Bill Holder, Author at Engine Builder Magazine
Success On – and Off – the Track for Dayton, Ohio Engine Builder Bobby Jacks

It isn’t often that successful performance on the track and effective engine building skills come from the same individual. But for Ohio resident and Daytonian Bobby Jacks who, after many decades of experience, has proven that one can have considerable talent in both.

Dayton, OH is a Hot Bed of Hot Shot Engine Builders

What do you almost immediately think of when the town of Dayton, OH is mentioned? Hey, that’s easy! It would have to be aviation and the home of the Wright Brothers Lifting that spindly flying machine into the air WAS certainly an accomplishment of huge proportions.

Immovable Objects & Irresistible Force

Today’s tractor pulling might hardly be recognizable to farmers of yesteryear, but the premise is the same. Who can do the most work with the biggest tractor in the shortest amount of time. But really, can what these guys do with the monster machines they create really be called work?

Midget Engines – Perfect Power from Pint-Size Performers

Midget open-wheel racecars and the Stock (S Class) and Modified (A Class) inboard hydroplanes have provided thrills and chills for racing fans since the 1930s. And as the speed and performance of these radically-different racing machines has improved, so have the engines that power them. These engines have varied from stock four and six-cylinder automotive-type

NTPA Tractor Pulling Powerplants – Big Size, Big Horses, Big Torque

Tractor pulling in America means a lot of things to different people. Many in the general public regard the sport as nothing more than stock trucks and tractors coming in off the farm and doing their thing at the county fair. That was then, this is now. The sport has grown from those humble roots

A Review of the History and Technology in 2.5L Hydroplane Racing Engines

Modern marine engines are as varied as their road- and track-going counterparts. Whether they’re powering working habor tugs, ocean-crossing container ships, leisure and fishing boats or hardcore racing boats, marine engine builders are dedicated to improving their performance and reliability through innovation. 2.5L engines have been used in both midget racing and hydroplane applications for

Midget Engines

Midget open-wheel racecars and the Stock (S Class) and Modified (A Class) inboard hydroplanes have provided thrills and chills for racing fans since the 1930s. And as the speed and performance of these radically-different racing machines has improved, so have the engines that power them.

Classic Packard Engines

That Packard name. It conjures up thoughts of the rich, the famous, long limos along with the brand’s perfectly molded fenders and hoods. You get the idea! That was the theme that the Packard company strived for, but for period motorheads and engine builders, those skillfully-built engines that fit in all types of racing machines were of more interest.

Bischoff Racing Engines

Bischoff’s is the largest engine-building facility we have visited. Bischoff started the organization two decades ago with the main emphasis at the time on rebuilding stock engines. Over the years, the attention to performance kept increasing.

Allison Power

In December, we discussed the use of Allison engines – originally designed for use in WWII fighter planes – in watercraft applications. Now, we’ll pick up the story of these versatile powerplants finding success on dry land.

More Power Inside – Muscle Cars

There are many aspects of the famous and desired muscle car engines of the 1960s and ‘70s. They have become the holy grail of factory performance engines, but they are getting more and more scarce as the years go by. For car owners, the engines have evolved in recent years into three different configurations. Read on to learn more.

Wilmington Mile Engine Builders

In Bill Holder’s opinion, there’s no finer place to find unique engine builders than the long super-smooth runway at the former DHL facility at Wilmington, OH. This will be the third article in Engine Builder honoring these efforts.