DragRaceCanada Aligns with Karbelt/Parts Pro
DragRaceCanada.com - April 17, 2008
 DragRaceCanada is pleased to announce it's latest major sponsorship affiliation. Reputed Karbelt Speed and Custom, Canada's first and largest automotive performance equipment distributor, in conjunction with Parts Pro, have come to agreement to be the new presenting sponsors for our ultra-popular and highly reputed Photo Gallery. The multi-year agreement was finalized in April.
 "We couldn't be happier to have such an iconic Canadian company join our team of advertising partners," said Bruce Biegler, the founder and Editor of DragRaceCanada. "We thank everyone involved at Karbelt and Parts Pro for their support and for also sharing the vision and the importance of what we are doing for Canadian drag racing."
Karbelt Speed & Custom Inc.
Over Half A Century Of Speed
Canada’s First And Largest Automotive Performance Equipment Distributor
Karbelt started out with modest beginnings to become over half a century later, Canada's first and largest automotive performance equipment distributor.
Starting with a $2,000.00 loan to purchase their first order of automotive seatbelts, a newly popular safety device, George and Lois Foote opened a new family business, KAR-BELT in a small basement location on Bay Street in Toronto, Ontario in March 1952. Later they changed the company’s name to “Karbelt Sales” and their product line grew to include seatbelts, spark plugs, anti-freeze and wheel discs as well as other products. 1959, they moved to the larger first floor to offer more new products, such as floor shifters, fender-skirts, tube grills and chrome accessories and in 1960 with their retail operation proving such a success, they established the wholesale division of Karbelt and began to expand further the introduction of performance automotive parts into the growing Canadian market. Cal Custom, Hurst, Mallory, Foxcraft, Offenhauser and Isky were among their first few suppliers to sell directly to Karbelt. In 1961, the company was incorporated and renamed "KARBELT SPEED & CUSTOM INC." Karbelt later became the first Canadian distributor for Mr. Gasket Company.
In 1963, KARBELT was instrumental in the development of automotive performance in Quebec when they opened Quebec's very first Speed and Custom shop in Quebec and in the Eastern provinces when they later open many Speed Shops in the years that followed. 1964 was the year the Big 3 automakers discovered the desire for faster cars and started selling muscle cars, which created even more interest in aftermarket parts. George Foote leased the popular Cayuga 1320 Dragway from 1967-1969 to further promote the automotive hi-performance industry to the young up and coming Hot Rodders. Many new Toronto area speed shops began to open in an effort to satisfy the demand for speed parts.
1970, performance products sales were skyrocketing and Karbelt moved again to a new facility in Toronto, on Bayview Avenue north of Eglinton. A year later in the same building, they expanded from the initial 5,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet and in 1979 to the full 32,000 square feet. January 1, 1996, after 25 years at the same location, Karbelt expanded to their current site, a new distribution facility in Ajax, Ontario only 20 minutes east of Toronto. It’s a highly productive warehouse facility with 24-foot high ceilings, four truck level doors and computerized shipping, located on over three acres of property with much room for future expansion.
Even after celebrating their 50th anniversary, another milestone in the Canadian performance aftermarket, the future continues to look bright for Karbelt. Karbelt continues to sell over 100 product lines ranging from Sport Compact to Racing to Street Rod components to various Canadian specialty shops and garages.
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