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Team K&N High Schoolers Finish 6th out of 158 at the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Event

Jan 17, 2018

Each team is comprised of five student from the participating high school

Team K&N from Burton Art & Tech in Salem, Virginia hard at work on their Small Block Chevy

The work of Top Fuel and Funny Car mechanics is legend. They’re highly-regarded for their ability to tow their race car back to the pits, strip, inspects, rebuild, and tune the race car’s engine and have it back on the line in 60 minutes of less.

Now while this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, teams of high school students from across the country competed in the 2017 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) Engine Challenge, disassembling and then rebuilding an engine from running engine to bare block to running motor in as little as 17 minutes.

The program is simultaneously educating and empowering students as they compete. The competition is designed to provide students access and experience in the automotive industry by way of a team-building challenge.

HROT has been growing steadily since its inception in 2008. In a nutshell, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is a timed competition where teams of five high-school students go head to head to disassemble and reassemble a small-block Chevy 350. During the competition rounds, each five-student team is presented with a Chevrolet small-block engine. The team is tasked with disassembling the engine down to its camshaft.

When the disassembly has been completed, a judge verifies that the work had been done correctly. After receiving approval from the judge, the team reassembles the engine back to its original and completed form. The process is timed, and the teams with the best scores advance to the next round.

The 2017 competition features 158 teams, with a total of 790 students. Teams compete at 15 nationwide events that are held throughout the country. The teams that win the various qualifying events go on to participate in the dual championship finals. The final two events take place at the SEMA Show, in Las Vegas, and conclude at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show.

Scoring is a composite of three parts. First, the average time to assemble the engine for each of the three times the teams competed. Second, the penalty minutes added for mistakes made during disassembly and reassembly, and the third part is a 50-question written test on component and tool identification along with general engine and rules knowledge.

Hot Rodders of Tomorrow expanded into Jr Dragster events in 2017

2017 was the tenth year of Hot Rodders of Tomorrow competition

Out of the 158 teams originally entered in the regional competition, only 45 teams moved up to compete at the SEMA Show or PRI Trade Show to qualify for the Elite Eight competition.

The Elite Eight pits the top four SEMA Show seeds against the top four PRI Trade Show seeds.

Two teams were entered by the Burton Center for Arts & Tech in Salem, Virginia, and both reached the Elite Eight. Team Two is sponsored by K&N Filters and took on the name Team K&N. At the PRI Trade Show, Team K&N finished in fourth place with an average time of 20:59. Its companion Burton Center Team One, now Team Meziere, won the PRI qualifier with a best average time of 17:51.

In the National Championship, only three seconds separated the first- and second-place teams, and just 17 seconds between first and third place. But in the end, Team Fel-Pro from the Tulsa Technology Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, came out on top with an average time of 17:06.0, with Burton Center for Arts & Tech Team Meziere in second at 17:09.0. Team K&N from Burton finished an impressive sixth overall at 19:45.3.

Team K&N was comprised of instructor Steven Hoback and students Carter Lawrence, Ethan Muncy, Mackenzie Powell, Allen Slaydon, and Landon Wood.

What’s equally impressive is that the top 15 teams all completed their tear-down and reassembly in 30 minutes or less.

Each student earned scholarship opportunities ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 from Ohio Technical College, School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, and Universal Technical Institute. That scholarship money doubly helps the industry by giving young people with an automotive passion a chance to get a higher education. It also allows them to be that much more educated should they enter automotive careers.

Congratulations also to coach Steve Hoback and Burton Art & Tech

Congraulations to Ethan, Mackenzie, Allen, Carter, and Landon for their 6th place finish

To attract an even younger crowd to the sport and an engine building competition, HROT Jr. Dragster Racing Series and HROT Jr. Engine Challenge programs were launched in 2017 to introduce kids to the automotive industry at ages 5 through 15. Students who have completed the HROT Jr. programs will be equipped with the right tools and hands-on experience to bring to the standard HROT program when they come of age.

For more information about either of these programs, check out the HotRoddersofTomorrow website.

K&N Engineering would like to offer our congratulations to all participants in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow competition, and to the HROT crew for their expert coordination and management of the events.

