If you drive a BMW in Philly and are on the lookout for an added jolt of power or a spin on the racetrack, chances are you know Tony Salloum and his team at VAC Motorsports. "Most of our customers are BMW enthusiasts looking for ways to further enhance their already top-performing vehicles. So, we finetune their cars and take their performance to the next level," promises Salloum. A racing enthusiast through and through, Salloum is, however, first and foremost a passionate and talented machinist who manufactures custom components that increase the performance of vehicles entrusted to him.

Watch Tony Salloum and his team kick it into high gear, tuning up cars with passion and expertise to achieve the fastest lap times. Join us in the machine shop and on the racetrack, where these enhanced BMWs show us what they are made of.
 

For Tony Salloum, CNC machining is the key factor which determines the success or failure of a new component —precisely why Tony and his team manufactures every component themselves and take complete control of the production process. "Whenever I design a part and feed it to the machining software, it’s kind of like that first lap around the track. It needs to be firing on all cylinders from lap one. In machining, cycle times are the key barometer of success, because the goal is to make the best products in as little time as possible. And that can only be done by using the best tool holders and tools."

Beyond the passion and expertise, there is another factor in Salloum’s success. He not only relies on CERATIZIT tools, but also CERATIZIT service and knowledgeable advice. To him, it’s important to closely collaborate with a partner who VAC Motorsports can depend on. Someone who knows the intricacies of what is needed and can always see the big picture. "Our contact person at CERATIZIT, Andria Bolella, is just incredible to work with. She has an enormous wealth of experience, an expert in all manner of things and has been the perfect all-round support for us since day one. We couldn’t ask for a better match." says Tony Salloum

And the feeling is mutual, as working with VAC Motorsports is more than just a job to Bolella. "Visiting Tony and his team is a bit like coming home or catching up with friends. Every time I show up, I’m treated to a warm welcome—and have been for close to a decade now." So, how did Andria become an expert machinist and well versed in machining a wide variety of materials? By being a machinist herself and running her own company that primarily served the aerospace industry. "That experience helped me support Tony in the automotive space, particularly when it came to machining superalloys," Andria points out.

When the Tony and the VAC Motorsports team was challenged with machining superalloys, Andria drew from her own past experiences and knowledge of CERATIZIT tools. "Tony had tried using tools from several other manufacturers but got nowhere near the desired tolerances. Through extremely close collaboration, we found just the substrates and chip breakers he needed, which then delivered the requisite precision to produce these parts," says Andria.

“As far as machining goes, Tony does it all. For example, he uses our ISO P indexable inserts on the lathe, various milling tools for five-axis machining or the MaxiMill 271-12 for face milling. He uses all types of our end mills for shoulder milling, including our four and five flute end mills familiy, as well as our thread milling cutters. And another added plus for Tony is our complete portfolio of tools that meet all of his needs—today and in the future," says Andria.

In just ten years, VAC Motorsport has more than doubled its output of manufactured parts. And has done so with a precision that has made it one of the main suppliers in its segment. "What is particularly fascinating in my eyes, is that at first you have this single finished part in your hands. But as soon as it is placed in a vehicle, that one component can make such a difference and truly impact a car’s speed. Being part of this process is really impressive!" says Andria.  

Back on the racetrack, only one thing counts for Tony Salloum: "Competition and the drive to keep getting better. You always need to be improving, tweaking something minor here or tuning something there. Nothing is ever perfect in racing.” This is something Andria can confirm: “As soon as Tony gets strapped into his racing car, he becomes a different person. Focused, serious and ready to compete — he’s a driver through and through." While there are dangers and hazards inherent in a car race, there’s one thing Tony can be sure of: That the components he has manufactured are designed precisely for this heavy-duty use — and made with passion. And with such pinpoint precision, he is guaranteed to cross the finish line. JUST OUR THING.