Live from the GTR Festival at Texas Motorplex, Bobby and Aaron dive into the excitement surrounding this unique gathering of Skyline enthusiasts. They discuss the impressive collection of cars, including high-profile Skylines and notable influencers like Adam LZ and TJ Hunt. The hosts share their experiences with drag racing, role racing, and the vibrant community atmosphere. They also reflect on the festival's potential for growth and the accessibility of VIPs, while highlighting the cultural differences in car ownership between the U.S. and Australia. A blend of racing, camaraderie, and automotive passion makes this event a standout.
In this special on-location episode of the Right Hand Drive Guys Podcast, we travel to Ennis, Texas for the three-day GT-R Festival 2025 at the legendary Texas Motorplex. Thanks to a Tier 1 Media Pass, we had full access to the action — from the pits to the grandstands to the staging lanes — capturing the event from every possible angle.
We watched some of the wildest GT-Rs on the planet, including a 2,000HP R34 GT-R from Australia, a 1-of-9 HKS Zero R, and countless builds that pushed the limits of what these cars can do. The festival also brought out major names like Adam LZ, Tommyfyeah, and even T-Pain, all soaking in the GT-R madness.
This episode is a raw, energized look at the cars, the people, and the culture that make the GT-R community one of the most passionate in the world.
🎙️ From legendary builds to once-in-a-lifetime access — buckle up for our full GT-R Festival experience.
"Yeah. Ben, I think this is the most concentration of skylines I've seen in America."
The Nissan Skyline is a popular car model known for its speed and performance, especially in racing. It's famous among car fans and has a special place in car culture.
The Nissan Skyline is a series of cars produced by Nissan, known for their performance and racing heritage, particularly the GT-R variants. They have a strong following in the car enthusiast community, especially in the United States where they are celebrated for their capabilities in motorsport.
The Nissan GT-R is a very fast sports car that comes from the Skyline family. It's known for being high-tech and performing well in races.
The Nissan GT-R is a high-performance sports car that evolved from the Skyline series. It is renowned for its advanced technology and impressive performance on both the road and the racetrack.
"the Aussies are very into their drag racing, right? Yeah. That's for sure, and that's apparent here as it is obviously at Texas Motorplex, which is a huge drag strip."
Drag racing is a fast-paced race where cars go straight down a track to see who can reach the finish line first. It's all about how quickly the cars can go from a standstill to top speed.
Drag racing is a type of motor racing where vehicles compete to be the first to cross a finish line, typically over a straight quarter-mile track. It emphasizes acceleration and speed, with vehicles often modified for maximum performance.
"...this guy rented the new Nissan Z from Turro and we grabbed that, that was pretty cool."
The Nissan Z is a new sports car from Nissan that continues a legacy of performance cars. It's designed for driving enthusiasts who enjoy speed and handling.
The Nissan Z is a sports car that represents the latest generation of Nissan's long-running Z series, known for its performance and styling. It combines modern technology with a classic sports car feel, appealing to enthusiasts.
"because you're actually at a drag strip and, you know, I don't know, I thought that was pretty cool, got my eardrums blown out a few times"
A drag strip is a straight track where cars race against each other to see who can go the fastest in a short distance. It's a popular place for car enthusiasts to test their vehicles' speed.
A drag strip is a specialized racing track designed for drag racing, where two vehicles compete to see which can cover a straight distance in the shortest time. These tracks are typically a quarter-mile long and have safety features to protect drivers and spectators.
"There's 132 by Midwest Skylines that has these like side dump pipes."
Side dump pipes are exhaust pipes that let the engine's exhaust gases exit the car from the side instead of the back. This can make the car sound louder and sometimes help it perform better.
Side dump pipes are exhaust pipes that exit the vehicle's exhaust system to the side rather than the rear. This design can enhance the sound of the exhaust and may improve performance by reducing back pressure.
"Dude, yeah, I think it's like a four inch side exit, dude."
A four-inch side exit means the exhaust pipe is four inches wide and lets the exhaust gases out from the side of the car. Bigger pipes can help the engine work better and sound louder.
