MEMBERSHIP LOGIN
JOIN PRI
AETC Recognizes Engine Builders During PRI 2018
Image
Members from the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) recognized the contributions of motorsports engine builders during its 2nd Annual Engine Builder Happy Hour, which brought together engine builders and engineering professionals for a special evening of networking during the 2018 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Ben Strader of EFI University received the “U 40 Engine Designer Award.” After moving to California during a brief stint in the Navy, Strader started working for various racing teams doing engine development and tuning work before opening a shop in Southern California.
In 2003, Strader founded EFI University, the first vocational school dedicated solely to motorsports and racing engines. During the last 15 years, the school has helped teach thousands of racers in dozens of countries about engines and EFI tuning. Strader has also worked closely with original equipment manufacturers and race teams in all levels of motorsports from grassroots to top-tier professionals in NHRA Pro Stock, NASCAR, off-road, land speed racing, power boats and even aircraft racing at the Reno Air Races to help develop winning engines and EFI Systems.
Strader, who is also a professional pilot, runs the engine development program for the school which seeks to further education for racers through R&D partnerships with racing manufacturers.
Sonny Leonard of Sonny’s Racing Engines, Inc., received the AETC “Engine Builder Honor” award. In 1968, after building engines as a hobby, Leonard opened up a two-bay garage (Sonny's Garage) in Madison Heights, Virginia.
In June of 1990, Sonny’s Automotive Racing moved into its current state-of-the-art facility that includes two SuperFlow dynamometers, a five-station head porting room, a sheet metal and welding shop for fabricating manifolds and separate engineering, tooling and conference rooms. After a 2007 expansion, the shop is currently about 15,000 square feet.
During this time, Sonny campaigned several race cars with the team name Southern Rat. More recently, Leonard and the team from Sonny’s World Class Racing volunteered to build a high-performance engine for the 2018 Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes, which raised over $102,000 for charity.
For more information, visit aetconline.com.
Ben Strader of EFI University received the “U 40 Engine Designer Award.” After moving to California during a brief stint in the Navy, Strader started working for various racing teams doing engine development and tuning work before opening a shop in Southern California.
In 2003, Strader founded EFI University, the first vocational school dedicated solely to motorsports and racing engines. During the last 15 years, the school has helped teach thousands of racers in dozens of countries about engines and EFI tuning. Strader has also worked closely with original equipment manufacturers and race teams in all levels of motorsports from grassroots to top-tier professionals in NHRA Pro Stock, NASCAR, off-road, land speed racing, power boats and even aircraft racing at the Reno Air Races to help develop winning engines and EFI Systems.
Strader, who is also a professional pilot, runs the engine development program for the school which seeks to further education for racers through R&D partnerships with racing manufacturers.
Sonny Leonard of Sonny’s Racing Engines, Inc., received the AETC “Engine Builder Honor” award. In 1968, after building engines as a hobby, Leonard opened up a two-bay garage (Sonny's Garage) in Madison Heights, Virginia.
In June of 1990, Sonny’s Automotive Racing moved into its current state-of-the-art facility that includes two SuperFlow dynamometers, a five-station head porting room, a sheet metal and welding shop for fabricating manifolds and separate engineering, tooling and conference rooms. After a 2007 expansion, the shop is currently about 15,000 square feet.
During this time, Sonny campaigned several race cars with the team name Southern Rat. More recently, Leonard and the team from Sonny’s World Class Racing volunteered to build a high-performance engine for the 2018 Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes, which raised over $102,000 for charity.
For more information, visit aetconline.com.
