SOME of the icons of the culture that surrounds Street Machine magazine are human – think Peter Brock, Ed Roth and Victor Bray just to name three.

Others are the cars themselves, both in stock and modified form. But one of the most significant touchstones of our scene is entirely fictional, namely the films of George Miller’s Mad Max franchise. Many Street Machine readers can recite whole scenes from the movies by heart and there is something about the film’s take on Australian car culture that continues to resonate with them.

The original Mad Max Interceptor, as driven by Mel Gibson, appeared on the cover of the Oct/Nov 1985 edition of Street Machine and was one of the best-selling issues of all time. Since then, the mag has had a close relationship with the films and those that worship them, featuring many stories on replica car, as well as events held to celebrate the films. Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth instalment in the series and the first to appear in 30 years. Starring Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy, the film is due for release 14 May.

To celebrate, the May issue of Street Machine, features an exclusive eight-page story on the dozens of wild cars and trucks that were built – largely by a group of talented Aussies – for the film.

The story will be the first chance Mad Max fans will have to get a close look at some of the vehicles, to hear about how they were built and their ultimate fate. And if you live in Queensland and can’t wait another four weeks to see the action, get along to Supernova on the Gold Coast to check out an exclusive eight minute fight scene, and all-new three minute trailer, and hear from some of the guys involved behind the scenes. We saw it at the Melbourne Supernova last weekend and it blew our minds!