Thomas Rippy. As a boy I had mini bikes and go carts, and always tried to make them go faster. I developed a love of mechanics, engines , and cars and trucks, actually anything with an engine and moving parts. I read a lot, and liked military history. I bought a book on army trucks, and there were a few I liked in particular, those being WW2 Dodge trucks and the civilian Power Wagons based on the WW2 Dodges. I knew where one was, at a gas station in the Florida Everglades on Tamiami Trial. The place was called Trail Town and I knew the owner. I bought the 54 C1 Power Wagons in the photo, and did a full restoration on it.