It's a rare occasion that this particular individual takes time off from his busy schedule, but when Ralph Radhey, owner of RMT Automotive in Temple Terrace, Florida, agreed with an infectious smile to have a sit down with us, we were thrilled. After a bit of small talk we got down to business.

AE:  You've been working on cars for a while now, where did you get your start?

RR: "I've been turning wrenches since 10 years old with my dad back home in Trinidad. Maybe even longer than that."

AE: You used to work for a local high end dealership. What inspired you to have a go of it on your own?

RR: "Well, it was a dream of mine, a goal of mine to go out on my own."

AE:  So what does RMT specialize in?

RR: "Well BMWs, unique custom work, one-off, but not on BMWs alone, any make and model."

AE: What has been you favorite build, and what are you currently building now?

RR: "I'm currently building a '94 Suzuki Swift GT turbocharged 1.3 liter DOHC , also a 1989 BMW 325i stroked to 3.2 and turbocharged M20 motor. We also have a '70 280SL Mercedes-Benz that we're doing an electronic fuel management, and some modification to the hood so it opens at 90 degrees instead of 60. I want to say the '89 BMW is my favorite. It has the 2000 M Roadster trailing arms, big brakes and axles. The front has '95 E36 M3 front suspension, and it has the 2000 Z3 2.8 rack and pinion."

AE: With all this custom work,what plans do you have in mind for RMT's development?

RR: "I plan to get a bigger shop, do more custom work, and build race cars."

AE: Now you race in a few SCCA events throughout the year, but how did you get into racing?

RR: " Because of my dad [laughing]. Following in the footsteps."

AE: What can you tell us about your track car?

RR: The car is a 1989 Suzuki Swift GTi competing in ITB (Improved Touring B class), in central Florida region. The rules permit you to blueprint and balance the engine. You can bore it to 0.040 over. You can raise the compression half of a point. You're allowed to put any header, exhaust, any final drive ratio, add LSD, ECU re-mapping, and anything in front of the MAF is ok.

AE: How many cars have you built and what was the lastest track car that you built?

RR: [Thinking]"Probably, I would say 5 or 6 including mine. The latest was a '69 BMW 2002. Wwe did head work and suspension all around, shocks, springs, bushings, braided fuel lines, fuel pump, and a Weber carb 2 barrel."

AE: With all this emphasis on racing have you ever thought of running a driving school?

RR: "Yes, somewhere down the road."

AE: Well we're just about out of time, so in closing do you have any advice for techs looking to break out on their own, or up and coming racers?

RR: "Just go for your goal basically, and if you're going to race work on your driving and your set ups before you add more power."

RMT Automotive

8602 Temple Terrace Highway

Temple Terrace, FL 33637

 www.RMTAutomotive.com

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