NASCAR Releases 2018 K&N Pro Series West Schedule

Jan 17, 2018

NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West, Julia Landauer, Tucson Speedway

K&N Pro Series driver Julia Landauer, at Tucson Speedway, was seventh in the 2017 standings

The 15-race NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule in 2018 includes races from California to Illinois, a dirt track race in Las Vegas, and two races that will include the teams and drivers from the K&N Pro Series East.

The K&N Pro Series West season starts on March 15 at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California. The series returns to Kern County for the season finale on Oct. 27. The 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick said he will race in the season opener in Kern County. He won the K&N Pro Series West race at Sonoma Raceway in California last year.

“It’s a really cool opportunity. You are able to have such a very obvious learning experience,” said K&N Pro Series West driver Julia Landauer. “There were quite a few laps at Sonoma last year where I was behind Kevin Harvick. I was able to see how he took the lines, see where he was conserving and where he wasn’t. That’s really cool to learn. From a confidence perspective, if you’re able to hang with the top level pros, then it gives you as a driver a big boost to think, all right, I can make it.”

Harvick won the K&N Pro Series West championship in 1998 and drives for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

In September, the K&N Pro Series West will race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. The dirt track race on Sept. 13 coincides with the start of the playoffs for the three national NASCAR touring series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“It will be my first time on dirt ever,” said K&N Pro Series driver Derek Kraus. “It will be a big learning experience, learning what the car will do on the dirt, how the track changes. So it definitely will be a big learning experience.”

NASCAR, Derek Kraus, K&N Pro Series West, Kern County Raceway Park

Derek Kraus won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race at Kern County Raceway Park in November

Landauer added that since the drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt at Eldora Speedway, it is a smart move for the K&N Pro Series West to include a dirt track race.

“I think it’s really cool to incorporate dirt,” said Landauer, a two-year veteran of the K&N Pro Series West who was seventh in the K&N Pro Series West standings in 2017. “I’ve never driven on dirt. It would definitely be a learning curve if I was to race it.”

In July, the drivers and teams from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and East will race against each other at Iowa Speedway. Two-time K&N Pro Series Todd Gilliland won the K&N Pro Series race at Iowa Speedway last year. Kraus, Gilliland’s Bill McAnally Racing teammate, won the pole for the race at Iowa Speedway. This year’s race is on July 27.

The teams from the K&N Pro Series West and East will meet again at Gateway Motorsports Park, in Illinois on Aug. 24.

The K&N Pro Series West will race at Sonoma Raceway in California on June 23. It is the only road course race on the schedule. The K&N Pro Series West will race on the same weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma.

“I really loved the road courses,” Landauer said. “I have a road course background, that’s how I started. That was always really cool. I really like Kern quite a bit, I thought you could do a lot of really cool racing, lots of different lines. I had a lot of success on the short tracks. Meridian and Douglas were my favorites.”

The K&N Pro Series West will make plenty of familiar stops. The race at Tucson Speedway in Arizona on May 5 will be a twin 100-lap event.

“I am really looking forward to Kern, I really like Kern,” Kraus said. “I really like Tucson. It fits my driving style with all it is.”

The K&N Pro Series West will also visit Orange Show Speedway in California, Colorado National Speedway, Douglas County Speedway in Oregon, and All American Speedway, in California.

“The NASCAR K&N Pro Series features a strong roster of race tracks designed to bring out the best in the drivers and teams,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Many of the tracks have historic ties to the West Series, and we’re excited about the new venues that have been added to the schedule. The fans are going to get a fantastic opportunity to watch these drivers battle it out over the season.”

2018 K&N Pro Series West Schedule

March 15

Kern County Raceway Park

Bakersfield, California

May 5

Tucson Speedway

Tucson, Arizona

May 19

Orange Show Speedway

San Bernardino, California

June 9

Colorado National Speedway

Dacona, Colorado

June 23

Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma, California

June 30

Douglas County Speedway

Roseburg, Oregon

July 15

Spokane County Raceway

Airway Heights, Washington

July 27

Iowa Speedway

Newtown, Iowa

Aug. 11

Evergreen Speedway

Monroe, Washington

Aug. 24

Gateway Motorsports Park

Madison, Illinois

Sept. 13

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sept. 29

Meridian Speedway

Meridian, Idaho

Oct. 13

All American Speedway

Roseville, California

Oct. 27

Kern County Raceway Park

Bakersfield, California

Breathe Easier Inside Your 2015-2017 Hyundai Sonata with a K&N Cabin Air Filter

Jan 17, 2018

With a K&N Cabin Air Filter you'll never have to buy another for your 2015-2017 Hyundai Sona

