Wilwood Wins

For 40 years Wilwood has worked with the best teams in the motorsports industry. From dirt and asphalt tracks, to ovals, road courses and drag racing strips, Wilwood has helped drivers win countless races and championships. For more wilwood win photos, click here.

Wilwood Logo Evolution

Over its 40 year history Wilwood’s brand logo went through a number of evolutions. The original logo was created by Bill while sitting at his kitchen counter and mimicked Richard Petty’s colors, because Richard was so popular and running Wilwood brakes.

Wilwood Facility Expansion

In 2016 Wilwood doubled their company footprint by purchasing a second 100,000 square foot building that houses expanded product manufacturing, along with all warehouse and shipping operations. The company’s first location was set in owner Bill Wood apartment in Reseda, California. Bill designed the calipers at his kitchen table before..Read more

Military HUMVEE Program

Around the start of the new millennium Wilwood partnered with AM General to develop and supply braking components for the military HUMVEE program. Although the program slowed shortly after 9/11, it was revived in 2005.

Wilwood Partners with Disney

Around 2000 Wilwood began working with Disney and creates braking components for their theme park rides including the GM Test Track in Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Wilwood Partners with Harley-Davidson

Wilwood entered the two-wheel market in 1993, partnering with Harley-Davidson to create the VR1000, ‘America’s Superbike’.

Wilwood Enters the OEM Market

Around 1992 Wilwood entered the large-scale OEM market partnering with Arctic Cat with a snowmobile caliper and handlebar master cylinder.

Gator Pads Launched

In 1991 Wilwood launched a new line of brake pads called Gator Pads. Despite them being green, a color known to bring bad luck to racers, they were incredible successful in oval track racing. Along with a logo, these new pads received the tagline, “Gator pads bite when cornered!”

Chip Hanauer Wins National Championship

A Wilwood brake setup was used to slow the prop shaft on Miss Circus Circus and help Chip Hanauer win the 1990 Unlimited Hydroplane National Championship.

Wilwood Enters the Street Market

Wilwood entered the street performance market in the late 1980’s, creating the first official “brake kit” for the late Richard “Magoo” Megugorac and his 1932 Ford Highboy. At the time the Highboy was incredibly dangerous, but Wilwood’s introduction of a modern brake kit improved safety and popularity of the street..

Super Sprint Caliper Designed

In the mid-1980’s the Super Sprint caliper design was specifically created for sprint car inboard brake systems and caught the eye of prominent sprint car builders like Gambler Chassis.

Dynalite Caliper Developed

The cast aluminum Dynalite single two piston caliper made its debut in 1984, getting instant popularity in Northeast dirt modified and sprint car racing.

Drag Racing

Wilwood started to develop its drag racing product line in the 1980’s and worked with multiple drag racing series and events, including NHRA. Wilwood’s first official drag racing customer was Tognotti’s Auto World in Sacramento.

Wilwood's First Brake Fluid Sale

Wilwood’s first brake fluid sale was 400 cases (24 cans per case) to the late Jack McCoy, chassis shop owner and founder of the Circle Track Show. Wilwood’s brake fluid has evolved over the past four decades and includes consistencies designated for classic and show vehicles, and race cars.

Wilwood's First Product Catalog

In 1980 Wilwood printed its first-ever professionally printed product catalog.

Grand National Caliper

The Grand National caliper was the first brake product ever built by Wilwood. It was originally created for Maynard Troyer, a race car driver, who was looking for a front brake caliper with larger pistons. Over Wilwood’s 40 years, that caliper has evolved and variation of the original GN caliper..

Company Founding

On August 10, 1977, William Wood entered the California Secretary of State office to formally incorporate his new aftermarket brake manufacturing company. Upon submitting the paperwork he was asked one final question: “What is the name of your company, sir?” After a short pause he said, “Wilwood.” Ever wonder how..