Some people think hot rodders are born that way, while others insist they’re made. The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Build Competition isn’t going to settle the debate, but if you’re a budding hot rodder in high school, or you know someone who is, it’s a great way to stoke the fires of automotive passion.
The Engine Build Competition takes place June 24-26 at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fairgrounds, in conjunction with the 2011 Carlisle GM Nationals. One of six regional qualifying locations, the Carlisle event will send regional winners and two non-winning top-time wild cards to the championships at the SEMA show in Las Vegas on November 1-4.
The competition sounds simple––take apart a Chevy small-block engine then put it back together. The hard part? Do it against the clock using only hand tools while following proper disassembly and reassembly procedures. At stake are prizes, sponsorship, and support from select companies, as well as scholarship money––which totaled more than $600,000 last year––toward further training and education.
This year more than 50 teams are expected to compete nationwide at the Carlisle GM Nationals, which is one of the most diverse all-GM shows in the world, with over 1,400 vehicles showcased annually. So even if you’re not competing in the Engine Build, there’s plenty to do and see, including chrome classics, muscle cars, street rods, modified customs and high-performance models. You might even be the high-school student who’ll someday be a hot rodder of tomorrow.