Leon Withnell from A1 Hi Performance in Myaree, was recently invited as a guest to the US Engine Masters Challenge, where the cream of US engine builders match their skills at making power per cube. These engines all run flat tappet camshafts, 10.5:1 compression, 93-octane unleaded, commercially available heads and are limited to 6500 rpm. Leon was the guest of John Konstandinou from CHI Cylinder Heads. Dave Storlien is the man behind the 185cc CHI head design and John Kaase (who does not need an introduction) is one of the true cylinder head gurus. Storlien entry was a 302 Chev running fuellie heads - with a catch. These heads had late model Vortech chambers milled into them and had the head bolt holes slotted to allow the valves to be moved closer to the centre of the bores. A number of other such tricks allowed this little gem to produce 460hp and 420 Ibs/ft with 1.5:1 rockers. Interestingly, rocker ratios as high as 2:1 are common in the Engine Masters competition.

Leon is pictured here with John Kaase, standing next to a 518 cubic inch Ford Boss Hemi engine that peaked at a massive 973hp and 820 Ibs/ft. Kaase built a similar engine to this one at 434 cubic inches that went on to take out third place in the event. Also pictured is a massive 815 cubic inch mountain motor, built for IHRA competition. Now this is real power - try 1860hp, naturally aspirated and 1.56 Ibs/ft per cubic inch (1271 Ibs/ft). That is one hardcore racing engine and makes more power than many supercharged combinations.

The eventual winner of the competition was Kaase's 403 cubic inch Cleveland that produced 640hp and 580 Ibs/ft of torque. But as this competition relies on average torque plus average horsepower divided by cubic inches, the secret to its success lay in its amazing ability to generate 500 Ibs/ft of torque by only 2500rpm with a flat tappet camshaft! Imagine that in your street XY. This engine ran a derivative of the Aussie CHI aluminium cylinder head with Aussie ICE Ignition.

Leon was treated to an insight of some of the world's best V8 engine builders and smartest cylinder head and camshaft designers all competing in a controlled university environment where even the engine oil was supplied to prevent illegal additives making their way into the cylinder and where engines were disqualified because their sump rails protruded too far from the extremities of the cylinder block. Tough love when you have spent months putting together a combination, only to be knocked back in the room next to the dyne test cell. It seems racing is racing - even if it's on a dyno.

Last issue, Walkinshaw Performance Formula Tech Dyno Centre offered a Walkinshaw Performance short shifter as a prize to one lucky reader. The new shifters reduce the throw distance between gears for faster, more positive shifts and improved accuracy of the infamous 2nd to 3rd gear shift. The lucky winner of this sensational prize is Brendon Weymouth, from Edgewater. Congratulations Brendon on your new shifter and thank you to all those who entered the competition.

Sunday the 5th of April will see another major event held at the upgraded and well laid out Collie Motorplex. If you have not seen the quality of the facility and its events then you are missing out. The Drift and Burnout day is something to behold with simultaneous sideways action at mind-altering speeds and burnouts galore. Take a good vantage point at the licensed bar and check out both spectacles at the same time! Entry is only $15 so visit www.motoringsouthwest.org.au or call Bill on 0448-856-959 for details - you won't regret it.