SKC RACING & DESIGNS

Custom Paint Roots

I entered the world of Custom Painting totally by accident. In 1994 I started racing Jet Ski's. Being a Novice racer sponsorship was hard to come by. So, I decided to use my marketing skills and put together a race team. I put together a package that the sponsors would want to be part of. This hadn't been done in independent racing as of yet. I hand picked the racers. Next, I wanted everything to look like a professional team with everything matching from wetsuits, uniforms, pit area and equipment. I began shopping around for a painter to do the watercraft. The least expensive was $1000. per ski. The first year team had 14 watercraft. $14,000. WOW!. The sponsors didn't want to pay for it and I already had too much invested. So, what was the alternative? I went to the local PPG shop and had them set me up with what I needed to do it myself. The personel at Auto Color Warehouse in Van Nuys California then helped teach me enough to get started. After the team was well underway, team riders started asking me to paint helmets for them. Knowing nothing about airbrushing, I went out and bought a Badger 150. The airbrush just seemed to come natural to me. Next thing I knew I was making money painting. For five years the race team was like family to me. This page is a dedication to them. Thanks guys for setting me in the direction that would lead to were I am now.

My very first paint jobs.

Yours Truely..I feel more at home in the water.

Team Riders:
Steven Craig
Marie Bayon
Jacob Rueban
Jason Windebank
Anne Herzog
Lauren Dale
Troy Niblink
Casey Mauldin
Galo Diaz-De-La-Tusa
Alan Lippie
R.J. Hop
Jeff Stapleton
Mike Maniscalchi
Steve Stewart
Bobby Biggs
Mike Strafford
Ron Anthony
Kevin Davis
Dave Cambell
Jodi Dyer

Some pics of the team (more to come soon)

Jacob Rueban

Bobby Biggs

Marie Bayon

Casey Mauldin

Galo Diaz-De-La-Tusa

Dave Cambell

Jason Windebank

Kevin Davis

Ron Anthony

Jodi Dyer

Anne Herzog

Members of the team came to show thier support for one of the first Custom Paint shows I entered

Lauren Dale

Our Pit area was so large, we had to set up a fence at each race.

Some of the team members in thier SKC uniforms.

Nick Davis, head mechanic for the team. Here is directs on of the riders from the shore.

Mike Strafford

Steven Craig. Here I am on my way to my first overall championship.

more to come.......