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.”

Six Divisional winners and four wildcard teams will compete at the “Showdown at SEMA”, sponsored by Edelbrock, and held Nov. 1 – 4 in the grand lobby of the SEMA (Specialty Market Equipment Association) Show. The top-10 high school auto tech teams who advanced via regional competitions across the country will compete head-to-head for the best average time as they tear down and rebuild identically built Chevy 350 high performance engines. Teams, which are made up of five students plus an instructor/coach, must properly disassemble the engine using hand tools only with proper de-torque and disassembly procedure, all while being viewed by judges and spectators. Time added penalties for dropped components, improper disassembly, assembly, and sportsmanship will be added to ensure correct assembly. When reassembled, the engines should fire up and run if gas, water, and oil were added. The team with the fastest time, including penalty minutes wins.

The top-10 high school teams vying for the 2011 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge championship are: Loara High School, Anaheim, CA; Eastern OK County Tech Center Team #1, Choctaw, OK; Belvidere North High School, Belvidere, IL; East Ridge High School #2, East Ridge, TN; Elkhart Area Career Center Team #2, Elkhart, IN; North Orange County ROP Team #1, Anaheim, CA; East Ridge High School #1, East Ridge, TN; Elkhart Area Career Center Team #1, Elkhart, IN; Joliet Central High School Team #2; and Burton Center for Arts & Technology Team #1, Salem, VA.

“We are so proud to be a key leader and sponsor for The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow. Supporting the kids, providing opportunity and changing lives is what it is ALL about!” said Christi Edelbrock, VP Business Development, Edelbrock. “It is our mission and passion to continue to grow this program by supporting America’s youth wherever and whenever possible. Being a part of these life changing opportunities is a very proud moment for Edelbrock!”

NASCAR Performance will host each member of the winning championship team along with their team instructor at the inaugural NASCAR Acceleration Weekend in Charlotte, N.C., on January 20-22, 2012. NASCAR Acceleration Weekend is set to provide fans, media, and the sports industry with an insiders’ view at what to expect on and off the track in 2012.

During NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, the winning team will have the opportunity to attend the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, participate in a meet and greet with NASCAR personalities, visit race team shops, and more. In addition, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge champions will tour the Mooresville, N.C. based NASCAR Technical Institute to gain insight into what it takes to become a NASCAR team member.

“NASCAR Performance is proud to partner with Edelbrock to support the development of today’s youth for the future of the automotive industry,” said Todd Armstrong, managing director, NASCAR Automotive Group. “We look forward to hosting the championship-winning team in Charlotte for NASCAR Acceleration Weekend and providing them with a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the past, present and future of NASCAR.”

NASCAR Performance also plans to host the second and third place teams at a 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race within close proximity to their respective schools. The groups will experience behind the scenes garage and pit tours in addition to learning the inner-workings of a NSCS event weekend.

Edelbrock, an exclusive NASCAR Performance partner, as well as a NASCAR Contingency Program partner in all NASCAR-sanctioned series, has supported the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge since its inception in 2008. The program provides nearly $2 million annually in scholarships to competing students who wish to pursue careers in the automotive industry.

ABOUT EDELBROCK
Founded in 1938, Torrance-based Edelbrock, LLC is recognized as one of the nation’s premier designers, manufacturers and distributors of performance replacement parts for the automotive and motorcycle aftermarkets. Edelbrock produces their core products in the United States of America using state-of-the-art equipment in their world class manufacturing facilities. Edelbrock, LLC encompasses six locations in Southern California totaling more than 500,000 square feet. For more information please visit us at www.edelbrock.com

ABOUT NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America’s premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED and SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 100 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. Also part of NASCAR is GRAND-AM Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.

ABOUT NASCAR Automotive
The NASCAR Automotive Group, based in the Charlotte, N.C., office, supports exclusive sponsorship partnerships of companies in the automotive category and the Contingency Program. Under the NASCAR Performance brand, automotive partners build brand awareness and sales of their products and services via an integrated marketing program. The program includes: The NASCAR Technical Institute – a branch of Universal Technical Institute Inc. (UTI) that trains automotive technicians for the workforce; a weekly TV show on SPEED called “NASCAR Performance”; a national radio show called “NASCAR Performance Live” on MRN and SIRIUS XM Radio; and print and online media programs with the BABCOX family of automotive magazines, and NASCAR.COM.

