Gone Racin��Sir Michael�s

Roger Rohrdanz and I visited with Mike Burley at Sir Michael�s in Huntington Beach, California. Mike is a very easygoing guy who makes everyone feel at ease, but who has this burning desire to create artwork out of metal. Sir Michael�s makes a host of products, including rear roll pans, reversible tailgate handle kits, as well as punching louvers for the car and truck enthusiast. Mike and Sheldon Howard, Sir Michael�s Operations Manager, showed us around the plant. Huge Amada presses and laser-cutting machines were neatly aligned in a row. There was no wasted motion as the orders came in to the production area, and huge sheets of metal were put on the Amada Laser Cutting machine. The computerized programs directed the laser in its swift and accurately fine cutting of the metal. From there the product was taken over to the Amada Pressbrake to be bump rolled, where on the first run there was a barely perceptible bend applied to the product. Over and over again the metal was bent until it reached its perfect shape. Louvers were punched into the Roll Pans and tail gate covers, according to what the customer ordered. There were three basic shapes, though the customer can order customized louvering in hoods or fenders. Tabs are then applied and light boxes fit snugly into the Roll Pans giving the rear tail lights a sporty and eye grabbing look. Mike, Sheldon and the staff are a friendly, outgoing bunch, and I could see awards throughout the office attesting to how personable this business is to deal with.

Sir Michael�s has an interesting history. Mike Burley started out as a custom car painter in his garage. Close friends with Keith and Ken Black, from KB Engines, Mike was advised by Keith to use his name for his business. Mike�s father worked on the Greer, Black and Prudhomme car and owned B&W Automotive in South Gate, California. Mike has a lifelong love of the British Isles, dragons and castles, and chose Sir Michael�s as the name for his new business. Some of his customers asked him to do louvering and other work, and Mike could see the possibilities in this line of work. He made an offer to the company that was doing the fabrication for Sir Michael�s, to purchase the machines, and hired the employees as well. He developed his own designs for after market products and the means to mass produce them and bring down the cost. Moving from La Mirada to Huntington Beach, California, Mike met his wife Donna, who is an active partner at Sir Michael�s. One of the unique aspects of the business is that there are several families with spouses or dependents employed at Sir Michael�s. The business employs 17 workers within 12,000 square feet of space, but seemed much larger due to the care in which Mike and his staff arranges the production, shipping and business offices. 

What motivates Sir Michael�s is the creative talent that Mike and his staff bring to their business. On the walls, in display cases and throughout the office and plant, there are distinctive creations. Mike won a statewide contest for ceramics, creating a new and unusual paint and baking method to bring out coloration that stumped the judges. From the time he was in elementary school until today, there are creative designs, which he has crafted. Yet, whatever product is ordered is made, inspected and shipped within 24 hours, unless it is a specialized order. He has developed roll pans and specialty grills all the way back to �34 models. Burley does the programs for the laser cutting designs and has other highly skilled computer programmers on staff. He is self taught and only attended a few college classes to pick up welding and other skills. They attend various car shows, cruises and other association conventions and often their display booths overshadow their products. They built a miniature castle that was formed of lightweight foam that was fire resistant, which would surely be a success if marketed for children. Mike wants to enter the housing market next with accessories for the house and yard. This firm is an amazing trendsetter in so many areas. They do not sell by catalogs but by word of mouth, through a system of about 200 dealers worldwide, and by the internet. Their website gets 800,000 hits a month, and they will take your orders by phone or on-line. 

Mike said that yearly sales are around two and a half million, with a 12% growth rate, and that they are happy with this growth so that they can concentrate on keeping the quality and standards high. Mike said that the hardest thing for him is to leave the production area and concentrate on the administration of his growing business. He stays on top of the latest administrative techniques by belonging to a group called TEC. Sixteen businessmen meet monthly to work on their businesses.  He demonstrated techniques that he learned in TEC for improving his business and personal life. From observing Mike, his business and employees, it all seems to be very effective. Finally, Mike and Sheldon took us to the storage area and behind a huge tent there stood a 13 � foot, 1965 Bristol Touring Bus from England, which he bought and shipped over here to restore. �When I get tired of working in the plant,�� he said, �I come out here and work on the bus.� When that bus is restored, he plans on turning it into a traveling tearoom and tour the car shows. I hope he invites me to go along.

Gone Racin� is at www.oilstick.com

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