J. W. Performance Transmissions, Inc. began its operation in 1976 with one goal in mind: To provide the highest quality products in the industry.
Located in Rockledge, Florida, the company’s 40,000 square foot facility has steadily expanded with new products such as “The Wheel,” “Ultra-Bell,” and the “Ultra-Case.” J. W.'s founder, John Winters Sr., continues to move the company forward with his product developments and testing of new products. The development is shown in every highly engineered J.W. product. The second generation of this family owned and operated company, which has the same spirit and goals that John Winters Sr. started the company with in 1976, will lead this company into the future. Time-honored company’s values for quality combined with its leading technologies ensure that you get the finest products available.
As a young boy growing up in Morristown, New Jersey, John Winters, Sr. showed a great deal of interest in automobiles and, in particular, race cars. During his childhood and adolescence, vehicles were a great source of entertainment. This interest developed into the foundation of J.W. Performance Transmissions, which is today widely-known and respected in the automotive aftermarket industry.
Upon graduating from Hanover Park High School, John embarked on his career at a local car dealership in New Jersey. He was married at the age of 20 to Helen Poole, and started a family in New Jersey. Over the next five years their son and daughter, John, Jr. and Tracy were born. John, Sr. worked two jobs to support his family. He worked at the local dealership and at a small gas station, pumping gas. In 1970 the family decided to move to Florida. At first they settled in Fort Lauderdale and then relocated to Merritt Island, Florida. John, Sr. secured employment with a local GM car dealership where he rebuilt automatic transmissions and provided other repairs for customers. After a brief period with the dealership, General Motors requested to audit his work. The auditors could not fathom how he could manufacture so many transmissions with such efficiency. When the audit team concluded the meeting, John, Sr. was offered and accepted a position as a “trouble shooter” for General Motors. He attended many training classes. John, Sr. would be called out when a problem with a transmission existed, and GM engineers and builders could not solve it. John would bring a resolution to the problem and provide feedback to General Motors.
During 1976 John, Sr. decided to open his own automatic transmission repair business and build high-performance automatic racing transmissions for the local racers. The business was started while he was earning only a weekly paycheck from the local General Motors dealership. John, Sr. traveled to races in the Southeastern United States to promote his products and knowledge. During this same time he also campaigned a drag racing vehicle in the stock division at NHRA National and Divisional events. This campaign included the NHRA Southern Nationals in Georgia and the NHRA Gatornationals in Florida. David Crume, a family friend, had the honor of participating in the TRW All-Star Series, driving the vehicle campaigned by J.W. Performance. During the 1980’s the business expanded too rapidly to continue campaigning the vehicle. It was necessary for John, Sr. to concentrate on the operation and the increasing growth and demand for J.W. Performance’s products. Over the next few years the business flourished and racers from around the Southeast were learning about the superior transmissions and converters John Winters built. During 1983 J.W. Performance constructed a 10,000 square foot building at 1826 Baldwin Street in Rockledge, Florida. With a surge in business about 6 years later, further expansion was required and additional 10,000 square feet were added to the facility. This past year J.W. Performance Transmissions has completed construction on a new 20,000 square foot facility, adding growth to its operation. The total square footage is currently 40,000.
Presently, the entire Winters family is involved in the operation of the business. John, Jr. manages the transmission and valve body departments and Tracy performs the function of Vice-President of Sales/Marketing and business development. Helen, the wife of John, Sr. has assumed the role of Vice-President and controller for thirty-seven years. John, Sr., founder and CEO, continues to develop new and innovative product designs. John also coordinates directly with the production operations manager and torque converter builders.
The second generation of Winters is being groomed to take over the corporation. John, Jr. is an avid bracket racer who offers a great deal of insight for new products and designs. Additionally, he brings the racer’s perspective to the company. Tracy is involved in D.R.A.W., an organization to help racers, and presides as a member of the board of Trustees. She also serves on the SEMA MPMC Council. Tracy assumes an active role in preservation and expansion of the industry. Over the past ten years, the company has grown considerably with the introduction of new products and an aggressive marketing approach.