“Incorporating L&B’s operations into our business richly enhances our ability to provide quality products and services for our customers,” said Egge’s president, Robert Egge.

“L&B and Egge Machine – What a nostalgic combination!” explained Egge’s CEO, Ernie Silvers, “We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to continue the tradition of quality pump rebuilding that L&B started more than 30 years ago. And, just as Egge has relied on L&B Industries to rebuild oil pumps since the mid-’70s, L&B customers can continue to rely on Egge for the same quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.”

The relocation of L&B’s operations to Egge Machine Company continues the company goal to become the automotive industry’s one-stop shop for internal engine components and rebuild services.

Egge has established itself as the industry leader for pre-1980s internal engine components, engine rebuild kits, and rotating assembly kits. Egge also offers complete pump rebuilding services, as well as, in-house babbitt bearing service.

Egge has recently added nostalgic performance and speed equipment to its product offerings. Please contact Jim Ketchum at 562-945-3419 for additional information about Egge Machine Company’s products and services or visit the company Web site at www.egge.com.

Is Your Shop The Best Of The Best? Engine Builder’s Search For Coveted ‘2006 Machine Shop Of The Year’ Begins

Some have been huge diesel rebuilding facilities, some have focused on performance while still others have been general engine rebuilding shops. But all had something special that helped them earn the title of “Machine Shop of the Year.” The search is now underway for the winner of the fourteenth annual Machine Shop of the Year award, and all interested shops are invited to enter.

During the Engine Rebuilders Association’s (AERA) inaugural RPM 2006 Trade Show in Indianapolis, IN, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, Engine Builder magazine will present its fourteenth annual “Machine Shop of the Year” award. The staff of Engine Builder and a representative from AERA will select the award winner from submitted entry forms.

The award winner will receive transportation to Indianapolis to attend AERA’s RPM 2006 Trade Show, receive two nights lodging and a check for $500. In addition, AERA will present the “Machine Shop of the Year” award winner with quarterly updates for PROSIS for one year, free of charge. PROSIS includes comprehensive information on AERA’s engine specification sheets, tech bulletins and component casting identification. The “Machine Shop of the Year” award will be given at a special presentation during the RPM Show.

To enter, log on to www.engine-builder.com to download the entry form which should be completed and mailed to: Engine Builder Machine Shop of the Year, 3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333. Please be as detailed as possible when describing your shop, experience and plans for future success. You are also encouraged to submit photographs of your shop and sample copies of promotional or marketing materials. Entry forms must be postmarked no later than July 7, 2006.

Drag Legends ‘Cha Cha,’ ‘The Shoe,’ And ‘The Snake’ To Join Other Racers, Manufacturers at 2006 AERA RPM Show

Racing, performance and engine professionals should mark their calendars now to attend the RPM Trade Show, to be held the week of the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, IN. Show days will be Wednesday, Aug. 30; Thursday, Aug. 31; and Friday, Sept. 1, 2006, at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN. Attendees will capitalize by attending three days of highly technical seminars presented by leading experts in the world of racing, performance engines and equipment. Leading manufacturers will exhibit their products on a dynamic show floor featuring live demonstrations with operating equipment.

Keynote speakers will kick-off each day’s show, including the first lady of drag racing, Shirley Muldowney, and Funny Car legend Don Schumacher. A “Performance Roundtable,” featuring Dave Grubnic, John Force, Don Prudhomme, Hillary Will and Cory McClenathan, will be held on Thursday, Aug. 31.

The 2006 RPM show will include pavilions designed to provide attendees with a new window into the networking and educational aspects of the show floor. These pavilions will showcase products, parts, equipment, services and technologies from a focused group of exhibitors, including drag racing, watersport racing, cycles, pullers and boggers, as well as other groups. Most pavilions will be anchored by a partner association, attracting members and new attendees to the exhibit floor.

All pre-registered attendees will receive a complimentary pass to NHRA’s Friday night nitro-burning, pro-qualifying round at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Free shuttle buses from the convention center and track will be available.

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to help your company prosper in the ever-expanding high-performance market. For more information on exhibiting please contact RPM Show Management at 1-800-752-6312. Exhibitors and attendees may view more information at www.aera.org/rpm.

Engine Pro To Continue IMCA Contingency Award Programs For ’06 Season

IMCA drivers in three divisions competing with Engine Pro products will earn contingency awards again this season from the Wheat Ridge, CO-based internal engine parts wholesaler group. A total of $5,600 in product certificates will be given, based on final regional Modified and Stock Car standings and on National Hobby Stock standings.

The top eligible driver in each of the five Modified regions, in both Stock Car regions and in the national Hobby Stock ranks receive $300 product certificates, with $200 for second and $100 for third. Tenth and 20th place eligible drivers earn $50 certificates.

Drivers in each class accepting the most engine claims this season will also receive complete claimer engine kits.

Along with proof of purchase, drivers must display two Engine Pro decals on their race car to be eligible for product certificates, which can be redeemed at any participating Engine Pro machine shop.

“Even though we made some changes to the claim rule in the Modified and Stock Car division, the claimer engine kits from Engine Pro remain an attainable prize for the most claimed drivers in those divisions at the end of the year,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “The partnership with Engine Pro has been great for our members and I anticipate it will grow in the coming months.”

Information about Engine Pro products and distributors is available by calling 303-424-3200 or at the www.enginepro.com website.

