Gone Racin� to �Kipp�s Garage

 Roger and I had the pleasure of meeting Jim Kipp and touring his private museum and collection. Jim and his brother, Dave Kipp, developed a mold making business and after becoming successful, sold the firm and set about doing some of the things that Hot Rodders can only dream of. Jim�s collection is relatively new but he has amassed a large and varied set of memorabilia. Hanging from the ceiling are 16 radio controlled airplanes, some over 5 feet in length. An avid supporter of the Wave Crest Car shows, he displays 30 surfboards, many of which were specially made to honor that event. Jim and his family show up at the Wave Crest in his �46 Ford Woody wagon, or �60 Fiat Jolly car, with its own special display of beach umbrella, carved tikis, beach chairs, and mats. Other cars on display in the museum include a 2-toned green and white �55 Chevy with a 502 C.I. engine, a black �50 Chevy Pick-up truck with a beautiful hardwood bed and running board and a 502 c.i. crate engine. There is also a �99 Silver Porsche Boxster, an �83 red Porsche, 2004 Modena Porsche, Ferrari Z28, a red �69 Rally Sport Chevy Camaro with white racing stripes, 302 C.I. engine, and a red convertible �55 Thunderbird with a 427 Ford Cobra powerplant.

Kipp�s Garage, as he calls his museum, is spotless and orderly. Display cases are just as much works of art as are the objects displayed in them. He has an eclectic sense of taste, collecting a wide range of memorabilia from Hot Rodding�s golden age. There were 3 large radio controlled wood racing boats, helmets, guitars, and a special guitar from Carlos Santana. He collects shirts, fire suits and other memorabilia from NHRA racers. He showed us 3 Wally�s, or awards given by the NHRA to racers who have won National event races at the dragstrips. He has two model car tracks that are outstanding. The first one is a 72-foot dragstrip. Kipp sprays a little alcohol on the cars and sends them down the track, igniting the fuel, which approximates the look and feel of a real burnout. Then he showed us the 155-foot slot car road course. He sent the cars on a dizzying burst of speed around the twisting and turning road course. Also on display was a Whizzer bicycle, �50 Cushman bike, Doodlebug motorized bicycle and a Nirve Sports bicycle. There were gas pumps and globes, model cars and authentic tether cars. Kipp also owns a hard to get John Force Funny Car body.  Also on display were two Jr Dragsters. He has a large selection of die cast models and books and resources to authenticate the history of his collection. Look for Jim Kipp at many of the car shows throughout the Southern California area.

Gone Racin� is at www.oilstick.com

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