Marvin Rifchin
The man behind M&H Tire Company could never say no to a racer in need. It’s been that way since the rubber shortages of World War II when military priorities virtually halted production of the micro-size inner tubes used for northeastern midget racers. In desperation, they turn to a small tire company in Watertown Massachusetts. They pleaded with Marvin Rifchin and his father, Harry- respectively M and H of this family business- until Marvin finally relented, cutting and heat splicing 16-inch passenger tubes to fit the 12-inch midget wheels. Other types of oval track racers convinced M&H to build them tires too. Inadvertently, drag racer started pestering Marvin for an alternative to the recap slicks then in use. Rifchin again gave in, developing a dragster tire from scratch in 1957. Not coincidently, little-known Don Garlits began running unbelievable 170 mph speeds that very season. For the next two decades, despite heavy competition from major tire manufacturers, M&H Racemasters set the top fuel pace almost continuously.