August 9, 2005 Yes folks, this is a man’s barbeque. That’s Tim Kowalec firing up Chrysler Group's one-of-a-kind HEMI-powered grill at an event to announce the top five finalists in the company’s "What Can You HEMI?" contest. Until the event, the HEMI engine was only found in Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicles. With the power and torque of the 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI engine, the grill can cook 240 HEMI dogs in three minutes and is covered by more than 330 square feet of steel. The contest involved people sending in concepts for machines that could be powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine. Five of the best ideas became semi-finalists and Chrysler engineers then built working models of the concept machines. The event was won by a Hemi-powered trike with a custom 4-foot wheel (bottom left image) but some serious machinery filled the placings – such as the Hemi Snowblower (centre) and Hemi paper shredder.
It was the winning entry in a contest entitled “What Can You HEMI?”
The five finalists included a Snowblower, Ice resurfacer, a Merry-go-round and the world’s most powerful Paper Shredder. We have pictures of all of them inside.
The “What Can You HEMI?” finalists were:
• HEMI Snowblower – Tim Flucht, Belleville, Mich. – armed with 345 horsepower and 375 foot pounds of torque, custom precision drive shaft and wrist tether for quick shut-off, this one-of-a-kind snowblower will get the job done faster than any other
• HEMI -Go-Round – Jonathan Brzon, Topeka, Kan. – the engine generates enough power to spin the turntable in a 22-foot circumference at a maximum speed of 8 rpm, while most carousels only do about 4 or 5 rpm
• HEMI Trike – Marcus Braun, Vancouver BC – uniquely designed with a custom 4-foot wheel and Goodyear slicks to keep it stable under heavy acceleration … it’s childhood fun … super-sized
• HEMI on Ice – Dan Burg, Lindenhurst, Ill. – the propane-powered engine of this ice resurfacer has been replaced with a HEMI engine, pumped up with Mopar performance headers and a Borla exhaust system and customized with a Dodge Viper seat for the operator
• HEMI Shredder – Randy Fredner, Earlysville, Va. – industrial strength can tear up a full ream of paper, CDs, phone books … you name it, it shreds it
Marcus Braun of Vancouver, BC, was named the grand prize winner for being the mastermind behind the HEMI Trike, an adult adaptation of a childhood toy powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine. “The HEMI engine that took the hottest new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles to new levels in power and technology has now done it again for these HEMI-powered creations,” said Frank Klegon, Chrysler Group Vice President- Product Development Process and Components. “While all five finalists and their ideas were brilliant, the HEMI Trike stood out for its high marks in creativity, engineering feasibility, safety and functionality.” Chrysler Group launched the “What Can You HEMI?” contest in February in celebration of the legendary HEMI engine. With “That Thing Got a HEMI?” becoming a household phrase -- serving as a constant reminder that anything with a HEMI engine is truly top notch -- Chrysler Group asked consumers the question: If you could infuse the power and torque of the 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI engine into anything, what would it be? Contestants had to submit their idea in a brief essay and support it with a sketch. Contest information was available online at www.WhatCanYouHemi.com. More than 360 aspiring inventors submitted their wildest ideas before the postmark deadline. "Since its introduction to the public in 1951, the HEMI engine has revolutionized the automotive industry and fascination over the original muscle car engine continues today," said Klegon. "This contest was about extending the same power, torque and technology of the all-new 5.7-liter HEMI to make the ordinary, extra-ordinary and to have a lot of fun doing it."
HEMI Engine History
The HEMI engine was first made popular in 1951 when Chrysler Corporation introduced its entry in the post-war horsepower race. Its power and efficiency made it an instant favorite for all sorts of motorsports vehicles. Although reluctantly retired in 1959 due to high manufacturing costs, the HEMI design was still unsurpassed. In 1964, NASCAR competition sparked the HEMI's return, and it has remained available for motorsport use ever since. Chrysler Group debuted the all-new modern 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine in 2002 on the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500. With more than 500,000 engines sold, the take-rate across the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge lineups is approximately 44%.