Introduced in February 2017 at the Race & Performance Expo, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Junior Engine Challenge showed the racing world how to get the youngsters involved in the future of the racing industry at the PRI Show last month.

Developed for kids between the ages of 5 and 18 years old, it’s design is to “get wrenches in their hands and grease under their finger nails” by taking apart and rebuilding Briggs & Stratton 5 Horsepower single-cylinder engines.

A team consists of two members; one teammate must be 5-18 years of age. Each team will have to completely disassemble and reassemble the engine so it is functional and in running condition. Basic hand tools and equipment must be utilized to complete this task. The contest will help develop the youngsters problem-solving, and communication skills, as well as increase self-esteem and the understanding of a working internal combustion engine.

Due to the popularity of the junior engine challenges, and the importance of getting these youngsters interested in the racing industry, Hot Rodders of Tomorrow will be holding a minimum of 18 events in 2018. Starting in February at the Race & Performance Expo and ending at the PRI Show next December. They will be participating at all the Midwest Junior Super Series events and most of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow engine challenge events during the year.

For more information about the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow program or how you can help, please contact Greg Parker at gparker@hotroddersoftomorrow.org or phone 574-315-1938.   [01/03/18]

This Thursday, Jan. 4, will begin the season at Irwindale (CA). The eighth-mile drag strip was scheduled to close at the end of last year, but is under new management and will remain open.

The gates of the Irwindale Event Center will open at 4 p.m. and NHRA street-legal drag racing will begin at 5.  [01/03/17]

A long-time staple in East Coast motorcycle drag racing, not only is Top Sportsman one of the classes in the 2018 XDA class line-up, it’s now been made even better.

In 2018, the XDA will be taking the Top Sportsman winner (5th round) and advancing him into 6th round of Pro E.T. to take a shot at an additional $3,000. Now every Top Sportsman racer has a shot at $3,000 in Pro E.T. on Saturday, $3,000 in Top Sportsman on Sunday, and an additional $3,000 in Pro E.T. on Sunday for a total of $9,000 in just one weekend.

Double entries will only be permitted in the Pro E.T. class at the XDA if the rider is running two different motorcycles with two different bike numbers. A rider can still only ride one motorcycle in Top Sportsman, so if both of your Pro E.T. entries happen to qualify for Top Sportsman you will still need to inform the tower which motorcycle you want removed from Top Sportsman, so it can run in Pro E.T.

By demand from the XDA racers, there will now be a separate points system for Pro E.T. and Street E.T. Top Sportsman racers will earn the same amount of points in Pro E.T. on Sunday as they do in Top Sportsman. Also, by allowing Top Sportsman racers to advance to 6th round of Pro E.T., the winner can continue to earn points towards their Pro E.T. championship.

First event will be at Maryland International Raceway on April 27-29.   [01/03/18]

This 1962 Ford Galaxie that was driven by Bruce Larson and Earl Hoffman Jr. will be one of the cars at the Mecum Auction in Kissimmee, FL. More than 3,000 collector cars will be on the auction block Jan. 5-14.

This car, Lot S75.1 was restored in 2011 and features a rebuilt 406 ci engine with two 4-barrel Holley carbs and a 4-speed transmission. It is scheduled to sell on Saturday, Jan. 13.  [01/03/17]