A K&N cabin air filter is the first line of defense against harmful intruders in your Hyundai Sonata

Few automotive enthusiasts haven’t heard the name Giorgetto Giugiaro. After all, the Italian designer has shaped automobiles for such elite manufacturers as Alfa-Romeo, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati, and others. Giugiaro also designed the first Hyundai Sonata seen in the United States, the second-generation Y2 model, in 1988.

Fast forward to 2014 and the introduction of the seventh generation Sonata, code-named LF. The Hyundai Sonata has served as a versatile platform, sold in a variety of trim levels with six different engines and four different transmissions, variations based on the global market.

In the US, the 2015-2017 Hyundai Sonata was available with four engine options:

The 1.6 L turbocharged Gamma GDI engine features an aluminum block and DOHC 16V aluminum cylinder head with dual CVVT, twin-scroll turbocharger, and an air-guided intercooler. The 1.6 Gamma produces 177 horsepower.

The 2.0 L turbocharged Theta engine features a high-pressure die-cast aluminum alloy engine block, hollow stainless-steel dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) with powder-metal cam lobes, pent-roof combustion chambers, and gasoline direct injection. The 2.0L Theta produces 245 horsepower.

The 2.4 L naturally-aspirated Theta engine shares the same architecture and construction as the 2.0 L version, with the same bore but with a stroke lengthened by nine millimeters. In addition, the compression ratio was reduced from 10.5:1 to 10.3:1. The 2.4 L Theta produces 185 horsepower.

Every K&N Cabin Air Filters carries a One Million Mile Warranty

A K&N cabin air filter helps block mold, mildew, fungus, spores, bacteria, dust, and more

The Hybrid power plant is based on the Nu 2.0L GDI Atkinson Cycle DOHC 16-valve Inline four-cylinder engine coupled to either a 51 or 67 horsepower electric motor for a combined 193 or 202 horsepower. The block and cylinder head are both cast of aluminum, DOHC, and 16 valves operated by Dual-Continuous Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT).

Regardless of engine, each of these models shares at least one common component: the cabin air filter.

Hyundai installs cabin air filters in the ventilation system to clean and filter the outside air that enters your Sonata. As the filter does its job and it collects dust, debris, spores, and pollen. At a certain point, the filter becomes clogged, restricting the air entering your ventilation system.

Without the full flow of air around which the ventilation system was designed it could cause your air conditioning or your defrost system to not work as efficiently as they should, and could even reduce the lifespan of those components resulting in expensive repairs.

For example, if you drive in an area with sand, dust, pollen, spores, even debris like leaves in the autumn, over time these contaminants can collect on your filter and reduce air flow through your Sonata’s heating and air conditioning system. An indication of a clogged or partially clogged cabin air filter is that the fan needs to be set higher than usual to get the same amount of air. In addition, if you’re plagued with persistent bad odors inside the car they can often be traced to bacteria or mold growing on an old filter.

Complete step-by-step instructions with photographs are on the K&B website as well

K&N cabin air filter replacement is simple and takes just a few minutes. Instructions are in the box

And if you or any of your passengers suffer from respiratory ailments, an effective cabin air filter can help assure their comfort inside your vehicle.

As your cabin air filter is your first line of defense against these pesky hitchhikers, why not replace your disposable OEM filter with a high-quality K&N filter. K&N cabin air filters are the first of their kind designed to replace your vehicle's stock cabin air filter with a washable and reusable upgrade that cleans and freshens incoming air.

Further, your VF2058 K&N cabin air filter is electrostatically charged to grab and hold dust and other airborne particles. It also helps control odors while they help capture and hold most mold, mildew, fungus, spores, and germs.

Made of a unique non-woven synthetic material, K&N cabin air filters are an easy replacement upgrade for your vehicle's cabin air filter. Replacing the cabin air filter is a fast swap – it’s as simple as exchanging the old, dirty filter for a new one. The housing for the filter is behind the glove box and requires you only to twist two knobs to access the filter. The old filter can be replaced and the glovebox buttoned-up in only about five minutes.

