2002 Ultimate StreetCar Challenge: Gross Display of Horsepower

The gross display of horsepower test had contenders shamelessly flogging their machines in hopes of turning the judge's eye in their favor.

The rules were straightforward: There were none. Contenders were told to show us what they had and they would be scored completely subjectively as our judges saw fit. This contest produced huge, smoky burnouts, giant powerslides and donuts galore. It also produced the most impressive burnout ever put rubber on tarmac. Michael McIntyre's twin-engine Hyundai put 627 hp to the ground in our dyno competition. It did the same thing here--in a completely different way. McIntyre's car uses two independently controlled automatic transmissions, giving him the ability to operate them in drive and reverse at the same time--which is exactly what he did. The resulting automotive tug of war was enough to send any chassis engineer into convulsions.

With the front tranny in reverse and the rear in drive, McIntyre laid into the go pedal and didn't lift until he'd made enough tire smoke to put California's Air Resources Board on high alert. The car began to slowly rotate on its axis as all four drive wheels fought each other for dynamic control. In about 10 seconds, the entire car was engulfed. When it was over, the ground was covered with smoldering piles of rubber and the most confused burnout marks ever made. He won. No one else even came close.

Other high points include a painfully risky reverse burnout by Steve Mitchell in the Sentra and MotoRex's Justin Sykes wearing a huge afro wig for the Skyline's smoky display. The Z, Supra and MR2 also produced huge clouds of tire smoke, but nothing--and we mean nothing--measured up to the standard set by the little Korean car with two engines.