AEM KARTING - Key Persons


Chris Surdenik - Founder, President

Job Titles:
  • Co - Founder
  • President
Chris is a co-founder, President and Novice / Intermediate Instructor at AEM. Racing is a pure passion for Chris who has been trained by some of the best instructors on both two and four wheels. He has competed and won in multiple classes, scoring pole positions and fast laps along the way. Chris shares Mick's vision to educate and serve future generations of kart racers by providing the best coaching, support, data analysis, karts and racing industry resources available.

Lorenzo DiBacco

Job Titles:
  • Staff Member
Lorenzo started kart racing in 1978 and has racked up the achievements ever since. He has raced sprint karts and laydown enduro karts - winning races throughout. Lorenzo is in charge of Business Development at AEM Karting.

Mick Gabriel - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Chief
  • Co - Founder
  • Instructor
Mick is a co-founder and the Chief Instructor at AEM. Racing since he was 11 years old, Mick has become one of the best kart racers in the country and a driver who is respected throughout the industry. His instruction to racers who want to get to the top step of the podium and win championships is invaluable. Mick's vision for AEM was based in passing along the necessary skills and knowledge to the next generations of championship winning kart racers. Mick's competition resume is accomplished and extensive. He has raced and won races and championships in several categories:

Mike Gabriel - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Co - Founder
  • Co - Founder and the Race Team Manager
Mike is a co-founder and the Race Team Manager at AEM. He is a championship-winning tuner in multiple classes of kart and car racing. Racing is life to Mike and he brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to AEM. With 40 years and hundreds of karting wins and poles, Mike is a tuner who doesn't just make incredibly fast vehicles, he helps drivers win championships.

Tim Rose

Job Titles:
  • Staff Member
Tim is a nationally renowned driver, instructor and racing industry trailblazer. Tim was the Lead and Advanced Driving Instructor at Bondurant Racing School from 2013 to 2016. In 2017 and 2018 while at Bondurant, Tim was responsible for pursuing, securing and managing the Mazda Motorsports partnership for the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout at Bondurant where 26 drivers from 14 countries competed to win a Mazda Road to Indy $250,000 scholarship. Prior to Bondurant, Tim was an instructor with Skip Barber Racing School, Russell Racing School and Marlboro Racing School. Tim's competition resume is accomplished and extensive. He has raced and won in several categories: IMSA / SportsCar Sanctioned Formula Mazda Pro Series SBRS Formula Dodge Championship SCCA Formula Mazda West SCCA Formula Continental / F2000 West Russell RS Triple Crown and Pro Series SBRS ZEREX Saab Pro Series SCCA Formula Continental / F2000 West Russell RS Race Series SBRS Race Series - West Coast Winfield Racing School, France, Pilote Elf Challenge Today, in addition to his work with AEM, Tim is the primary safety car driver for IMSA, the lead hot lap driver for Lexus Motorsports and the high-performance driving instructor at Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds for Toyota and RIVIAN.