A four-inch side exit refers to the diameter of the exhaust pipe that exits the vehicle to the side. Larger diameter pipes can allow for better exhaust flow, which can improve engine performance and sound.
An oval side exit means the exhaust pipe is shaped like an oval and lets the exhaust gases out from the side of the car. This shape can make the car sound different and fit better in some designs.
An oval side exit refers to the shape of the exhaust pipe that exits the vehicle. Oval pipes can provide a unique sound and may fit better in certain vehicle designs compared to round pipes.
"With the Silvia? Yeah, who, you know, these guys, you know, they're impressive cars, you know, LZ had his 33S1 and what, that 32."
The Nissan Silvia S13 is a sporty car that many people like to customize and race. It's known for being fun to drive and has a lot of fans in the car community.
The Nissan Silvia S13 is a popular sports car known for its performance and tuning potential, especially in drifting and motorsports. It has a strong following among car enthusiasts and is often modified for better performance.
"LZ had his 33S1 and what, that 32. Yeah, the 32 sedan that he like has for a drag car now."
The Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 is a famous sports car that is very powerful and is often used in racing. It has a lot of technology that helps it perform well on the track.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 is a legendary performance car known for its advanced technology and racing pedigree. It features a powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts and racers.
"He built a literal four door 32 drag car. Like who's doing that if you're not into it, right?"
A drag car is a type of car made for racing in a straight line. They are built to go really fast in a short distance, like a quarter-mile, and have special parts to help them accelerate quickly.
A drag car is a specialized vehicle designed for drag racing, which is a straight-line race over a short distance, typically a quarter-mile. These cars are built for maximum acceleration and speed, often featuring modifications like powerful engines and lightweight materials to achieve the best performance on the track.
"And then they had a GT R1. Yeah, yeah. It was like an older Yamaha R1 bike that matched the car's paint scheme."
The Yamaha R1 is a fast motorcycle built for racing and performance. It's popular among riders who want a powerful bike that can handle well on the road or track.
The Yamaha R1 is a high-performance sport motorcycle known for its advanced technology and racing pedigree. It features a powerful engine and is designed for both track and street use.
"It was like an older Yamaha R1 bike that matched the car's paint scheme. And like the bike had a bridge seat stitched up, like exactly like it wasn't the car."
A paint scheme is how a car is painted, including the colors and designs. It's what makes the car look unique and can match other vehicles or themes.
A paint scheme refers to the specific colors and patterns used on a vehicle's exterior. It can be an important aspect of a car's design and branding.
"...these one, two plus thousand horsepower cars and..."
Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. More horsepower usually means a car can go faster and perform better.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement that quantifies the power output of an engine. It indicates how much work an engine can perform over time, with higher horsepower generally translating to better performance and speed.
"...like we said, your Audi's, your Lambo's, and of course some Skylines, you know?"
Audi is a car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars, known for their quality and technology.
Audi is a German automotive manufacturer known for its luxury vehicles and advanced technology, including all-wheel drive systems and high-performance models.
"Yeah, and like he said, the track prep is insane. Like this track is so sticky,"
Track prep is what race organizers do to make sure the racetrack is in the best condition for cars to drive on. It helps cars grip better and go faster.
Track prep refers to the process of preparing a racetrack to optimize grip and performance for racing. This can include cleaning the surface, applying rubber, and ensuring the track is free of debris.
"like, yeah, I can see how you could snap an axle, how you could do these things. The ones that did break, it seemed like it was some sort of driveline issue,"
An axle is a part of a car that helps the wheels turn. If it breaks, the car can't move properly, which can be a big problem.
An axle is a crucial component that connects the wheels of a vehicle to the drivetrain, allowing the wheels to rotate and support the vehicle's weight. A broken axle can lead to loss of power to the wheels and can be dangerous.
"They couldn't get it on the tow truck because it was too low and the wheels were locked because whatever broke, locked everything in."
A tow truck is a special vehicle that helps move cars that are broken down or parked where they shouldn't be. It can lift and carry cars to a repair shop or a different location.
