The winners of “Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines” each reflect a changing environment within the automotive industry, according to the publication. Where past lists have been dominated by large-displacement engines, half of this year’s list is made up of 3.0L or smaller displacement engines. Only two of the winners are larger than 3.5L, and four of the winning engines use forced induction.
The nominated engines must be available in series-production, and must go on sale no later than the first quarter of 2007. Eligible engines are also required to be available in vehicles with a base price of no more than $54,000. “Ward’s believes engines in more expensive and exotic vehicles should, by nature, be superior examples of powertrain engineering,” according to the magazine article.
The 13th annual list includes:
Audi FSI 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4: A 4-cylinder, turbocharged, direct injected gasoline engine with 100 hp per liter.
BMW 3.0L DOHC I-6: 12th generation of the inline 6-cyl. Half-liter-larger, narrowed power gap, 255 hp, and 220 ft.lbs of torque.
BMW 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6: 300 hp, 300 ft.lbs. of torque; aluminum block with iron cylinder liners.
DaimlerChrysler 3.0L DOHC V-6 Turbodiesel: 208 hp, 400 ft.lbs. of torque, more than the Hemi V8.
DaimlerChrysler Hemi Magnum 5.7L OHV V8: 340 hp, 390 ft.lbs. of torque; if equipped with Chrysler’s Multi Displacement System (MDS), the engine is only 2 mpg thirstier than the available 3.5L SOHC V6.
Ford Duratec 35 3.5L DOHC V6: 265 hp, 250 ft-lbs of torque; variably timed intake valves; 10.3:1 compression ratio on regular unleaded gasoline.
Ford 4.6L SOHC V8: 325 hp, 320 ft.lbs. of torque;17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway.
Mazda DISI 2.3L Turbocharged DOHC I-4: 114 hp per liter in a car that weighs 3,180 lbs.; 15.6 psi of boost pressure, 280 ft.lbs. of torque.
Nissan 3.5L DOHC V6: 7,500 rpm redline and 6,800 rpm power peak; new structural ladder frame, enlarged crankpin and crank journal diameter, new cylinder-head design, asymmetric piston skirt and longer connecting rods.
Toyota 3.5L DOHC V6: Variable valve timing and a variable-length intake manifold help to create the intake mixture formation desired from both fueling systems; 306 hp, 277 ft.lbs. of torque; 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway fuel-economy ratings.
Details can be found at www.wardsauto.com.
Lincoln Electric Slates 10th Annual Motorsports Welding Class Schedule
Lincoln Electric will hold its 10th annual Motorsports Welding School in 2007. Individuals can learn the fundamentals of welding on race cars in the Basic Materials Course, or expand their knowledge through the Advanced Materials Course.
All five-day classes, held at Lincoln’s corporate headquarters in Cleveland, are taught by expert instructors in fabrication and are 70 percent hands on. Basic Materials Courses are offered at 12 different times in 2007; the Advanced Materials Courses are offered in six different sessions.
Courses include instructions on why and how to back purge titanium, inconel and stainless, the use of gas lens torches, proper filler metal/base metal selection, TIG welding, MIG welding and alloys. This year, advanced course students are also eligible to receive an Aerospace (D17.1) certification.
“I’ve been involved with welding for ten years and I picked up a lot of ideas that even I didn’t know. All 16 of our fabricators attended this school,” said Shane Love of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Class size is limited to 12 students, enabling instructors to provide specialized instruction to each individual. Classes fill up fast, so interested students are encouraged to register at least one month in advance. For details about costs or dates, or to register, contact Lincoln’s Welding School at (216) 383-8325 or visit www.lincolnelectric.com to obtain bulletin E.120.
Marc Meadors Takes The Wheel As Goodguys Rod & Custom President
The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has announced Marc Meadors as its new company President. Meadors, 39, assumed his new role January 2nd. He replaces his father, company founder Gary Meadors, who will now serve as Goodguys Chairman. In his new role as Goodguys President, Marc Meadors will manage and oversee all phases and the future direction of Goodguys.
