Big-Name Distributor Caught Stealing Small Shop’s Part Design and Selling It on Summit (UPDATED)

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By Car Brand Experts

Jay Robarge designs and builds upgraded Ford transmission parts, mostly for drag racing, under the Broader Performance name. Since Robarge only sells directly to customers, leaving out middle-man distributors, you can imagine his surprise when someone contacted him about a faulty valve body they bought from Summit Racing. Robarge doesn’t sell to Summit Racing, so he immediately knew something was awry. As he investigated further, he learned that another company was ripping off his designs and selling them through one of the automotive industry’s largest retailers.
On April 11, Robarge took to YouTube with two different valve bodies in hand: his own and one that he bought from Summit. The latter came in a box with Speedmaster branding, but inside, Robarge found a valve body with “Broader Performance” machined into its face. He concluded that Speedmaster machined a valve body identical to his own but either couldn’t be bothered to remove the engraving or decided to use that branding for its gain.
Speedmaster is a large, international company. It maintains a presence at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas and even partners with the NHRA. The company’s CEO Jason Kencevski claims in a YouTube video that his father in Australia founded the business in 1979 and has since sold 25,000 parts. However, he also says “The catch is, we’re not sourcing 25,000 parts. We’re actually designing, manufacturing, testing 25,000 parts.” Robarge’s video suggests otherwise.
How did Robarge know that Speedmaster was machining its own version of his design? The tooling marks on the face of the valve bodies were different, proving that Speedmaster’s didn’t come from his shop. It’s unclear how and why this happened, though. It’s possible that Speedmaster bought one of his products, 3D-scanned it, copied it, and sold it under its own brand rather than licensing the design or developing its own. When reached for comment by The Drive, Speedmaster itself said it isn’t sure how this happened, promising that an active investigation is underway.
Summit Racing commented on Robarge’s first video: “We take the issue of counterfeit and knock-off parts very seriously and were unaware of your example until seeing this video. We put any inventory of the product detailed in your video on hold and have made it unsellable. We will review with Speedmaster and take the necessary actions based on those conversations. Thank you for making us aware.”
However, some forum members and Redditors rightly wondered why Summit never opened or inspected a Speedmaster parts box before doing business with the company. If Speedmaster copied Broader Performance, then it’s possible that it copies other brands as well.
In a follow-up video, Robarge expressed his gratitude for all the support he’s received from fans, customers, and the car-building community in general. Summit also followed up with another comment, saying it will no longer do business with Speedmaster. “All Speedmaster products have been removed from our website and from our sellable inventory,” the company said on social media.

Conclusion

The incident involving Speedmaster copying Broader Performance’s designs and selling them through Summit Racing has shed light on the issue of intellectual property theft in the automotive industry. The response from Summit Racing and the actions taken to address the situation emphasize the importance of protecting the rights of small businesses and creators in the market.

FAQ

Q: How did Jay Robarge discover that his designs were being copied?

A: Jay Robarge identified that his designs were being copied when he inspected a valve body bought from Summit Racing, which bore the “Broader Performance” engraving, indicating a direct replication of his product.

Q: What actions did Summit Racing take upon learning about the situation?

A: Summit Racing responded promptly by halting the sale of the problematic product, conducting a review with Speedmaster, and subsequently deciding to cease business relations with the company involved in the intellectual property theft.

Q: What was the community reaction to the incident?

A: Forum members and Redditors expressed concerns about the oversight in inspecting parts sourced from Speedmaster, suggesting the possibility of similar infringements on other brands by the company.# Article Title: Speedmaster Controversy Unveiled: A Closer Look at the Copycat Controversy

Introduction

In a surprising turn of events, Speedmaster, a renowned company with a strong following in the automotive industry, has found itself embroiled in a controversy surrounding allegedly copying parts from smaller manufacturers. Let’s delve into the details of this unfolding scandal.

The Allegations

Robarge, an engine builder, brought to light the issue by revealing that Speedmaster, a company reportedly based in China with locations in Sydney, Los Angeles, and Shanghai, is selling exact replicas of parts initially designed and produced by smaller manufacturers. The concern raised is not just about where the parts are manufactured, but the ethical implications of a large enterprise copying products from smaller businesses.

Speedmaster’s Response

According to a Speedmaster spokesperson, the company emphasized its commitment to innovation and quality. In response to the controversy, Speedmaster expressed shock at the situation and assured customers of a thorough investigation into the matter, considering it an isolated incident. They also pledged to strengthen processes to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Unveiling the Truth

Despite Speedmaster’s stance, questions linger about whether Broader Performance is the sole victim of such practices. While no other instances have been officially confirmed, customer complaints regarding Speedmaster’s product quality have surfaced in online forums and videos.

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Speedmaster sheds light on the importance of authenticity and ethics in the automotive industry. Customers are urged to be vigilant when purchasing parts, opting to buy directly from trusted small manufacturers to ensure product originality and support ethical business practices.

FAQs

1. Is Speedmaster solely responsible for copying parts?

While the focus is currently on Speedmaster’s alleged actions with Broader Performance, the extent of similar incidents remains unclear. No other official reports have been made, but customer dissatisfaction with Speedmaster’s products has been noted in various online platforms.

2. How can customers ensure they are buying genuine parts?

To avoid inadvertently supporting illicit practices, customers are advised to purchase directly from small manufacturers rather than through third-party retailers. This not only guarantees product authenticity but also supports ethical businesses in the automotive industry.

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