R&S RACING TAKES TOP PRIZE IN MOPOWERED ENGINE BUILDER CHALLENGE
Center Line, Mich. - Six finalists went head-to-head in a battle of engine builders last week, with one emerging as victor. Tom R. Hestness of R&S Racing took home the $10,000 top prize as champion of the first MoPowered Engine Builder Challenge. The event was held in Colorado Springs, July 11-12, at the headquarters of Superflow, which dedicated two dyno cells to test the engines. The $10,000 grand-prize check was presented to Hestness at a press conference during the Mopar Big Block Party on Thursday, July 13, in Golden, Colo., leading up to the 27th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals.
The six contestants were able to choose between an "A" engine and a Magnum engine small block, and were given one of five sets of ready-to-install Mopar cylinder heads, an "LA" or Magnum-style four-inch crankshaft, and a set of Mopar Performance valve covers. All other components were chosen at the engine builder's discretion. The six finalists were R&S Racing of Minnesota; Indy Cylinder Head and Creative Flow Management, of Indiana; Maurer's Performance of Arizona; Shady Dell Speedshop of Pennsylvania; and Shelton Racing Enterprises, Inc., of Georgia.
"We tried to pick grassroots engine builders," said Jon Clark, Performace Parts Department Manager. "They"re the true Mopar guys who, if they didn"t have support from us, would be building Mopars anyway."
The engines were judged on combined performance in three categories: Highest Horsepower and Torque, Best Streetability (lowest idle rpm, highest idle vacuum) and Lowest Cost (based on MSRP of all parts). Mopar Performance Parts engineers John Donato and Jim Szilagyi were each assigned a dyno cell and were on hand to officiate. After the engines were tested on the dyno, they were torn apart to make sure they fit the specifications of the contest.
R&S Racing's winning entry was a 440 small block engine that made over 700 horsepower on the dyno. It was required to perform under normal street conditions, in addition to its ability to create large amounts of horsepower.
"A lot of challenges like this, you see people who build a motor that is great on the dyno, but you can't do anything with it," said Clark. "Mopar Authentic Performance is on the track, but it's also on the street. There are a lot of people that are directly affected by what we do on the street. That's how the regular guy enjoys his Mopar, by driving it around the car shows and cruise nights."
With the success of the first MoPowered Engine Builder Challenge, a sequel is almost guaranteed.
"Superflow is dying for us to do it next year, as is Mopar," Clark said. "The plan is to pick a different engine each year and highlight our new parts for it. I can't wait to do it again."
For more information regarding the 2006 MoPowered Engine Builder Challenge or Mopar, log on to www.mopar.com or www.moparspeed.com.
Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicles.
