TECH Stuff #12– My Thoughts and Comments
Since this is the last of a series of TECH Stuff added to the advertisement for the TQ, SLT and RT5 wheels, I decided to take the opportunity to put in a plug for the wheels and the company that offers them. They are great wheels. They are manufactured to the highest quality standards, tested to meet the SAE J2530 Aftermarket Wheel specification, and designed to offer the best sizes, fitments and styling for Hot Rods, Customs and Muscle Cars. I’m a bit partial because I designed and created them. I retired in January of 2007.
Prior to retiring, I owned and operated WheelTech International Corp. I’ve been in the wheel industry for 40 years. I started in the steel wheel business and evolved into aluminum wheels. I still like steel wheels but simple chrome plated alloys are my choice. Back in 1969 I worked with another company and developed the first Smoothie style steel wheel. I was in the metal stamping business then and built the tooling and stamped the centers. I later designed the Steel Mod wheel in 1979. After that I was hooked. I ate, breathed and slept wheels.
In 1981 I formed a small wheel company called Cal/Master. I specialized in VW and FWD steel wheels. In 1987 I sold Cal/Master to Progressive Wheel in Riverside California. That’s when I was introduced to aluminum wheels. I spent the next 4 years learning the art of manufacturing aluminum wheels, both one piece and two piece. I found I had a particular flair for designing, so I dove head first into learning everything I could about designing, engineering, testing and manufacturing.
In 1990, I fell into an opportunity that set the course for the rest of my career. I was offered a project to design the wheels for a new company being formed in China. I was part of a group that built a complete turn key aluminum wheel manufacturing factory. This factory was the second of what was to become many such factories in China and So. Korea. These factories were built using the latest state-of-the art equipment and technology. Compared to the factories operating in the States at the time, these were light years ahead in technology. The quality was far superior and the costs were much more competitive.
I designed the initial group of wheels for the Chinese factory based on what would sell in the US. After the wheels were tooled and ready for production, the Chinese came to me and asked if I knew where they could sell the wheels. After a long period of contemplation (about 10 seconds) I agreed to give it a whirl. It’s a lot more involved and complicated, but to put it simply, I again fell into a situation that got me a national account that bought and sold a lot of wheels, Sears. This afforded me the opportunity to travel all over Asia (every country but 5 or 6), see many sights and meet many very nice people. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything, even a Hot Rod built by Boyd or Chip.
In 2000, I decided to slow down a bit and get back to my favorite hobby and first love, (other than my wife of 44 years and my kids), cars. I started building a 1929 Model A when I was just out of high school, but I joined the Marines and that ended that. My first project was to build a shop at home. So I added a 1000 sq ft shop on my property. Then I found a 1954 Olds Super 88 (that’s what I had in high school). When I started looking for wheels for the Olds, I couldn’t find anything I liked. Everyone either had Torque Thrusts, Cragar SS’s or Billets. I wanted something different. That prompted me to design the TQ Rod Wheel. I wanted a 5 spoke, fairly deep dish and chrome plated. I used the Torque Thrust, the Cragar SS and the Supreme as my inspiration, and the TQ was the result.
I later discovered that the old Slotted Mags were only found at swap meets so I bought an old Indy Mag and used it to design the SLT Muscle Mag. Then I noticed that the Rodders were starting to ask for more lip (I’d go there, but I won’t) so I came up with the RT5 Retro Alloy.
Now I’m retired, and except for writing these TECH Stuff articles, and doing a little technical consulting for the factory, I’m working on my Olds and some honey-do-list items my wife laid on me my second day of retirement. I sold my three Hot Rod Wheel business to some really nice folks in Long Beach, California, Hank and Glenn Feldman. They have been in the wheel business over 30 years and have a real handle on the business and can meet any need you have. They offer tires along with the wheels. They not only sell the TQ, SLT and RT5 but some of the other wheels that I mentioned (that everyone has). If you are tired of seeing the same styles (sometimes I think Torque Thrusts were OEM on Tri-Five Chevys), then check out the TQ, SLT or RT5 now offered by HRH Classic Alloys.
As for me, I’ll never be famous, but I do know wheels. Unlike a couple of really good Hot Rod designers/ builders, turned TV celebrities, turned wheel designers, I’m a wheel engineer/designer turned 65 and retired. I have created a Blog, so if you want to rain on my parade or ask me some technical questions, look me up at WheelProfessor.com, I’d love to share 40 years of experience.