DaimlerChrysler Announces Winner of Zany “What Can You HEMI?” Contest!
Photos
Winning Trike Not the Craziest but Rather the Most Feasible from an Engineering Standpoint
Like its character, DaimlerChryslers 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is almost larger than life. Available in six (and soon to be seven) of the hottest products Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep have to offer, the group has sold nearly 500,000 engines since its introduction in 2002. Not surprisingly, with an engine as powerful and smooth as this, the HEMI accounts for an average of 44 percent of all unit sales in the vehicles offered with the engine.
To further promote the engine that has now become DaimlerChryslers fourth brand, and to pay homage to the reincarnated hemispheric technology which was first introduced more than half a century ago, DaimlerChrysler established the “What Can You Hemi?” contest earlier this year, challenging North Americans to come up with fun, creative new uses for the popular powerplant, the now famous 5.7-liter, 340+horsepower twin-spark HEMI V8.
To get the creative juices of would-be invertors across the continent flowing, and to demonstrate its intentions, Chrysler came up with a zany idea all on its own, the HEMI-Grille. The oversized barbeque, finished in stainless and diamond plate, features the alternator and battery of the famed 5.7-liter V8 at its front, which drives an electric motor to warm powerful heating elements. Like the HEMI motor itself, this cue is borderline overkill, with enough power (and space) to sizzle 240 hotdogs to perfection in under three minutes. For added entertainment, theres even a gas pedal, which the motor-head chef can blip to hear the rumble of the big-bore V8. Needless to say, it would be a sure-fire hit at any neighborhood street party and the perfect gift for that special someone whos got a little premium unleaded running in his or her veins.
The contest was open to American and Canadian citizens, which opened in February 2005 and closed early April of this
year. It required contestants to submit a rough sketch, and a short essay about their proposal for a HEMI-powered, or HEMI-enhanced object. To ensure equality amongst all contestants, the ideas were judged and voted on, rather than sketches or constructed devices, guaranteeing that engineers, designers and craftsmen werent the only top-ranking members. The top five ideas that made the cut progressed to the shop, where technical experts MSX International turned the sketches into full-blown working machines. The contest finalists were shuttled to Detroit for the annual “Whats New” event to see their creations in the flesh (or rather metal), with one lucky contestant winning the keys to a 5.7-liter HEMI-powered Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep product of their choice.
Having witnessed the madness that is the HEMI-powered Grille, and having sifted through over 360 different entries which included everything from a HEMI-powered automated player piano, a Sprinter-based snowmobile with front-mounted rails, HEMI-powered of course, to what might have been the worlds quickest flush, or most powerful toilet, they narrowed it down to five clever and grin-inducing devices.
First on the list of wacky contraptions was the HEMI Snowblower, designed by Michigan resident Tim Flucht. Inspired by harsh Michigan winters, Flucht wanted a device to make easy work of mid-winter snowstorms. The HEMI Snowblower is an absolute giant; dwarfing other snowblowers with its extended, heavy-duty chassis and intimidating rotating blades. This one-of-a-kind tool is powered by none other than the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, and features a custom driveshaft that spins the contraptions polished wheels forward and backwards. To ensure that all 345 horses remain under control, the engine is mated to a one-speed transmission, and features a watercraft/motorboat-style wrist-tether for emergency shutoffs. Crowning touches include a saucer-sized tach, and a rumbly Flowmaster exhaust.
Other creative designs that made the top five were the HEMI-Go-Round and the HEMI on Ice, a spruced-up “Zamboni” ice resurfacer. Jonathan Brzon of Topeka, Kansas came up with the idea for the Hemi-Go-Round, infusing the age-old amusement park ride with HEMI power, replacing cute little horses with junior-sized DaimlerChrysler products. Operated via remote control, the scaled down model of the ride, gives tykes and adults alike the chance to enjoy the HEMIs rumble and performance: its 390 lb-ft of torque is ample to spin the 22-foot circumference at 8 rpm, double of what most merry go rounds are capable of.
As for HEMI on Ice, MSX International gave a weathered and aged Zamboni ice resurfacer a second lease on life with a new HEMI V8, complete with Mopar performance headers, Borla exhaust, a Viper seat and Viper-esque paint job, mimicking the sketch submitted by Dan Berg of Lindenhurst, Illinois. If the popular MTV TV show “Pimp My Ride” ever tackled an ice resurfacer, it would definitely be something like HEMI on Ice.
The most comical idea of the bunch was the HEMI-Shredder, an industrial strength paper-eating machine disguised in the form of a plain office desk, conceived by Randy Fredner of Earlysville, VA. Atop its 6-foot long brushed metal tabletop is a feeding tray, large enough to fit full-size reams of paper, junk mail, CDs, credit card bills (and credit cards too!), which are then chewed up by cross-cutting blades, expelling the minced, confetti-like matter through a chute. For heavy-duty loads, the operator can floor the pedal which in-turn revs the burly engine. Fully loaded, the sole option on this machine is a desk-mounted pencil sharpener!
Modeled after a favorite toy of up and coming car and motorbike fanatics, the Big Wheel tricycle, Vancouver B.C. native Marcus Brauns HEMI Trike brings childhood fun to super-sized reality. The vivid yellow and red monster features a four-foot tall front wheel, with handlebars so huge that an arc-shaped steering handle is required to point the contraption in the desired direction. The HEMI Trike is powered by a reverse-mounted HEMI V8 with hot-rod style headers for each of the engines eight cylinders, ensuring class-leading performance that buries the pedal-powered class average. The chassis features double-wishbone rear suspension, while sticky Goodyear racing slicks provide enough traction to offset the engines brute power. This is the kind of toy that would turn both kids and adults green with envy if it showed up at the neighborhood playground.
With ordinary objects turned extraordinary, it was very difficult for a sole winner to be selected of the top five. All ideas were greeted with enthusiasm by the press and event organizers, but the HEMI Trike took the Grand Prize of the “What Can you Hemi?” contest. Frank Klegon, Chrysler Group VP of Product Development Process and Components, said, “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.” Of all the vehicles available, Mr. Braun selected the extremely popular new 300C luxury sedan as his new ride.
Unlike the Tomahawk concept, a four-wheeled motorbike endowed with the Vipers 500-hp, 500 cubic-inch V10 stuffed between its riders legs, none of the Hemified winners of the “What Can you Hemi?” contest will be up for sale within Neiman Marcus annual wish list catalog.
For more information about the contest, behind the scenes shots of the creative processes that went into building these beasts, as well as videos, visit the “What Can You Hemi?” official webpage at www.whatcanyouhemi.com.
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