Volkswagen Projects

Dan Beach

Mechanic

About Dan

Dan comes to Exclerate Performance with an extensive automotive mechanical background and former foreman of a local VW Dealership. He is ASE Certified and Master Certified in all Levels of Volkswagen. Like any VW mechanic Dan is diehard VW, he drives a 2001 Beetle 1.8T and a 1988 Porsche 944S.

So what does Dan do when he isn’t wrenching in the service bays? He is busy wrenching on a 24 hours of Lemons car, a 1979 Chevrolet Chevette with a mid engine Subaru motor. How awesome is that?

When it boils down, Dan has a true passion for cars which started back in his yesteryears. As a child he grew up playing with cars, taking them apart but as he got older, he learned to put them back together. From this point, the rest was history. Fixing, modifying, repairing, racing, and driving have all been a big part of Dan’s life and it shows in his work.

Life's a Beach!

Craig Miller

Performance Sales Specialist

About Craig

Well this is embarrassing.... I've not had a chance to tell you all about Craig. He is taking and EXTRA long time with his bio so he can be ultra detailed with his life. We might publish it into a manifesto... we shall see when its completed.

Nicole Costello

Customer Service

About Nicole

Nicole has been a car enthusiast for as long as she can remember. He fondest memories that started it all were when her father would work on cars of his own. The exposure led her to experience working on vehicles herself which ultimately led her to attend Porter and Chester for automotive where she graduated in 2010. This passion led Nicole down a path that created her desire to work in the automotive field. Fast forward and after two years of being at Excelerate Performance Nicole has created and developed new roles for the company. She can be found holding it down out on the loading dock overseeing inventory and shipping/receiving as well as various book keeping tasks inside the office.

Nicole is not only passionate about her love for cars, she also has a few projects of her own. She owns two GTI’s, one MK4 and one MK4.. of course they are both VR6’s. Nicole also has her own Etsy store where she sells stuffed toys and other various crafts she designs and sews herself. How cool is that?

Justin Rogers

Service Manager

About Justin

Justin started two years ago at Excelreate Performance as multi-role aficionado. Forum sales, service writing, and installations were his job description, so you never saw him standing still or if you did it wasn’t for long. For the past year and a half, he has been in the shoes as a full time mechanic.

Justin is very passionate about cars and is very interested in how things work which makes him so great at what he does. He spends the time to figure things out the right way and knows when to ask for help so tearing things down and putting them back together serve a dual purpose. Justin’s appreciation for cars came from his uncle who was into older Mercedes Benz’s and his Grandfather who shared the same mechanical values. With German cars always on his mind, Justin new he just had to have an Audi. But those who know Audi know the problems that come with them. Not being able to afford to pay someone to fix it, he took matters into his own hands.

When Justin isn’t busy working on Audi’s and Volkswagens and expanding his credit line on the Snap On truck, you can also find him flipping burgers on the grille or smoking a brisket…a foodie at heart. Justin is also passionate about his music and bettering his life with experience. Justin can be seen around New Haven County in his E39 540i M sport or his highly sought after (1 of 133 imported) Audi 200 Quattro wagon. He is also known as the shop humorist… if you need horse sense or comeback in topic of conversation, you best bet your most prized possession that he has something in his bag of wit.

Most recently Justin was promoted and made his way back up to the office front from the shop. Justin is now the Sales and Service Manager so if you have technical questions, questions about products or services Justin can help you reach your destination!

Joshua Lockwood

Owner & CEO

About Joshua

Excelerate Performance is owned by Joshua Lockwood. For over two decades his hobby has been automotive related and more specifically modifying cars, but it’s in his blood too as his father loved fast cars. Once he got a taste for performance the button was switched and he began modifying his first vehicle heavily. After that he began advising, selling and installing performance parts for friends and family. With this love of vehicles and love for business the decision to go into business for himself was obvious. Joshua completed his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Quinnipiac University in 2003 and never looked back. Armed with entrepreneurial knowledge, an insatiable desire for the performance market, and some hard earned funds, he began Excelerate Performance.

Although Excelerate Performance is an integral part of Josh’s life, it isn’t all business all the time. When he’s not at work, he’s spending his time with his wife and children. Together they enjoy good food, good friends, and time with their family. They also help others in the community and are devoted to their religion.

And obviously Josh loves cars and he likes powerful cars. Josh’s garage has included an entire gamut of vehicles: VW, Audi, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, etc. But currently it’s filled with an Audi RS7, Audi R8 4.2TT, 718 Porsche Cayman S, Acura RDX, and a Toyota Tundra 5.7.

APR Stage 3+ MK7 Golf R

APR Tuned IS38 MK7 GTI

Built MK4 R32 Turbo

MK7.5 Golf R on Air

Allen’s MK4 R32

Track Suzuka Grey MK6 GTI

Supercharged MK4 R32

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