Industry Profile: UMI Racing USA

Tech

By Splash Magazine

Title: UMI Racing USA
Subject: Industry Profile
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Article: Tom Kerker

Take a step back in time with Tom Kerker as he interviews the man behind UMI Racing USA. Where it all started, where its going and how racing has inspired performance.

A CLOSE UP LOOK AT URSCHEL MANUFACTURING, INC.

Since my main job with Splash is that of technical editor, you usually won't see me doing too many Industry Profiles. I would much rather be out of the office, doing some hard core testing. This month, I happen to break away from my main forte and try my hand at a face to face interview with the man and the minds behind U.M. I. Racing located in Scottsdale, AZ. Since the people at U.M.I. are very good friends of mine I decided to make an exception and I must admit, I'm glad I did.

HEADING TO PHOENIX, AZ

My plane departed at 6:45 AM from Orange County, CA, and an hour later I arrived in sunny Phoenix, AZ. I was met by owner Scott Urschel and his main wingman Kenny Romero. We grabbed my bags and jumped into a van, immediately something didn't seem right to me, we ended up going back into the airports runway area. At that very moment I knew I was in for something other than a face to face interview with U.M.I. Well, thirty seconds later, the van driver stopped and pulled along side of a helicopter, Scott with a grin on his face, said climb in, were not sitting in rush hour traffic today.

UMI HEADQUARTERS

The next few hours, to make a long story short, goes like this. We took off from the airport, a half hour later we landed the helicopter in the middle of the desert and got real close to nature, Ha-Ha!! We took off again and landed where Scott keeps his tournament ski boat dry docked, we dropped the boat in, did some barefoot skiing, jumped back in the copter and headed to the U.M.I. headquarters to do the interview. The greatest part about all this activity, is that it wasn't even noon yet! I want to thank Scott and Kenny for making my first Industry Profile a great one.

Image: This is what started it all! Back in the mid eighties Scott Urschel's began machining reloading parts for Dillon Precision. Needless to say, between the PWC parts, the Dillon account and other special government projects, U.M.l. is one busy place.

GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON YOURSELF

UMI: I grew up in Arizona. I'm thirty years old. In 1984, I married my wife Alisa, we now have two children, Jenna who is four years old and Kendell who is sixteen months. Since I was a kid, I worked for my father's manufacturing company, in the machine shop.

I started barefoot water skiing when I was fifteen and soon after competed in the nationals for three years running. I was introduced to Jet Skiing in 1983 and lets just say I don't barefoot much anymore, I'm a real Jet Ski enthusiast now.

Image: U.M.I. Racing is packed full of the latest high-tech CNC machines. A total of seven different units representing big-dollar investments are capable of turning out state-of-the-art parts.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

UMI: I had a water ski school and boat company in Lake Havasu City, AZ, then I started making barefoot ski booms back in 1980. In 1986, was helping a friend, Mike Dillon, restore his Navy Jet Trainer, he asked me if I would like to purchase a CNC Mill and do some machine work for his company, Dillon Precision. I decided to purchase the mill. Mike was having problems with deliveries from outside vendors, so he offered me all the work I could handle. Not long after the work load was getting out of hand, so decided to hire my grade school friend and neighbor, Kenny Romero, to help me make my delivery dates. Mike was satisfied and purchased more machines to increase production. At this point, Ken and I had more spare time. This time was devoted to the development of aftermarket jet ski parts.

Image: Lloyd Eason is all business when it comes to machine work. He is a wizard at designing and programing all the high-tech hardware used to crank out their parts. Here, Lloyd is taking a measurement of a reloading part for Dillon Precision.

HOBBIES BESIDES WORKING HARD?

UMI: My biggest hobby is aviation, I love flying helicopters and airplanes, water sports, fishing, shooting and of course doing things with my family.

HOW LONG HAS UMI RACING USA BEEN AROUND?

UMI: We started in 1984 as Scottsdale Water Sports and then in 1986 we changed our name to Urschel Manufacturing Inc or UMI Racing USA.

WHO WAS YOUR FIRST MAJOR SPONSORED RACER?

UMI: Victor Sheldon. He has been a great advertising tool for us and he is a great rider. We support him any way we can.

WHATS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING AN ENTHUSIASTS AND PARTS MANUFACTURER?

UMI: Well who's boat do you think has all the latest parts on it, as soon as they come off the machine? On the serious side though, testing is not only fun, but it helps us design better products for you, since we believe in making nothing but high quality parts.