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2BKOOL products grew from a fortuitous meeting between a scientist and a New Zealand fabric engineer. A group of scientists in the Raleigh area pioneered a unique phase-change process and when Grant Ellwood heard about it, he recognized it as a possible solution to one of the worst problems racecar drivers face – extreme heat and its effects. From a young age, New Zealander Ellwood was fascinated with all aspects of motorsports. He started club racing in a 1960’s Harry Potter-style Ford Anglia which didn’t fly as controllably as the movie version, finally barrel-rolling its way to extinction. Ellwood woke up in the rear section of the car after the harness collapsed and that episode firmly focused his attention on better safety products. Moving up to open wheel cars Ellwood ran in Formula Ford, Vees and Atlantics as business and family commitments allowed. He started a business, Flamecrusher Products, in New Zealand in the 1970’s, recognizing the need for safer apparel to protect racecar drivers. Over the years he experimented with fabrics and the construction of driver’s uniforms and set the industry standard for safe uniforms, to the point that Kiwis called all driver suits “Flamecrushers,” much to the chagrin of his competition. After 30 years of running his business successfully in New Zealand, he decided to move to the United States, and was committed to producing high quality “Made in the USA” gear for racing. His focus was on improving flame-retardant and body temperature maintenance clothing. Grant Ellwood moved his Flamecrusher business to South Boston in 2004, the first company to relocate following Virginia’s Motorsports Initiative. Ellwood was delighted to find himself in Halifax County, Virginia, which boasts two fine motorsport facilities: South Boston Speedway and Virginia International Raceway. And the home of the NASCAR Burton brothers! His move brought him in contact with the scientists who developed the phase-change technology. He immediately saw the potential to apply the process to fabric to produce cooling, lightweight and fire-safe garments. A new company, Performance Apparel Group, was formed to research, develop, manufacture, and market the new 2BKOOL products. After several years of experimentation, Ellwood found the best formula to apply the cooling technology to Nomex blend fabrics, required for hazardous fire applications. Now, in 2010, he has formulated a less costly polyester range of 2BKOOL products which are ideal for activities where fire safety is not an issue. In 2007 the company purchased a large abandoned factory in downtown South Boston, Virginia. The entire process of manufacturing 2BKOOL takes place here. It’s still referred to as “The Button Factory,” in tribute to the previous owner, the Rochester Button Factory. The 43,000 square foot facility is being refurbished slowly. Portions of the building have been cleaned, repaired, painted and upgraded, Other portions of the building and property are awaiting their turn at rehabilitation. For now, there’s room for Ellwood to store his historic race cars, which need even more rehabilitation than the building … |
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2bKool makes lightweight race driver cooling apparel that
cools without water, |