It's safe to say that Earl Laskey never thought he'd become a legend among import drag racers. Earl first got in touch with his mechanical side tinkering with karts and bikes, later followed by familiarizing himself with '50s-era race cars-yeah, '50s-era. During the next two decades he'd solidified himself as one of Orange County International Raceway's fastest. Though he left the drag world for a few years, he found his way back to support his later son Mike's budding drag racing career. The father and son combo racked up blistering runs, one after another, in the ultra-competitive import drag racing circuit with their home built CRX. The new found notoriety brought with it phone calls, knocks at the front door, and soon enough racers began requesting some of team Laskey's handiwork. It didn't take long for side jobs in the family garage to ensue.
By 2001 it was official, and the doors to Anaheim, California's Laskey Racing opened to the public. Offering every type of engine and transmission building service you could imagine, as well as a chance to tap into the wealth of knowledge that was Earl, proved to be the winning combination. To ensure quality, the team capitalized on Earl's long-time relationship with the undisputed king of Honda engine block sleeving, Dan Benson. Benson's 30-plus years of high-performance machining and his willingness to think outside of the box while still relying on old-school-perfected methods further cemented the Laskeys' reputation for quality and reliability.
But tragedy struck in December, 2006. Without warning, the man known throughout the industry as "the guy that would go out of his way to help anyone" passed away. The news sent shock waves through the import world, many of who wondered what would happen to the family business. Despite the hardship, Mike managed to keep the shop together and carry on the legendary name that is Laskey.
Mike estimates that since the shop's inception, he's built well over 700 engines, and isn't stopping anytime soon. Like his father, Mike prefers to deal with customers on a personal level, whether it's face to face, over the phone, or through e-mail. "There's too much bad information floating around out there. Even if I'm not doing a build or selling someone a part, I'll help them out as best as I can. Good info is going to keep them in this sport that we all love. Plus, it's great just meeting enthusiasts, and making new friends along the way," Mike says. Two generations of quality work backed by an emphasis on customer service and the progression of our sport. What a concept!