All LS and All High Performance Fun

(JOE)>> WELCOME AGAIN TO HORSEPOWER. THE LS ENGINE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO HAPPEN TO GM IN A LONG, LONG TIME. AND ONCE AGAIN HOLLEY IS CELEBRATING THE CARS THAT RUN THEM AND THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THEM. THIS YEAR'S LS FEST IS BIGGER AND BADDER BY FAR.

(TOM)>> IT JUST BRINGS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE. IMPORT GUYS, WE'VE HAD TRUCK GUYS HERE RUNNING THE AUTOCROSS, RACING THE DRAG STRIP, CORVETTE GUYS. YOU KNOW WE'VE EVEN HAD SOME MUSTANGS WITH LS MOTORS. AND I KNOW THAT DOESN'T MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY, BUT IT JUST SHOWS YOU THE VERSATILITY OF THE ENGINE.

(JOE)>> I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU MY FAVORITE EVENT OF THIS WHOLE DEAL IS JUST ABOUT TO HAPPEN UNDER THAT TENT. YEAH, IT'S THE ENGINE SWAP CHALLENGE AND IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE LAST YEAR, IT'S GONNA BE A BLAST. [ air horn ]

(JOE)>> LAST YEAR THE INAUGURAL CONTEST FEATURED A TEAM FROM KENTUCKY AGAINST SOME GUYS FROM IOWA. THE FIRST TEAM TO SWAP THE OLD MOTOR FOR THE NEW LS, FIRE IT UP, AND DRIVE IT WINS.

LESS THAN 32 MINUTES FROM STARTING BUZZER TO STARTING THEIR LS THAT THEY GOT TO KEEP. WELL NOW MEET THIS YEAR'S CONTESTANTS, AND FIRST IT'S A TEAM FROM THE SCHOOL OF AUTOMOTIVE MACHINING IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

(CHRIS)>> AND THEY PUT ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF WORK INTO THE CAR, AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. ( )>> WE PULLED THE LS BACK AND FORTH OUT PROBABLY 10 TIMES, 15 TIMES, PUT THE SMALL BLOCK CHEVY BACK IN 15 TIMES.

(JOE)>> THEY'LL BE UP A TEAM OF PROS FROM HOT ROD REVOLUTION IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA. ( )>> WE KNOW OUR JOBS WELL ENOUGH THAT WE'RE CONFIDENT EVERYTHING'S GONNA WORK THE WAY IT SHOULD. AT THIS POINT IT'S JUST TIME.

(JOE)>> THE SAM'S CAR IS AN '83 MONTE CARLO WITH A 350 SMALL BLOCK. ( group chanting )>> ONE, TWO, THREE, SAMS! ( )>> YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM. THEY'RE ALL SUB FIVE FOOT TEN, THEY'RE VERY QUICK JUST LIKE A JOCKEY.

(ANNOUNCER)>> THREE, TWO, ONE! [ air horn sounding ]

(ANNOUNCER)>> DAMN, I'M GETTING OUT OF THE WAY!

(JOE)>> BOTH TEAMS TORE THROUGH THE TEAR DOWN WITH A VENGEANCE. THE GEORGIA TEAM HAS BEEN PRACTICING ON THIS SECOND GEN CAMARO BEATER THEY BOUGHT JUST FOR THE SWAP. ( )>> I'M CLEAR! ( )>> GO, GO, GO, GO!

(JOE)>> OH, A BROKEN CHAIN IS THE LAST THING THE SAM TEAM NEEDS THIS EARLY IN THE GAME. ( )>> GO, GO, GO, GO!

(JOE)>> THE GEORGIA BOYS HAVE ALREADY GOT THEIR OLD SMALL BLOCK IN THE AIR BUT SECONDS LATER SO DID THE SAM GUYS. OVER HERE THE STUDENTS WASTE NO TIME GETTING THE NEW VALVE COVERS AND OIL PAN INSTALLED FIRST. ( )>> LOOK OUT NOW!

(ANNOUNCER)>> SAFETY FIRST BOYS AND GIRLS, SAFETY FIRST! ( )>> YOU'RE GOOD, FORWARD, FORWARD, ALRIGHT DOWN!

TILT IT BACK! ( )>> I NEED A WRENCH TO FIT IT, I NEED A WRENCH TO FIT IT!

( )>> UP WITH THE TRANNY, UP WITH THE TRANNY, UP WITH THE TRANNY! ( )>> COMING, KEEP COMING! ( )>> PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, STOP MOVING. ( )>> DOWN, DOWN, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD!

( )>> DOWN!

( )>> SPARK PLUG!

