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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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..
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
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
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....
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 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.
That's a legend right there and taking time to show his team. Thanks Sonny..
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
so nice to see the owner of a business so appreciative towards his employees!
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 can tell all them people are good natured .
What a great man! Very humble and awesome crew!
Thanks for the shop Tour, I appreciate the honest look into your organization.
Thanks for tour Sonny
Sonny, The good old days of Drag Racing back in 1969, Raceway Park, Englishtown, New Jersey. My Home Track!
r.i.p. raceway park
Great video awesome shop and great bunch of guys you got there Sonny.
Very kool Sonny, thank you for the tour!
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'S ENGINES ARE A WORK OF ART! Prettier than a Diamond...
A real treat. Thank you.
Excellent video young man looks like you got and incredible group of people surrounding you. Thank you Jesus
This what we Americans love to see Made in America. Great job Sonny.
Great Video Sonny , you got a wonderful team there....................God Bless !
Been a fan for a while.. love your shop.
God bless sonny Leonard
He seems and sounds like the nicest guy ever lol
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'm seeing how business's, post/ flight, utilities look by ok fall through.
I just found this video iam from Woodbridge va love your motors and heads, blocks everything great man you are a legend would love to go to your shop
What a great video and nice shop.Sonny's a straight forward and polite man.Thanks for the tour.
AND, ....a terrorist supporter.
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
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....
Legendary man!!
Get the crew to smile it promotes well being
Sonny lenard is a legend
great bunch of people and yes Sonny is a legend
I like how he can sit there cool as ice while spinning a 2,000hp engine that costs more than I make in a year to 8,000 rpm on the dyno.
legend ,,,,,,second to none,,,,,,keep on the fab work SONNY,,,,,ps like to see more of your work on you tube ,,,,,,,
Really nice operation for sure!
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!!!
Mike Finnegan has one of his engines in his racing boat, with twin turbos added on.
Its crazy to have a engine so powerful NA that you don't need or want to run nos or forced induction.
Wo’!! Always wondered About Yalls Shop Scenes!!#
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.
Great people in that shop hand's down!!!!
Josh is the man
#HAMMA
Dope shop
Back again thanks for taking the time for us thanks
Another amazing American team
RIP Sonny
I always wanted to see his 1005 cubic inch
When will you use the GMC 637 cubic engine big black Chevy or the 5 and 1/8 bore
Good stuff sonny
nobama at 20:22 love it
I seen Ronnie Sox in Kinston NC race Scottie cannon back in the 90s
He & his wife must be great employers to have so many people to build long term careers at their shop. Great to see the American dream alive & well.
His 'American Dream" sells parts and tech to those Middle Eastern "racers" who so strongly proclaimed DEATH TO AMERICA.
DAMN!!! Ricky Smiths twin brother! !!!😄😄😄😄😄
Parked in lore sir bye. I think sawed in of put your great.
great video..
Good and huuuuwite company 👍👍👍
Mr. Leonard do you build 358 dirt modified motors
Do they build competitive circle track engines?
Impressive
Good people
How much for a 427 small block. ?
Badass
Sd like sun got the best heads
He two in reverse put you bye.
1800 HP with no blower h-shiet
its a 17:1 compression why not?
We made 900+hp on 15:1 compression on a BBF
SHAWNO that's a FAR cry from 2000hp. 2 points of compression isn't going to give you 1100hp lol
3200 hp naturally aspirated please
BIG CUBE BOSS 429/CLEVELAND ENGINES LABELED AS CHEVY. PLEASE DON'T LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
Can I repost this video?
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.
***** I Thank you I will look it up for I have family that lives in Houston TX
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.
Well, Deany, did you check out the School of Automotive Machinists?
Champagne
🤔👍🇺🇸
6" broe motor please
GM made a motor with 5 1/8" broe
Where's Tom?
He got a gig with the monkeys he is on tour with them right now
Don’t get much better
Who in nc
ALOT OF MONEY INVESTED IN DEVELOPING THOSE LARGE MOTORS,IS THERE ANY OTHER HI PERFORMANCE BUILDERS MAKING THEIR OWN COMPLETE MOTORS?,
I have a 1971 chevelle covertible
Im looking for a costume biult engine for it
Any sugestins i also need a price thx
Jaime Alvarez these motors are 70 to 100k
Is Sonny a bit senile ?
probably as much as your grandfather but cooler.
His white
Strange accent