A tow truck is a vehicle used to transport disabled or illegally parked vehicles. It is equipped with specialized equipment to lift and carry cars that cannot drive themselves.
"...recently just finished by UP Garage and, you know, Kenden's got a whole story about how he bought this fine spec motor..."
UP Garage is a company that modifies and restores cars, especially Japanese ones, to improve their performance and appearance.
UP Garage is a company known for specializing in automotive modifications and restorations, particularly for Japanese cars. They often work on performance upgrades and custom builds.
"...he bought this fine spec motor from Nismo 10 years ago for this ridiculously low price..."
Nismo is a part of Nissan that makes faster and sportier versions of their cars, as well as performance parts.
Nismo is the performance division of Nissan, known for creating high-performance parts and vehicles. They focus on enhancing the performance and styling of Nissan cars.
"...was we got to meet a guy that owns four built by legends cars. Yeah, that was crazy."
Built By Legends is a company that makes special versions of classic cars. They focus on recreating famous models that many car enthusiasts love.
Built By Legends is a company known for creating high-quality replicas and custom builds of classic cars, particularly focusing on iconic models from automotive history.
"...So a big car carrier shows up and starts unloading built by legends cars one after another..."
A car carrier is a large truck that carries several cars at the same time. It's used to transport cars from one place to another, like from a factory to a dealership.
A car carrier is a type of truck designed to transport multiple vehicles at once. These carriers are often used by dealerships and manufacturers to move cars from one location to another.
"Like we saw the 234s run on Fuji Speedway when we were there. So it's cool to see them in Japan and then of course in the United States."
Fuji Speedway is a famous racetrack in Japan where many car races take place. It's known for its unique layout and beautiful views of Mount Fuji.
Fuji Speedway is a renowned motorsport track located in Japan, famous for hosting various racing events, including Formula 1 and endurance races. It features a long straight and challenging corners, making it a favorite among drivers and fans alike.
"He said it's comfy like an Escalade. Yeah, he compared it 34 to an Escalade."
The Cadillac Escalade is a big, luxury SUV that many people like because it's very comfortable and has a lot of space inside. It's often used for family trips or events where you want to travel in style.
The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV known for its spacious interior, high-end features, and powerful performance. It's popular among those seeking a comfortable and stylish vehicle for both everyday use and special occasions.
"I think America is the first one to treat these things like heirlooms, you know, like, in a sense, like to the extent that we do, which I do, I'm super guilty of, you know, like you treat them like an heirloom, like this irreplaceable thing, which it is to an extent, you know, but are are we missing out on what the car was built for by doing that?"
An heirloom car is a car that people love so much that they want to keep it forever, often passing it down to family members. It's not just about driving; it's about the memories and history attached to it.
An heirloom car refers to a vehicle that is cherished and often passed down through generations, valued for its sentimental and historical significance rather than just its utility. This concept highlights the emotional connection owners have with their cars, treating them as irreplaceable artifacts.
The GTR is a model of sports car made by Nissan that is very popular among car enthusiasts. It's known for being fast and having a lot of advanced features.
The GTR refers to the Nissan GT-R, a high-performance sports car known for its advanced technology and racing pedigree. It's particularly famous for its capabilities on the track and its status in car culture.
Select text to request an explanation
Hey, and welcome back to the next episode
of the Right Hand Drive Guys podcast.
The podcast for guys who like right hand drives.
I'm Bobby, this is Aaron.
Yo, yo.
And here we are live from Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas
for GTR Festival.
So if you haven't been following along on the Instagram,
we were able to come out, get tier one media
to cover this event and bring you guys our version
of GTR Festival.
Yeah, it's been a good time so far.
Yeah.
Ben, I think this is the most concentration
of skylines I've seen in America.
In America for sure.
You know, and obviously we've been to Japan
and I've been to ours meeting and, you know,
we've been to these events and we've seen a lot of skylines.
So it's easy to be jaded from the fact that we are
on US soil and that there is this collection of cars,
including some of the most high profile skylines
in the world in a sense, you know.
