If you missed the 1/28 episode of HORSEPOWER TV on SPIKE TV Network!

WATCH IT NOW

Modern Supercharging for a Modern Muscle Car
HorsePower embraces the latest supercharging technology from Edelbrock and applies it to a new, Hemi-powered Dodge Challlenger. Plus, a “heads-up” on picking pistons.

Watch Horsepower TV video

As NASCAR’s past and present were on display at the inaugural NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, the sports’ future was well-represented by none other than high school junior Aileen Melendez of Anaheim, Calif., who showcased her engine building skills to a captive audience during the NASCAR Preview event.

“My parents love everything automotive, NHRA and NASCAR,” explained Melendez . “When I was a freshmen I had an extra elective, so my dad was like, ‘Why don’t you take automotive?’”
NASCAR Performance

It was good advice that’s paid off.

Now, three years later, Melendez knows what every young woman, well, auto know.

Melendez is a member of Loara High School’s automotive tech program. She is one of five students — the only female — that comprise “Team Moroso,” who tore down and rebuilt an engine in a record-breaking 21:08 to capture the title of 2011 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Champions this past November.

Launched in 2008, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is a nationwide high school engine building contest which fosters the future development of today’s youth for the race and performance industry.

Each November at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, the top 10 high school auto tech teams who advanced via regional competitions across the country compete head-to-head for the best average time as they tear down and rebuild Chevy 350 high performance engines. Teams, which are made up of five students plus an instructor/coach, must properly disassemble and reassemble the engine with aftermarket components in the least amount of time. Winning students earn scholarship money for college.

“We weren’t nervous at SEMA, we just did what we practiced and took it home,” said Melendez, who has won over $20,000 in scholarships through her participation in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program.

Since its inception, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program has worked hard to help grow a future base of performance enthusiasts for the motorsports and auto industry.

“My primary concern is that the people at the race track and in this industry as a whole are getting older,” said 40-year industry veteran Jim Bingham, chairman of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow. “You don’t see much young blood, and I wanted to create an avenue for bringing youth into the automotive aftermarket.”

Along with Bingham, automotive aftermarket industry pioneer Vic Edelbrock took an immediate interest in Hot Rodders. After witnessing the Hot Rodders competition five years ago, Edelbrock and daughter Christi were hooked on the program and helped expand the concept across the country.

“We are so proud to support these kids; providing an opportunity and changing lives is what it’s all about,” said Christi Edelbrock, VP of Business Development for Edelbrock. “It is our mission and passion to continue to grow this program by supporting America’s youth wherever and whenever possible.”

To date, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow has fostered a total of 152 teams in eight divisions consisting of 1,064 students from across the country and has raised more than $3.5 million in scholarship money. Twenty-three manufacturing sponsors are a part of the program.

The program also gives instructors an opportunity to grow enthusiasm in their school’s auto tech program.

According to Loara High School auto tech instructor Russ Bacarella, who trains the school’s Hot Rodders of Tomorrow team, any high school student can get involved.

“They don’t need to know how to use a ratchet or torque wrench coming in,” Bacarella said. “What I look for is dedication, a mindset that no matter what happens, they’ll continue to do their best. Our goal is to get the kids where they want to be. The youth really are our future, and we need to get them a trade, a skill, a profession and get them working.”

In addition to scholarship money and the championship title, NASCAR Performance and Edelbrock included a trip to Charlotte, N.C. for NASCAR Acceleration Weekend as part of the prize package for the Loara High School championship-winning team.

“The Acceleration Weekend is just a natural fit to show the students the passion and enthusiasm of our industry,” Edelbrock said. “It’s a great opportunity to show them what NASCAR is all about, the culture, the history, the shops and technology.”

For young automotive enthusiasts like Melendez, it was an opportunity to showcase her talents.

“I do the left side of the engine head,” explained Melendez, during a break from performing for NASCAR fans at the Preview event. “Then, after the engine is torn apart, I begin with the bottom reassembly. I put all the rod caps on, tighten them all down and torque them all down in sequence.”

