Art of Speed Archives

Malaysian round of Hot Wheels Legends Tour returns for third time

In 2018, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hot Wheels, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour began as a series of 15 car shows hosted across Walmart locations around the USA. Over the past 4 years, the competition has gone beyond US borders and grown internationally. It now covers 5 continents in countries that include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and, recently, Indonesia.

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour has been successfully held in Malaysia for the past two years, in spite of the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. And this year, it returns for the third time, again in collaboration with Art of Speed Malaysia (AOS).

As a celebration of car culture, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is a global search for a custom car worthy of being reimagined as a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast vehicle. The model will then be made available for sale in more than 150 countries around the world.

Malaysian custom car enthusiasts can present their creations which will be judged against local fellow hobbyists and have a chance at greatness. For the 2022 edition, the winner selected from the Asia Pacific region (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia) will not only move on to the Global Semi-Finals in October 2022 but will also have an additional opportunity for their custom build creation to be transformed and reimagined into a one-of-a-kind (OOAK) limited-run die-cast vehicle available for sale. This is the first time that Hot Wheels is offering such a prize.

*The 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour, also hosted by Art of Speed Malaysia, had to be done online due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that did not permit gatherings.*

“After four years and dozens of events, it’s incredible to see how much the Hot Wheels Legends Tour has grown, both in the US and abroad,” said Ted Wu, Vice-President, Global Head of Design for Vehicles, Mattel. “Pivoting largely to virtual events over the past two years, we saw the competition unite in an entirely new community of global garage builders and Hot Wheels fans. We’re excited to continue this growth in 2022 as we return to our live event roots. This year’s competition is guaranteed to be the best yet, and we can’t wait to see which epic builds emerge during the Tour.”

The Malaysian round
Shortlisted entries will enter the Malaysian finals in August 2022 and will be judged by members of the Hot Wheels design team as well as local guest judges. The judging panel will have Tengku Djan, a Malaysian professional drift driver; DEV JBC, an award-winning car builder and founder of BIMMERZ ADVOCATE GARAGE; and Ahirine Ahirudin, a lover of all things motorsports and 2-time podium winner in the Vios Challenge of the TGR Racing Festival.

Hot Wheels Legend Tour — *Ravinder Singh’s ‘Mercenary’ was chosen as the best of Malaysian entries for the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in 2020.*

Each submission will be judged on authenticity (how closely the build embodies the Hot Wheels spirit), originality (how well the design stands out from the rest), and garage spirit (how well the design exemplifies the attitude of ‘built not bought’). The top 10 Malaysian entries will be recognised with a certificate, trophy, and exclusive merchandise, and the Top 3 will also receive a limited edition Legends mail-in car.

*Abdul Wahab’s 1986 Daihatsu Mira van which was the winning entry in 2021 and represented Malaysia in the Grand Finale event.*

Global Grand Finale
The Legends Tour will culminate with a Global Grand Finale event in November 2022 which will be livestreamed to the world. A winner will be chosen from the finalists and the winning build will be inducted into the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends. It will join previous champions including the 2018-winning 2JetZ, 2019-winning 1957 Nash Metropolitan, 2020-winning 1970 Pontiac Trans Am, and 2021-winning 1969 Volvo P1800 Gasser.

Registrations in Malaysia are now open and can be submitted online at https://artofspeedmy.com/hot-wheels-legends-tour-2022/. Entries close on July 31, 2022.

The global winner of the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour was this 1969 Volvo P1800 – named ‘Ain’t No Saint in homage to the original ‘The Saint TV series. It was built by Lee Johnstone of JD Racing, with Steve Wright and Steven Spiller, in the UK.

Hot Wheels at 1oth Art of Speed
Incidentally, at the coming 10th Art of Speed event in MAEPS, Serdang next month, there will be a life-sized Hot Wheels Legends Tour blister pack backdrop. Enthusiasts and visitors can have a professional photo taken with their custom car. This opportunity will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. There will also be a Hot Wheels Legends tour booth where visitors can buy Hot Wheels products and limited edition Hot Wheels Legends Tour products.

Abdul Wahab’s 1986 Daihatsu Mira van will be Malaysia’s entry in Hot Wheels Legends event

10th Art of Speed to be held at MAEPS on July 2 & 3

After a 2-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the well-established Art of Speed is making a comeback. Malaysia’s premier Kustom & Counter Culture event will celebrate 10 years of cool bikes, radical rides, art and culture, and it’s going to be big this year.

To be held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park in Serdang (MAEPS), which is outside Kuala Lumpur, the Art of Speed 2022 (AOS 2022) will be on July 2, 2022 (10:30 am – 8:00 pm) and July 3, 2022 between 10:30 am and 8 pm on both days.

Art of Speed Malaysia (AOSM), which has the support of Tourism Malaysia, is well known beyond Malaysian borders too and many foreign guests from the international custom community and media will also be attending the event.