K&N Cabin Filter Cleaning Care Kit comes with spray bottles of cleaner and refresher

The cabin filter cleaning care kit makes rinsing and reviving the K&N filter a breeze

A detailed installation instruction sheet with photographs is provided on the VF2058 web page for the filter for the 2015-2017 Sonata. The same instructions are also packed in the shipping carton with the filter. K&N Cabin Air Filters are designed to fit your car perfectly and seal tightly, thanks to the precision-engineered Polyurethane frame. In addition, each filter comes pre-treated and is ready to install straight out of the box.

The only maintenance required for your VF2054 K&N cabin air filter is a service you can do yourself in no time at all. At intervals of about 12 months or 12,000 miles, using a K&N cabin air filter cleaning kit, parts number 99-6000, you can easily renew and re-oil your air filter, which brings it back to virtually new condition and ready to protect your car’s cabin and your passengers. Your K&N cabin air filter has been designed to last for years of use and is guaranteed by K&N’s 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

And by purchasing a reusable cabin air filter, you’re helping the environment as well, as you no longer have to throw away an old, clogged non-recyclable filter that will end up in a landfill.

The K&N VF2054 cabin air filter is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2017 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2017 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.4L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2017 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2017 HYUNDAI SONATA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.4L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 HYUNDAI SONATA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2015 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.4L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2015 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models
2015 HYUNDAI SONATA 1.6L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models

The Inaugural Sheely Collection Charity Autocross & Celebrity Shootout

Jan 17, 2018

Photo of Scott Fraser on track behind the wheel of the Porsche GT3

Scott Fraser behind the wheel of the Porsche GT3

Imagine it’s mid-December and most of the pro-touring community across the nation has finished their season in late November and put their race rides away for the winter. That is with the exception of the California contingency.

Because of the incredible weather the state of California seems to boast year round, you can, on any given weekend, find a handful of car events all over the state of California, especially the So Cal area. Whether it’s a Cars and Coffee or Cars and Cones at the local mall, or maybe a Speed Ventures or SCCA event you crave, or perhaps the Hotchkis Sport Suspension Annual Toy Drive, Southern California has something for almost any gearhead!

The Crew at TCI showed up and gave BIG to this cause

K&N Filters, as a title sponsor of the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car series, was thrilled to see so many of the USCA drivers participating in this charity event. Their actions speak volumes about the heart of the pro-touring community. Even more impressive was to see Optima’s Race Director Jimi Day, President of FM3 Sports Marketing, out on course as a competitor. So inspired by Sheely and his motivation to make a difference in people’s lives, it was a no-brainer for Day to make the trek from Tennessee. We caught up with Jimi and he had this to say, “Pat Sheely, his family and race team are so generous to invite me and several others out to drive their cars. Not only are they creating a great event for all of us to have a great time, but they are generously matching and donating the significant proceeds to local SoCal charities. I can’t thank them enough for their commitment and generosity.”

Photo of the award winners on Sunday morning

Sunday morning awards, nothing but smiles from Chad Ryker, Mike DuSold and Wes Drelleshak

Quite a few of K&N’s Ambassadors made up this “invite only” field. Local racer Efrain Diaz, along with Northern California driver, Nick Relampagos were on hand to represent. Unfortunately, Invited K&N Team Driver, Jane Thurmond, was unable to attend as she landed a position at the world-renowned Bridgestone Winter Drive School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado as a Driving Instructor, for the Winter Season.

Photo of Scott Fraser in the drivers seat. Your winner in the Sports Car Class and winner overall.

Scott Fraser along with the Sheely Collection Charities are the big winners of the weekend.

The Inaugural Sheely Collection Charity AutoX and Celebrity Shootout held at the Autoclub Speedway in Fontana, California, December 16 & 17th, was the first of its kind in SoCal. This 2-day event included a full day of Autocross and Charity Fun Runs on Saturday along with Bracket Style Shootout on Sunday. You can be sure this was a first class event. Sheely elected to fly in Pro Driver’s Ken Thwaits, Mike DuSold, Rich Wilhoff and Jimi Day to get behind the wheel of his livery to represent the Sheely Collection. This 2 Day event really showcased some of the Nation’s best talent behind the wheel.

