Race Winning Brands Acquires Falicon
Race Winning Brands Inc. has acquired Falicon Crankshaft Components Inc., a manufacturer of high performance powersports engine components including crankshafts, connecting rods, camshaft sprockets, and racing clutches. Falicon represents the fourth add-on acquisition for Race Winning Brands, a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries LLC. The company will continue operating from their headquarters and manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida.
Falicon’s former owner, Glenn Salpaka, will continue to play a leading role within the organization as technical and operations consultant.
“I’m excited about the future of Falicon,” Salpaka said. “The RWB team possesses extensive industry experience and resources which will be extremely beneficial for not only Falicon, but our customers. Together, we plan to expand our customer service, capabilities, and technology.”
In addition to retaining the current management team, industry veterans Devin Rickey and Jack Sparks will join Falicon in leadership roles. Rickey, a race component engineer and operations leader with experience at McLaren Performance Technologies and Arrow Racing Engines, joins Falicon as general manager and chief engineer. Sparks, ex-president of Carrillo and 40-year veteran of connecting rod design and manufacturing, joins Falicon as technical director.
Founded in 1977, Falicon offers both off-the-shelf and custom-made race engine components utilizing extensive CNC machines, crankshaft grinders and gear shaping equipment, according to the company. Falicon crankshaft assemblies have successfully powered engines to NHRA Pro Stock and AMA Supercross victories, along with leading countless racers and enthusiasts to wins across all powersport segments.
“For decades, Falicon has been known to the powersports racing community as a trusted brand and high-quality manufacturer of crankshafts and connecting rods,” said Brian Reese, CEO of Race Winning Brands. “Falicon products fit perfectly into our engine parts focused strategy. We have already begun investing in the expansion of Falicon’s capabilities and look forward to expanding their offerings quickly. In support of this strategy, we’re updating the business name to Falicon Racing.”
Race Winning Brands is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio and markets its products globally through a portfolio of brands that include JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, K1 Technologies, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Dart Machinery, Rekluse Motor Sports, and ProX Racing Parts.
“We are excited about Race Winning Brands adding another premium powersports brand to its stable of branded products,” said Tom Tuttle, managing director of Kinderhook Industries. “The strong strategic fit will enable RWB to leverage growth and expansion across the market.”
