“I know a thing or two about hair,” says Alan Kossof, Teddie’s son and co-owner of Teddie Kossof Salon and Spa.
“In college, I used to give really good fades — freehand, not using a guard. I tried to cut women’s hair, but my dad’s artistic side is one that, unfortunately, I didn’t inherit.”
Growing up in his father’s bustling salon, Alan Kossof learned a lot about hairstyles — but even more about people and business. He worked at the front desk on the weekends while he was in high school and college, which honed his communication skills not only with customers but also employees, and gave him a broad view of his father’s entire operation.
“In today’s terms, there is a constant challenge to exceed expectations, and when someone has the credibility and reputation like my father, they have a higher expectation of what their experience should be,” says Alan. “And sometimes it’s not about the haircuts, it’s not about the color — it’s about how people are treated.”
Alan claims he and his father are able to keep a general rule that business does not carry over into personal time — which is easy to do when they delve into their favorite topic of conversation.
“The Kossofs have always been car guys — and that’s all the Kossofs,” says Alan. “My passion for motor sports took on a new phase when I graduated college.”
Alan found a used BMW 3 Series, which he bought as a graduation present to himself. This eventually led him to driving school, and soon he was racing Road America. Nine years later, Alan is the conference champion in his region of the Sports Car Club of America, the premier amateur racing club in the country.
He raced in the national championship at Daytona International Speedway at the end of September, with the assistance of Fall-Line Motor Sports in Buffalo Grove, one of the top race shops in the country.
Competition was intense, as Alan raced closely alongside Corvettes and Vipers, fulfilling a dream to race at Daytona that he’d had since college.
“This was a very unique opportunity,” says Alan. “The speeds we experienced were in excess of 175 mph, which is the fastest I’ve ever gone. It was exhilarating.”
But don’t assume it’s all “Days of Thunder”-style drama and speed. Alan stresses the importance of the rules and regulations surrounding his sport.
“I like going fast, but controlled fast,” he says. “The difference between pro racing and amateur racing is that the pros have cars at their disposal. Amateur racers, that car belongs to them.”
And the thrill of speed can’t compete with Alan’s top priorities: his baby girl, Livia, and wife, Sabrina.
“There is an unspoken code that everyone is going to be a gentleman,” says Alan. “At a certain point, we drop it down to 9/10ths. We all want to go home to our families and have another opportunity to go back to the track and do it again.”
