The Amsoil Engine Masters competition will expand to five classes in 2015, including a Vintage V8 class that is limited to 1954 or earlier domestic passenger car production engines.
“This [additional classes] gives us the possibility of showcasing a wide range of engine types and it opens up the completion to builders who might not fit into a single class,” says Engine Masters magazine editor Steve Dulcich.
The other four classes include:
- Hemi Generational where any Chrysler Hemi built from 1951 to present can compete with a 435ci maximum displacement.
- Spec Small Block designed to match Chrysler, Ford, Chevy, AMC, Buick, Olds and Pontiac pushrod engines against each other. Ford Mod motors and GM LS engines will be prohibited. Officials will designate legal spec heads that the engine builders must design their engines around.
- LS and Mod Motor Showdown will pit the popular Chevy and Ford engines in a battle of late-model superiority, but there’s a twist. Engine Masters will supply the short blocks!
- Finally, there’s the Xtreme Big Block class for normally aspirated domestic passenger car engines with a 505ci limit.
The 2015 Engine Masters will be staged October 5-9 at the University of Northwestern Ohio with each class being decided on a single day. In previous years, upwards of 30 engines builders competed over the week with the five top qualifiers advancing to Friday’s final.
“Doing a class a day means we have more drama,” says David Freiburger, senior vice president for content strategy at TEN, the parent company of Hot Rod magazine, which is now the presenter of the Engine Masters after the event’s originator Popular Hot Rodding folded.
The rule changes were announced by Hot Rod officials before a packed news conference during the PRI Show in Indianapolis. They promised the move will greatly increase the event’s exposure in both print and online outlets.
“The opportunity for Hot Rod is to take your expertise and share it with the readers of Hot Rod,” says editor David Kennedy.
Hot Rod asking for fan and competitor feedback
While the basic class structure has been established, most of the specific rules are still up for consideration. To that end, Hot Rod is inviting readers, engine builders and performance manufacturers to submit feedback over the next week. Those interested should email their thoughts to [email protected] before December 19, 2014.
Motivation for the class expansion came following talks with competitors at last year’s event, which was won by a Gen III Hemi built by Tony Bischoff of BES Racing Engines. Teams suggested that the competition “needed something to wake up the event.” Other talking points included deeper payouts, more opportunities for smaller shops and lower cost of entry.
“I also heard the guys wanted to walk out of the competition with an engine they could actually sell to a customer, instead of something built just for a dyno race,” adds Freiburger. “On our side, I wanted to create a program that would excite more of our audience.”
With each class being staged in a single day, teams will have lower travel expenses.
“Or you have the opportunity to win more than one class,” quips Freiburger.
Dulcich also announced that the scoring system will be modified. Average horsepower and torque over a measured rpm range will still be recorded, but a correction factor reflecting the engine’s displacement will no longer be used in the scoring formula. Officials said the previous system was to confusing to a mainstream audience.
A maximum of eight entries per class has been tentatively set, but that could change as all the rules and organizational issues are finalized.
More information will follow, and those interested can check out the Engine Masters Facebook page for updates.