When Hot Rod Magazine took over the Engine Masters Challenge, everyone had a feeling that once Freiburger got his hands on it there would be some changes. How severe? Nobody knew, but what they did know what that he was listening to suggestions and concerns so they better speak up. And speak up they did, with David and the crew getting a lot of ideas from current and past competitors, along with guys who really want to compete but just haven’t felt like there was a place for them.
At the PRI Show yesterday, past and would be competitors showed up to listen to the Hot Rod staff, and specifically David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich, talk about the plans for 2015 and beyond.
Here are the basics. More details and possible revisions are coming soon. If you want to give your suggestions on rules or class changes, make sure you email them at [email protected].
The 2015 Amsoil Engine Masters Challenge will be a 5 day competition but, unlike past years, for 2015 each day will be a separate competition for a separate class. “Wait a second…. That means there are going to be 5 classes?” you ask. Yes there are.
Each class will have a specific set of rules, and be for a specific engine family, or families. Each day’s competition will end with a winner in that class, and the top three competitors in each class will place in the Winner’s Circle.
Dyno Racing Classes:
Hemi Generational Competition:
Normally aspirated OEM production passenger car Chrysler Corporation Hemi V8, 1951 to present engines may compete, with a 435 cubic inch maximum. Coil on plug or distributor style ignition will be accepted.
Basically, this class is going to be the old vs new vs middle Hemi class.
Spec Small Block:
Normally aspirated OEM production passenger car Chrysler, Ford, Chevy small block engine types and AMC, Buick, Olds, and Pontiac pushrod V8s may compete in this class, and will have a legal “Spec” cylinder head that is required, but where any port modifications you choose may be used.
This class will be the one that truly tests the skills of head porters, or their CNC machines.
LS and Mod Motor Showdown:
Current production OEM production passenger car 6.2LS3 and Ford Coyote 5.0 MOD motors to be specified. Normally aspirated. This class is going to be all about the top end as each competitor will be required to show up their parts ready to bolt on to a Hot Rod provided Short Block.
What? Oh yeah, mixing it up for real on this one.
Vintage V8:
Normally aspirated 1954 and earlier OEM domestic production passenger car V8 engines, with the exception of the Chrysler Hemi. There is no displacement restriction, and many parts will be unlimited.
Xtreme Big Block:
Normally aspirated domestic passenger car engines, with a 505 cubic inch limit. The scored RPM range will be 4000-8500 rpm, and all engines will be scored based on average horsepower and torque over 3 pulls.
This is the big boy class, where the biggest power and most noise are going to be made.
This year’s competition is going to be held at the University of Northwestern Ohio October 5-9th, 2015.
Once again, you can give them your thoughts on rules, classes, engines allowed, etc, so send the boys and girls at Hot Rod an email at [email protected]
Yawn…. and still this contest refuses to except the fact that the vast majority of people who buy hop up parts no longer drive V8s anymore, and that V8s have been covered through out the year in every other car mag on the shelves…. and will be yet another year in which I won’t bother paying attention to this contest or its advertisers in yet another boring issue with the same old boring engines that are regularily in Hot Rod, and every Chevy or Ford magazine… yawn….
How about the sixes… two classes, V6 and not V6.