Photo of Greg Nelson out on track , your leader in Modern Muscle.

Greg Nelson the Leader in Modern Muscle

The field was made up of 48 participants, including the four pro drivers, who would compete for fastest lap time on Saturday at the autocross. In typical Racing Byrds fashion, every challenge element of autocross went into creating the track; long and fast straights with slaloms to test a car’s handling, early & late apex turns, tight hairpin & showcase turn all on a less than forgiving track surface. On Saturday horsepower wasn’t enough to claim victory. These driver’s had to prove they could handle more than just a throttle! A mid-day break for lunch, provided by The Sheely Collection, made it possible for the racers to connect and share strategies. Then the racers were back out on course. The common thread among these drivers was knowing that the pressure was off and they were living their passion for charity. Their two-day entry fee would go straight into the charity fund and provide for those in need.

The Inaugural Sheely Collection AutoX and Celebrity Shootout will benefit local charities that include the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, The Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald House, and the San Diego Fisher House Foundation, supporting Veterans seeking treatment for wounds, illness, and injury by providing temporary housing close by for their family.

Photo of Matt Alcala in the drivers seat of Greg Thurmond's '65 Corvette

Matt Alcala behind the wheel of Greg Thurmonds '65 Vette

At the end of Day 1 our drivers had the opportunity to throw down with head to head challenges and fun runs at a mere $10 per run slated for the charity. Anyone of the participants could choose to compete in their own ride or select one of ten incredible vehicles from the Sheely Collection. This made for some very cool competition. The smiles on the faces of these driver’s raising money and awareness doing what they love made for the most incredible vibe in the pits.

Sunday, Day 2 began with the ultimate driver’s meeting where the racers would learn who they were matched up with for the bracket-style shootout. One by one the driver’s would stage. The green flag was thrown and in the end, there would only be one crowned the victor.

Photo of Greg Nelson with his award fior the win in Modern Muscle.

Greg Nelson rolls away a winner!

Taking home the shootout win along with earning the fastest lap time of the weekend at 44.341 was none other than race veteran Scott Fraser behind the wheel of the Porsche GT3, in the Sports Car Class. Eric Sheely in his 2016 Ford Focus, Pat’s eldest, came nipping at Scott’s heels with his fastest lap time of 45.206 and ultimately edged out Rich Wilhoff on Day 2 in the Shootout. Greg Nelson in Modern Muscle, who ultimately made it to the semifinals on Day 2 and would run head to head with Scott Fraser, edged Sheely out in the overall ranking, making him second fastest in AutoX for the weekend, with his fastest lap time of 45.192. In Classic Muscle it would be Chad Ryker who would be paired with Scott Fraser in the Shootout but landed first in Classic Muscle with the fastest lap time of 45.768. Greg Thurmond in his ‘65 Candy Tangerine Corvette, SCAR, just 0.224 of a second behind Ryker in the TCI 71 Camaro, earned a solid second place finish in his class.

Celebrating his sixth decade on this rolling rock, Pat came to AutoX not quite three years ago. He had purchased a Ford Daytona and wanted to see if that fast and light car could finagle its way around some orange cones at the 15th Annual Meguiar’s Spring Nationals at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. One might say that after his first autocross, he was hooked. Between the camaraderie in the pits, the smell of burning fuel, the salt in the air, and let’s not forget the course, the staging lights and the spectators, Sheely was downright smitten with Autocross!

Chad Ryker in the TCI '71 Camaro winner in Classic Muscle

Pat Sheely is a husband, father, and grandfather. He’s an accomplished businessman, a car collector, and enthusiast, a self-proclaimed lead foot behind the wheel even served the Navy in the Vietnam War.

Photo of Wes Drelleshak on course in the Sheely Collection Ranchero

Wes Drelleshak wins the truck class with an amazing time

Anyone who has spent time with Sheely can tell you that he is an extraordinary man. He’s kind, honest and generous. He has incredible stories to regale you of his youth when he was detained by authorities for exceeding the speed limit, that he had one too many times settled differences through fisticuffs, and that his wife, Marlene, was the catalyst when it came to racing. He’ll be the first to tell you how blessed his life has been. Sure he’s a successful businessman, but his real wealth lies in his ability and choice to give back. He credits an employer that encouraged him to participate fundraising for an event for the United Way. To this day he still feels that his reward was far greater than any amount of time he’d put into his fundraising efforts.

