Horsepower” Smith began manufacturing high performance camshafts with his first company Smith & Jones Camshafts in Long Beach, Ca. Smith's innovative techniques in engineering were quickly recognized by the racing industry with Speed Records in Drag and Boat Racing throughout Southern California. Horsepower" is a cartoon depicting Clay's fire red hair, and love of cigars. Competitors were mesmerized by the performance of his products, and Clay decided to expand his horizons and thus emerged Smith's own company Clay Smith Cams and Engineering in the late 1940's. Smith was highly respected in the Motorsports industry up until the day on his untimely death in a Racing accident in 1954. Following Smith's death, Clay's widow Ruth-Ellen kept the business going with the help of committed employees and friends of Smith. Ruth-Ellen eventually remarried "Red" Wilson, another Racing enthusiast and Engineer. "Red" and Ruth-Ellen ran Clay Smith Cams, until "Red" was also was lost in a Racing accident in 1964. Ruth-Ellen, then sold the company to George "Honker" Striegel in 1969. George "Honker" Striegel, is famous in the Motorsports industry and recognized as a Highly Respected innovator of high-performance engineering. His Camshaft and Engine combinations have set countless land, water, and speed records all over the world in numerous competitive Motorsports classes and fields. George has enhanced the already proud and respected reputation of Clay Smith Cams with the performance of his craft, but also with his truly American values of the "Family-Ran Business." Horsepower Apparel, are employed solely by the Striegel Family; wife Patty, daughter Sherry, and Grandchildren Trayce and Nicolas Woods to the present day. We are proud to say our business is going strong in our 80th year this year.
