Bob and Don Spar
In the 1950s, the thought of an automatic transmission in a race car was ludicrous. That is until B&M Hydro Stick came along. Bob Spar formed B&M Automotive with Mort Shuman in 1955 with the goal of doing automatic transmission repair work and a little racing as a sideline. Bob developed an idea about modifying the Hydramatic for high performance applications and in 1958 was granted a patent on his hydraulic control system. At nearly the same time, Bob’s brother, Don joined him at the small shop in Van Nuys and they bought out their former partner, making the company family-owned. Soon gasser and altered racers across the country were swapping their ancient LaSalle and Cadillac transmissions for the strength and durability of the manually shifted B&M Hydro. The success of their transmissions forced numerous expansions until, by the late 60s, the firm occupied facilities eight times the size of the original time shop. The line began to expand as the team design and manufacture adapters, shifters, and other driveline components. In the mid-60s, as traction improved in racing’s faster categories, B&M developed the Tork-Master which could be used in any car capable of pulling high gear only. It quickly became a success in Don Prudhomme and Kenny Safford’s top fuelers, as well as the burgeoning funny car field. Other products, such as the Clutch Flite, were perfected on the first known transmission dynamometer designed and built by B&M. B&M Racing and Performance Products manufactured complete transmissions, torque converters, and even a full line of superchargers. Thanks to the Spar brothers, “I’m running a B&M”, truly became part of the language of drag racing.
