In Loving Memory of Keith Ripp

Keith Ripp

1947-2020

British Rallycross Champion, and founder of RIPSPEED International (Est. 1973)

With deep sadness and sorrow, the team here at R-Tec Auto Design bids farewell to RIPSPEED founder, Keith Ripp. The man that brought car customising to the masses. Our inspiration and idol. Keith laid the foundations for the grass roots of car customisation.

RIPSPEED was the go-to place for car parts and accessories - supplying specialist customisation services long before the world of mail order and Internet ecommerce. Keith brought the world of automotive styling and accessories many products that you might remember from years ago, such as fluffy dice.

A Timeline of our history

R-Tec Auto Design has a history which spans more than 40 years.

In the 1970's British Rallycross champion, Keith Ripp founded RIPSPEED in North London, initially specialising in tuning parts and accessories for Mini's before expanding to all marques. RIPSPEED became the largest specialised tuning store in England and exported products worldwide for over twenty years. The brand of RIPSPEED was eventually sold to Halfords in the late 90's.

Keith Ripp with his two sons Adrian & Jason later started up Xtreme Motorsport with a partner based in Harlow, Essex. After many successful years in Essex, Xtreme was then sold to allow Adrian & Jason to fully concentrate on the next generation of bespoke automotive retailing. R-Tec Auto Design was born in 2001. R-Tec operates from a 10,000 Sq ft state-of-the art premises based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire.

The motorsport and road car tuning and accessories market grew aggressively over the years. By the 1990s, RIPSPEED's main rivals were Demon Tweeks and Grand Prix Racewear, both owned by racing drivers Alan Minshaw and Ray Bellm respectively.

Over the last decade R-Tec Auto Design has expanded it's premises and staff numbers. R-Tec also offer a larger array of services and stock more products from luxury and performance suppliers than ever before.

Stores & Workshops

RIPSPEED: Hertford Road, Enfield Wash, Enfield, London
RIPSPEED: Tramway Avenue, Enfield, London
RIPSPEED International: Silver Street, Edmonton, London (Now 'The Gilpins Bell Pub')
Xtreme: Crown Gate, Velizy Avenue, Harlow, Essex
R-Tec Auto Design: Lyon Way, St Albans, Hertordshire