Only about 15 years separated Vic Edelbrock Jr. and Pat Musi. But from the first time Musi met Edelbrock in 2003, he referred to Musi as “kid.”

Forget the fact that Musi had already passed 50 and Edelbrock was in his mid-60s. Musi was always “kid” and, in Musi’s eyes, from that point forward Edelbrock was his big brother. Musi might not have realized it then, but perhaps it was Edelbrock’s way of knowing their friendship and business partnership was going to be special.

“He said, ‘Kid, just remember you’re on our team and we’re going to have a lot of fun,’ and we really did,” Musi said. “I think we had a really good, strong relationship. I don’t know if I would call him a second father, but I would call him a big brother. We just got really close as the years went on.”

Their relationship was about much more than business and it’s the friendship Musi will miss most. Edelbrock died June 7, at the age 80, leaving an indelible mark not only in the drag racing world, but also in the entire automotive and motorsports industry.

From the time Edelbrock took over the role of president and CEO after his father died of cancer in 1962, he turned the company into an industry giant. Starting with 10 employees and an annual revenue of less than $500,000, Edelbrock built the company into a multi-million dollar enterprise, drawing the praise and respect of most everyone in the industry.

But despite leading the massive growth and success he had as a businessman, Musi said what separated him from others was how he treated others. Almost immediately after meeting with Edelbrock, visiting the company’s foundry in Orange County and finalizing their partnership with a handshake that stood for nearly 15 years, Musi knew he had a friend for life.

“I just can’t say enough about how good of a person he was,” Musi said. “From the beginning, I never lied to him and we just really hit it off. I told him what I could do and I did what I said I could do. He really took me under his wing. He’s been a big part of the whole Musi family and Musi Racing. He taught me a lot and I’m really going to miss him.”

Musi echoed the sentiments of many who appreciated Edelbrock’s no-nonsense approach. But in retelling the lessons or successes that Musi shared with Edelbrock on the business front, each one came along a story of their friendship.

These include the many times Musi stayed at Edelbrock’s home in California, sharing food, memories and good times with Edelbrock and his wife, Nancy, along with the trips Edelbrock took to Musi’s home in New Jersey to enjoy an extensive homemade Italian meal.

There was also the time Edelbrock went to Epping for a Pro Mod race in 2004. Musi won the event at New England Dragway, which just happened to be Edelbrock’s first time watching a Pro Mod race.

That enjoyment continued to the support and enthusiasm he showed for Musi’s daughter, Lizzy Musi, and her racing career. He backed her from the moment her budding career started in the Top Sportsman ranks, becoming a key part for her success.

“He just loved Lizzy and he got the biggest kick out of her driving and kicking the guy’s butts,” Musi said. “They talked a lot. He cared about her racing and knew all about what she did. He loved it. He was like a little kid at that Pro Mod race when I won. You don’t forget those things.”

His impact wasn’t lost on Lizzy Musi either. She will dedicate the rest of her 2017 season to Edelbrock, but, like her father, she treasured the moments away from the track as much as the support he provided in her racing career.

“I can basically say I started my racing career with Edelbrock, and he helped take me to a whole other level,” Lizzy Musi said. “He showed me the ropes of so many things, even how to do autographs. He was always supportive of me and never sugarcoated anything, and that’s what I loved about him. It’s an honor to represent him and his company. His whole family, they treated us very well.”

The business lessons were just as immeasurable. Both Lizzy and Pat Musi will always treasure the friendship, but the Edelbrock company had tremendous success with the cylinder heads, fuel injection and the immensely popular XTR crate engine that Musi developed and built.

Musi hopes to continue to work with the Edelbrock company, but through that part of his relationship with Vic, Musi saw a businessman who didn’t cut corners, wouldn’t back down thanks to a relentless attitude and knew how imperative camaraderie was to prosperity.  

Those lessons heavily impacted Musi when he moved his Musi Racing Engines facility to Mooresville, N.C., in 2013 and the massive success that has followed.

“The last four years our business has probably quadrupled,” Musi said. “We’re 500-600% and nobody can outrun us in the Pro Mod deal, and Vic had a lot to do with it. I just trusted him 100 percent. I owe a lot of credit for my success to Vic. I got my work ethic from Pro Stock, but business ethic, where we are with the company, I feel like I owe a lot of that to Vic.”

As far as the lessons that stood out, having the right people around you remained a valuable theme. Musi still carries another important one close to him.

“He always said to focus on one project at a time, and don’t advertise until you’ve run it, it’s proven and you have it,” Musi said. “If people call and you don’t have it, it’s not a good deal. That’s why our Pro Mod business is successful. We probably have more inventory than anyone. He taught me that lesson. If you’re excited about releasing a new product, make sure it’s ready.”

That helped their relationship prosper in many ways, and it’s been a pivotal mantra for the growth Musi Racing Engines has experienced in recent years. But to do it all with a friend has made the experience irreplaceable. 
Lizzy saw that friendship firsthand as she was growing up, knowing full well how much Edelbrock’s passing has affected her father. 

“He always came to the house and you could tell they treated each other like family,” Lizzy Musi said. “They just built this big bond. Their personalities were pretty similar and he was just always in a happy mood when he was with us. It’s hard to swallow and we’ll truly miss him, but Vic would want you to think of the happy times.”

Those might be too many for the Musi family to count, but they will enjoy recalling each of them. 

“He touched a lot of people and I don’t know how to truly put in words how much he impacted our family,” Musi said.