A “car guy” since his very early childhood, Meadors has been around the rod & custom culture his entire life. He was one of the first-ever Goodguys staff employees, starting his tenure with the family business back in 1985 as soon as he graduated from San Ramon Valley high school in Danville, CA. He’s been with the company ever since, but stepped away briefly in 1993 to start “Goodtimes Enterprises” – a highly successful import car show circuit. He returned to Goodguys in 1995 as Chief Operating Officer – a position he held until his recent promotion to the Goodguys Presidency.
Throughout his life, Meadors has remained passionate about rods & customs and the Goodguys Association. “Cars and Goodguys are my life,” he said. “It’s all I’ve really known. As a kid I was going to hot rod events and drag races with dad in the family hot rod. I’ve been right in the mix through the formative years of Goodguys and have been fortunate enough to see Goodguys become the world’s largest Rod & Custom association. My goal as President is to continue to grow Goodguys and continue to bring the world’s best rod & custom events to car owners and enthusiasts around the country.”
IMCA Names Gutowski Competition Director
The first licensed IMCA Modified driver in Nebraska is now the sanctioning body’s new competition director.
Omaha native Tom Gutowski will oversee enforcement of IMCA rules and race procedures at special events and weekly programs. He’ll also answer questions from drivers, local track tech inspectors and car builders, and help research future rules for all sanctioned divisions.
“I think I’ve done just about everything else in the industry. This is a great opportunity for me and I’m glad to become part of this organization,” said Gutowski, most recently the general manager and promoter at Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood. “I look forward to working with drivers and promoters, and being able to concentrate on one aspect of racing.”
As a driver, he owns a national championship with the National Council of Corvette Clubs and regional championships with the Sports Car Club of America. Gutowski raced in the street stock class before moving to the sanctioned Modifieds, competing at Eagle Raceway during the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
He got into the promotional side of the business in 1989 at Crawford County Speedway in Denison and re-opened Shelby County Speedway in 1991, calling the shots at Harlan for 14 seasons before taking the dual position at NRP. Gutowski also promoted Buena Vista Raceway at Alta for one year.
“I enjoy the travel that this job entails,” he said. “So another thing I’m looking forward to is getting around the country and seeing some of the tracks that I’ve heard about but never visited.”
He’ll attend the national awards banquet on Nov. 25, as well as PRI and area trade shows and auctions before heading south for the Jan. 4-7 Ice Bowl at Talladega, AL, Short Track.
“Tom has been involved in the racing industry for a long time and has extensive knowledge of our rules, procedures and point system,” IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. “He was the perfect candidate to handle rule enforcement issues at special events as well as day to day questions, and to help in our rule making decisions in the future.”
Dynomax Exhaust Launches National Dyno Challenge
DynoMax Performance Exhaust will give automotive enthusiasts a chance to compete for a $40,000 prize purse and other event-level prizes in its “Power to the Wheels” Dyno Tour, a national dyno competition that tests the horsepower and torque of muscle cars at popular automotive events in 2007.
“The DynoMax Power to the Wheels Dyno Tour allows our customers to prove the true power and performance of their vehicles when matched with a DynoMax exhaust,” said Beth Mooney, brand manager, DynoMax. “Plus, they get the chance to compete at the ’07 SEMA Show – one of the industry’s most exciting and coveted shows – and win their share of the $40,000 prize purse.”
DynoMax will offer $100 and $50 pre-paid gift cards to first- and second-place winners, respectively, at each of the events. The daily first-place event winners will be entered into a national ranking for a chance to compete at the Winner’s Shootout during the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas for the $25,000 grand prize, $10,000 second prize and $5,000 prize.
To win, entrants must use a DynoMax exhaust system and/or muffler at the time of the dyno run. Competitors are required to make two back-to-back dyno runs and are not allowed to make any modifications between pulls. Entrants can choose the best of either pull. The winner is based on peak horsepower from the best of two runs for the complete contest. In the case of a tie, peak torque will be the deciding factor.
For additional information, rules, event schedules or to register, visit www.dynomax.com.
