There are several key reasons why this merger is a good fit for our business.

First, both Midwest and S&S hold similar values and philosophies on doing business. We both share a passion for customer service, an emphasis on honesty and integrity, and stress the importance of supporting an inclusive culture in the workplace.

Second, both organizations are close to one another in the greater Chicago region.  We will be better able to support one another from our mutual headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois and Crown Point, Indiana.

Finally, this is a combination of two highly compatible organizations that will provide a wider array of services and more breadth across products. We will use our combined strength to continue to grow and, in a challenging global supply chain environment, help provide you the best pricing and service possible.

In total, our union offers a compelling, highly complementary combination that will be best suited to meet your needs in the years ahead.

It is important to us that this transaction does not disrupt your business activities in any way.  Please address all future payments to Midwest Truck and Auto Parts, LLC.  This is our new legal name as of August 1.  As other process changes occur, we will proactively communicate to you.

If you have any questions or concerns, you’d like to address personally about the merger, you can always reach out to your sales representative who can provide more information.  

We are excited about Midwest’s future with S&S, and we look forward to speaking with you about our combined offering.  We thank you as always for your support as we continue to serve you with the quality and respect that you’re accustomed to!

Sincerely,

Mark and Michael Chudacoff

Richmond Gear offers two different performance calculators (drag & street), as well as a calculator for gear ratios. You can find all of these tools here!

Find out more about it here: https://www.nhra.com/schedule/2017/nhra-mello-yello-drag-racing-series/aaa-texas-nhra-fallnationals

Richmond Gear had some stand out winners and a runner up in this year’s event.  In the Street Outlaw category, Charlie Cooper claimed the win with an E.T. of 4.404 at 168.06MPH, and Jarod Wenrick followed right on his heels with an E.T. of 4.470 at 165.99MPH.  In the Factory Super Cars event, Bruno Massel grabbed a tight win with an E.T. of 8.380 at 161.98MPH…just 0.004 seconds faster than the runner up!  These three drivers had Richmond Gear Ring & Pinions helping to push them to the finish line.  Way to go, guys!

At the 2016 Pro Extreme opener in Tulsa, Oklahoma Snider began his journey to the championship title on the right foot. During the race, Snider took first place and also set a new National ET Record of 3.486, that still stands. As the season roared on, so did Snider’s engine allowing him to take home six number one qualifying awards. He went into the semi-finals or finals at almost every event he participated in. Defending champion, Jason Scruggs put in a valiant effort, but Snider was determined to make 2016 his year. Winning the first round of the PDRA World Finals with a 3.52, guaranteed Snider’s 2016 championship title. Snider thanked all of his sponsors for supporting him in his win of the championship.

Richmond Gear is one of Snider’s top sponsors. His 1969 Camaro carries Richmond Gear’s high-quality performance ring and pinions. These ring and pinion sets are manufactured to improve your vehicle’s performance and endure strenuous activity, like the tremendous engine torque that is output during Pro Extreme drag racing. Richmond Gear prides itself on creating quality parts that match or exceed OEM specifications. All Richmond Gear products undergo strict quality control tests in our state-of-the-art labs. Richmond Gear’s high-quality performance ring and pinions are tested for strength, tolerance, and hardness. After they have met Richmond Gear’s strict quality guidelines, all of our products are stamped with the Double Diamond seal of approval and shipped to our valued customers and sponsored drivers, like Brandon Snider.  His 2016 win is a win for Richmond Gear high quality performance ring and pinions.

Richmond Gear proudly announces the next generation in a long line of legendary four and five speed manual transmissions. The new Super T-10 and Super T-10 Plus 4-speed and the Super Street 5-Speed with overdrive are completely re-engineered inside and out to make them stronger, yet still lightweight. They will stand up to the brutal power and torque of modern power plants while retaining original mounting provisions and the appearance demanded by owners of vintage performance cars. Better still, they are assembled in the USA.

Major improvements to the Richmond Super T-10 include an all-new case casting featuring more uniform thickness throughout than original T-10’s resulting in increased strength and less flex under demanding conditions. Further contributing to case rigidity is a new billet aluminum or optional milled steel mid-plate. Internally, the lightweight gears are CNC machined to precise tolerances and then heat treated for strength. Gear backlash tolerances are also significantly improved. All forward gears are fully synchronized with brass ring synchronizers incorporating reverse lock sliders to prevent an accidental shift into reverse at speed.  The combination of lightweight gears, heavy duty synchonizers, less case flex and reduced gear backlash all serve to significantly reduce gear crunch during spirited driving. Richmond Gear Super T-10 and Super T-10 Plus 4-speed transmissions are rated at up to 375 lb.-ft. of torque, weigh a mere 70 pounds (dry), feature a 26-spline input shaft and are available in six gear configurations with a low 1st for a good dig on launch and close spacing between 2nd and 4th to keep your engine in its power band.

