NASCAR Engine Building in 15 Minutes

Nascar Engine Building Engine Builder Team

Much like a 13-second green-flag NASCAR pit stop, the team of Darrell Hoffman and Dennis Borem flew through the assembly on its way to becoming the '08 Mahle Engine Builder Showdown champs.

Much like a 13-second green-flag NASCAR pit stop, the team of Darrell Hoffman and Dennis B

Discounting that six degrees of separation exercise, you would think NASCAR engine builders Dennis Borem and Darrell Hoffman of Pro Motor Engines in Mooresville, North Carolina, have very little in common with iconic '60s artist Andy Warhol. It's a sure bet that the white-haired Warhol never had a torque wrench in his hand-and yet there is a weird, time-space convergence where these two wildly divergent parties meet. Andy Warhol's famous quote, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes" four decades ago rang true in Mooresville when these two engine builders used that quarter hour (plus another 59 seconds) to not only win the '08 Mahle Engine Builder Showdown but also to set a new world record in the process, besting last year's record of 16:25.

So what is the Mahle Engine Builder Showdown? 2008 marks the ninth year that Mahle Clevite has sponsored the fun event that this year challenged 23 two-man NASCAR engine-building teams in a four-round elimination to see which team could assemble a Sprint Cup 357ci small-block Ford race engine in the least amount of time. One fragmented engine is laid out in front of each team with the block on a stand at the start of the event. Using only handtools, the men assemble a complete engine and run it for one minute-all in the shortest amount of time. As you might expect, penalties are assessed for loose or missing fasteners. If you think about the hundreds of details required to assemble a running engine, this is really a test of far more than an ability to twirl a speed wrench. Plus, these guys also had to perform under the additional rigors of being watched by a large audience, cameras, and dozens of automotive journalists.

The engine starts as a semibare block, with the cam and main bearings already installed and the oil filter in place, but precious little else.
The engine starts as a semibare block, with the cam and main bearings already installed an
Note that all the bolts for the components, including the front cover, are already in place and the starter motor is fitted with a quick-connect wiring harness. On an adjacent table, each piston and rod assembly had aluminum chopsticks installed to prevent damage to the crank.
Note that all the bolts for the components, including the front cover, are already in plac
Barely four minutes have elapsed, yet the Pro Motor team already has the cam, crank, timing set and cover, and harmonic balancer in place. The pistons were going in so quickly, they disappeared in a blur of motion.
Barely four minutes have elapsed, yet the Pro Motor team already has the cam, crank, timin

Of course, this is for more than just bragging rights. The total '08 Mahle Clevite purse came to $50,000, with $26,000 going to the winning team and $9,000 to the runners-up. Considering Borem and Hoffman performed this task in almost exactly 16 minutes, that comes to a hefty rate of $812.50 per minute. The showdown this year was staged at the NASCAR Technical Institute that's part of Universal Technical Institute's facility in Mooresville with teams running through several preliminary rounds much like a drag racing single-round eliminations format where you only get one shot to win. To show you this sub-16-minute effort was no fluke, we referenced the Pro Motor team's last three rounds of competition, and consistency was one key to its success with times of 16:37, 16:12, and the finals-winning 15:59 an indication of how well they had prepared for this event.

We joined the action on the floor for the final round where these two guys revealed why they are returning champions. We sat back and learned from the masters.

With only seven minutes on the clock, the heads are being torqued in place. Next was the valvetrain, which are rockers on individual shafts. One step they skip is setting lash, since it was preset. Note how the gallon jug of oil is already being dumped into the lifter valley.
With only seven minutes on the clock, the heads are being torqued in place. Next was the v
The runner-up team of Mike Kasch and Jim Snyder of Roush Yates Racing Engines (below) had also performed well through eliminations, averaging mid-17-second assemblies.
The runner-up team of Mike Kasch and Jim Snyder of Roush Yates Racing Engines (below) had
Coaches are legal in the Mahle Engine Builder Showdown. Kasch and Snyder's coach can be seen on the far left, advising them on where the tools were placed and what steps are upcoming. Replacing the tools where they can be quickly accessed was a critical component of moving quickly. In the end, they came up a little short when they struggled to get the engine fired with the distributor slightly out of position, finishing with a time of 17:14.
Coaches are legal in the Mahle Engine Builder Showdown. Kasch and Snyder's coach can be se

Throughout the final round, Borem and Hoffman seemed to have the psychological advantage in that they were very calm and did not move too quickly, choosing instead to run through the assembly almost as if they had practiced it hundreds of times, which they probably have.
Throughout the final round, Borem and Hoffman seemed to have the psychological advantage i
The contest also required each engine to run for one minute without shutting off. Both teams used this time to torque fasteners that were only handtight and double-check their work before finishing.
The contest also required each engine to run for one minute without shutting off. Both tea
Once Borem and Hoffman finished, the race was not quite over. Much like tech inspection after a NASCAR race, Mahle tech inspectors completely disassembled the engine to ensure that all the fasteners were torqued properly. We asked Dennis Borem (right) if he was nervous during teardown. He said he wasn't concerned, but clearly he and his partner monitored the teardown carefully.
Once Borem and Hoffman finished, the race was not quite over. Much like tech inspection af

The fruits of victory are more than just a big trophy. Borem and Hoffman split a check for $26,000 and had their names inscribed again on the Randy Dorton Memorial trophy.
The fruits of victory are more than just a big trophy. Borem and Hoffman split a check for