ABOUT GMS

A Tradition of Pulling Performance

It started with an Oliver 88 and a JD 4010 farm tractor. Gene Scharber’s tractor pulling hobby evolved into a passion, which led to a side-business and eventually the founding of Gene’s Machine Shop in 1999. After graduating from Miami University in 2003, Brent Payne joined Gene as an apprentice. They had already spent plenty of time together improving “The Color of Money,” a JD still used in the company’s research and development. That tractor earned Brent the NTPA GN Rookie of the Year Award and GN runner-up in 2000.

Together Gene and Brent built a solid reputation for championship-level pulling engines and quality parts. In 2006, Gene received the NTPA Engine Builder of the Year award. Sadly, that year he was also diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He passed away in 2008. Gene’s memory lives on every day at GMS through a commitment to personalized service, fair pricing and innovation.

The presence GMS has established is built on knowledge gained from many who came before in the industry and helped Brent mold his vision. One man in particular was irreplaceable in the process. Bill Humphrey of Humpco Manufacturing specializes in producing one-of-a kind-billet differentials and custom driveline parts. Although already a force within the pulling world, Humpco Manufacturing merged with GMS in January 2017. Everyone at GMS has taken pride in continuing the tradition Bill started with providing quality, one of a kind, driveline and chassis components.

Decades later, GMS Manufacturing and Machine has evolved to more than a destination for top-to-bottom tractor design. In its Butler County, Ohio shop, GMS produces hundreds of parts for competitive tractor pulling teams around the world. Components that can’t be found anywhere else and new engine combinations are dyno or track tested for complete confidence. The tradition continues.