{loadposition banner2}
Their passion for drag racing comes second to only their passion for one another.
Al and Kim Kussy, owners of Aerospace Components, have their company's fingerprint throughout the drag racing world.
“Drag racing pretty much is the total package of our company,” said Kim. “I mean we strictly appeal to the drag racers. All of our components are made for drag racers I have our billet aluminum made products here in our facility so we really can say truthfully that it is designed and built here in our warehouse, our machine shop so we can say Made in the USA.”
Those designs come from Al, who also serves as the company’s design engineer. Next year will mark three decades the two have been in business together, initially through government contracts and branching off into their first love -- the drag racing community.
“We knew a product line was really where it was at, not sitting on a job,” Kim added. “That’s the birth of the beginning of our drag racing. We made little 5-inch wheels and from there we started doing brake systems and now we’re in all genres. We did a little IHRA in the beginning, we’ve always been involved with NHRA, sportsman racers, over 20 years we’ve been with them, sponsoring and supporting the racers and going to the events.”
Now it’s hard to venture into any major race series without seeing some part of the Aerospace Components presence.
In a day and time when bottom line often trumps business promotion, Kim said it’s her and Al’s passion for the racers which inspires a gradual involvement increase each year.
“We really do care,” Kim explained. “It’s the golden rule. Everyone here abides by that golden rule that you hear about in the Bible, ‘Do unto others as you’d want them to do unto you.”
No better place they have found the Golden Rule to be more important than in their customer service and racer support departments.
“People call here, and our guys and gals are race enthusiasts and it helps them to connect immediately. They’ve been down the track, own cars; and they go racing. They know racing and they’ll go the extra mile on a tech call. Sometimes they’ll even help on the weekends to do an install for a small fee. They care because that’s their passion and they love it and we do too.”
The Kussys are originally from Dearborn, Mich., a place where Kim says it's not hard to have racing blood flowing through your veins.
“It’s always kind of been in our blood, cars, and the drag strip,” said Kim. “We raced at Detroit Dragway before it closed. It’s always been our passion and we could cross over to other forms of racing but the drag racing industry is resilient, even during the recessional years.”
And when a drag racer wins a race, Kim said the resiliency turns emotional. This is why amongst their many activation avenues the Kussys sponsor the winner’s circle festivities at the NMCA/NMRA events.
There they share the thrill of victory with the winners, and experience the thrill of overcoming the odds to win.
“It’s getting in that winners circle, getting that trophy, getting a hat and getting those huge payouts plus a contingency check,” Kim explained. “I’ve talked personally with so many racers who love getting the money, but they love the thrill of winning so much that they want to go to the events.”
Additionally Aerospace sponsors the NHRA’s Best Engineered Award as well as the Wally program with the NMCA. They were also the sponsor of the NHRA’s Unleashed program.
In the end, Al and Kim really cannot see themselves doing anything else other than giving back to the community.
"You’re only successful at what you love doing and we love doing what we do," she explained. "Al and I feel very blessed to have our 30th year next year. We can’t even believe it. I met him at 16 and married shortly after then our first was born shortly after. This is what’s unique about this we’re partners in life, side by side, and we’re partners in our business. We’re both good at what we do, we compliment each other.
"Even our CPA says, 'you guys are such a unique blend and you don’t see that very often.'
"Not to pump us up or anything, but it just works for us."
And in the end, their involvement works for drag racing.
Categories:
:::::: News ::::::