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?Press Releases |
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About The Builder, Steve Culp Lakeland, FL. April 11-15 Sopwith Pup builder Steve Culp didn't start his career dreaming of WWI bi-planes. He got his start after feeling the need for speed at an early age. When he was 9, he began racing go-carts. At the age of 14, he made the transition to off-road racing, then to road racing....and then, well, you get the picture. Culp ate more dust and grit during his years in competition than most people eat in a lifetime, but loved almost every minute of the speed and thrills. Along the way, he became a highly sought-after fabricator, building Indy cars and restoring antique racers. It was a skill that would serve Culp well in his next career.
Now, four Specials later, the 45-year-old Culp still enjoys building and flying the big bi-plane, but is eager to turn the calendar back, and try a WWI bird on for size. He will no doubt do well, and should be able to continue his search for the Red Baron for years to come. Culp and his planes have been featured in a number of newspapers and magazines including Sport Aviation (Nov. '93, July '96) Pilot (July '96) and most recently Kitplane (June '97 and April '99). |
That career began in 1992, when he bought a 1956 Piper Tri-Pacer that had seen better days. One year later the re-incarnated Pacer, by then a sleek and shiny red and maroon eye-catcher, was voted Classic Custom Champion at Oshkosh. The bug had bitten, and Culp was hooked. In 1994, Culp sold his Pacer and began work on a plane of his own creation, the Culp's Special. The big green and yellow bi-plane was to be Culp's personal show-stopper, and with the help of aerobatic legend and good friend Marion Cole, it also become his airshow-topper. Culp flew the plane to shows throughout the south, but lost it after flying to Sun n' Fun in 1996. It was here Special Number One was sold, to a buyer who didn't want to wait the several months it would take to build a Special just for him. |
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Copyright Culps Specialties 1999. All rights reserved. |