Biography

Born in May 1952 to re-located Pennsylvanian’s Charles and Kathryn Seyler in Chicago, Illinois. At an early age Chuck displayed numerous skills and traits that would prove beneficial later in life. Some examples of these skills and traits include mechanical ability, problem solving, team building, leadership and people skills.

While growing up he could often be found taking apart or putting back together a variety of both mechanical and electrical objects. These objects ranged from small hand held items to sometimes very large and complex ones. In his late teen years the items became race cars and race car engines not models like most boys his age but the real thing.

Upon graduation from college he joined a large mid-western electronics manufacturer. His previously mentioned skills and traits along with those learned or honed in school would serve him well. Chuck was hired into a highly visible position with this company. This position placed Chuck on the fast track in corporate America and before long he was a product manager. In this position he was responsible for selecting team members, assembling the teams and training them. The teams included all facets of design, manufacture, sales and customer service as well as various levels of management.

While on the fast track in corporate America Chuck also continued to work with local drag race teams. He held a variety of positions first as a gopher, then following the “normal” progression of mechanic and finally crew chief. However he was not satisfied with working on someone else’s car so in 1980 he started C.R.S. Racing Enterprises, Inc. This company provided him the opportunity to get away from corporate life even if it was only for a brief period of time from day to day.

In 1981 Chuck and his parents took what was for Chuck a hobby and turned it into a profession with the debut of the Seyler Family Top Fuel Dragster. During the period of 1981 until 1983 Chuck drove as well as tuned the car. At the conclusion of the 1983 season Chuck vacated the drivers seat. This permitted him to concentrate on the tuning of the car as well as marketing the team to potential sponsors. In addition he was also responsible for the continued research and development of new ideas or products needed by the team to stay competitive.

In 1985 it became clear to Chuck that the then current dragsters and engines that were available left something to be desired. Therefore he turned his talents to designing and fabricating better more durable products.

In July of 1987 Chuck did something that shocked the fortune fifty corporation where he worked. He left to open Seyler Racing Engines and Components, Inc. What was released upon the aftermarket industry that day was an all aluminum-racing engine. The engine was known as “the Boss of Bosses”. An engine that was designed and manufactured by Seyler Racing Engines, Inc. It was capable of being assembled in displacements from 400 - 806 cubic inches. There was in excess of three hundred separate proprietary parts that were designed and manufactured for this engine.

The engine would go on to set numerous records and win many races in a variety of motorsport venues that range from but not limited to drag boats, mud-drags, offshore boats, monster trucks and drag racing. In addition the engine was named as “the best engine of the decade of the 80’s” by the coveted Petersen Publishing legendary magazine HOT ROD MAGAZINE.

Today someone else owns the business however the testament to Chuck’s design ability is that it is still being produced as it was designed back in 1985.

The year 1987 was filled with first’s for Chuck as it was on Labor Day week-end in September of 1987 that the first Chuck Seyler designed and built top fuel dragster saw the light of day. This occurred at the coveted National Hot Rod Association (N.H.R.A.) sanctioned U.S. Nationals contested at Raceway Park just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. The car had numerous innovations for its time the most obvious being that it had a wheelbase of 300 inches. This figure was quick to become the maximum allowed by the sanctioning body and is today the standard for the class.

Seyler Racing Engines and the entire Seyler team went on to be become well respected by fans, fellow racers, manufacturers, the media as well as the sanctioning body.

In April of 1994 for personal reasons Chuck closed the business and walked away from the sport he loved. A sport that he had given so much to and that gave him so much in return.

However it was only a matter of time before Chuck was seen assisting former customers and friends at local drag strips across the country. Everyone knew that it was just a matter of time before the bug to go drag racing bit again and bite it did.

In 1999 Chuck launched Charles R. Seyler Limited a full service motorsport marketing company. The company’s purpose is to provide a one-stop-shop for automotive aftermarket manufacturers as well as non-automotive corporations or individuals who wish to utilize motorsports to drive incremental consumer participation. In addition Charles R. Seyler Limited utilizes their contacts to participate in the exotic, collector and classic car communities in a variety of venues.