The ‘Most Demanding Environment’ – How Drag-and-Drive Fuels Motion Raceworks to Create New and Better Products
To come out with a product or service endorsed by a big name can get you attention, but to have people talk about your products without the endorsement is the ultimate goal.
Doug Cook realized this vision when he started Motion Raceworks, and the commitment to continue making products that work better and last longer has expanded into three more companies, adding Cleetus McFarland to the ownership crew, and bringing drag-and-drive runners Brett LaSala and Jim Braun onboard as they headed into 2025.
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After getting Motion Raceworks off the ground and successful, the TBM Brakes and Rife Sensors came aboard the train a few years back. Fluidworks was the most recent company purchased, in 2023. They introduced their first products in the oil pump side, but there are now producing parts for the fuel side of things as well.
“It’s been another record year for us,” said Doug Cook. “I think it’s mostly because we are constantly developing new products, and we have new markets developing.” But although they are getting more reach and sales in new markets, Doug continues to stress the importance of the drag-and-drive community.
“Outside of a Screw-blown HEMI (a nod to Stevie ‘Fast’ Jackson’s ride), the drag-and-drive events are the most demanding environment,” Doug admitted. “There are so many failure points; you can make a car go down the track, but what about surviving hundreds or thousands of miles on the street? It gives us the best places to develop products and test them. When grassroots enthusiasts buy something, they need it to last.”
One of Motion’s newest products is a fresh look on their successful catch cans, the Active 2 Stage Catch Can and Oil Separator. “I did a road tour with Mr. Sam earlier this year (in the Bubba Nova) to test this product out,” said Doug. “Our newest catch can came from talking with people, and when they demand something, we answer.”
The demands of customers has added things to not just Motion Raceworks’ line up, but the TBM Brakes stock as well. “We need something to handle the heavier cars that drive on the roads, not just the ones that pull the parachute,” said Doug. “So we introduced a medium duty line of brakes, and then added the XS3 brakes with a vented rotor that can handle more abuse.”
Rife Sensors has also seen some revisions and some ingenuity. “Earlier this year we started talking more to people that not only use the products, but people that wire the cars,” said Doug. This led to different connectors, better designs on existing products, and even a new driveshaft sensor two years in the making.
“Most of our products are 12-24 months to create,” Doug said. “That was derived from our front wheel speed sensor. We re-purposed it, but tested the shit out of it before releasing it for sale.”
With all the new products, Motion needed more room for the inventory, so the Iowa facility is also getting an expansion at the location that Motion has been at since 2018.
“We purchased a building next door to our current building, and along with a joining warehouse addition, we’re adding 15,000 square feet to Motion Raceworks,” said Doug. “We have even more coming in the future, and the drag-and-drive community is a big part of that.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Motion Raceworks.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com