AMS, Inc. was founded in 1966 by Max Kittler, Jr. as a small machine shop and engine rebuilder. It was housed in a small, but efficient 3,600 sq. ft. building. From this start, a broad base of racers and diversified machine work was founded.

Raymond Kittler, who graduated from Louisiana Tech University in chemistry in 1970, began building race engines in college. He elected to become a partner with his dad in 1971 and started the AMS Racing Engines end of the business.

In 1972, the business moved to its present location and began to add to its machine shop base. Advanced technology machines were added to provide more accuracy and dependability. The current AMS location, just 2 blocks off I-20, is in proximity of three states -- Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Road racing experience
For the next few years, Raymond Kittler was involved in road racing. First, he served on the crew for an A/sedan 69 Camaro owned by Charles Pelz from Marshall, Texas. While serving as the chief mechanic, this car placed first and second for two consecutive years at the Atlanta Runoffs of SCCA.

He also worked with a Formula Ford program that qualified at the Texas Raceway at College Station on the Pole and won the southwest division. In 1980, Raymond was enlisted as the crew chief of the GTO Corvette, STEAK AND ALE, an entry that would go to 12HR Sebring and 24HRs of Daytona. Although they did not finish the 24 HR race, Raymond with an AMS 355 was able to finish 8th, as the first American made entry, at Sebring that year.

AMS expansion
In 1984, AMS took on a new look with a large addition and a showroom. This expansion enlarged the location from 6,400 to 20,000 sq. ft. Computers were also added to the cam profiling and business end.

Raymond was also involved in drag racing. In the early days, he had a Vega panel van that he bought from Don Hardy, who was a famous pioneer of Pro Stock Chassis. He installed a 350 Chevy and Ford 9-inch rear end. The Vega ran in the Street Modified class at Hallsville Dragway. Raymond then stepped up to a 1965 Corvette and began running in the Modified Production category in the NHRA. He first ran F/G and finally ran G/G when he set the record in IHRA at Prescott raceway.

After some years, Raymond formed a partnership with a customer from Tyler, Texas, named Tommy Weakley from the Counts-Weakley Corvette venture. From 1984-1992, the team was one of the most competitive in NHRA Competition Eliminator -- winning the Inaugural 1988 Fram Supernationals at Houston, Texas.

On-track experience
Most recently, the super modified car owned by AMS racing was driven by Steve Taylor with AMS supplying the horsepower to take a 3000 lb. car to a best ET of 8.55 and 161.50 In A/sm. Through on-track successes like these, the employees of AMS have accumulated a wide range of motorsports experience.

Advanced technology is key component
Keeping abreast of technology is a top priority at AMS. Racing experience gives AMS on-track data to keep the company a pioneer in the industry. Our customer base gives AMS varied sports participation.

Performance Parts
The AMS parts department occupies 4,000 sq. ft. in a two-story space. Its large parts inventory draws customers from across the U.S. and abroad. With a large and varied inventory, AMS is able to offer customers the fast service they need to get back on the track after a break down.

Pontiac RACE engines
For the Pure Pontiac race fans, AMS has built a history of the restored RACE engines that are the best in the country for horsepower from the 428 to the 455 Pontiac engines. AMS builds its own brand of stud girdle and main caps for the Pontiac. It also helped develop a new cam lifter support for the center of the block. AMS strokes cranks, being noted for the Competition Eliminator cranks with kits for every application Pontiac 481 & up.

Our quest for the perfect engine
AMS began with the slogan, "THE CLEAN MACHINE SHOP." Mindful of its history and tradition, today AMS continues its quest for the perfect race engine. This year AMS is expanding again to add a new Superflow dyno and 1200 sq. ft. add on to the welding, crank and Heliarc, building.