AMG in Canada
1967 Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and Erhard Melcher (M) found their company in Grossbach (G): An "Engineering Bureau for the Design and Testing of Racing Engines" as it says in the official records. Address: The Old Mill. Eddy Lai tasted go-kart racing at a tender age.
1971 AMG's tasted first major success on the track. In a real turn-up for the books, the AMG Mercedes 300 SEL 6.9 driven by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickendanz wins its class at the Spa 24 hours, finishing overall second. Eddy hang out at his brother?s tuning shop in Hong Kong.
1978 The Old Mill has become too small for the company that now boasts customers all over the world. AMG and its 40 staff move to Affalterbach. Eddy hones his technical skill at Centennial College.
1981 The Lai brothers of Ricky and Eddy found their first automotive business in Markham, Ontario, Canada. The business was originally only serving all makes of vehicles.
1982 With Ricky's years of experience in high performance automobile modification and racing background in Hong Kong, they started to concentrate on performance tuning and importing brand named products of elite tuners such as AMG. Eddy also started his racing career by taking lessons at the famous Jim Russell Racing School.
1984 The Lai brothers' has double the size of their business, with larger showrooms, a body shop and more sophisticated service & tuning facilities. Their shop boasts to be the first one building full-blown AMG cars in Canada. An AMG 450SEL loaded with full AMG options available at the time, including Recaro seats and re-up host interior. Eddy had decided to continue learning in the battleground of Formula Ford racing.
1985 Plant No. 2 is inaugurated in Affalterbach - and it was high time, too: AMG takes on its 100th member of staff.
1986 The Lai?s family business expanded one more time; to triple it's original size compare to when it was first started. The shop added a dedicated installation facility for assembly of tuner cars. This year the Lai brothers had signed a joint venture with Sony of Canada; which brought forth the first AMG show car in Canada. The cars were displayed in various shows and tested by major automotive publications nation wide. Generating the trend in Canada of Euro exotic tuning companies crossing the Atlantic.
1987 After years' of practicing and months of negotiation, Ricky and Eddy were appointed by AMG as the only official dealer in Canada, it has finally becomes reality. A comprehensive dealership network was then established. This year the remarkable AMG Hammer (6.0 Litre V-8 300E) and the Baby Hammer (3.2 Litre 6-cylinder 190E) make their debut in the Canadian market under the name AMG of Canada.
1988 Welcome back to the track: AMG enters the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) as partner to Daimler-Benz.
1989 Experience paid off by bringing the Canadian Solo 1 driver's Championship and 2nd overall in the Ontario Road Race Championship to Eddy Lai. He has since continued every year of his technical updates and training in Europe.
1990 Plant No. 3 opens for business in Affalterbach - again not before time: AMG now has a staff of 400 - and a joint venture agreement with Daimler-Benz that extends beyond a shared commitment to motor sport.
1991 Ricky had foreseen the global recession and moved the AMG Canada headquarters to Vancouver, BC. Where Asian Pacific business continues to prosper. Eddy remained in Ontario to run a smaller facility to serve the reducing business demand and further success in his racing career.
1992 AMG driver Klaus Ludwig takes the German Touring Car Championship. Back in Affalterbach, the work force prepares a great reception for its champion driver and the entire motor sport department. Various car clubs invite Eddy to be driving instructor.
1993 The first product of the joint venture agreement hits the market: the Mercedes C 36 AMG. On account of its widespread familiarity, the German Patent Office registers the name "AMG" as a trademark.
1994 Once again, AMG fields the champion driver in the German Touring Car Championships and once again it is Klaus Ludwig. Back in Affalterbach, another reception awaits the team.
1995 AMG fields the champion driver for the third time in the history of the DTM, as well as taking the little in the first ever International Touring Car (ITC) series. Champion twice over is Bernd Schneider. Ricky and Eddy have once again joined hands in their business. They were serving the entire Canada region and American North-West from their hi-tech facility in Vancouver. Supported by Mercedes-Benz Canada, Eddy established Flying Tiger Development. Flying Tiger was the first racing team in Canada using Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Flying Tiger also converted and developed custom built Mercedes cars. Eddy experienced his first rally by being on the podium in 3d place. The Thunderbird Rally soon became Eddy's favorite event winning the next two consecutive years.
1996 Eddy clinch his first rally championship.
1997 AMG celebrates one production milestone after another: 5000 units of the C 36 AMG, 2000 units of the E 50 AMG. Developed and built by AMG in the space of just 128 days, the Mercedes CLK-GTR makes a successful debut in the new FIA GT Championship. A whole string of AMG Mercedes is now being manufactured in Vancouver, Canada and distributed throughout North America by the Lai brothers. Orders from Toronto, New York, Washington DC, Florida, Texas, California and Oregon are now received constantly. The AMG C-Class with C36 look, the AMG E-Class with E50 look, the AMG SL500 with the SL60 look, and the AMG SLK are now being assembled and sold in the Mercedes showrooms. Eddy Lai is now also a 2 time Canadian West Coast Rally Champion.
1998 Eddy's racing career hit another milestone by winning the ICSCC Championship driving a Mercedes-Benz. This goes in the record book for a Chinese driver. Winning 3 out of 8 races, and top three in four more races.
1999 Eddy placed 2nd in the championship from a reduced team budget. While competitors has improved their performance.
2003 Ricky has announced his retirement. Eddy carry-on the torch by building a specialized shop in Richmond, B.C., Canada. A restructured Flying Tiger business divide into specialty vehicle storage, parts and accessories warehouse, wholesale and retail, personalized and race car engineering.
2004 Welcomes the smart cars into Canada. This becomes an immediate hit for this very unique Micro Compact Car. Flying Tiger provide a host of parts and accessories for personalization.
2005 Flying Tiger customized a series of Smart car with BRABUS products. BRABUS is the factory-authorized tuner for smart in Europe. While AMG products are for Mercedes-Benz tuning.
2006 Flying Tiger tuned the first B200 Turbo in Canada. The Flying Tiger developed Sport Compact Tourer boast with tasteful body styling kit, 18" AMG wheel package, sport tuned suspension, performance exhaust, and re-written engine software. Providing nearly 250 hp for a low power to weight ratio. A new website was born in November.
www.star-lounge.ca is a place where Mercedes enthusiast can gather information and chat on their favorite models and topics.
2007 A motor sport museum under-construction next to Flying Tiger. When completed, the racing career of Eddy Lai will be on display. An all round driver that capable on winning road races and rally championships. This will be a private exhibit only.
2008 Flying Tiger build the first Brabus smart in North America. Components include European Brabus exhaust. Similar to the Brabus Xclusive model sold to the rest of the world.
2009 Flying Tiger had a record breaking year in sales despite the poor world wide economics.
2010 Flying Tiger members met Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Nick Heidfeld, Bruno Spengler, and other Mercedes-Benz executives at Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Based on the CLK55 W209. Flying Tiger has developed a streetable track car. Concept from CLK DTM, CLK 63 Black Series. But at a much lower cost.
