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Show Your Muscle

Have you ever wanted to see just HOW good you were? The Contest of Real Engine Builders is a competition geared for the real grassroots hotrodder, to produce a real world performance motor for under $5,000.

By Doug Kaufman
Since the dawn of time (well, since the invention of the SECOND automobile), man has been on a quest. A quest to be faster. A quest to be more powerful. A quest to be the best.

The true hotrodder uses talent and skill to design, fabricate, analyze and invent in the hopes of rising above the competition. Many times those talents are restricted by budget constraints, but today's engine builders are masters of wringing as much power out of an engine as efficiently as possible.

Have you ever wanted to see just HOW good you were? The Contest of Real Engine Builders is a competition geared for the real grassroots hotrodder, to produce a real world performance motor for under $5,000.

"We've all seen those other engine building competitions that seem to cater to a 'sky's the limit' budget," says "Bullet" Bob McDonald, of Atlantic Engines in Granite Falls, NC. "They're exciting, but we are interested in developing a contest for the guys with the talent and the skill but not the financial freedom of some of the big boys. To that end, our contest will be self-limiting: all participating engines will be subject to a claim rule."

McDonald says the contest, set to be held in late fall of this year, will have one main, overriding rule: once the contest is over and the winner is declared, the winning engine can be purchased by any other participant for $5,000. "Let's face it – great street motors can be built for less than $5,000," says McDonald. "We simply ask participants to build their engines wisely and pay attention."

Any normally-aspirated domestic V8 engine block, including AMC, Cadillac, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, Oldsmobile or Buick, as well as Olds diesel-based engines, can be used in the competition. All engines will be supplied with specified, 93-Octane unleaded gas.

Horsepower and torque figures will be measured using the same dynamometer in a controlled setting. Superchargers, turbos, nitrous or other power-adders are prohibited.

The contest organizers will select a maximum of 20 competitors to participate. An entry fee of $250 will be charged and prizes will be paid to the top five finishers.

Engine Builder magazine will offer exclusive coverage of the event, its participants and its sponsors in print and via our electronic media. Leading performance parts manufacturers including DTS Dynos, Erson Cams, Milodon and Accel/Mr. Gasket are already supporting this grassroots competition. If you are interested in joining them as a sponsor, contact Bob McDonald at bulletbob@charter.net.

Official rules and entry information will be published shortly, so please stay tuned to www.enginebuildermag.com for more details.