“Then I help with whatever the boys are behind on,” she joked.

Jokes aside, Melendez is making it as woman in a place that’s traditionally very much a man’s world.

“The possibilities of what the automotive industry holds for these kids — guys and gals — as far as job placement and a career are endless,” Edelbrock said. “The kids can get focused on what the future holds for them, and to see these kids focused on a career in our industry is just second to none.”

During NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, Melendez and her teammates also attended the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and participated in a meet and greet with 2012 inductee Junior Johnson. They also toured NASCAR Technical Institute, the NASCAR R&D Center and Stewart-Haas Racing to gain valuable insight into what it takes to become a NASCAR team member.

“We’re from the other side of the country and this is new to all the kids,” Bacarella said. “They are seeing the magnitude of NASCAR and they understand there is a demand for their skill set. To see industry people like Doug Yates come up, high-five these kids and be truly impressed with their engine building talent gives them a great deal of confidence.”

“My dream job is in automotive,” Melendez said. “After seeing pit crew practice and the guys working in the shop at Stewart-Haas Racing, well, it’s just amazing what they do. They were fabricating everything by hand. They were all working together as a team just like we do.”

For Melendez, following dear ole dad’s advice continues to pay dividends.

“Going to exhibitions and seeing all the amazing cars, having relationship with the sponsors. I say thank you a million times to Hot Rodders and Edelbrock.”

Make Sure to Catch the next episode of HORSEPOWER TV on SPIKE TV Network!

AIRING ON 1/28

Modern Supercharging for a Modern Muscle Car
HorsePower embraces the latest supercharging technology from Edelbrock and applies it to a new, Hemi-powered Dodge Challlenger. Plus, a “heads-up” on picking pistons.

Parts List:

Watch Horsepower TV video

A record amount of fundraising for the Victory Junction Gang Camp took place in Machinery Row, where a Reher-Morrison race engine was raffled off in the popular Engine Charity Sweepstakes.

Organized by Sunnen Products and PRI, raffle tickets could be purchased for the Engine Charity Sweepstakes in Machinery Row, with proceeds going to the Victory Junction charity, a race-themed camp for children with chronic illnesses, started by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son, Adam.

On Saturday, December 3, the race engine built by Reher-Morrison Racing Engines, Arlington, Texas, was given away to one lucky winner.

“It’s a Dart block, a short deck 9.8” big block, 4.625” bore, 4.375” stroke, Manley rods, Ross pistons, Edelbrock manifold. It makes 1200 horsepower and 860 ft-lbs torque and is worth $26,500,” explained Johnny Claridge of Reher-Morrison.

Other companies that donated parts for the engine include Akerly & Childs, ARP, ATI, BHJ, Billet Fabrication, Bruce Lowrie GMC, Cometic, CV Products, Erson, Fel Pro, Full Bore, Gary Williams, Isky, JE Pistons, Jesel, Lokar, Mallory, Manton, Midwest Engineering, Milodon, Moroso, Mr. Gasket, MSD, NGK, O’Reilly’s, PAC Springs, Pioneer, Pro Filer, RMRE, Star Machine, T&D Machine, Trend Performance, Total Seal, US Seal, VP Fuels and XRP.

“The response for this was just incredible. The minute we were on board, people were calling us who we don’t even do business with wanting to be involved, and we were luckily able to involve several companies,” Claridge explained.

The winning ticket, picked by David Reher, belonged to Jim Hughes from Hughes Performance in Phoenix, Arizona.

Bob Davis, of Sunnen, announced a new record for fundraising. “I am excited to announce that the grand total of donations for the 2011 PRI/Sunnen Charity Engine Sweepstakes is $31,590.00, making it by far the most we have ever collected,” he said.

Reher-Morrison would like to thank everyone involved in the success of the 2011 PRI/Sunnen Charity Engine Sweepstakes. We are so excited  that almost  $32,000.00 was raised for Victory Junction!
None of this could have been achieved without the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.  From the manufacturers that donated  parts to those at Sunnen and PRI for their commitment to such a successful  project .

It was a pleasure to work with all of you and we look forward to doing it again in 2012!