So yeah, it's been really cool to see this community
come together and to see Andrew and the GTR Festival crew,
you know, kind of, I don't know,
they've created this whole new thing here.
Yeah, and they're going global with it.
Yeah, I heard they're gonna do the UK.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, so, you know, that's cool
and we definitely appreciate them 110%
for giving us like pretty much unlimited access.
Yeah, we've been all around this place.
Yeah, we've been in and out all around, yeah, for sure.
So, okay, I mean, if you're not familiar,
they started GTR Festival in Australia.
I don't even know how many years ago,
but quite a while ago and, you know,
the Aussies are very into their drag racing, right?
Yeah.
That's for sure, and that's apparent here
as it is obviously at Texas Motorplex,
which is a huge drag strip.
And if you are watching on YouTube,
you can see behind us, this is like a mid,
mid 90s, early 90s photo of Texas Motorplex
and just how big and how popular it really is.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, this track's been here for a while
and it's been like a NHRA track for quite a long time as well.
Yeah.
So, I mean, it definitely, like if you're looking
behind us, dude, I mean, the place is huge.
And, you know, it's not just your rinky-dink drag strip
up the street.
No way, asses, dudes, quads.
Yeah.
His legs will tell you.
My legs are destroyed, dude.
But, I mean, it's pretty sick though.
I mean, like just seeing how they prep the track
and seeing people lose their shoes on the starting line,
you know.
Yeah, yeah, literally, they're not expecting it.
They step out there and their shoes are like
pretty much permanently part of the track.
Yeah, you better not go flatfoot.
No, yeah, you see everybody walking on their toes.
Their calves are huge around here, it's crazy.
So, I mean, basically our trip here
began leaving Boston on Thursday, right?
Thursday afternoon.
Thursday, we came in, we got our hotel,
this guy rented the new Nissan Z from Turro
and we grabbed that, that was pretty cool.
And then Friday morning, you know, it all kind of started,
you know, we got in here, we had a little media briefing
in this room that we're in.
They gave us these really cool pink vests.
Yeah.
You can see them on YouTube, like yeah, these vests are cool.
Super cool.
Yeah, and so we just kind of got to it, you know.
We just started exploring and, you know, by noon,
they were doing qualifying for role racing,
which is cool, I haven't really seen
role racing like that before, you know.
I've seen it at like IA and stuff,
but this is a little different
because you're actually at a drag strip and, you know,
I don't know, I thought that was pretty cool,
got my eardrums blown out a few times
by some crazy, crazy cars.
There's 132 by Midwest Skylines
that has these like side dump pipes.
Dude, yeah, I think it's like a four inch side exit, dude.
Like oval side exit, yeah.
Yeah, and it's exiting to the left, dude.
So like if you're standing on the wall
and that car goes, you're definitely hearing it.
Yeah, I thought it, I thought we were getting
mortared or something.
It was just like, ba, ba, ba, ba.
Dude, yeah, yeah.
I was like, oh my gosh.
Every shift dude is like bang, bang.
You can feel it in your chest.
For sure.
Like it was crazy.
So that was cool, you know, and we got to see,
you know, a ton of 35s, some Lambos, Audi, you know,
all that type of stuff doing these races.
And so, you know, that was pretty cool for sure.
And then, you know, that's like a lot of what Friday was.
Was the role racing, everybody getting in here.
You know, Garage S0 has a huge tent
full of all of the influencers' cars,
which I'm sure at this point you've seen
all over Instagram, TJ Hunt, Adam LZ, C. Kane, you know.
DJ No Way.
DJ No Way.
With the Sylvia?
Yeah, who, you know, these guys, you know,
they're impressive cars, you know,
LZ had his 33S1 and what, that 32.
Yeah, the 32 sedan that he like has for a drag car now.
Yeah, so, and we saw him run that down the track.
And I mean, cool car, right?
I mean, and that's part of the thing I kind of saw
was like, okay, you know, these influencers,
like of course they're doing these things
to get themselves out there,
but they truly enjoy the things that they're doing.
