This December, PRC will begin its 20th year in the karting business; and it all began in a small 900sqft wooden shack in Camden, SC.  I call it a shack today but in those days it was a dream come true.  It was nothing more than and old one-room wooden store building that my dad had bought and had moved to the farm with a "lean-too" across the back...(a "lean-too" is what we rednecks call a "building expansion.")  We closed in the lean-too...put in a sliding door and two windows and called it home.  You've heard of the good ole' days...that was them.  I spent many hours in that old shack...it kept me out of a lot of trouble.  
     After years of tinkering with kart engines, I decided to try my hand at building chassis.  I had worked part time at a machine shop in Elgin SC called Rebo Machine, and had become good friends with the owner Reggie.  He allowed me to use his equipment to build my first "jig."  I would work at his shop at nights and weekends making parts and pieces; and every time Reggie would pass by he would peep over my shoulder and whisper, "Are you sure this is going to work?"  To this day, Reggie reminds me of those days and his comments.  
     I really don't remember when I started building that first "jig," but I do remember that it took many months to finish.  So with a homemade jig, a $200 hand-bender, a welder, a grinder and a few sticks of tubing, an 18-year old kid set out on a mission. 
     By December of 1989 I had completed 3-karts.  A friend of mine painted them pink and blue, and I headed off to the Dirt World Championships in Daytona, FL.  I would love to tell you that we went down there and spanked the field, but it was quite the opposite.  Nevertheless, I never got discouraged; I just worked harder and harder.  (By the way, that very first pink and blue chassis is now sitting in our showroom fully reconditioned.  It's the original Phantom and is the most valuable go-kart chassis on the planet.)
      I continued to work in that old shack and made karts at night and on weekends when I was not working for my dad or racing myself.  My biggest obstacle was overcoming the fact that most adults did not want to do business with a kid.  Today, I really cannot blame them, but it was a hurdle I had to overcome.
      Around 1992 the economy in the area forced my dad to move his business back to his home in Mooresville NC, and I was soon to follow.  What I thought then to be a determent, turned out to be a blessing.  Once I got settled in a new shop and established a new batch of vendors, things started to really come together.  In 1994, I released the Phantom Stalker and soon things would began to explode.  By 1995 I had a backorder list of 200+ chassis!  Sound ridiculous?  Well it was!  I worked around the clock to try and fill orders but even still, it seemed like I lost more orders than I gained due to the wait. 
      From there most of you know the rest.  In 1997 PRC moved into its current facility, implemented automation into its production, and has become what you see today...be that great or small.   I for one am proud of the 20-year heritage of this company, but that's obviously a biased comment.  PRC has become one of the most recognized names in the sport of karting and beyond. 
      I cannot complete this story without giving a very heart felt thank you to all those who have played a part in this 20-year heritage.  First and foremost is my Lord and Savior that strengthens me, my parents for supporting and loving me, all those like Reggie who helped me, my employees who support me every day, and most of all, you, the customers who have continued to patronize PRC. 

 

Thanks for the last 20-years!

 

 

 

 

Harrill Wiggins, Jr.