20 years ago we ran a Sonny's engine in a 70 camaro. IHRA comp eliminator. It was a 565 inch n/a , it made 1000 hp with a single dominator. It was a lot of fun. Engine was flawless. Driver and crew ,not so much.
Sonny Leonard is a name synonymous with awesome power, and it's a pleasure to have the man himself give a guided tour of his facilities. Nice tour...thanks!
Been around racing since the 60’s and seems like I remember Sonny from all those years. Never met the man but very impressed with his operation and his demeanor.
He lost all of my respect when he started doing business with "people" who said they wanted America DEAD. Eff Sonny Leonard, Shannon Jenkins, Reher & Morrison, all of 'em who sold out.
He started in a small shop in Madison Hts.,Va. and tuned my Torino in 1971 and tood the smog pump off and plugged the exhaust holes rode my car to his home with his mailbox in the back seat.
Spinning a big displacement motor to those kind of RPM doesnt happen by guess work or luck. And those HP numbers without stuffing it full of air or NOS is no joke. Wish i had a couple for my boat. Yall got my respect for sure.
A legendary man and his humble shop, the home of the super sized "Mountain Motor" and a place where art and science have converged for decades. Congratulations on 45+ awesome years. Thank you Sonny Leonard
2000hp N.A wow I didn’t think it was possible with out forced induction hats off to these guys 900ci in a street car would be a ball I would die a happy man
Sonny sonny sonny . There are very few MEN! in this world as kind and helpful as sonny . I remember the 90s buying parts to build engines he was right there whenever you needed his expertise..
You mentioned Carlton Phillips, always had always had super Fast cars. Watched all you guys Sox,Smith, Phillips at Old Dominion an Summer Duck. Great Video Sonny 👍
I must be old I bought a set of pistons and heads from sonny back when he was over in town in his small shop he was building Ricky Smith's ford engines and Johnny Doweys chevy prostock motors. Ricky was running 760s that was flying back then. Lee shepard was running high 750s
IM A NOBODY & EVEN I KNOW HOW LEGENDARY SONNY'S RACING ENGINES ARE & FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE SEEN HIS SHOP! HOW I WOULD LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALLS OF EACH BAY OF SONNY'S RACING ENGINES SHOP!!! WHERE SOME REAL POWER IS MADE!!! WHAT A TRUE LEGEND IN MOTORSPORTS!!! I WANT TO WORK IN SUCH A HI PERFORMANCE SHOP!!!
Thanks , Sonny , Just love your tour ... Very nice shop !! and we know when it comes to horse power and engine longevity ....YOU DA MAN !!! THANKS .. Big AL ...5520 SG....
Thanks for sharing. Always loved that icing on the cake. (Sonny's Valve covers). When walking around the pits, you could make a mental note, before they shut the hood, who had Sonny's engines and if you were a betting man, just go ahead and put your money on the cars with his engines, and you would go home with more money than what you came with, except for the motel room. Look like a blessed bunch of guys to be able to work for a boss like you.
I went threw Auto Mechanic school top of my class then went to welding top one of 3 then took 2 years Machine shop 2 in my class and even Auto Body Repair licensed in all but never could find a school that would teach engine building for this is what I wanted to do I am in my 40's and would still like to build NHRA RACING ENGINES is there a school just for engine building ?
+Deany D Arton The School of Automotive Machinists in Houston Tx. I graduated from that school, it's strictly focused on machining and building hi-performance and race engines, and many graduates go on to work on NHRA and NASCAR Cup teams. If you're an engine guy, and want to work in a place like Sonny's, that's where you want to go.
Deany D Arton professional competition engine builders are not going to give away their secrets. After all , it's a business. You wouldn't expect Coke or KFC to divulge their recipes.
