final wrap Archives - Engine Builder Magazine
Building a Champion

We recently added three new members to the Engine Builders of the Year Hall of Fame during a reception prior to the 2017 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis.

Crystal Balls and Beer Glasses

Between SEMA and AAPEX in Las Vegas in November to the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis in December, the end of each year often gives us a chance to take a breath from the stress of the year’s engine building activities and start planning ahead.

Remembering Robert Yates

By now, you’re no doubt aware that Robert Yates – one of the original, best and last legendary engine builders in NASCAR history – succumbed to liver cancer on Monday, Oct. 2. The sport and the industry lost a creative mind who influenced and impacted many generations of race fans and participants.

Engine Awards

When we launched the Performance Engine Builder of the Year competition in 2012, we looked at it as a chance to celebrate the unsung heroes of the racing world.

Final Wrap: History Lesson

Retired engine builder and mechanical engineer Bill Hancock sent me a curious picture the other day, one that points out how far we’ve come – and, how we may not really know what we think we do about this industry.

Bragging Rights

My grandmother used to tell me, “It ain’t bragging if you can back it up.” In the competitive world of performance engine building, our readers prove every day how much they’re not bragging.

Leaving a Legacy One Lap at a Time

Bev Ringwald, the daughter of the late Graham Heath, is organizing an auction of her father’s collection of racing cars, parts and memorabilia in early June in Madison, IN.

Time to Tell EPA to Back Off

When I was a kid, if I wanted to get away with something, I learned how to bend the truth and not give my parents the whole story. Or, if I DID tell them what was going on, it was in the middle of a completely different story. It didn’t work of course – my

Your Customer Did WHAT?!

A few weeks ago, I got into a conversation via social media with sprint car engine builder Steven Hogue. He was in Akron, IN and I was in Akron, OH, but thanks to Facebook, it was like we were sitting across from each other at our favorite local watering hole doing some bench racing. Despite what

It’s Time You Got What You Deserved

When we launched the Performance Engine Builder of the Year competition in 2012, we looked at it as a chance to celebrate the unsung heroes of the racing world. After all, the driver, the crew chief, the team owner – heck even the driver’s dog – each got more TV time and fan recognition than

Customer Appreciation

In the March issue of Engine Builder, I shared some stories about crazy customer experiences from sprint car engine builder Steven Hogue. We all had a good laugh recalling the birdseed, the shop rag ingestion and sealing an engine a bit too well with duct tape. Then, unsure of whether you would be interested in

Numbers Don’t Tell The Whole Story

We ask a lot of questions. Yes, I can admit it – we’re a nosy bunch here at Engine Builder. Sometimes, our requests may come across as discourteous, intrusive or even downright rude. Because sometimes we ask hard questions, things that even I would probably hesitate to answer. Let me first say this: I apologize