Blue Ridge Machine and Motorsports, LLC
Blue Ridge Machine and Motorsports, LLC
969 Acorn Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
United States
ph: 540-432-6560
alt: 540-560-0079
BRMM70
J.J.Hall the owner of BRMM.
J.J.'s history in motorsports starts out at a very young age, it all started with going to the Richmond Dragway in Richmond Va. to watch his father Ed Hall run A/altered gas with a 1952 Jag with an 409 chevy, that was in about 1967 maybe 68.
Next comes the dirt racing, When the new Saluda dirt track opens his father Ed ventures into dirt racing that was about 1970-71? J.J. right on his heels, this is where it really takes a turn in his life to be hooked on motorsports. J.J. remembers his father winning many races at Saluda which is now Va. Motorsports Park, J.J. remembers when his father got out of driving and put in Buck Harris and set a track record that was untouched for many,many yrs.
J.J. also seen the bad that went along with racing, failed engines, bad components, not enough knowledge, these were the pioneering days of racing. It was so incredible to watch and help his father make so many parts, from custom oil pans to headers,jack bolts,a frames to complete race cars you couldn't buy this stuff in those days!
In 1975-76 the Family moves back to the Valley, this is where J.J. got to really learn how stuff was made and worked. His father Open the doors to a new business in 1976 Dale Engineering, father Ed was a machinist by trade, so J.J. got hands on training buy working with his father. J.J. learned very early that if it was not machined to the prints that a customer sent in that it was junk, no if and buts about it and it just cost the company big time to re machine the part or parts over, not good!
J.J. at 14yrs old gets into kart racing in about 1976, runs that for about two yrs. His father wouldn't buy him the good stuff so he had to make it, build it, or trade out machining jobs, welding jobs, the shop was open for him to use at any time when the day work was completed. If he needed to do some horse trading to get better parts, this was the teaching, training grounds that his father taught him and he didn't really know it .
J.J. at 15 got into tractor pulling, He ran Mini Modified's on the Virgina Tractor Puller's circut, NTPA circut, this was a 1550lbs class of pullers that was kick ass. These guys had blown bb chevy's, blown hemi's you name it it was mounted on that little chassis. Just like before if you want one your going to build it your self Pop's not buying it! So with that in mind he built one of the baddest pullers in the country, it started with just parts that was left over from dirt track racing that his father had used up and needed rebuilt. J.J.'s stuff ran so good that other pullers where having him build complete chassis to complete rides that he had to compete against, this worked out great he was making changes to other peoples stuff that was kicking butt at there tracks.
J.J. now at about 20yrs old wanted to run with the big dogs of pulling. He set out on a mission of take no prisoner's, the new puller had to be built very strong, very light and very powerful to run with those guys and to win points in that class.
With the new puller built alu. chassis, quick change rear end,and yes the new power plant was a lycoming T53L1-A turbine that made 900hp and 1400lbs of torque with water and methanol added to it this was one bad mama. The motor ran for 7 yrs and never gave one problem but the drive train was something else.
In 1984 J.J. went on to place very well in the NTPA in the Mini Modified class.
In that same yr he won the motorcycle championship at Eastside Speedway, drag racing his FJ1100 Yamaha street bike.
From J.J.: At 60 yrs. old now, I know how hard it is to chase your dreams or accomplishments that drives us. That's why when people come to me for work to be done that it's got to be right!.
I also know that most of the stuff we do for people it's a one time thing and it's all the money you have to spend, so we cant take short cuts.
I also know my limitations of skills and knowledge, with that being said I have been very fortunate to have meet alot of good people in my life that has guided me or teached me the been there done that.
At 16yrs old I was taking customers motors to Lee Edwards the legend of pro stock racing, Lee tought me a lot about the dyno tuning of engines. I also new the late Walley Duncan in Richmond Va. He was the man on 2bbl oval track stuff, he was very helpful during my engine building learning curves, the late Dale Groah in Fair Field,Va. A great friend and my biggest competitor in the oval track engines, we have worked closer than most people would like to know. Coy Miller owner of CMR, Coy's been a great friend, some people just don't understand how two engine builders get along so well even tho we're both in the same type business in the same town, we highly respect each other, well maybe we do BS each other sometimes LOL!
My biggest accomplishments have been:
Building and tuning motors for people like, The Late Wilson Shank, Wilson was the oldest dirt racer in the country. I watched this legend when I was just a kid, Then came the opportunity to do Wilson's motors his last few year's of racing, He will be missed.
Dennis and Tony Knicely, worked with them for over 20 years, Tony had a season that he won like 20 out of 25 races.
Jerry Mundy, This is were I got into doing more work for the tractor pullers, Jerry traveled the NTPA puller Circuit with his Super Stock, this was one high maintenance monster. Jerry done very well in that class of pullers.
Jack Fulk, Building 2.3 Ford engines for him. Jack had a Season that he won the Points Championships at two different tracks in one season, Jack later went in to Late Models where we did 351 Fords for him. Now Jack is running the Super Pro class in Drag racing, He built a new 2007 all glass Mustang with an all Alu. 427 SB Ford. Car has been a 8.81@151mph 1/4 mile. Would like to say thanks Jack for being a very great friend for all these years!
Terry and Kriston Looney, not only building engines for them but helping with the Superlate chassis. Kriston and Terry have been a long time friend and customer since Kriston started in the four cylinder class at Eastside Speedway. Thanks Terry for all the help in the new busines.
Building and tuning dirt engines for the Famous Dave"The Flying Hippie''Sibold, This guy and his family have been great to work with. In 2007 Dave was track Champion in Super Late Models at Eastside Speedway in Va. Also new to the Sibold stables in his second car Will be CS Fitzgerald for the 2009 season. This will be the first team to have two cars in the same class running for the Points Championship, Good luck guy's.
John Rittenhouse, This guy has taken the Shenandoah Valley by surprise! John has had one of those seasons that most have dreamed of. John has become the guy to beat at the drag race's. Thanks John and good luck in 2009.
Building Jr. Dragster engines for the kids that were racing against mine and not charging one dime of labor, only parts at cost, Those engines are total out of control with the cost involved.
I cant forget my now (EX Wife) and kids, We have two great kids, Mallory and James. James 20' is going to college for a engineering degree in motorsports, so his racing has been put on hold, He was rookie of the yr. in the sportsman class at Eastside Speedway, he also ran Jr. Dragsters for two yrs before he took over the late model I was driving. Mallory 19' my wild child, this kid can drive the wheels off of anything she gets into, She started out in Jr.Dragsters won the Championship her Second yr. Put her in a Mini Cup car on Asphalt that one of my friends had and finished 3rd in the first race. James had been Driving part time on the Asphalt tracks for a guy on his weekends home in a Half Scale truck, very fast. On the nights that James wasn't home Mallory would race it. Man that was a crazy summer.
Our Business Ethnics At BRMM
It all comes down to pride in your work," It don't matter if the guy is spending 1 dollar or thousands they all should get the best job", This was a qoute from my father, now i've passed that qoute on to my son.
Owner of BRMM J.J. Hall
J.J. and his son James at the flowbench. James is the third generation of engine builders in the family. James has really taking off with the flowbench and dyno tuning. Now I know what all that money was spent for in College.
Jason and James in the assembly room, putting together a 1939 Lasalle.
Copyright BRMM, LLC. All rights reserved.
Blue Ridge Machine and Motorsports, LLC
969 Acorn Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
United States
ph: 540-432-6560
alt: 540-560-0079
BRMM70