Team K&N Prepares For Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Finals At PRI Show

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge was first held in 2008 and consisted of just five teams totaling 35 high school students. In less than ten years the HROT Engine Challenge has quickly accelerated into a competition of 153 teams and 504 high school students. The Engine Challenge is based around how quickly teams of students can tear down a running small block Chevrolet engine, and rebuild it again. Each team will take a complete crate engine, add fluids and run the engine. From there it will be torn down to a bare block, rebuilt to factory specs, and if everything was done correctly, run again. During the challenge a panel of five judges is watching every step to make sure that everything is torqued correctly, torqued in the proper sequence, and all adjustments are made to spec.

Loara High School in Anaheim, California had 2 teams qualify for the Hot Rodders Of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Dual Championship & Team K&N earned 3rd place at the 2015 SEMA Show

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge does more than simply teach high school kids how to rebuild a small block Chevy engine. The HROT Engine Challenge provides life skills, like teamwork and how to keep cool under pressure. It also serves to give students a jump start in their automotive careers. Students want to participate in the HROT Engine Challenge because it paves a path toward winning trade school scholarships, job opportunities as mechanics, or further growth into the industry as many aftermarket automotive companies, like K&N air filters, step in to sponsor teams.

K&N Filters has seen the tremendous draw of the HROT Engine Challenge program and how the competition has grown since its inception in 2008-2009. “K&N has supported the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) program since the beginning,” stated Tim Martin, COO of K&N. “This program promotes automotive education, skills, and teamwork. It also educates high school students about vehicle customization, scholarships, and various career paths.” Loara High School in Anaheim, California had two teams qualify for the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Dual Championship in 2015.

Team K&N has just a few practices left before competing in the HROT Engine Challenge Finals at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, December 10-12, 2015

Both teams from Loara High School performed well in 2015, but the K&N sponsored team managed to earn third place in early November at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The SEMA Show is the second largest trade show in the world, with over 150,000 attendees,” said Tim Martin, COO of K&N. “Loara High School performed very well, finishing 3rd. They now are qualified for the HROT finals at the Performance Racing Industry show, the largest racing technology show in the world. HROT provides outstanding opportunities to these students and K&N is proud to be involved.”

At the Engine Challenge Finals Team K&N will compete against seven other teams to determine who will be crowned the 2015 Engine Challenge Champions. “The SEMA-PRI Dual Championship format provides a platform that highlights the tremendous talent and preparation needed to excel at this level of competition,” added Zane Clark, who serves as the Director of Education for SEMA. “These students now understand that success does not come without hard work and commitment. The fact that they are invested in a path that leads to a future in our industry is both inspiring and reassuring.”

“It’s been quite a ride,” said Team K&N coach Anthony Boccignone of the HROT program. “It’s been exciting. I am amazed at what these kids can do with coaching and their own enthusiasm to be better. Their dedication is incredible. They come in for extra practice all on their own. We have official practices three days a week after school, and then when a student is having a hard time with a particular portion of their job, they’ll come in during their lunch or free time and on off days and practice.” Team K&N has just a few practices left before competing in the Engine Challenge Finals at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, December 10-12, 2015. Win or lose at the finals, the Team K&N students from Loara High School will walk away with an experience of a lifetime.