About Us
Hughes Race Built (HRB) is a manufacturer of premium engine building tools for professionals and enthusiasts, specialising in in-car valve spring compressor tools, Ring Sleeve Compressors, Cam Gear Locks, Lock Up Kits, engine-specific tools, and a growing range of high-performance engine building accessories. Our tooling is designed to meet the demands of modern engine builders — balancing ease of use, durability, and precise engineering for real-world workshop conditions. Whether you’re assembling street, race, or drift engines, HRB tools are made to perform and to last.
Every tool we offer is developed from firsthand experience in the world of high-performance engine building and racing. Founded by engineer and racing enthusiast Tom Hughes in early 2017, HRB is built on a deep understanding of what it takes to make engines faster, stronger, and more reliable. Tom’s passion for mechanics started with motocross, where he competed for 13 years, before refining his skills during a seven-year career at a leading engine-building business and completing an automotive machining apprenticeship. His time as Propulsion Leading Hand at Rocket Lab, New Zealand’s aerospace program, further sharpened his precision manufacturing and engineering skills.
This combination of racing passion and aerospace-level attention to detail flows directly into the products HRB creates and the engines we build. Specializing in four-valve engine tuning, HRB has worked with everything from naturally aspirated two-litre race engines to 50psi turbocharged RB30s, gaining a reputation for reliability and performance.
Our shop continues to support a wide range of motorsport disciplines, including speedway racing, drifting, and high-end street builds, with a focus on popular performance platforms like the Toyota 1UZ, Nissan RB-series, and Toyota 2JZ engines.
Beyond tool manufacturing, HRB offers:
• Complete performance engine builds
• Cylinder head machining and porting
• Short block assembly
Our facility includes a fully equipped machine shop, a clean-room engine assembly area, a grinding and porting room, and advanced CNC equipment, ensuring quality and consistency across every product and project.
At Hughes Race Built, we build tools and engines to the highest standards because we live this work every day. Whether you’re building your first engine or competing at the highest levels, HRB delivers the tools and craftsmanship you can rely on.