Dave Rupp, the founder of the Ft. Lauderdale Beach Collector Car Auction.

[car crazy]

 David J. ( Dave) Rupp was born on December 24, 1937, in Wichita, KS. He passed away on June 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida

Throughout his entire  life, Dave had a passion for automobiles, starting out on the streets of Wichita as a street racer - and, of course, Dave won more than his fair share of those races. This did have the unwanted effect of keeping him on a first-name basis with local law enforcement. After a night of street racing and doing donuts at a local drive in, there was an arrest and an appearance before a local judge. A strongly worded "suggestion" by the judge resulted in Dave's enlistment in the service, and he served his country aboard submarines, including a stint on the first nuclear sub. Dave became a part of the Navy's Special Forces Underwater Demolition Team, known as the UDT Frogmen, before becoming better known as the Navy Seals. After his stint in the service, Dave got involved in drag racing, owning the "Red Bandit' a winning 1963 Plymouth Super Stock car. The next year, Dave was somehow able to acquire one of the legendary Ramchargers cars, a 1964 Dodge. The "Ramchargers" were a group of Chrysler engineers who "unofficially" built drag racers that were almost impossible to beat on the strips. Named the "Big Money Dodge" Dave won numerous races and set some world records on the tracks with the car. Through the grapevine, Dave got wind that the drag strip he raced at in West Palm Beach was going into foreclosure, and at the age of 29, Dave was somehow able to buy that race track, known as the Palm Beach International Raceway. Dave was determined to save it and make it a profitable venture- and he did just that, leasing it during the winter to auto manufacturers to test their cars, as well as holding drag races on weekends, as well as leasing it to privateers, including Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.  After seeing Woodstock in the summer of 1969, Dave decided he would organize a similar festival here in Florida. In November of 1969, the now legendary Palm Beach Music and Arts Festival was held over Thanksgiving weekend  The three day festival featured many well known musical acts, including Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Spirit, Sly and the Family Stone, Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, King Crimson, and Jefferson Airplane. Many other single artist concerts were held at the track throughout his ownership of the track. In the early 1970's, concurrently with operating the track, Dave founded the Ft. Lauderdale Beach Collector Car auction, which ran continuously until 2021. 

In the early 1980's, after selling the race track which later became Moroso Speedway, Dave opened "Gatsbys", an antique import & collector car dealership in West Palm Beach. Dave also owned and kept many impressive and rare collector cars personally throughout the years.
Dave’s favorite hobby was playing pool & he was well known for cleaning out the pockets of unsuspecting opponents, to their great surprise, as he had one heck of a poker face & an unmatched accuracy & skills for the game. And, as so many of us who knew him can attest, Dave was known for his straightforwardness and NEVER sugar-coating his words!
Dave will be greatly missed by his family, friends & all those whose lives he touched with his kindness, loyalty, and unwavering support.
Dave is survived by his Wife - Georgia Wolfe, daughters - Taffy Rupp and Kimberly Wilcox, his son - David Rupp Jr, his sister - Yvonne Camille Ellis & his two granddaughters - Diana Rupp, who recently had a baby girl, presently living in Alaska, as well as MaKenzie Wilcox, living in Kansas.

Edited yesterday at 01:32 AM by car crazy (see edit history)

[Jim Sandman]

Dear Georgia, family and friends of Dave ,

On behalf of the United States Submarine Veterans, we offer our sincere condolences at Dave´s passing. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are always saddened whenever a fellow "Bubblehead" departs on Eternal Patrol. He served with honor on the USS Threadfin SS-410, USS Odax SS-484, and USS Petrel ASR-14.

To our "Brother-of-the-Phin" we say, "Sailor, rest your oar. We have the watch. Fair Winds and Following Seas." Thank you for your service to our country.

Georgia and family... "may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV).

Jim Sandman, FTC(SS) Ret,

National Chaplain, USSVI.

www.jimsandman.com