Copied and pasted from PRI website!

Hi Christi,

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Thank you once again for treating my family and especially my daughter so well at the races. It is always more fun when you have someone to cheer for, and that is the reason my daughter and wife still come to the races with me, to see you race.
I took some great (well maybe not so great) but good videos of the final Trans-Am on Sunday at Coronado. As you remember the weather was perfect, the racing intense, and the whole event successful again. Hope you enjoy the video I enclosed as I tried to get you and your dad in a lot of the shots. I put in two copies, just in case one gets damaged in the mail. Notice the crowd in the video and how much people really enjoyed the racing, the cheering, and the fun. I hope the Edelbrock family continues to support and be part of the vintage scene for many years to come as your participation keeps the spirit alive.

We read your family book, great stuff; you obviously come from good hard working folk and heritage. My folks came from the same sort of background, self made, pulled up by the bootstraps. Enjoyed reading about your horse jumping and appreciated your work ethic in that sport. My family, when I was growing up, was all about horses and riding events etc. in San Juan Capistrano (I opted for motorcycles instead because I hated cleaning horse stalls).

Great photo! Could you write something encouraging Sierra once again; you are one of her inspirations. She is in all Honor’s classes and straight A. I am very proud of her just like I’m sure your dad is proud of you. I hope she picks you when she has to write a research paper on famous and influential people in her upcoming junior year in high school. Anyway there is a self addressed stamped envelope holding the photos for protection and the return trip.

May God Bless you and your family. Keep it on the black part and have a wonderful, safe, and fun new year again in that souped-up number 13 Camaro…

Ken Casper

Seasons Greetings!

All Edelbrock and Russell facilities will be closed in observance of the holidays starting December 23, 2011. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday January 3, 2012.

The last full day of Tech Service and shipping product from the
“Online Store – Closeouts and accessories” in 2011 will be Dec 22.

On behalf of the entire Fun Team; we wish you and all your staff members a safe and festive holiday season…

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Sincerely,

The Edelbrock Team

Here is a little more information about the event!

This past weekend was the icing on the cake as Joe Dunne sealed his first NMCA championship by taking the Kooks Custom Headers Pro Street class win at the 10th Annual FueLab NMCA World Street Finals held at the historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Dunne was armed with a Pat Musi Performance 864ci engine as he fought against nitrous and blown rivals for the coveted Pro Street title. It all came to fruition as he stood on top of the quickest and fastest field in NMCA history. “That was one of the toughest fields I’ve seen in Pro Street and I am proud Joe survived the onslaught of record-breaking performances to not only win the race but also win the championship,” says an elated Pat Musi, who is the owner of 8 Pro Street championships as well as the engine shop that provides the power to Dunne and many other Pro Street and Pro Mod competitors.

The road to victory was certainly an uphill battle and Dunne made his mark with consistency. “I was working hard at Englishtown with a few other customers so I asked my long-time friend Rickie Smith to fill in for me with Dunne. We’ve been great friends for over 40 years so I felt confident in putting Dunne and Rickie together,” comments Musi. The two would communicate back and forth over the phone, which culminated in the finals when Dunne unleashed his quickest run of the weekend with a 6.03 at 237 mph as he took out long-time NMCA competitor Randy Adler and his supercharged ’57 Chevy. Musi comments, “it always amazes me how Rickie can call tune-ups over the phone without track temperatures or numbers.” The closest race of the weekend came in the semifinals when Dunne eliminated ADRL and NHRA Pro Mod racer Dan Stevenson. He pushed his ’68 Camaro to victory with a 6.12 at 236 mph to Stevenson’s 6.14 at 233 mph. The margin of victory was a mere two hundredths of a second, which is just inches apart at over 230 mph.

images and copy taken from NMCA Digital

An interesting and unique paring of talents have joined together for the future of automotive enthusiasts. Ohio Technical College, a performance and racing technical school, joined forces with one of the leaders in automotive technology, Edelbrock Performance. The result of this unique collaboration is the Edelbrock Academy… Learn more on Street Legal TV

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