I don't feel like it's like this facade as far as like,
oh, they're not really into this stuff.
Like they're really into it.
He built a literal four door 32 drag car.
Like who's doing that if you're not into it, right?
So yeah, Friday was cool.
They gave us some trophies for role racing
and then did some fireworks
and that kind of concluded the evening.
And, you know, at this point, we're pretty beat, right?
It's like, you know, yeah, it's like a reality check.
Like, oh wow, okay, you know,
because there's two sides to the track, right?
There, you know, there's the side with all the vendors
and then there's another side
where they're doing a few different things.
And so Saturday, we kind of started exploring a little more.
We went to the other side behind like the grandstands
and they were having a cars and coffee.
And there, and it was a lot of exotics and supercars
and these type of things, which was, which was cool.
You know, it was cool to see them.
And then we notice the kangaroo.
We noticed the kangaroos, right?
You do, yeah.
Yeah. The kangaroo pin, dude.
Like, I've never seen a kangaroo before.
I think maybe I have in a zoo, but like not like that.
There was 10 of these, these guys just like chilling.
Like they were dogs or something.
It was so weird.
They were so chill.
Yeah, dude, I like, I was like,
dude, get a picture of me in this guy.
And I like kneel down and this dude stands up
and just starts mugging me, dude.
I'm like, all right, maybe don't get this pic.
I'm gonna get away.
Yeah, he immediately got intimidated.
You know how that goes.
Yeah, did flashbacks of kangaroo fights, dude.
They're feet, dude, they're like insane.
Oh yeah, they got size 25s for sure.
I'm like, dude, no wonder why they can jump so high, dude.
That thing lifts up and just repels them, dude.
So, you know, that was cool to see.
And I thought that that was good.
Cool Australian connection.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
I think you did have to pay to go inside,
but like to see him from the outside
was totally cool for me.
So they did like a Texas Academy Drift School.
We didn't get to catch that yesterday.
Which was Saturday, we didn't get to catch that,
but we kind of plan to today, hopefully.
We couldn't even really hear it.
So I guess that's probably why we didn't end up catching it
because we just didn't even necessarily realize.
And there's just so much other stuff going on, dude.
It's hard to keep up.
And so with that, they were doing some,
they were unveiling some new cars,
I guess some new builds that people did.
And it was like a kind of a midnight purple-ish 33.
Yeah, yeah.
You know, that was all done up, right?
And then they had a GT R1.
Yeah, yeah.
It was like an older Yamaha R1 bike
that matched the car's paint scheme.
And like the bike had a bridge seat stitched up,
like exactly like it wasn't the car.
I didn't really see the connection,
but like I thought it was cool.
It matched, he had a twin bike and car.
It'd be like, if I guess I got one and painted it white,
and you know, I mean, it's like if you're into both,
I guess it makes sense, right?
Like you got these, you know,
I don't know if the GT R1 in the form that it was in,
I don't know if it deserves that name,
so to speak, because it was paint and some like,
but still cool, right?
It is cool, yeah.
And then they had like a drag 32
that they unveiled that the wheels were insane.
I don't even know these crazy bead locks
that were machined, like, I don't know.
They look like a saw blade.
It was just crazy, you know?
They for sure put some love into these cars.
And dude, the paint on both of these cars was sick.
Like the 32 drag car, it looked like a normal,
like the normal gunmetal gray, dude.
But as soon as the light hit it, it was like,
okay, that's not the normal metal gray.
It was filled with flake or whatever it was.
Definitely had some metallic, it looks sick.
Yeah, and they did a good job spraying it.
It wasn't patchy or blotchy or anything.
No, no, it was glass, dude, it was really good.
And I can't remember what that company was.
It was like gloss or, yeah,
it almost seemed like some detail company who owned those.
But either way, it's cool, you know,
they had them all covered up
and they pulled them off and tomorrow, son,
you know, bless them or whatever it is that he does.
And so that's the thing about GTR Festival
is what I notice, right?
Here's what I notice.
I've been to a lot of events
and oftentimes the quote unquote VIPs or special guests
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