( )>> UP! ( )>> I TOLD YOU!

(JOE)>> AMAZINGLY THE SAMS TEAM IS READY TO FIRE UP THEIR LS. [ engine firing and revving ]

(JOE)>> BUT THE CELEBRATION IS SHORT. WHEN THE JUDGES COME IN FOR A LOOK, THEY DISCOVER SOME LOOSE WIRES THAT COULD REPRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. SO THE CLOCK RESETS UNTIL THEY CORRECT IT. ( )>> OUT OF THE WAY, OUT OF THE WAY, OUT OF THE WAY! ( )>> HELP ME OUT HERE.

( )>> I'M DONE! ( )>> I'M DONE! ( )>> GOOD, DONE! ( )>> HERE'S OUR PROBLEM, WE'RE HITTING THIS!

( )>> ON!

(JOE)>> THE SAMS TEAM FIRES THEIR ENGINE AGAIN BUT IT REVS WAY TOO HIGH. THEY WANT TO START THEIR VICTORY DRIVE ANYWAY BUT THE JUDGES AREN'T GONNA HAVE IT. ( )>> WITH IT IDLING LIKE THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE HERE WITH IT LIKE THAT. THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD STOP THIS CAR.

(JOE)>> THE GEORGIA TEAM REALIZES THEY STILL HAVE A CHANCE. [ starter clicking ]

(JOE)>> BUT THEY'VE GOT ISSUES OF THEIR OWN.

WELL BACK OVER HERE THE STUDENT TEAM REALIZES THE COIL PACK WIRE IS WRAPPED AROUND A STUD UNDER THE NUMBER SEVEN CYLINDER. ( )>> EXTRA BOLTS JUSTIN, EXTRA NUTS! IT'S OUT, IT'S OUT! HOLD ON, YES, IT'S OUT! FIRE, GO! [ starter clicking, not firing ]

[ engine fires and revs ]

(JOE)>> DESPITE A NASTY HEADER LEAK, WHICH DOESN'T COUNT BY THE WAY, THESE HAPPY GUYS ARE RUNNING AND NOW OFF ON THEIR FIVE MINUTE DRIVE. THE FINAL TEST!

[ engine revving ]

(JOE)>> IF THE SAMS TEAM DOESN'T MAKE IT BACK, THESE GUYS WILL WIN, BUT THE MONTE CARLO RETURNS AND THE SAMS TEAM FROM HOUSTON, IS DEDICATED THE WINNER.

(JUSTIN)>> ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE CRUISE WE HAD A RADIATOR HOSE COME OFF, BUT WE GOT THAT FIXED. WE HAD OUR PIT CREW RIGHT BEHIND US WITH THE GOLF CART, THEY WERE READY. THEY STARTED TO TIE THEM UP. WE HAD IT ALL SET UP PERFECT.

(BART)>> WE DID WHAT WE COULD, RAN INTO A FEW ISSUES WITH COIL PACK WIRING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

(JUSTIN)>> WE MAY HAVE HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK BUT SHE MADE HER HERE.

(BART)>> THERE'S NO SHAME IN BEING BEATEN BY A GROUP OF GOOD GUYS THAT PREPARED VERY WELL. ( )>> HEY MAN, WE JUST DID WHAT WE COULD. I WISH WE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED.

(JOE)>> OFFICIAL TIME, 38 MINUTES AND 33 SECONDS. ( )>> GREAT JOB, GREAT JOB!

(BART)>> HEY, GOOD JOB!

( )>> I'VE NEVER BEEN TO AN EVENT WHERE YOU CAN TRAVEL AROUND AND JUST SEE DIFFERENT STUFF ALL DAY. AND THIS WHOLE LS DEAL, IT'S TAKING OVER.

(JOE)>> IT'S AN HISTORIC RACE TRACK, AND IT'S HOLLEY'S SECOND ANNUAL LS ATTRACTION THAT'S ALREADY GOTTEN MAJOR TRACTION. WHY NOT, IT'S LIKE A HIGH PERFORMANCE PLAYGROUND. [ engines revving ]

(JOE)>> AND GEAR HEADS WHO ARE ON THEIR GAME CAN WIN CASH PRIZES, AND OF COURSE ULTIMATE BRAGGING RIGHTS. AND WITH THE RIGHT POWER AND SUSPENSION YOU CAN GET IT DONE ON THE AUTOCROSS. WITH THE RIGHT POWER AND BRAKES IT COULD HAPPEN ON THE SPEED STOP CHALLENGE. WITH CONSISTENCY AND GOOD REACTION TIMES, VICTORY'S ALWAYS WITHIN REACH ON THE STRIP. THERE ARE CLASSES FOR ALMOST ANY LS POWER LEVEL. THE TOP LEVEL IS DRAG RADIAL, WHERE QUARTER MILE RUNS IN THE SEVENS ARE THE UNREAL REALITY. WHILE YOU'RE HERE YOU CAN ROLL YOUR RIDE UP ONTO THE CHASSIS DYNO AND SEE IF THE REAL NUMBERS MATCH THE ONES YOU'VE BEEN TELLING YOUR BUDDIES. ( )>> IT MADE 372, SO IT DID PRETTY GOOD ACTUALLY.

