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ACL Distribution Recognizes Keith Dorton For 50 Years Of Innovation
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ACL Distribution, Inc. recently paid tribute to Keith Dorton and his company, Automotive Specialists, Inc., with a commemorative memento marking the company's 50th year of race engine innovations.
But, in fact, Dorton's performance engine skills and experience extend beyond 50 years. His first internal combustion engine challenge was with an early vintage flat head Ford, which he rebuilt when he was 12 years old. While most 12-year-olds were tinkering with their bicycles, Dorton's attention was on points, plugs, timing, carburetion and any other way of coaxing a horsepower or two from each of the V8 cylinders. He continued enhancing the performance of OEM engines and at age 15 started racing his accomplishments at a local drag strip.
Dorton chose not to pursue racing as a driver and concentrated instead on engine building. He continued visiting Charlotte area tracks and drag strips, not as a driver, but as an observer to watch his engines compete and learn what he could about increasing horsepower and durability.
Before long, Dorton gained a reputation for building fast and dependable race engines. The word spread and he was building a clientele and a reputation as the go-to guy for custom performance engines. In 1965, he got serious about developing an enterprise devoted exclusively to performance gasoline engines and established Automotive Specialists, Inc, in Concord, North Carolina. Coincidentally the business is located about three minutes from the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Fifty years hence, Automotive Specialists, Inc. has received international recognition for having established 19 SCAT-sanctioned World Land Speed Records at Bonneville Salt Flats events. ASI have won numerous races in various circle track venues, including a NASCAR Daytona 500. Dorton and his staff are credited with developing and building engines for a number of high profile race car drivers, including the legendary Dale Earnhart as well as Dale's father, Ralph, and Dale's son, Dale Jr.
Today's Automotive Specialists is a huge departure from the one-man shop of a half-century ago. At the outset, Dorton continually invested in equipment and technology; their machine shop, dyno lab and assembly room are second to none.
The staff includes Dorton's son, Jeff, and married daughter, Camille, who oversees the administrative functions of the business; and Keith's wife, Patsy, who has been the business mainstay since the beginning.
But, in fact, Dorton's performance engine skills and experience extend beyond 50 years. His first internal combustion engine challenge was with an early vintage flat head Ford, which he rebuilt when he was 12 years old. While most 12-year-olds were tinkering with their bicycles, Dorton's attention was on points, plugs, timing, carburetion and any other way of coaxing a horsepower or two from each of the V8 cylinders. He continued enhancing the performance of OEM engines and at age 15 started racing his accomplishments at a local drag strip.
Dorton chose not to pursue racing as a driver and concentrated instead on engine building. He continued visiting Charlotte area tracks and drag strips, not as a driver, but as an observer to watch his engines compete and learn what he could about increasing horsepower and durability.
Before long, Dorton gained a reputation for building fast and dependable race engines. The word spread and he was building a clientele and a reputation as the go-to guy for custom performance engines. In 1965, he got serious about developing an enterprise devoted exclusively to performance gasoline engines and established Automotive Specialists, Inc, in Concord, North Carolina. Coincidentally the business is located about three minutes from the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Fifty years hence, Automotive Specialists, Inc. has received international recognition for having established 19 SCAT-sanctioned World Land Speed Records at Bonneville Salt Flats events. ASI have won numerous races in various circle track venues, including a NASCAR Daytona 500. Dorton and his staff are credited with developing and building engines for a number of high profile race car drivers, including the legendary Dale Earnhart as well as Dale's father, Ralph, and Dale's son, Dale Jr.
Today's Automotive Specialists is a huge departure from the one-man shop of a half-century ago. At the outset, Dorton continually invested in equipment and technology; their machine shop, dyno lab and assembly room are second to none.
The staff includes Dorton's son, Jeff, and married daughter, Camille, who oversees the administrative functions of the business; and Keith's wife, Patsy, who has been the business mainstay since the beginning.
