James “Jim” Jordan, Founder and Chairman of QA1, passed away July 30, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

In the early 1970s, Jim started working in the power transmission industry and quickly worked his way around related industries, eventually becoming an expert on rod ends. He became known as an innovator of numerous industry-changing products that are now standards across a variety of markets. Throughout his career, he was involved in multiple patents for his ground-breaking ideas.

James “Jim” Jordan, Founder and Chairman of QA1, passed away July 30, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

In the early 1970s, Jim started working in the power transmission industry and quickly worked his way around related industries, eventually becoming an expert on rod ends. He became known as an innovator of numerous industry-changing products that are now standards across a variety of markets. Throughout his career, he was involved in multiple patents for his ground-breaking ideas.

Since founding QA1 in 1993, Jim marketed rod ends and spherical bearings specifically for the performance racing industry. He then expanded QA1’s product lines into a variety of industrial markets, providing rod ends, linkages and custom products. Always looking for new ways to grow, he oversaw the acquisitions of Hal Shocks and Carrera Shocks and quickly saw QA1 become a leader in shock absorbers for drag racing, street performance, street rods and circle track applications.

He retired in 2005, but returned to QA1 in 2011, saying, “I was no good at golf, so I had to return to my day job.” Since then, Jim helped grow the company even more in product offerings and manufacturing space. QA1 expanded its Lakeville, MN facility to over 83,000 square feet to allow for in-house manufacturing of carbon fiber driveshafts and, with the acquisitions of CAP Auto Products and Edelbrock’s suspension line, fabricated suspension components.

Jim was involved in all aspects of the company, including engineering, sales and customer service. His visionary leadership played a large role in the success of QA1 and its innovative products. He will always be remembered as a great man for the contributions that he has made, not only to QA1, but to the motorsports and industrial industries as well.

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