(JOE)>> OVER AT THE SHOW AND SHINE AREA IT'S KINDA FUN TO SEE THE AMAZING MIX OF CARS NOW RUNNING LS ENGINES. EVERYTHING FROM A '50 FORD TO A SECOND GENERATION RX SEVEN. THE LS COMPETITION LIFESTYLE EVEN BRINGS FAMILY GENERATIONS TOGETHER.

(SHAWN)>> HAVING A FATHERSON WEEKEND IS A GREAT TIME.

(JOE)>> SHAWN CALABRESE RACES THIS PONTIAC FIREHAWK IN THE LSX RUMBLER CLASS. IT'S GOT A 383 STROKER LS ONE WITH DIRECT PORT NITROUS, FAST HAND PORTED INTAKE, AND A CAM UPGRADE. HIS DAD TOM DRIVES A NEW GENERATION CAMARO WELL MESSAGED AT LIVERNOIS BUT STILL TECHNICALLY TRUE STREET.

(TOM)>> WELL I WANT TO DO ALL OLD SCHOOL ALL MOTOR CAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M OLD SCHOOL.

(SHAWN)>> MY DAD ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT THE CHEVY SMALL BLOCK REVOLUTION BACK IN THE DAY. I THINK WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

(JOE)>> FOLDED INTO THE LS FEST THIS WEEKEND IS ONE OF THE FIFTH GEN CHALLENGE SERIES RACES, AND THE CALABRESE TEAM WAS RUNNER UP.

FOR THE LS CROWD AUTOCROSS IS GROWING FASTER THAN RUST ON BARE METAL. ONE OF THE WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS WAS THE SPECIAL SHOOTOUT AMONG THE TOP FIVE DRIVERS OF THE WEEKEND. AND HERE'S THE DEAL, THEY ALL GO OUT FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE FINAL ROUNDS. QUITE SIMPLY, THE ONE WITH THE BEST TIME IN ANY OF THOSE ROUNDS IS CROWNED KING OF THE CONES, I MEAN COURSE. OF COURSE IT MIGHT AS WELL BE A TWO CAR SHOOTOUT BECAUSE IT'S BOUND TO GET DOWN TO TWO AWESOME AUTOCROSS CHAMPS. KYLE TUCKER WHO WON THE RECENT MUSIC CITY RUN WE COVERED, AND BRIAN FINCH WHO WON ALL THE MARBLES LAST YEAR. IN ROUND TWO FINCH PUT DOWN A LEAD RUN WITH A 42.17. WOULD IT STICK? YEAH, LIKE SILICONE ON A GREASY BLOCK. KYLE TUCKER'S ROUND THREE ZIG ZAG PASS UPPED THE ANTE TO 42.07. AND FINCH, WELL CAN'T BEAT IT HERE, OR HERE IN ROUND FOUR. THEN IN ROUND FIVE TUCKER ADDS INSULT TO INJURY WITH AN EVEN BETTER 41.95. AH BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. THIS YEAR THEY BROUGHT IN SOME OFF THE HOOK GUYS WITH LS POWERED DRIFTERS FOR A TANDEM SHOWDOWN. CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT BUT SOME CALL IT THE NEW AGE OF HORSEPOWER.

(TOM)>> MUSCLE CAR GUYS REALLY AREN'T THAT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DRIFTING WORLD, BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO GET EXCITED WHEN YOU SEE A MIATA OR A BMW, YOU KNOW, GOING AROUND THE TRACK, SMOKE POURING OFF THE TIRES. THE LS MOTOR BUMPING OFF THE REV LIMITER CONSTANTLY, IT'S VERY COOL.

(JOE)>> COOL INDEED, AND HEY MUSCLE CAR GUYS, WE DON'T HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT TO ENJOY WATCHING THESE GUYS DO IT. FOR THIS YEAR'S SECOND ANNUAL LS FEST UP AND COMING RACERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND CANADA WERE INVITED TO HOLLEY'S FIRST DRIFT CAR CHALLENGE. ALL CARS LS POWERED AND ALL DRIVERS HERE TO COMPETE AND HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FUN. CARL NADEAU AND HIS RED, WHITE, AND BLUE BEAMER CAME ALL THE WAY FROM MONTREAL. CARL'S OBVIOUSLY IN IT FOR THE ADRENALINE RUSH.

