PRI 2015: Team Weld Racing Wins HROT Engine Build Contest

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program has certainly battled adversity in 2015 with bad weather complicating travel and the group’s truck and trailer being stolen.

“It has been a trying year,” admits director Rodney Bingham. “But in the end it was our best season ever.”

Members of Team Weld assemble an engine during competition at PRI.

Competition wrapped up at PRI with Team Weld Racing from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center capturing the overall championship. Taking second was Team Hypertech from Forsyth Central High School in Georgia followed by Team Mahle from Burton Center for Arts and Technology in Virginia.

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow challenge is somewhat similar to action in the pit between Top Fuel rounds at a drag race. There are three identically prepared small-block Chevys positioned in front of the work benches dedicated to each team. The students must disassemble the engines, using only hand tools and proper de-torquing procedures. When given the go-ahead by the judges, the teams then re-assemble the engines. Rules spell out correct procedures and torque numbers. Teams can also be penalized for dropping parts or any action deemed unsportsmanlike. The team with the fastest overall time wins. Numerous aftermarket companies support the teams with uniforms with other endorsements, and the top finishers earn scholarships to further their automotive ambitions.

Team Hypertech from Forsyth Central High School i Georgia took second place.

But this year’s competition was put in doubt in June when the truck and trailer that transports the association’s engines and other gear were stolen from a storage facility in Southern California. The trailer was recovered but heavily damaged and all the engines and tools were missing. The GMC Topkick truck is still missing.

“We had to source 13 engines,” says Bingham.

Action from the competition at PRI.

Throughout the country, 158 teams entered the competition that was narrowed down in 12 local events. Thirty-nine teams qualified for the Dual Championship, the first of which was held at SEMA in Las Vegas and won by Team ARP in a record-setting performance. The second was held in the opening days at PRI, which was won by Team Weld Racing. Four teams from the Dual Championship rounds in Las Vegas and Indianapolis then competed in the finals during the last days of PRI. Here are the results of the top 8 and their average times:

Winning members of Team Weld include Ryan Campbell, Tyler Messner, Jonathan Karl, Adiel Zapata and Drew West. The instructor is Jim LaFevers.

Winning team members along with their instructor and HROT director Rodney Bingham.

Article Sources

About the author

Mike Magda

Mike Magda is a veteran automotive writer with credits in publications such as Racecar Engineering, Hot Rod, Engine Technology International, Motor Trend, Automobile, Automotive Testing Technology and Professional Motorsport World.
Read My Articles

Horsepower delivered to your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from EngineLabs, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
EngineLabs NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

EngineLabs

EngineLabs

We'll send you raw engine tech articles, news, features, and videos every week from EngineLabs.

EngineLabs

EngineLabs NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

EngineLabs

EngineLabs

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


LSX Mag
Late Model LS Vehicles
Dragzine
Drag Racing
StreetMuscle
Muscle Car & Hot Rods

EngineLabs

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • LSX Mag Late Model LS Vehicles
  • Dragzine Drag Racing
  • Street Muscle Mag Muscle Car & Hot Rods

EngineLabs

EngineLabs

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

EngineLabs

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading