By SEMA Editors
 Ray Lipper |
Ray Lipper, 2002 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee and founder of Center Line Wheel Corp., located in Santa Fe Springs, California, has passed away.
Lipper built a name for himself and his company based on his background as a designer and engineer. He recognized the need for a stronger racing wheel and went to work creating numerous wheels for the industry.
Lipper produced some of the lightest and strongest one-piece wheels in the industry, from his first attempt, known as the Auto Drag, to his development of the technique for using a single blank that can be split and spun into a one-piece wheel.
Center Line is credited with being the first wheel manufacturing company to produce a modular aftermarket wheel for Harley-Davidson, and the first to develop and manufacture a wheel using a rotary forging process. Lipper and his engineers at Center Line also developed and produced the wheels for the Spirit of America land-speed record car.
Funeral information is not available at this time.