Engine Builder Hats
Description: Dempsey Wilson was an accomplished race car driver in the ’50s and ’60s who competed in the USAC Championship Car Series. He had over 30 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in ’58, ’60, ’61, and ’63. Outside of racing, Wilson was a master machinist who custom-milled his own cams and ran a business called Dempsey Wilson Racing Cams in Hawthorne, California, which both made new camshafts and refurbished old ones. His primary clients were hot rodders and street racers, but he also did work for his fellow open-wheel racers, even providing some of his secret grinds to those he really liked.
Description: What is now known as "STP" was invented by German scientists during WWII as a response to Germany's need for lubrication of the German war-machine vehicles. WWII US Army divisions in Africa that overtook German Afrika Korps vehicles alleged that the Germans employed an engine oil that is now known as STP formulation full-strength in their air-cooled 4-cylinder engines, which successfully traveled through the hot African Desert war-front without seizing due to friction and extreme heat. How the Germans' original chemical synthesis formulation found its way to the U.S. after WWII is not known, but most likely it made that journey along with many of the other German innovations through the distribution of technology through the spoils of war.
Description: William Jahns Sr. founded W.H. Jahns Co. in 1912 in Los Angeles where he turned out pistons for literally every application. When Jahns Sr. retired in 1948, he left the business to his son, William Jahns Jr., though Junior had already started his own business on the side under the name of Jahns Racing Pistons a year prior. Being much more interested in racing applications, William Jahns Jr. continued to operate W.H. Jahns Co., though now under the Jahns Racing Pistons banner, while reducing their vast catalog to include only the most profitable products. He simultaneously pushed forward with his racing piston development, becoming a leading of early high performance pistons that drove many cars of the day to win races and set records.
Description: "Rev up the laughs with this perfect blend of dad joke + gearhead humor! 'I Still Play With Blocks' with a V8 engine visual is the ultimate inside joke for: Mechanics who live for engine builds Car guys who spend more time in the garage than the house Automotive students surviving engine class Dads who prioritize their project car over LEGOs
Description: Powroll Performance was founded in 1964 by dirt bike enthusiast Paul Olmstead in Bend, Oregon. Little did he know that the side business he started in a cinder block building behind his house would go on to become one of the longest-running performance companies in the motorcycle industry. Paul devised a way to shorten OEM connecting rods, creating a simple and less expensive way to build stroker cranks for OHC four-stroke engines. Powroll's stroker cranks made great power while increasing reliability and did so at a reasonable price with little to no additional modifications, making them wildly popular. Cranks were Powroll's primary product, but they built up a pretty extensive catalog of performance parts over the years.
Description: During World War II, when new cars were scarce, Jasper, Indiana car dealership owner Alvin C. Ruxer started an engine rebuilding operation at his dealership to help keep customers on the road. What began out of necessity to combat wartime shortages became a well oiled machine by 1946, and Jasper was remanufacturing engines of all makes to manufacturer specifications using a standard set of new parts while recycling major castings. A dedicated building was constructed in 1951, and in 1957, the company began remanufacturing transmissions and other drivetrain components. This design includes Jasper's panther mascot that was often used in motorsports.
Description: Celebrate the grit and ingenuity of post-war America with this bold tribute to Jasper Engines & Transmissions. Featuring the iconic panther leaping across a distressed red "JASPER" logo, this design honors the legacy of engine remanufacturing born in Jasper, Indiana during WWII. Perfect for gearheads, vintage racing fans, and anyone who appreciates classic American craftsmanship. Whether you're under the hood or hitting the car show circuit, this tee brings horsepower heritage to life.
