Here's my vote for "striper" with no equal. Mitch Kim Mitch Kim -" I had a love for cars early in life. Growing up in the 60's, I constantly drew cars developed a fascination with Drag Racing in High School. I talked to sign painters in 64-65, but nobody would take me in, that is till I met Gary Crisp, a custom painter. Things began to change. He showed interest in me and after I bought brushes and paint in High School I began to paint anything and everything, every day! I was hooked. In 1970 I wanted to learn sign painting and scoured the Portland areas sign shops asking for help, but nobody showed interest in me. Then I approached gary Blevins, told him I'd work for free for a month...ended up there for two years. Then Gary Crisp opened up a truck shop (painting trucks) and hired me to do his lettering, mostly large trailers. Man, those days were tough, working in a cold garage on corregated trucks. Talk about paying your dues! (no computers to do layout, just pencil and pounce pad!) Gary "forced " me into striping...with a "just do it" at***ude I jumpped right in! Around that time I bought a house with a small attached garage and began striping cars in the neighborhood, moonlighting at night in 1971, 7 days a week. It was around then Gary introduced me to Bob Kovacs - affilliated with Disneyland- in Fresno. He was the king! Seemed like there were a hundred stripers in the valley, and about 6 were any good. About every 3 months I would hook up with Bob and work for a week learning Gold Leaf, Airbrushing, the works! In the late 70's I began traveling up and down the coast doing dealerships where my fine line style developed.....the rest is history......" http://nationalpinstripingregistry.com/mitch_kim.html
Amen and amen brother! Mitch has striped cars for me since I was a kid back when he lived out of Division in SE Portland and worked out of his garage in the backyard. What a blessing to have lived in the same area as a real legend. *** soon as my Ford is painted, it is going straight to Mitch's place for some of the cool stuff.
Glen Weisgerber, AMAZING talented guy, has stripped and lettered all my stuff, to watch him work is awe inspiring!!!
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