SEMA 2012: Loara HS Wins Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Thrash

Loara High School of Anaheim, California, won the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow engine building competition held at SEMA last week.

Sponsored by Motive Gear, Loara’s average time was 21:24 — 30 seconds quicker than Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center, which was sponsored by Energy Suspension. Finishing third was East Ridge (Tennessee) High School, sponsored by Mr. Gasket, with an average of 22:19.

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Members of the winning team include Steven Brown, Andrew Shamitiz, Josh Coman, Chris Shamitiz, Aileen Melendez and Robert Loera. Russ Bacarella is the team’s instructor. The winning team members are eligible for $10,000 each in scholarship money from sponsoring automotive trade schools, which include School for Automotive Machinists, Ohio Technical College and the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Thirteen schools competed in the four-day event, held just outside the front door to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Each team competed in four rounds with the worst time thrown out and the average of the other three used to determine the standings. Each round consisted of three teams tearing down identically prepared small-block Chevy engines with only hand tools and under the watchful eye of judges. One of the team members handled tools and parts organization behind a work bench while the others worked the wrenches. Once the team is given the go-ahead sign, they scramble to assemble the engine. Again under the scrutineering of the judges, the team members must follow approved assembly routines and torque procedures. Points can be deducted for a number of infractions, including dropped parts. The completed engine is then inspected by the judges again. Theoretically, the engine should be ready to fire if gas and electric power were available.

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Dozens of schools throughout the country compete in regional events. A final championship will be held at the PRI show.

Rounding out the standings: Burton Center for Arts and Technology (Salem, Virginia) sponsored by Aeromotive, 24:46; North Orange County ROP (Anaheim, California), Magnaflow, 25:45; Elkhart (Indiana) Area Career Center #1, Royal Purple, 25:50; Elkhart Area Career Center, ARP, 25:53; Peach County (Georgia) High School, Proform, 26:14; Thomas County (Georgia) Central High School, ThermoTec, 27:40; Fremd (Illinois) High School, Edelbrock, 28:50; Belvidere (Illinois) North High School, Hedman Hedders, 31:04; Joliet (Illinois) Central High School, MSD, 32:31; Sequoyah (Tennessee) High School, Painless Performance, 33:46.

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