Engine Builder Showdown Starts Clock On Seventh Consecutive Season

The spotlight is shining again on NASCAR’s hidden heroes of racing as the 2006 Clevite Engine Builder Showdown returns for its seventh season. The competition, which pits 16 of NASCAR’s top engine builders against themselves and each other, requires participants to assemble 357 cid Ford engines – similar in design to those used by NASCAR’s Ford race teams – in the quickest time.

Since 1990, Clevite Engine Parts has presented the Clevite Engine Builder Challenge Series in which NASCAR’s top engine builders compete to see who can assemble and run an engine the fastest.

Engine builders from NASCAR’s top race teams are currently vying for the title of Clevite Engine Builder Showdown Champion – and the right to have their name’s immortalized on the Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy. As with last year, the first round of the Showdown served as a qualifying round, with the eighth fastest times advancing to Round 2. The winners of each succeeding round advance to compete in the finals on May 23.

In addition to last year’s Champions Danny Lawrence and Greg Gunnell of Richard Childress Racing and Runners-Up Mike Maiwald and Shane Parsnow of Hendrick Motorsports (each team received an automatic bid) the field has included the following teams:

Bill Davis Racing: Ken Swanson and Robert Scott

Chip Ganassi Racing: Mike Lanci and Jesse Hardee;

DEI Engines: Joe London and Brian Sommers; Brian Price and Bill Brunker;

Hendrick Engines: Danny Emerick and Jay Wiles; Kevin Webber and David Evans;

Penske-Jasper Engines: Chris Moroch and Mark Cuzzen;

Pro Motor Engineering: Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman;

Richard Childress Racing: Lanny Barnes and teammate;

Roush-Yates Engines: Randy Ping and Mike Kasch; Nick Ramey and Mike Ellis; Kent Mashburn and David Hamm; Jim Snyder and Dan Bagle; and

Toyota Racing Development: Tim Ambrose and Mike Dimascio.

The competition’s Rounds 3 and 4 take place May 22 and 23 at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC. The final round’s runner-up will receive a cash award of $5,000 and the champion receives a cash award of $20,000, the team’s place on the perennial Randy Dorton Memorial Trophy and will be dubbed the 2006 Clevite Engine Builder Showdown Champion.

Race fans and engine building enthusiasts can check the results of the various rounds by going to the Clevite Engine Parts Web site at www.engineparts.com.

Ethanol-Powered Engines To Compete On Dynos In E85 Power Shootout

Six teams will use ethanol-based E85 fuel to compete for top honors in an engine dynamometer competition to be held during the upcoming AERA RPM 2006 Trade Show. Teams will build engines based on existing domestic or import platforms, which will then be dyno-tested to measure horsepower, torque and fuel consumption. These parameters will be weighted against engine displacement, and a winner will be determined based on these factors.

This engine building competition is actually a demonstration project to show the viability of ethanol-based fuels in automotive engine applications. E85 refers to a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Engine Builder magazine will award $5,000 to the first place winner. Second place will take home $2,500 and third place, courtesy of Meridian One, will win $1,500.

Clevite Engine Parts will be the official supplier of engine parts for the ethanol-fueled engine building competition. Clevite will supply Clevite engine bearings, Perfect Circle piston rings, and Victor Reinz gaskets to all competitors. In addition, Goodson Shop Supplies is the official shop supply company of the E85 Power Shootout. Goodson will provide a certificate for $200 to each of the six teams.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that the availability and use of E85 is growing nationally. E85 is composed of 85 percent ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and just 15 percent petroleum. E85 is designed for use in flexible fuel vehicles, referred to as “FFVs.” According to the Energy Information Administration, there are over four million light-duty flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in the United States. These are operated by private citizens as well as business and government fleets. FFVs may fuel with either E85 and/or gasoline interchangeably. Most FFVs are still fueled with gasoline, but the availability of E85 and FFVs is expected to increase significantly in the next few years.

For more information about the E85 Power Shootout, visit www.aera.org/e85shootout.

News In Brief:

Truck fleets will soon have to invest in extra training for maintenance personnel because of the complexities involved with the 2007 diesel engines, the ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel that powers them and the new low-ash motor oil they require, says Ken Claar, project engineer for Lubrizol Corp. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Truck Renting and Leasing Association, Claar said the new engines “will carry increased maintenance and operating costs. It’s important to invest in training – that’s key.”

Claar said the new low-ash oil, originally known as PC-10, is generically referred to as CJ-4. Current diesel engine oils are known as CI-4 or CI-4 Plus.

Heavy-duty and retail sales specialist Lonnie Mayne has accepted a position with Affinia Group Inc. as vice president of special markets, effective April 24, 2006.

In North America the Affinia family of brands includes WIX Filters, Raybestos brand brakes and Aimco brake products, and McQuay-Norris and Spicer Chassis parts. South American and European brands include Nakata, Urba and Quinton Hazell. Affinia employs more than 12,000 people in operations in 17 countries. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.

Federal-Mogul Corporation’s Athens, AL, Sealing Systems facility, which manufactures a variety of seals and gaskets including multi-layer steel exhaust gaskets, recently received Toyota’s Excellent Quality Award for 2005. This award acknowledges that Federal-Mogul has met Toyota’s highest standards in quality for parts and materials.

The Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2048) has passed the 100 mark, with 101 U.S. House of Representative co-sponsors. This milestone number, say Act supporters, signals a move forward as auto aftermarket focuses on consumers, stability, unity.

“That we have 101 co-sponsors is a testament to the bill’s merit. It also shows the staying power of our Automotive Aftermarket Coalition and motoring consumers which have been diligent in pushing the bill forward,” said David Parde, president, Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).