You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? Here’s the chance to show us what you’ve got!

The year 2009 marks a very important milestone for the Jegs Engine Masters Challenge: it’s the first time we’ve ever allowed fuel-injected engines, and it’s the first time we’ve ever allowed GM LS, Ford Modular, and Chrysler new Hemi engines in. Over the years, interested builders have asked us repeatedly, “when are you going to let us compete with some ‘real’ engines? When can I build something fuel-injected?” With those words, the gauntlet has been thrown down, and we’ve finally relented.

But a strange thing happened when we threw open the doors: we have received very few entries for these new engine families and/or EFI. I can’t go into the specifics of “who” or “what,” but let me simply state that some well-known “dogs” with the biggest “bark” have so far opted to sit on the porch, instead of running with our fast-moving pack of regulars!

Besides new engine families and EFI, we’ve also opened it up to solid-roller cams, more compression, bigger cubic inches (any bore and stroke), a higher rpm range (3,000 - 7,000 instead of 2,500 - 6,500) and multiple carbs. We listened to what our competitors said they wanted, and we gave it to them.

The deadline for submitting an entry to the EMC is Sunday, February 15, with entries postmarked on February 16 being allowed for consideration. Folks, that’s only 10 days away. If you’ve been thinking about entering, now’s the time. If you were afraid the late-model engine families would prove to be an impediment, I can say that to this point, you don’t have too much to worry about. That’s all I can say about that.

If you're interested, and want to take a look at the rules or download a copy of the entry form, go back to the popularhotrodding.com home page, and click on the Engine Masters Challenge logo.