The Richmond Super Street 5-Speed with Overdrive was designed and engineered with competition in mind. Available in two versions, the Super Street and Road Race 5-speed transmissions offer tremendous power handling capacity (600 lb.-ft.) with easy serviceability, thanks to their innovative high-strength case design featuring a standard billet aluminum mid-plate and greasable tailshaft bushing. As with the Richmond Super T-10, gears in the Super Street 5-speed are CNC machined and heat treated for light weight and strength. Road race brass synchros are actuated by heavy-duty shift forks for fast, positive shifts. A billet steel front bearing retainer provides excellent input shaft stability – ideal for extreme duty clutches. Both Richmond 5-speed transmissions some standard with a Long shifter incorporating high-strength heat-treated rods and a robust side lever mechanism. Available with 2.89, 3.06 and 3.33 1st gear ratios, there’s a Richmond Gear Super Street 5-speed that’s perfect for your weekend warrior or Saturday night special.

The Richmond Gear Super T-10, Super T-10 Plus and the Super  Street 5-speed are all made in the USA and carry a 12 month, 12,000 mile guarantee. They have been proven on the banks of NASCAR tracks, at the dragstrip and on road courses the world over. For the latest information on these and other Richmond Gear products, visit www.RichmondGear.com or call (800) 934-2727.

Steve Chrisman is one such racer. As the owner of Chrisman Driveline Components and California Gear in Anaheim, CA as well as an NHRA Top Fuel driver, Steve is very aware of the importance of reliability and repeatability of any racecar or truck. His family’s racing background dates back to the pioneering days of the NHRA, where Steve learned firsthand the importance of experimentation and the use of quality parts. “In the 1960’s, 9″ Ford rear axles were commonly used until better track prep and stronger clutches started causing them to fail under the intense stresses of repeated hard launches.” said Steve in a recent interview. “We tried a 10.5″, which was stronger, but it was also heavier.” Experimentation in his own drag car taught Steve that ring gears could be machined thinner to reduce weight without negatively affecting reliability as long as the torsional strength of the gear was not compromised.

As horsepower continued to rise, new gears were needed to maintain reliability. Bigger gears were proven to be better before, so Steve made the logical move to a 12″ ring gear again machining it for weight savings. Through all of the size changes, Steve has stuck with one manufacturer through it all: Richmond Gear. “We became a Richmond Gear distributor in 1978,” says Steve. “Through the years, they’ve worked with racers to improve the consistency and longevity of driveline parts. When you’re spending over $2.5 Million per year to run Top Fuel, you need to best parts you can get!”

Considering that Top Fuel dragsters are currently making about 11,000 horsepower, having gears that can survive that kind of power is critical not only to remain competitive, but also safe. “Twelve inches is about as big as the ring gear can get, but Richmond Gear has continuously improved the strength and consistency of their materials to keep up with the increased power.” says Steve. “As we try different setups, Richmond Gear works with us to manufacture gearsets with larger pinion shafts, more splines in different materials.”

Chrisman Driveline Components has grown to supply Third Members for NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car teams. Running a successful shop is certainly a full time endeavor for Chrisman, but he still competes in 6-10 NHRA events per year along with many of his customers. His participation helps him understand his customers’ needs while fulfilling his desire to compete. “We’re a low-budget independent team,” Steve admits “…we do it because we love to compete!” It’s that very spirit and commitment to the sport of drag racing that makes Chrisman the successful innovator, racer and businessman that he is.

“We are definitely thrilled to have formed a partnership with this outstanding company,” says Doug Winters. “It is an honor for us and for the entire team to have the backing of a company of their caliber and we are looking forward to a great season. We have been using Richmond products for years. Their ring and pinion Sets have always been in our cars. Adding them to our team is a big plus. We look forward to representing and marketing Richmond at the races.

Doug and Winters Racing will compete at NHRA and ADRL Pro Modified national events.

www.wintersracing.com

1. RACE at your hometown track or series…
2. RUN the Richmond Gear DECAL all season long…
3. IN the Richmond Gear Weekend Warrior Prize Package!

Here’s how it works…

• Your track/series will designate 1-3 events as Richmond Gear Weekend Warrior events between August 1^st -September 15^th
• Richmond Gear will send awards to event for presentation in winners circle
• Three lucky Richmond Gear Weekend Warriors will receive $150 prize packages!
• That’s nearly $600 in bonus awards for three winning Weekend Warrior Racers at each track!

Richmond Gear rewards Weekend Warrior racers!
RUN THE RICHMOND DECAL AND WIN!

Contact your local track for more details.