Hardcore engine enthusiasts and race fans had a rare opportunity to see some of motorsports’ most exciting engines up close during an open house at Ed Pink Racing Engines (EPRE) over the weekend. Company general manager Frank Honsowetz said more than 200 people crowded into the 10,000-square-foot main facility and a second shop that houses the machine equipment.
“It was a such a large crowd, it was a bit overwhelming,” say Honsowetz. “It got to where it was difficult to move around in the main building.”
EPRE had an open house two years ago that was quite successful, which spurred the idea of hosting another.
“It was good for business and led to a few exciting projects,” remembers Honsowetz. “So we decided to do it again.”
Besides catching up with Ed Pink and networking with a host of performance insiders and legends — such as Ed Iskenderian, Nick Arias, Jack Sparks and Barry Calvert — the main attraction was the spectacular collection of historic hardware on the floor. Among the engines on display were an Offy, Novi, 4-cam Indy Ford, Cosworth DFX and XD, Nissan GTP V6, 500ci vintage Can Am big-block and even a 4-cylinder Flathead from a tractor.
The two dyno cells were fitted with a Toyota midget race engine and a Cosworth DFS.
“We didn’t make a dyno pulls this year,” adds Honsowetz. “The Cosworth is rather complicated.”
The open house also showcased the company’s CNC shop, flow bench and Spintron room.
“A lot of people had heard of a Spintron but had never seen one,” Honsowetz says.
Thanks to EngineLabs reader Phillipe Danh, we can give you a tour of the shop. Enjoy!
Two views of a Paxton-supercharaged Novi engine.
The open house included peeks inside the flow bench and cam-checking areas.
A Toyota TRD NASCAR engine, left, and a TRD Silver Crown V8 next to a Ford midget 4-cylinder.
Some engines were under construction, such as a 3.0-liter straight-6 from a Mercedes-Benz 300SL and Ford big-block fitted with roller cam bearings.
Other unique finds include resin injection stacks for the Porsche 917, a slightly damaged piston and a dry-sump system.