Sonny Leonard (June 19, 1943 – January 10, 2021) was an American businessman and the CEO of Sonny's Automotive Racing, a company he founded in January 1969.[2] Leonard was known for designing and building large engine displacement drag racing V8 engines.[3] Leonard's engines have won numerous national and global records and championships on land and sea.[4] In 2012 Sonny Leonard developed a big block engine over 16,387 cc (1,000.0 cu in).[5]

Sonny Leonard
Born
Estol Fletcher Leonard

(1943-06-19)June 19, 1943
Gladys, VA
DiedJanuary 10, 2021(2021-01-10) (aged 77)
Lynchburg General Hospital Lynchburg, VA
NationalityAmerican
Other namesSonny
Occupation(s)Owner and operator of Sonny's Automotive Racing
Years active52
Known forDesigning and building large displacement racing engines
Notable workFirst 16,387 cc (1,000.0 cu in) V8 street racing engine[1]

Achievements (selection)

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Sonny Leonard was specialized in creating American V8 engines of 9,832 cc (600.0 cu in) up to 16,387 cc (1,000.0 cu in).[6]

  • 16,482 cc (1,005.8 cu in), big block engine[7]
  • 15,404 cc (940.0 cu in), big block engine[8]
  • 13,142 cc (802.0 cu in), big block engine[9]
  • 11,926 cc (727.8 cu in), hemispherical combustion chamber engine[10]
  • 11,028 cc (673.0 cu in), Ford Hemi big block[11]

History

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After turning his hobby into a business, Sonny Leonard opened a garage in 1968 in a 27.87 m2 (300.0 sq ft) building in Madison Heights, Virginia.[12] In 1987, Leonard made history with Bill Kuhlmann, who drove Sonny's 615 cubic inch engine to the first speed of 200 mph in history with a full-bodied car.[13] In 2013 Sonny Leonard became a partner for the 2013 season in the X-treme Drag Racing League (X-DRL).[14] Sonnys Racing Engines celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.[15] In 2019 Sonny Leonard built a second engine to raise funds for Victory Junction.[16] In the same year he led John Montecalvo to the PDRA Pro Stock Championship.[17] Sonny Leonard died on Sunday, January 10, 2021.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "1,000ci SAR/CarTek Street Engine Getting Final Tuneup in Denmark". Enginelabs. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Sonny's World Class Racing has been revving up engine business for 50 years". The News & Advance. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Sonny's Racing Engines Big-Block Build - Max Effort". Hot Rod. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Sonny's to Build Charity Engine for Sunnen Sweepstakes at PRI Show". Drag Illustrated. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  5. ^ "1005.8ci Godfather Big Block Engine - The Biggest Rat Ever!". Hot Rod. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  6. ^ "The Inside Scoop On Sonny Leonard's New 820ci Marine Engine". Enginelabs. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Watch Sonny Leonard Himself Rip A Naturally Aspirated 1,000ci Engine To 8,000 RPM On His Dyno – 2,000hp!". Bangshift. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  8. ^ "SAR 940 Racing Engine - Beyond All Measure". Super Chevy. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Big-Block Crate Engine - Enormous!". Hot Rod. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  10. ^ "727 cid Hemispherical Headed Engine". Engine Builder. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  11. ^ "673 Cubic Inch Ford Hemi Makes 1,300+ HP On Engine Dyno". Ford Muscle. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Remembering Sonny Leonard: The Legendary Engine Builder". No Prep Racing. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Engine Building Icon Sonny Leonard Passes Away". Dragzine. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Sonny Leonard Steps Up as XDRL Sponsor". Drag Illustrated. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Sonny's Racing Engines Celebrates 50 Years". Engine Builder. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Sonny Leonard to build 2019 Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes prize". IMD. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Sonny's Racing Leads Montecalvo To PDRA Pro Stock Championship". Drag Illustrated. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  18. ^ "RIP SONNY LEONARD". Muscle Cars & Trucks. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.