(CARL)>> SOME DRIVERS LIKE VERY SLOW COURSE, AND THEY LIKE DO THE BATTLE ARENA, AS I CALL. SOME DRIVERS LIKE ME, I LIKE THE REALLY FAST COURSE GRINDING THE WALL AT 100 MILES AN HOUR. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.

(BENJAMIN)>> THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT DRIFTING IS THE FAMILY. IT'S ONE BIG COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY HELPS EVERYBODY OUT. WE ALL SHARE SECRETS WITH EACH OTHER AND WE ALL HANG OUT TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, THAT'S PROBABLY THE SECOND BEST PART OF THE SPORT MINUS GOING OUT AND ACTUALLY DRIVING, IS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET.

(JOE)>> AFTER PRACTICE RUNS AND PARADE LAPS IT'S EVENTUALLY TIME TO GET DOWN TO TANDEM RACING. THAT MEANS TWO CARS ARE ON THE COURSE AT THE SAME TIME TAKING TURNS AS LEAD CAR AND CHASE CAR. THE OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE SET UP IS DESIGNED TO FIND OUT WHO CAN DRIFT BEST UNDER PRESSURE. THE LEAD CAR'S GOT TO AVOID THE CHASE CAR WHILE EXECUTING AN IDEAL DRIFT. MEANWHILE THE CHASE CAR'S TRYING TO MESS UP THE LEAD CAR BY GETTING IN ITS WAY. IF YOU SPIN OUT OR CAUSE CONTACT, YOU AUTOMATICALLY LOSE THAT RUN. ALL THE WHILE YOU HOPE TO GET FAVORABLE MARKS FROM THE JUDGES.

(BLANE)>> BASICALLY WE'LL HAVE THREE JUDGES AND THEY JUDGE BASED OFF LINE, SPEED, ANGLE, AND OVERALL LEVEL OF STYLE OF THE DRIVERS. AND THAT'S HOW THEY CHOSE THEIR WINNERS.

(JOE)>> THEY'VE GOT TO PUT ON A GOOD SHOW?

(BLANE)>> OH HECK YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SPECTATOR SPORT.

(JOE)>> BESIDES THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE A REAR WHEEL DRIVE CAR MUCH TO DRIFT IT. A LOCKED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL HELPS ALONG WITH A STIFF SUSPENSION WITH NEGATIVE CAMBER. OBVIOUSLY THE DRIVER'S ALL WANT TO WIN BUT YOU'LL NEVER FIND A BREED OF RACERS WHO LOVE THE RUSH AS MUCH AS THE REWARD.

(CARL)>> STANDING ON THE PODIUM, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN TASTING THE CHAMPAGNE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY SPECTATORS ARE THERE, I LIKE TO DO AN IMPACT. LIKE I WANT PEOPLE AT THE END OF AN EVENT TO SAY THIS GUY'S CRAZY. SO SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER THAN WINNING.

(JOE)>> CARL PUT ON A CRAZY ENOUGH PERFORMANCE AND EVEN MADE IT TO THE FINALS.

HE AND DAN SAVAGE IN A NISSAN 240 WERE SO CLOSE THE JUDGES HAD TO HAVE TWO MORE ROUNDS TO MAKE A CALL. TO THEM APPARENTLY SAVAGE PUT ON THE BETTER SHOW OF OFFENSE AND DEFENSE.

(DAN)>> THIS IS MY FIRST, LIKE, LEGIT WIN.

(JOE)>> REALLY?

(DAN)>> YEAH, THIS IS PROBABLY MY FIRST YEAR OF ACTUAL CAMPAIGNING FOR DRIFTING.

(CARL)>> WE'RE BUILDING ANOTHER BMW FOR FORMULAD. SO WE KNOW WE STILL HAVE TO LEARN BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE SLOWLY. SO WE'LL BE THERE.

(JOE)>> OKAY, WELL CONGRATULATIONS!

(CARL)>> THANKS, I APPRECIATE IT.

(JOE)>> DRIFTING ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO THE 1970'S AND JAPAN. IT'S STILL GETTING TRACTION OVER HERE. AND WITH A LEGION OF THRILL LOVING NEW AGE HOT RODDERS LIKE THIS, WELL THE NOISE AND SMOKE WILL LINGER FOR A LONG TIME.

