Keith Black
Keith Black Racing Engines
Our History
Keith Black started his company by building engines for boat racing in the mid- 1940s. He was a fast learner, setting a world record the second time out on the Salton Sea. “I raced boats for a bit of myself, then someone said, ‘Come build an engine for me,’ and I built an engine (a flathead) for him. And then somebody else would say, ‘Well, gee, that ran good, so build me one,’ and someone else would want one, and so on. I got started in my backyard in the engine business. ”
In 1959, he opened Keith Black Racing Engines. By 1961, his boat racing exploits included nearly 50 national and international records. As his reputation grew, drag racers began to solicit his expertise. Tommy Greer, a longtime friend, then approached Keith with the idea of running a car together. It took more than a little convincing, but the final result was the famed Greer-Black-Prudhomme Top Fueler. During the 1962 and 1963 seasons, it won over 250 eliminator rounds and lost fewer than 25! Prudhomme was succinct in his assessment of Black’s abilities: “It was unbelievable how smart this Keith Black was.”
Keith Black Engines Today
Today under the leadership of President Tim Banning, Keith Black Engines recently moved their headquarters and manufacturing to Clearwater Florida. Keith Black Racing Engines are continuing the tradition of quality started by Keith Black and our engines are winning drag races around the world.
Our Team
Tim Banning
President
Tim Banning, owner of For Hemis Only in Canada, is the new President of Keith Black, Inc. He brings his 40 years’ experience of building Hemi Engines, designing racing heads and components.
Tim is committed to continuing the vision originally created by Keith Black. Tim is driven not only to maintain the KB block’s legendary status, but also to introduce new CAD designs, materials and machining improvements.
As President of KBI, he will continue to work closely with many of the top racers and engine builders to further the Hemi block’s evolution and refinement.
Chris Costanza
Merchandise and Marketing Director
Chris Costanza is 51 years old, and has been involved in Drag Racing his entire life. Growing up at all Southern California Drag Strips, in particular Orange County International Raceway, racing is in his DNA. His mother, Linda, was the babysitter for Keith and Jane Black in the mid 1950’s, where a lifelong friendship with the Black family was created. As a child, he was told by Keith to always work harder than anyone else, and good rewards would be sure to come. Those words from Keith, among many others, through his teenage years, are what he lives by today. He is forever grateful to Keith for the guidance and mentorship, as his wife, Shawna and he are passing on those values to their two sons, Adam, 16, and Nicholas, 14.
Victor Bray
Vice President
‘’’Victor Bray‘’’ is an Australian drag racing competitor in the Top Doorslammer class of racing. He drives a 1957 Chevy. A crowd favourite known for huge burnouts and fast times, Victor is considered a pioneer and legend of the sport. He is widely regarded as a key figure in the creation of the Wild Bunch and subsequent Top Doorslammer classes in Australian drag racing.
Victor is the owner & principal of Team Bray Racing. Victor has won the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship six times. Team Bray have been sponsored over the years by Castrol, Sidchrome, Gulf Western Oils and Century Batteries.
As KBI’s new Vice President of operations, Victor brings his vast knowledge and experience to Keith Black, Inc. With the overwhelming demand for both KBI street and race blocks, Victor plans to focus on increasing block production, along with developing many new KBI products and introducing them to the marketplace.
AUTHORIZED DEALERS
ALL Keith Black® Chrysler HEMI and WEDGE based engine blocks are sold exclusively through the Keith Black® Authorized Dealer Network.
Our Authorized Dealer Network comprises a small number of professional racing-engine building shops. They represent the most experienced, relevant and respected Chrysler HEMI and 440 engine builders around. Having, without exception a long history in building class-winning and record setting Chrysler HEMI and 440 engines.
We chose to partner with these outstanding people and businesses to ensure you will receive the very best advice and support from hands-on people that build Chrysler HEMI and 440 based engines every day.
