Marvin Rifchin

Don Garlits was about 20 years old when he was set to compete in a race in South Carolina. Marvin Rifchin of M&H Tire Co. happened to be at that same race, hoping to learn more about the sport of drag racing.

Rifchin, who Don Prudhomme described as the “Godfather of drag racing slicks,” actually knew very little about drag racing at the time. He was well-known for manufacturing tires for circle track races but hadn’t entered the sport that he is best known for today.

Perhaps the turning point was when Rifchin convinced Garlits to try a set of tires that he had brought to the race.

“I knew about this man [Rifchin] who was into stock car races,” said Garlits. “He said that I needed a tire that’s not recapped. Marv had these tires that had the same mold but softer rubber. They were narrow, about 6 1/2 inches wide, but he said that wouldn’t matter. I didn’t know that much about tires back then and listened to what he had to say.”

Garlits tried the tires and ran 160, earning top eliminator honors.

Soon after, M&H entered the business of manufacturing tires for drag racing and was among the first to manufacturer tires specifically for the sport.

“We made tires for all types of race cars,” said Rifchin, “but my primary interest was in drag racing. That was the most fascinating part of my life. That became my primary interest because we had a lot of fun doing it.”

Harry Hibler of Uni-Marketing, who raced on M&H tires since the company started in drag racing, said, “When [Rifchin’s] product is on your car, you know it’s the best that can be made.”

When Goodyear entered the drag racing tire market in 1964, many thought that the corporate giant would blow M&H out of business. Rifchin, however, found the competition stimulating and a lot of fun, and the company continued to thrive.

“I think the greatest accomplishment that any of us could have were the tire wars that we went though with Goodyear,” said Rifchin.

“The competition lead to us being instrumental in securing some of the most fantastic advances that have taken place in mechanical and scientific business.”

“He was always the leader,” Hibler said of Rifchin’s tires. “He pushed Goodyear and the other tire companies to greater heights than they would have gone.”

SEMA board member Steve Bolio of Scafidi-Bolio and Associates said, “He’s just an amazing guy. He came up with blends for tires and was able to beat the big guys.”

Rifchin credits much of his success to the racers, “the fellow who used the product and gave us a report of what the tire does and does not do ... that’s what allowed us to advance our products.”

“One of the things about Marv is when he knew someone was running his parts, especially when he was trying a new set, he would call the next week asking how they did,” said Hibler. “He wanted to know if they handled okay. He cared.”

While Rifchin and his M&H tires have been involved with thousands of winning races, he remains humble.

“I was flabbergasted,” said Rifchin on his induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame. “I didn’t do anything that I can think of to warrant an honor like that.”