Chris was a car guy like myself and several others. While in high school he built a chopped, channeled and sectioned 49 ford with a corvette V8 in his dads garage, At the time it was the fastest car in the Bothell area. Chris let me drive it so he could take a couple of pictures of the 49 doing a burn out. He was a great guy who helped me rebuild my 51 Chev. Chris and I got drunk on his dads home made moonshine the day we returned from the senior party. The memories.............I Lost track of Chris as life took over and was very sorry to hear of his passing.
For those of you who didn't know Chris Ipsen, he and Tom Boardman were probably the two most knowledgeable guys in our auto shop class. I can’t remember for sure, but I think they were the only ones that went to the national contest where you were tested to see how fast you could find and repair preset problems. Bothell High School did very well with them representing us as I remember.
I too lost track of Chris, and every time I would see an Ipsen Towing Truck wondered if he was the one that started the company. Chris seemed to be willing to help anyone.
I traveled on buisness in BC visiting my bcustomers once a year. Somehow, I found out that Chris had a automotive repair buisness in Parksville on Vancouver Island. I would drop by for a coffee and visit maybe two or three years in a row. The last time , Chris's buisness was not there and I had no idea where he went. I would guess this was in the mid 80,s. I remember Chris as a car guy always rebuilding something. Chris also help me rebuild the motor in my 1960 Opel Caddett, when I needed some help.
When Chris got that Corvette engine all hooked up in that Ford he was anxious to see what it would do. He hadn't even put the seats in yet so we got a couple of apple boxes to sit on. The first time he punched it I flew off that apple box and ended up mostly in the trunk.
I remember when Chris got his first car. I think he was about sixteen years old. It was a big old 1940 Nash four door sedan that was not in running condition. He paid $20.00 for it. It wasn't long before Chris had it running like a top and it was time for a "speed run" to see what she would do. There was a relatively straight, level stretch of road nearby that we used on such occasions. Chris took off, going through the gears and shouting out our speed at intervals: fifty, sixty, seventy...Somewhere north of 80 mph there was a funny noise. The hood had mysteriously disappeared. I looked back and spotted it about 200 feet up in the air, gliding back to earth, swaying back and forth like a leaf. In our haste to get on the road, Chris had forgotten to replace the bolts that held the hood in place.
Chris was a great friend to all of us. I remember when he gave some of us a ride in his '49 Ford, with that hot engine he had just installed. I have never ridden in such a fast car since! Not that I was that excited to go that fast, but he was doing the driving and he wanted to show us what he had accomplished. He was a very talented individual and he was loved and respected by us all. God bless you Chris, and may God rest your soul. We all miss you. You were a tremendous asset to our class. I only wish you were still here. Your friend always, Skip.
Pat Ellwood
Chris was a car guy like myself and several others. While in high school he built a chopped, channeled and sectioned 49 ford with a corvette V8 in his dads garage, At the time it was the fastest car in the Bothell area. Chris let me drive it so he could take a couple of pictures of the 49 doing a burn out. He was a great guy who helped me rebuild my 51 Chev. Chris and I got drunk on his dads home made moonshine the day we returned from the senior party. The memories.............I Lost track of Chris as life took over and was very sorry to hear of his passing.
Bob Kelley
I remember seeing that car the first time he brought it to school; several guys were clustered around it, ooing and ahing, including me!
Parl Guthrie
For those of you who didn't know Chris Ipsen, he and Tom Boardman were probably the two most knowledgeable guys in our auto shop class. I can’t remember for sure, but I think they were the only ones that went to the national contest where you were tested to see how fast you could find and repair preset problems. Bothell High School did very well with them representing us as I remember.
I too lost track of Chris, and every time I would see an Ipsen Towing Truck wondered if he was the one that started the company. Chris seemed to be willing to help anyone.
Bob Kelley
Tom Boardman's dad had a car repair shop, so he had a head start on a lot of people.
Brian Reese
I traveled on buisness in BC visiting my bcustomers once a year. Somehow, I found out that Chris had a automotive repair buisness in Parksville on Vancouver Island. I would drop by for a coffee and visit maybe two or three years in a row. The last time , Chris's buisness was not there and I had no idea where he went. I would guess this was in the mid 80,s. I remember Chris as a car guy always rebuilding something. Chris also help me rebuild the motor in my 1960 Opel Caddett, when I needed some help.
Al Dodson
When Chris got that Corvette engine all hooked up in that Ford he was anxious to see what it would do. He hadn't even put the seats in yet so we got a couple of apple boxes to sit on. The first time he punched it I flew off that apple box and ended up mostly in the trunk.
Al Dodson
I remember when Chris got his first car. I think he was about sixteen years old. It was a big old 1940 Nash four door sedan that was not in running condition. He paid $20.00 for it. It wasn't long before Chris had it running like a top and it was time for a "speed run" to see what she would do. There was a relatively straight, level stretch of road nearby that we used on such occasions. Chris took off, going through the gears and shouting out our speed at intervals: fifty, sixty, seventy...Somewhere north of 80 mph there was a funny noise. The hood had mysteriously disappeared. I looked back and spotted it about 200 feet up in the air, gliding back to earth, swaying back and forth like a leaf. In our haste to get on the road, Chris had forgotten to replace the bolts that held the hood in place.
Skip Crist
Chris was a great friend to all of us. I remember when he gave some of us a ride in his '49 Ford, with that hot engine he had just installed. I have never ridden in such a fast car since! Not that I was that excited to go that fast, but he was doing the driving and he wanted to show us what he had accomplished. He was a very talented individual and he was loved and respected by us all. God bless you Chris, and may God rest your soul. We all miss you. You were a tremendous asset to our class. I only wish you were still here. Your friend always, Skip.