind, that this engine is not invincible. Always check with your tuner before upgrading anything on your engine to make sure you do not need any other supporting mods. You want your engine to stay alive and in good health! Your engine takes care of you, make sure you take care of it.
Chevrolet’s LS Platform
Introduced in the late ‘90s (right around the time of Toyota’s legendary 2JZ) Chevrolet’s LS platform quickly carved out a name for itself. Initially the beating heart of the fifth and sixth generation Corvettes (C5 & C6). Soon it would become one of the most popular engine swaps.
Much like the 2JZ, the LS has become a staple in the drifting world. It’s reputation has been solidly built over the years:
Extremely reliable - Built to withstand repeated abuse.
Durability & longevity - Handles heat and pressure well.
Easily available parts - Massive aftermarket support
Potential for power - Will handle anywhere from mild bolt-ons to fully built and tuned professional cars.
A major game changer for this engine is its compact size and weight. The LS engine fits into LOTS of chassis-classic muscle cars and Japanese drift missiles.
Big LS RX-7 - Richie - Fuel Fest 2023
Photo by azx visual media
The LS motor pushed out 345 horsepower at 5,600 RPMS and 350 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 RPMS. The early cast-iron block gave it brute strength, but the later switch to an aluminum block with cast-iron cylinder liners really brought the engine to life. Trimming weight and boosting the performance. Holley’s legendary “LS Fest” is proof, pulling in thousands of LS fans every years to celebrate the engine that changed the game.
Side note: I had the privilege of capturing the action at LS Fest 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada-a sensory overload of smoke and screaming v8’s!
Drift Vegas - 13 January 2024
Aside from Fuel Fest in Las Vegas, Drift Vegas was my first out of state event that I had the pleasure to be apart of the media team. This event was a huge eye opener for how many car enthusiasts/gear heads there are in the southwest United States. Not only did I enjoy talking with a bunch of people about their builds and what got them into drifting, but it also helped my work and portfolio tremendously.
If you would like to see more photos from this event, please check out the “my work” tab above and select the Vegas Drift Portfolio.
JDM Import Event - Williams, Arizona
Nestled in Northern Arizona is the city of Williams. With a rather small population of around 3,463 people, the JDM community is alive and thriving. This event features classic JDM cars such as, Datsuns, Nissan’s Honda’s Subarus’s and Mazda’s. Granted, not all of the participants at this event live in Williams, but nonetheless, it is an amazing experience seeing true JDM classics along route 66.
The cars featured at this event are:
Datsun 240Z
Datsun 260Z
Datsun Bluebird
Nissan Fairlady Z
JDM Honda civics
Nissan Stagea
Datsun 620 (little Datsun truck - super cute)
Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
Mazda RX-7
Nissan Skyline Hakosuka
JDM Import Event
Photos by azx visual media
Quick look at Nissan’s premier engineering
Nissan, just like Toyota and GM have had their fair share of fame under the automotive spotlight. Many people would still argue that Nissan’s lineup of automobiles in the 80’s-90’s is still sharing that same fame today. Although Nissan was already a very popular brand for car enthusiasts (NISMO), the release of the Nissan Skyline GT-R would secure Nissan’s spot at the top of the JDM list.
Nissan Skyline R32 with an RB26 engine
Photo by azx visual media
The RB26 engine made it’s way into the limelight in 1989, ultimately the only engine that could live up to the standards for the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32. The beating heart of the GT-R R32 was the marvelous 2.6-liter, inline six engine. Once again, Nissan engineers had outdone themselves by equipping the RB26 with dual parallel turbos.
RB26DETT. Standing for, response balance 2600CC DOHC (dual overhead cam) electronic twin turbo. Akin to Toyota’s 2JZ engine, the RB26’s potential for tuning and power output was exponential. From factory the RB26 made around 276 horsepower. Like before, not a whole lot of power for today, but back in the late ‘80s that was pretty darn quick. The cherry on top, the engine was very tuner friendly!
Email: alex@azxvisualmedia.com
website: www.azxvisualmedia.com
instagram: azx.media
Thank you for reading if you have made it this far. I am new to Substack, but would love to write my magazine issues here. If you would like to see more photos make sure you take a look at my portfolio on my website or head on over to my instagram!
