Dave "Boots" Ripley

How many of you guys in the North East remember Boots. He was a big time Kustom car guy. I know that at one time before he p***ed away he had quite a few cars in his collection. One in particuler was the "crimson skull". Does anyone out there know what happened to that car and all the others?
We often talk about customs of the past being lost. I was thinking the other night about some people I knew, and Boots came to mind. He was a great guy.

In 1988 my father and I were showing our 55 Chevy in the Boston World of Wheels. Some of the Boston area guys that were into customs set up a display with a half dozen cars for KKOA. Boots was one of those guys. We met for the first time on set up night. Before then we had no idea who he was or any of his friends. Well on Friday night there was a blizzard. I'm talking two feet of snow. Boots and his girlfriend at the time were not looking forward to the hour long drive back to their house. So my father invited them to crash in our hotel room. Two people we did not know two days before were now staying with us in our hotel room. We formed a long lasting relationship with them after that. Boots convinced us to join KKOA and I bcame the Late Model official for CT. I was only 18 at the time.
He was a really nice guy and is sadly missed.

Anyone out there have any good stories to share??
Anyone know where his cars went? I would hate to think they all just faded away!!!!

 

I did not know Boots personally, but I remember him from the early days of the KKOA. I believe we may have met at an early Sledscene East/

I did not know he owned "The Crimson Skull." I ***ume that was the Elden ***us car?

I do remember he had a nice black '67 Thunderbird custom that was featured in Cl***ic & Custom magazine. I wonder where that one is now?

 

Yes I am talking about Eldon's car. Boots already had it when he and I met in 88. As I recall it was stored away in a barn somewhere.

 

I remember Boots very well. He is sorely missed!
Don't know what happened to his cars. I think the "Skull" was coming apart toward the end, and he wanted to redo it.

 

Hey I don't know if anyone else still is reading this but Boots was my grandfather and it's really nice to read these.