Life is an ongoing maze of decisions. Some are fortunate enough to make all the right turns, open the proper doors, and duck at the appropriate times. Others, well let's say if some got paid for bad luck, they would be millionaires by now. Having to make relevant decisions usually starts before final dismissal from high school.
Fortunately for the four young men who started Mast Motorsports, they have efficiently worked through the maze at this point, three of them graduating from Texas A&M University with Bachelors degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and all coming together to carry out a mission. This mission includes bringing top-notch ingenuity and reliability to the already crowded aftermarket. After all, this love for the automobile did not start with a calculator in hand; it started with a young man and a vision.
While still in high school, Horace Mast took a liking to the automotive engine and spent numerous hours working on his diesel truck. After almost tripling the horsepower output of the engine, it was a no-brainer that this was his passion and destiny.
While still in college, Horace was part of a program that pooled mechanical engineering students from around the world to compete in the design and construction of smaller scaled open wheel racecars.
Mast's state of the art engine...
Mast's state of the art engine dynamometer: the Superflow NSCR/SF-902-model, which promotes consistent readings through a controlled oil and coolant exchange system. This system keeps temperature levels within 3 Fahrenheit from test to test. Also within the unit are built-in tests that ensure consistent testing-not much room for human error. Oh yeah, that's the L92 HO V2 going through the motions once again.
During the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competition, engineering students from their respective schools build the car from the ground up-designing, manufacturing, and testing each component. Not only does this teach by letting student get their hands dirty, but it also allows the students to network with the American automakers (Chrysler, GM, and Ford).
In order to shed weight from the car, Horace designed a single-cylinder supercharged engine. This particular unit produced the same power output of the previous four-cylinder unit, with the added benefit of shedding 75 pounds in the process (lighter is faster). The A&M car competed in two international FSAE competitions in 2006, winning first place in the FSAE West competition at California International Speedway over a field of 75 cars.
After deciding not to pursue a career with one of the Big Three automakers, Horace got together with a few close friends and fellow graduates, and they decided to put their knowledge to use and begin Mast Motorsports.
Mast Motorsports began its life out of a small office, with engines on stands next to desks and computers. Horace began selecting hardware components for a proprietary aftermarket tunable ECM. This would not be your standard stand-alone unit, but a versatile unit used to control many high-end functions such as DBW technology (Drive By Wire).
Beyond the construction of this ECM, Horace was intrigued by the technology being used called VVT (Variable Valve Timing). Mast figured he could gain massive amounts of power through technology rather than swapping out a boatload of aftermarket parts. While the addition of aftermarket parts will aid in gaining gobs of power, it may hurt drivability, fuel consumption, emissions, and, most of all, your pocket. Mast is trying to keep these issues to a minimum, while providing long lasting reliability and a thrill behind the wheel.
Mast Motorsports spends hours on top of hours performing tests on its engine dyno, ensuring that all bases are covered. Mast has developed its M-90 ECM, along with multiple wiring harnesses (which meet or exceed OEM quality). Mast will first enter the aftermarket with its turnkey crate engines, complete from soup to nuts. All crate engines will leave the facility pre-tested and fully tuned for your specific application. Whether it's a full-bodied killer or a sand rail, Mast has you covered.
 Mast Motorsports is also in...  Mast Motorsports is also in the early stages of developing a complete serpentine belt system for the LS series engine family. Most pulleys pictured are unfinished, one-off pieces. Look at the beefy brackets. |  Here we have the M-90 ECM...  Here we have the M-90 ECM currently being used on the dyno. Notice its compact, rugged design. Also contained within the unit are rubber mountings to aid in shock absorption. In case you're wondering, the "M" stands for Mast and the "90" for its 90-pin connection. The M-90 has many capabilities including: Drive by Wire, Variable Valve Timing, Wideband Knock control, Wide Band O2 capabilities, Octane Learn for changes in fuel conditions, and corrected fuel pressure tables. The M-90 can also be configured with or without ignition drivers depending on its given application. The M-90 also contains Throttle Position Governing. This feature allows for two-step activation with a smooth rev limit applied, which means no more banging and popping off the rev-limiter for the drag crowd. |  While in the rather large...  While in the rather large shop area we encountered a couple of odd items. One was the Pontiac Trans Am used for research and development. Since Chevy and Pontiac both use small-block Chevy power we deemed this acceptable. On the other hand we noticed a load of wooden crates, and after badgering Horace for an hour or so he indicated that there are 8-cylinders present in each one and that was it. I guess we'll find out later. |