| DC Sports - Industry Spotlight
DC Sports was founded in 1987 by Darrick and Darrell Contreras. Their first product was a tubular exhaust header for the Honda CRX, a one-off commissioned by Honda. The brothers used state-of-the-art machinery to construct the header, namely a CNC machine to create the flange.
At that time, cutting torches were used to make flanges and often, the results were crude at best. The Contreras brothers' penchant for the leading edge technology paid off as their product grew in demand.
In the early years, DC Sports was synonymous with Honda performance. As with most Honda aftermarket companies at the time, the 1992 introduction of the EK Civic and the emergence of Honda's B-series engines added fuel to the fire. DC Sports was there and the company kept growing, with more machinery and staff.
Eventually, DC Sports expanded and now designs and manufactures headers, exhaust systems, strut bars, tie rods and accessories for more than the Honda nameplate. In fact, DC Sports is unleashing the power for Chevy, Hyundai, Infiniti, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, SCION, Subaru, Toyota and VW applications.
The company's 60,000 sq.-ft. facilities in Corona, Calif. is a far cry from the 1,440 sq. ft. at the brother's first shop. DC Sports utilizes the latest technology to create innovative designs and unmatched fitment, including computerized CNC lathes, mills and benders, and robotic plasma cutters and robotic welders. All pertinent DC Sports products are developed on the company's DynaPack chassis dyno or Dynamic Testing Systems dyno.
The biggest news surrounding DC Sports was its acquisition by AEM in the spring of 2004. Now AEM can address engine performance from filter element to polished exhaust tip and combined with AEM's EMS, and one has to wonder if AEM turbo kits are in the offing.
Turbo magazine toured DC Sports's facilities. The company certainly has the high-tech equipment, R&D prowess and passion to do most anything it sets its mind on, turbo kits and beyond.