There will also be a Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge demonstration at the Edelbrock trailer. Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is an engine building competition. Students compete to win scholarship money by tearing down and re-assembling a 350 Chevy Small Block in the fastest time possible. Anaheim, California students from record setting Loara High School will be giving the engine building demonstration three times throughout the day as practice for their trip to the finals at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this November. Exciting stuff! Come out and enjoy the day! See you there.
For more information on the event go to www.pvconcours.org

Will you be in or around the greater Chicago, IL area this weekend? If so, shake the cabin fever and come out to Pheasant Run resort and take in two days of the latest racing and performance parts from the automotive industry’s leading manufacturers. See more than 250 performance manufacturers! Edelbrock will be there with a large array of products on display and experts to answer your questions.

While your there be sure to check out the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Build Challenge. Area high schools compete in a head-to-head engine building competition against the clock.  The team with fastest time and fewest mistakes will punch their ticket to the “Showdown at SEMA” for the national title.

Drive in for the day or reserve a room now for that perfect weekend getaway!

Where: St. Charles, IL @ Pheasant Run Resort

When: Saturday, Feb 26 (8am-5pm) and Sunday, Feb 27 (9am-4pm)

Cost: $10.00 (adults), children 12 & under are Free

Why you need to be there: Hot rods, race cars, cool parts and industry experts. And did we mention that Pheasant Run has a full service spa to keep the significant other occupied?

Click here for complete details, including location, hours and show information.

The local community came out to enjoy the show

As the presenter and sponsor of the Edelbrock Rev’ved Up 4 Kidz charity car show, which benefits the Center for Learning Unlimited, of course we’re going to tell you how good the show actually was – and it’s true, it was a GREAT day.  But when car enthusiasts, automotive industry vendors, local high school students of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow engine challenge, a host of food vendors and two great bands –  Jupiter Ignition and Mike Pinera of the Classic Rock All Stars –  get together to raise money for the children of the Center for Learning Unlimted, it doesn’t take long for the buzz to spread throughout the media and enthusiast forums.  So instead of us telling you about the event, we’re going to rely on the third party media and participants to share their thoughts.

StreetLegal TV – “…the 5th annual Rev’ved Up 4 Kidz was an absolute blast to attend…”

Popular Hot Rodding Magazine – “…this is an annual event that we’ve taken a liking to because Edelbrock has so many things going on and it’s for a really good cause…”

Corvette Forum Post – “…Edelbrocks always put on a first class show, with Vic’s Museum open and packed full of beautiful cars, Hot Rod TV broadcasting live, Vic was signing autographs…”

Digital Throttle – “…The show and dinner Saturday night, raised money for the Center for Learning Unlimited a great local center for children with special learning needs…”

View of concessions and beer garden

Please remember us for next year as the 6th Annual Edelbrock Rev’ved Up 4 Kidz charity car show, benefitting the Center for Learning Unlimted, will take place at Vic’s Garage in Torrance, CA on May 1, 2011!

Jupiter Ignition took center stage with an outstanding performance

Mike Pinera of the Classic Rock All Stars volunteered his time to entertain the crowd

Special Thanks to:

- All car show participants
- The bands: Jupiter Ignition and Mike Pinera
- Boy Scouts of San Gabriel Valley
- All of our Vendors who committed their Sunday to supporting the event
- The city of Torrance, Ca
- Vic and Nancy Edelbrock
- Our volunteers, we couldn’t pull it off with out your time and support

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow wow'd the crowd as North Orange County ROP won with a blazing fast time of 36:18

Race & Performance Expo

A BRIEF HISTORY:

Started in 2008, The Race & Performance Expo was a huge success from the beginning. Drawing from across the country, our 2nd Annual Race & Performance Expo saw growth in the number of manufacturers, vendors, and general public that attended. With over 275 booths showing a vast array of the newest high performance racing components, this event has become the largest High Performance Expo of its kind in the Midwest.  Many of the manufacturers stated that this show allows them to “get back to the grassroots of racing”.  “The Race & Performance Expo has filled a need in the Midwest with this type of show.  A show that offers not only the Racing Industry members such as the engine and chassis builders, manufacturers, and vendors of Racing and High Performance components to talk face to face, but for the general racing fan that wants to be part of this exciting Industry”. Always trying to improve the Expo, the 2010 show will have a separate room which will focus on Street Rod / Muscle Cars, along with street rod and muscle car retail vendors.   …copy pulled from raceperofmanceexpo.com

OTHER FEATURES:

• Vic Edelbrock will be signing posters

• FREE Edelbrock hat giveaway (while supplies last).

• FREE coloring books for the kids.

Fore more information visit the Race & Performance Expo website.

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