Photo of driver's lined up for warm up on Sunday for the shootout

Sunday's Celebrity Shootout Warm Up Laps at the track

Fast forward to this past weekend right smack dab in the middle of December, what some might see as the busiest time of the year what with impending Holidays and family obligations. But Sheely saw an opportunity to draw on his racing communities sense of charity and created the Inaugural Sheely Collection Charity AutoX and Celebrity Shootout.

Combining his passion for giving with his passion for motorsports, Sheely and the Racing Byrds created an event like none other. In the end, the Inaugural Sheely Collection AutoX & Celebrity Shootout raised almost $25,000. Our (Santa) hat’s off to Pat Sheely, Eric Sheely, and Wes Drelleshak along with Rob and Trish Byrd of the Racing Byrds and every one of the 48 participants for making this event so successful.

Ernie Adams’ Dwarf Car Museum is Well Worth the Drive into the Arizona Desert

Jan 17, 2018

Dwarf 1940 Mercury 2 door sedan replica at the Dwarf Car Museum in Maricopa, Arizona

Ernie Adams with his wonderful dwarf 1940 Mercury 2 door sedan replica

The year was 1965 when a young Ernie Adams used the steel from old refrigerators to create his first Dwarf custom car. In the decades since, Adams has created some of the most stunning miniaturized replica cars one can imagine.

K&N visited Adams’ Dwarf Car Museum in Maricopa, Arizona, and we can say with no small measure of certainty that there is nothing like it anywhere in the world. It is hard to imagine the hours of work and the limitless talent that have gone into the glimmering and sometimes whimsical creations that grace the Adams’ compound in the Arizona desert.

The cars are replicas of iconic American models built in smaller scale. When asked about the specific scale that he uses, Adams says that each car is based on 12-inch wheels (which are most often custom made) and the rest of the car is built to suit that rim size. In most cases, the scale becomes somewhere around 5/8 of full size.

Home-built whitewall machine at the Dwarf Car Museum in Maricopa, Arizona

Adams daughter-in-law shows how the home-built whitewall machine works

When talking about the time that goes into the collected creations, Adams speaks in years, not months. Most of the cars have a time investment of two to four years. One car took seven years to finish, but that project was slowed by some medical complications along the way.

Building these dwarf customs means that Adams has had to be creative with his tools and techniques. Many of the metal bending tools, frame jigs, and various other custom pieces of equipment were designed and built by Adams.

Conventional metalworking equipment just didn’t work for Adams’ specialized builds. Adams’ daughter-in-law showed us a special jig that he designed to cut and paint whitewalls on tires that can’t be found in the vintage motif.

A car at the Dwarf Car Museum in Maricopa, Arizona

Adams also creates dwarf customs that reflect his sense of humor like his 'Hillbilly' Model A

While some of the cars use motorcycle and other small engines, Adams says that many of the dwarf cars use old Toyota Corolla motors and drivetrains. Of course, heavy modifications are needed to fit the mechanical componentry into the carefully authentic but downsized scale of the builds. Adams said that fitting the exhaust systems under the ultra-low chassis is often a particular challenge.

Once completed, you might think that the cars become pampered showpieces. However, while his creations frequently win top prizes at leading car shows, Adams drives all of his cars. In fact, several of the street-legal dwarf cars have been driven cross-country to distant shows in places like Chicago, Illinois, and other states across the East and Midwest.

Front end details on a car at the Dwarf Car Museum in Maricopa, Arizona

Creative badging and intricate trim finish Adams' amazing builds

Adams’ dwarf car creations have gained worldwide fame. The magnetic attraction of the museum is reminiscent of the iconic line from the movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” Adams told us that the day after our visit, a busload of Swedish car enthusiasts would be rolling into the museum.

Ernie's son Kevin has written a book on his father's life, cars, and the museum. 'Break Time at Ernie's' is filled with photos and great memories, and will soon be available to the public.

Ernie Adams and the rest of the family are welcoming, gregarious, and great fun to talk to. You will not regret a visit to the Dwarf Car Museum. As you peruse the photos, remember that each car is roughly the size of the one by which Adams is standing for scale.