My name is Michael Zimmerman, "Zim". I was born in 1976 in Vandalia, Illinois grew up in Pocahontas, Illinois and currently living in O"Fallon, Illinois.
Two of my friends, Danny Deiters and Mark Schuchmann, introduced the game of billiards to me when I was 19 years old. Since then I have studied the game immensely. I have worked in a few pool halls, participated in numerous leagues and many tournaments and played in various countries over the years.
Aside from being a player, I also organized and operated 8 ball and 9 ball tournaments, operated 8 ball leagues and coached some players over my travels in the United States Air Force
2001
I entered into the Internet World doing business as Zim's Rack. My intentions were to carry production cues, cases and accessories. I would eventually like to open a pool room of my own.
2004
In July I attended the Billiard Sanctuary Academy of the Cueing Arts (BSACA) with Timoty White as my instructor. I spent a week with Timothy to become a Certified Instructor with the BSACA. I also purchased my first cue repair late in June and offer cue repair and plan to eventually start building cues.
2005
In March Zimmerman Custom (ZCC) was inducted in the International Cuemakers Association (ICA) and became recognized as a quality cue repairman. In June of 2005 I completed my obligation to the US Air Force and another chapter in my life in in the works. I attended Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville (SIUE) to work on my Bachelors in Business. While attending SIUE I worked on building Zim's Rack into more of a promotional business, rather than just sales and becoming more wide spread around the billiard community. August of 2005 the Gateway Amateur 9 Ball Tour (GAT) was created in the St. Louis/Metro East area. I am the Tour Director and Danny Deiters was recruited to be the Tournament Director and ZCC will be offering on the spot cue repair at all of the events. Around the same time Zim's Rack 8 Ball League was formed with Danny and myself partnering as League Operators and the first division is located in Bond County, Illinois and Zim's Rack became the title sponsor.
2007
In June, Zim's Rack opened it's doors to the public with a 1000 sq' pro shop. We built Zimmerman Custom Cues, offered cue repair, had a retail area for merchandise and a pool table in a partially secluded room for billiard instruction and recreational play.
2008
February ZCC was upgraded to a Cue Maker level in the ICA. Also, this month, Zim's Rack closed it's retail doors due to military and family commitments.
2009
August Zim's Rack was recruited to take control of a local dart league. Since then we've started and expanded Zim's Rack Dart League and have been able to maintain the previous teams and add many new teams to the league.
2015
As of November, we will not be building cues as ZCC, due to a major health concern, family and career paths.
2016
As of April, dart leagues are no longer being offered due to business contractual obligations.
2017
We developed the Tournament Point Series (TPS), a series of pool tournaments that awards players points for competing and finished higher in the brackets. There's a Final TPS at the end of the season with ADDED money to the payout. These events are held in locations that sponsor/host ZR8 League teams. Another way ZR8 League shows its appreciation to those that support the league.
2019
In June, we created the Super Sweet 16 events. This is a series of tournaments over an 8 week period with players from each fo the 8 events qualifying for the Sweet 16. Players compete in the local Sweet 16, then advance to the Super Sweet 16.
2020
In March, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States and shut down a majority of the businesses and has put our league activity on hold until the business have re-opened.
2021
In February COVID-19 mitigations in Illinois were reduced and bars and restaurants were allowed to offer indoor service again and leagues and tournaments were allowed to continue.
2022
Things are getting back to normal for pool leagues and tournaments, cue repair is being offered more frequently and we are now making our new Zim's Rack High Performance (ZRHP) Carbon Fiber shafts. We now have a designated and convenient drop off and pick up location for quick 1-2 days turn around time, Lucky Rose 4019 N. Illinois St Swansea, IL between 9:00 AM - Midnight, 7 days a week, except major holidays if they are closed.
2023 (PROJECTED)
Zimmerman Custom Cues will continue building cues again. TPS Events will start back up and Zim's Rack Mobile Pro Shop will have monthly events scheduled to be set up at for on site merchandise sales and cue repair.
