Meet Mike Zeranski, Jr., Co-Owner of Canton Racing Products

Whether it's skydiving or rollercoasters, rock climbing or parasailing, some people are thrill-seekers and will do just about anything to get their kicks in life. One of the more common pasttimes for those zealous and sprightly individuals is as diverse and widespread as the participants–motorsports.

From German engineering to American muscle to Japanese Domestic, on land or in the water, if it has an engine, there are people who will race it. Such a fiercely competitive and passionate sport goes beyond hobby and becomes lifestyle, so it's no surprise that no expense is spared to protect performance vehicles from the taxing activity that is racing and to ensure that each body is equipped with every advantage that the rules will allow. 

As with any machine that is truly used to fulfill its greatest potential, vehicles are only as good as their parts. Before the thrill, before the flag goes down, before the body work and tuning and installations, the bits, bolts, bars and bearings need to be crafted. We buy it, stick it, drill it, wrench it and occassionally break it, but who makes it? That's where Canton comes in. in North Branford is where it starts with the original craftsmen and women with a passionate dedication to their meticulous trade.

North Branford Patch stopped by Canton Racing to meet with owner Mike Zeranski, Jr. and see their work. 

North Branford Patch: How long has Canton Racing been in North Branford?

Mike Zeranski Jr.: We've been around around 31 years in 2012, we've probably been here for about 27, 28 years. At the very beginning we were in Guilford operating out of the owner's garage. After some momentum, they moved into a more professional facility in Madison for a couple of years and then we came to North Branford in the mid-'80s. We've been in several locations in North Branford, but we've been at this location maybe seven or eight years.

North Branford Patch: How did the company start?

Zeranski: My father started this company in 1981 in his garage. Just like most enthusiasts, he liked racing, he had that sort of background, he worked previously selling parts. Basically when he found himself unemployed, he started building oil pans for circle track racers locally here in southern Connecticut; that's how it started. I started working for the company in high school. I started doing some assembly type work part time, light duty work in the shop. From there I did some phone sales and marketing and after I completed college and got my degree and masters in business, I got more involved in the administration side of business. I went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

North Branford Patch: What are the benefits of working in North Branford?

Zeranski: I think North Branford has been good for us because we have a lot of good people here to work for us. We've got folks from here in North Branford who have worked here time to time, then of course we've got people from New Haven and West Haven who have done good work for us. We've even got people as far as from New London and Groton so it's a really good location along the shoreline.

North Branford Patch: Who are the Canton Racing customers?

Zeranski: Our customer base is high-performance auto enthusiasts, racing, everything. It started in circle track, but it has expanded to drag racing, road racing, autocross, new forms like drift racing, off-road and marine stuff as well. There's a lot of niches and segments we get involved in under the umbrella of high-performance motors. It's not just cars, it's boats and anything with a motor. We occasionally get some industrial work as well.

North Branford Patch: What makes you unique?

Zeranski: This industry is about passion. It's about being interested in it, it's not about selling commodity items, our products are what make us unique. A lot of people we hire are interested in racing and have a lot of passion for the product and the marketplace. And again we are manufacturers, which is unique in its own. We manufacture everything we make here, there's a real hands on element here. I'd say about 90 percent is made right here on site and the other 10 percent is made through local vendors. It's passion driven, we all have a routed interest in what we do.

North Branford Patch: How are you involved in the community?

Zeranski: We sponsor things like the VA hall, we take out an ad in their media guide. If people send us stuff, we're very open, we most likely will do it. We also try to do any car shows in the area. 

North Branford Patch: Are there any events we should know about?

Zeranski: Right now we're still trying to get involved in the Morgan Car Show. We haven't thus far, but there is some interest there and that's in the beginning stages.

North Branford Patch: How many people do you currently employ?

Zeranski: Right now, around 35 people I believe. 

North Branford Patch: What do you like to do when you're not at work?

Zeranski: Like most people, I wrestle my children, I like to play at home. When there is time, I have a vintage Corvette and I try to do some work on that. It has the original engine at a little more than 100,000, which is getting up there, so the hope is to take that out and put a fresher engine in there. I'll probably recycle one of the racing engines. 

North Branford Patch: Do you still do any racing?

Zeranski: Racing, I had done for many years. We had done SCCA which races across the country. I've been active in events held in Lyme Rock, at International Speedway, I've gone to Watkins in New York. I raced a Camaro for many years and more recently raced a Miata–that class is such a wildly competitive class. If you go to an event for a Camaro, there's like seven cars, so not same level of competition...the Camaro might be a better race car, but the competition was never there.