(JOE)>> YOU GUYS ALL KNOW PORTING AND POLISHING YOUR CYLINDER HEADS IS A GREAT WAY TO INCREASE AIR FLOW FOR SOME SERIOUS EXTRA HORSEPOWER. IT'S A DIRTY, GRITTY, AND LOUD PROCESS BUT RELIEVING YOUR INTAKE PORTS WITH STONES, BURRS, ABRASIVE CONES AND FLAPS CAN RESULT IN SOME REAL NICE POWER GAINS. SAME GOES FOR ALUMINUM HEADS AND INTAKES BUT ALUMINUM'S SOFT, SO THE FLUTES OF YOUR BURR CAN QUICKLY LOAD OF WITH ALUMINUM AND THAT'LL SLOW YOU DOWN. YOU CAN ELIMINATE THE ALUMINUM BUILD UP PROBLEM WITH WD 40 MULTIUSE PRODUCTS, LUBRICATING THE BURR AND THE ALUMINUM SURFACES BEFORE YOU GRIND. IT PRODUCES FRICTION AND KEEPS THE CUTTING EDGES OF THE BURR SHARP AND COOL SO THEY DON'T LOAD UP. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO CUT MORE MATERIAL FASTER AND MORE ACCURATELY. PORTING CAN BE WORK, BUT IT PAYS DIVIDENDS WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT.

(MIKE)>> BY NOW YOU'RE WELL AWARE THAT HOLLEY'S MAKING SWAP PARTS TO STICK LS ENGINES INTO BASICALLY ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE. WELL THEY TOOK EVEN A BIGGER STEP SINCE THEY HAD THE ENGINES IN THE CARS TO MAKE SOME REALLY COOL PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, LIKE A HIGH RAM EFI INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT ACCEPTS THESE TOPS. NOW THIS ONE IS BLANK SO YOU CAN DO WHATEVER CONFIGURATION YOU'D LIKE. THIS ONE HOUSES TWIN 4150 STYLE THROTTLE BODIES, AND FOR HIGH HORSEPOWER LS ENGINES THIS ONE HOUSES TWIN DOMINATOR THROTTLE BODIES. THIS GIVES YOU HOT ROD GUYS THE EASE OF EFI WITH THE COOL, NOSTALGIA TWOFOUR LOOK. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR THE HIGH RAM, HERE'S THE NEXT BEST THING. IT'S HOLLEY'S DUAL PLAIN INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT HAS TWIN 4150 FLANGES FOR EITHER CARBURETOR OR THROTTLE BODIES SINCE THEY MAKE IT IN BOTH VERSIONS. THIS THING'S MADE TO FIT LS ONE, LS TWO, AND LS SIX CATHEDRAL STYLE CYLINDER HEADS, AND HAS AN RPM RANGE FROM 1,500 TO 7,000 RPM. IT EVEN COMES WITH THE ORINGS TO SEAL IT TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AS WELL AS ALL THE HARDWARE TO FASTEN IT.

(JOE)>> UNLIKE THIS OLD CAMARO HERE, YOUR LATE MODEL VEHICLE'S GOT A COMPUTER THE FACTORY TUNED FOR BARE BONES PERFORMANCE. WELL HP TUNERS HAS FOUND A WAY TO UNLOCK THAT COMPUTER SO TO SPEAK SO YOU CAN TWEAK IT AND TUNE IT FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE. THIS IS THEIR MPVI PRO, TOP OF THE LINE, AND IT NOT ONLY PROGRAMS, IT ALSO LETS YOU EDIT FROM HUNDREDS OF PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS, AND YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM TUNE. YOU CAN ALSO VIEW, CHART, AND LOG DATA IN REAL TIME. YOU MIGHT SAY THIS IS A TUNING SHOP THAT FITS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND AFTER YOU HAND OVER ABOUT $650. YOU MUSTANG GUYS HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PLAYERS COME AND GO IN THE SUPER CHARGER GAME. WELL ROUSH IS NOT ONLY A PREMIUM PLAYER, THEY NOW OFFER THREE VERSIONS OF THEIR ROUSH CHARGER TO MATCH YOUR HORSEPOWER AND BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS. PHASE ONE IS GOOD FOR 475 HORSEPOWER, PHASE TWO 550 HORSES, AND NOW PHASE THREE FOR A WHOOPING 625 HORSEPOWER. BY THE WAY, IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT COMES WITH A FULL THREE YEAR WARRANTY. SO, WILD, WILDER, OR WILDEST, IT'S UP TO YOU, YOUR HORSEPOWER DREAMS, AND OF COURSE YOUR BUDGET.