If you mention Birmingham to British off-roaders all it will mean to them is a company with an oval badge that copied the original and best marque of 4x4. However, if you mention Birmingham to an American off-roader (and they"ll think you mean Birmingham, Alabama) you are likely to hear them reply HESCO. HESCO, or to use their full title - Hurley Engine Service Company, are well known within the Jeep, Mopar Performance and Chrysler Motor sport circles for the production of high performance engines and engine components. HESCO have developed and prepared engines for Championship winning NASCAR teams, Chrysler Motor Sports, the Jeep Truck Engineering"s racing program, numerous other racing teams and even Hollywood greats. HESCO continues to conduct Research & Development and production for Chrylser, in particular supplying the Jeep Multiport Fuel Injection Kits.

The company was founded in 1971 by Lee Hurley, who remains its President, who had already earned his reputation working for performance engineering companies and Race Teams. Renowned as the best engine builder in the Southern United States, his favourite response to customers who inquire as to the cost of an engine is "Speed costs money.....how fast do you want to go?". His engineering reputation has brought him national exposure in the US and he has hosted a phone-in radio show for ABC offering advice to the country"s Gasoline addicts. A fuller biography of Lee can be found at the end of this post.

After more than a year of providing engine components and advice to Mark at Offroad MDG, Lee finally visited Portsmouth to assist with the final engine tuning on Mark"s Comanche "Big Red" and to see what all the fuss was about on this side of "the pond". After many hours engine mapping Big Red on a dyno, plugged into a laptop monitoring engine values and "Real-Time" data loging on road, witnessing and discussing the effects of European fuel in comparison to US fuel on performance engines significant differences in results were observed. Mark then explained the way he had overcome some of the problems experienced whilst setting to work the first few stroker engines installed into UK Jeeps. Approving of Mark"s adaptations to these HESCO stroker engines Lee returned to the U.S and has already continued to refine the development of these "European Friendly" Engines and is developing a range of performance engine components and accessories specifically designed to meet the needs of the UK and Europe"s Jeep community. These will be exclusively available through Offroad MDG. Also, after meeting the "Pompey Posse" and members of J33P over dinnerover dinner he was so impressed with our enthusiasm for Jeeps and will be hosting a special forum on J33P dealing specifically with engine performance and upgrading advice.

For further information on HESCO visit their website at http://www.hesco.us/.

Lee Hurley - Biography

Lee Hurley is a native of Ensley, Alabama near Birmingham. Following his graduation from Ensley High School (majoring in machine shop), Lee enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended basic training at Ft. Hood, Texas. At Ft. Rucker, Alabama he met Martha Jo Tomberlin, who would become his wife and the mother of his two daughters. Lee did a 15-month Far East tour as a helicopter maintenance instructor. Back in Birmingham, Lee worked at automobile dealerships for five years, joined Taylor Speed Sports (a high-performance machine shop) for two years, and spent two years with Bobby Allison Racing, designing and building engines and chassis components. In 1971, he opened HESCO which has now grown to 21 employees and offers a full machine shop, an engine stand dyno, boat dyno and a chassis dyno.

Lee's accomplishments include the following:

• Fielded four AMC IMSA RS sedans for independent drivers from 1975 to 1977. Had 13 Daytona winning engines with these cars.
• Built engines for Neil Bonnet winning two NASCAR championships.
• Prepared and drove a car and a truck which both set world records at Talladega Speedway in 1976. These records still stand today. The truck is on display at the Talladega Speedway Museum.
• Built engines three years for Archer Brothers Racing SCCA Race trucks, winning the Manufacturer's Championship twice.
• Prepared engines for Chrysler Motor Sports for use in desert racing, stadium racing and NASCAR Dash series.
• Engine consultant for Jeep Truck Engineering's racing programs.
• Does research and development for Chrysler and prepares the Jeep Multiport Fuel Injection Kits marketed through Chrysler.
• Hosted 1-hour call-in radio show CarTech for several years & was known as the original "Car Doc".