Big names turning to camshaft exporter
The car that breaks the next Bonneville Salt Flats record may well be sporting a Kelford Cams camshaft.
Company owner Tony Gault can’t reveal details about specific clients except to say some of them are the biggest names in the racing industry.
He acquired Kelford Cams in 2013 from Kevin Ban, who is well known in the sector and remains a consultant to the company.
Gault said the purchase of the business ticked all the boxes – it was a manufacturer exporting about 85 per cent of its product, had a well-known brand, a good team and processes, and solid prospects.
One of those processes includes regular 30-day, 60-day and 90-day goal reviews to keep projects on track.
Gault has used export assistance available from Trade and Enterprise, as well as a Callaghan Innovation grant.
Kelford Cams specialises in reengineering cam shafts to increase engine power and torque.
Other parts of the engine and car often also require upgrading to cope with the additional stresses
Clients include amateur enthusiast ‘‘weekend warriors’’ as as well as car racing champions.
Aficionados are often prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands to fulfil their dreams.
‘‘We get a lot of phone calls for technical information because camshaft selection is seen as a black art in many ways but we’ll only sell what’s appropriate for the client rather than what we happen to have in stock,’’ Gault said.
While recognised internationally for expertise in Japanese multivalve engines, the company still experiences steady demand for 1950s Chevys (‘‘coalburners’’), Chryslers, Fords and other makes.