Notables among them are Emi Suganuma, ‘Sunny’ Yano & Michi ‘NATQQ’ from MOONEYES Japan; Scott Johnson from Mama Tried Motorcycle Show in the USA; Chopper and Kustom artist, Russell Murchie ‘MOW’ from Australia; Pinstripe artists Mil of Millart, Irvine Jasta and Fahmi Freeflow from Indonesia; and Aekalak Kitdusitpong, a diecast modeler from AKARA in Thailand.

AOS 2022 will have many different activities during the two days. The main highlights for AOS 2022 will include the Invitational Bike Build Off 2022, Hot Wheels Legends Tour, Hail Vintage (a vintage work wear exhibition), Off The Grid (outdoor camping and lifestyle), and the Sound Circus Festival (for ages 18 years old and above only).

Qhalis Najmi from NoEqual.co will be this year’s host for the Kustom & Koffee Talk. He will be joined by overseas panelists Scott Johnson from Mama Tried Motorcycle Show and Warren Heir Jr. from Flat Out Friday. The forum will discuss the latest trends in bike and car industries.

Additional AOS 2022 activities include Roda Rumble (a Two Wheels Gathering & Outdoor Festival), La Cultura (Malaysia’s first Chicano Culture Appreciation Gathering), Vintage Flea Market, Alfa Romeo Club Malaysia Gathering, Mini Crawlers RC demo and display, as well as bike test rides of well known brands.

Naturally, during the event, visitors will get thirsty and hungry, and there will be Food Park vendors and trucks on-site. They are located in a sheltered area so no worries if it rains during the weekend.

At the conclusion, there will be a lucky draw with two lucky winners. One will go home with a Classic Vespa EV (fully restored by Kluk Klek Soul and EV conversion by Elders Elettrico), and the other will win another Hausboom customized EV Classic Vespa.

AOS 2022 will reintroduce the Speed Lane ticket priced at RM55 valid for both days. With this ticket, visitors can enter one hour before the official opening time. The weekend pass is available at the door and online for RM35, with children below 12 years old entering for free. OKU (disabled) Pass Holders will also enjoy free entry.

Incidentally, Sound Circus Festival outdoor only tickets are already sold out, but the Sound Circus Festival + Weekend Pass combo is still available online only. For purchasing online visit aos2022.qtic.my.

Ravinder Singh’s ‘Mercenary’ chosen as best of Malaysian entries for Hot Wheels Legends Tour

The 3rd Hot Wheels Legends Tour which was run recently saw Malaysia being the first host as well as the first Asian country to be invited to join the event. Art of Speed hosted the event which is normally held on-ground but had to be conducted online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that didn’t see diminished interest and over 1 million Hot Wheels fans across the globe tuned in to watch the livestream of the Finals.

*Art of Speed hosted the first leg of the 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour which had to be done online due to the pandemic.*

67 local entries

Twelve out of the 67 local entries were chosen to be showcased before the panel of the judges made up of respected Hot Wheels designers. After the votes were cast, it was Johor-native Ravinder Singh who clinched the coveted spot in the Finals as one of 13 international entries with his ‘Mercenary’, a modified Morris Minor.

Each entry was judged on three criteria: Authenticity, which is a measure of how well a car captures that genuine Hot Wheels spirit; Creativity, based on how unique the build is; and Garage Spirit, which carries the unmistakable air of ‘built not bought’.

*Ravinder Singh’s winning ‘Mercenary’ was created from this old-timer.*

Created from the Morris Minor

Ravinder’s ‘Mercenary’ carried a clear inspiration from American hotrods but was created from a British Morris Minor. The build was praised for its use of period-correct tyres and unique choice of parts – most of which aren’t available in the USA – giving it a distinct and memorable silhouette. The motorhead described the Mercenary as ‘built for himself to bring his vision to life’.

Of the thousands of submissions from around the world, 13 finalists were chosen with the winner being Riley Stair from California. His 1970 Pontiac Trans Am will be immortalised as an iconic 1:64 Hot Wheels diecast model.

Ravinder Singh’s journey to the Finals of the Tour is not insignificant. For years, Malaysia has been host to a healthy and thriving community of car fanatics who celebrate their hobby at events like Art of Speed Malaysia, now in its 9th year.

Ravinder, an electrical and electronics engineer graduate, is now the owner of The Classic Garage based in Johor and has, for a long time, been a contributor to the community. He shares his own builds as well as provides services to others in the hobby.

*Scenes from earlier Art of Speed events*

Annual Art of Speed event next month

Those who are interested in knowing more about this aspect of car culture can drop by at the annual Art of Speed even to be held from December 30 2020 to 3rd January 2021. The venue is the 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and admission is free.

3rd Hot Wheels Legends Tour to be livestreamed this Thursday

Put that date and time in your reminders so you won’t miss the 1st Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia. Malaysia is the first host country in Asia to be selected as host, with Art of Speed as the host.

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour, now in its third year, is a global search for the next fan-made custom car to be made into a Hot Wheels die-cast model. The livestream of the digital tour will be on the Hot Wheels Facebook livestream (www.facebook.com/HotWheels) and will feature the winning Malaysian car.

Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2019 was an epic tour which saw more than 110,000 participants, more than 5,000 entries, 18 finalists and 1 extraordinary winner! This year, the event has gone online in view of the pandemic situation, and one of the new stops is Malaysia in search of a winner for the Hot Wheels Legends Tour.

67 entries from Malaysia
The virtual tour began on September 25 and ran till October 15, 2020 where fans submitted photos and videos of their custom builds for the chance to have their design included. The top Malaysian entries were shortlisted and we’ll know which one is selected on November 12, 2020 (that’s this coming Thursday).

Similar to all Legends Tour stops, the judges will consider creativity, authenticity and garage spirit when selecting the finalists and the winner. A variety of vehicles, representing the breadth of the Hot Wheels in all aspects of car culture, are included.

*Art of Speed’s Asep Ahmad (left) will be the host with Malaysia’s ‘Prince of Drift’ – Tengku Djan Ley – as a Special Guest at the event.*

According to Art of Speed, 67 entries were submitted from Malaysia. Out of all the entries, the Legends Tour judges have selected 12 top finalists. The finalist from the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia’s virtual stop will join all other Legends Tour finalists at the Virtual Global Finale in Los Angeles in November for a chance to have their car immortalized as an iconic Hot Wheels diecast model. Only one lucky custom build will be immortalized as a diecast car and shared with fans across the globe.

9th Annual Art of Speed Malaysia
The 9th Annual Art of Speed Malaysia will also be held at the 1 Utama New Wing in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, from December 30, 2020 to January 3, 2021. Entrance is free to the event which will be from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on the first two days, and up to 10:30 pm on the remaining three days.

For more information about these two events, visit www.artofspeedmy.com or go to www.facebook.com/ArtOfSpeedMY.

Malaysia is first stop in Asia for 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour

The Hot Wheels Legends Tour, now in its third year, is a global search for the next fan-made custom car to be made into a Hot Wheels die-cast toy. In 2019, the event saw more than 110,000 participants and over 5,000 entries, with 18 finalists and of course, 1 winner. This year, in view of the ongoing pandemic, the Tour has gone virtual and one of the new stops will be in Malaysia in search of a winner. Malaysia is the first country in Asia to be selected as host.

Hosted & presented by Art of Speed
The Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia, hosted and presented by Art of Speed, will see one lucky custom-build immortalized as a die-cast car and shared with fans across the globe. The winning Malaysian car will be announced live on November 12, 2020 at the 1Utama Shopping Centre in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It will, of course, also be streamed on the Hot Wheels Facebook livestream (www.facebook.com/HotWheels).

Open to all Malaysians
Fans, families and car enthusiasts can participate in the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia by submitting their builds here and by tuning into the live virtual stop where the top Malaysia’s entries will be shortlisted.

Entries are accepted from today until October 15, 2020 and fans can submit photos and videos of their custom builds for the chance to have their design included in the Legends Tour/Date virtual stop and livestream. For the rules and entry conditions, click here.

After the submission window closes, a panel of judges will select the top vehicles to be featured during the 9th Annual Art of Speed Malaysia 2020 on-ground event on November 12th at the 1Utama Shopping Centre and judging will be live. Similar to all Legends Tour stops, the judges will consider creativity, authenticity and garage spirit when selecting finalists and winners.

The finalist from the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Malaysia’s virtual stop will join all other Legends Tour finalists at the Virtual Global Finale in Los Angeles in November for a chance to have their car immortalized as an iconic Hot Wheels die-cast vehicle.

For more information about this event and AOS activities, visit www.artofspeedmy.com.

Hot Wheels Japan Historics 3 makes global debut at AOS 2019

Piston.my

Art of Speed

Malaysian round of Hot Wheels Legends Tour returns for third time

10th Art of Speed to be held at MAEPS on July 2 & 3

Ravinder Singh’s ‘Mercenary’ chosen as best of Malaysian entries for Hot Wheels Legends Tour

3rd Hot Wheels Legends Tour to be livestreamed this Thursday

Malaysia is first stop in Asia for 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour

Art of Speed 2020 Invitational Build-Off now open for application

Art of Speed Malaysia 2019 – Mega photo gallery

AOS 2019 – Stand a chance to win a Hayabusa-powered MINI + more!

Art of Speed Kota Bharu 2019 ready to rock!

Malaysian round of Hot Wheels Legends Tour returns for third time

10th Art of Speed to be held at MAEPS on July 2 & 3

Ravinder Singh’s ‘Mercenary’ chosen as best of Malaysian entries for Hot Wheels Legends Tour

3rd Hot Wheels Legends Tour to be livestreamed this Thursday

Malaysia is first stop in Asia for 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour

Art of Speed 2020 Invitational Build-Off now open for application

Art of Speed Malaysia 2019 – Mega photo gallery

AOS 2019 – Stand a chance to win a Hayabusa-powered MINI + more!

Art of Speed Kota Bharu 2019 ready to rock!

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