A MAN ON A MISSION: Randy’s Awesome Garage

Roger Rohrdanz March 08, 2023 Industry Updates

Randy Haapala is a man on a mission, with energy and enthusiasm to spare. He has always been a huge drag racing fan.

Randy sold the Body Palace, an auto body shop he owned in Huntington Beach. “I wanted to build some hot rods,” said the former Huntington Beach resident speaking of his 5-acre ranch near Lake Elsinore. “I needed some more room”.

The 70-year-old father of 10, grandfather of 19 and great-grandfather of 5 has been tricking out rides for most of his life. As he was busy restoring old cars and building hot rods, an injury changed his life and his direction.

When you walk-in, you know this is a serious collection. His first Funny Car body from John Force (1998) is hanging on the wall. The red “BUD” wing is from Kenny Bernstein’s 1999 dragster. Everything is autographed! On the ceiling is a 35’ banner autographed by all the racers at the 50th Winternationals! The autographed $100,000 check on the wall to Frank Pedregon for winning the 2001 Bud Shootout at Indy

A 1984 240 mph crash in Montréal. To save her life, rescuers had to cut Shirley Muldowney out of her fire suit. This is the fire suit stitched back together by Randy.

Randy Haapala is simply a man who doesn’t understand the word can’t

Randy is simply a man who doesn’t understand the word can’t. In 2003 he began to amass a sizeable collection of hot rod and drag racing memorabilia. He is friends with many of the NHRA drag racers and frequents the charitable fund raising auctions. He transformed a barn into a 5,000-square-foot drag-racing museum packed with 17 Top Fuel Funny Cars, 3 Top Fuel Dragsters, 160+ autographed fire suits, 180+ Wallys and more memorabilia than you can see in a day. Randy says it isn’t easy to get full bodies, the racers prefer to cut the bodies in half and sell them, due to the legal liabilities if the buyer should use them to race. Neat and cluttered are not words we would associate together, but Randy’s barn is crammed full of neat treasures.

“NHRA Championship” rings from Tony Schumacher, Shirley Muldowney, and 2 from John Force.

He transformed a barn into a 5,000-square-foot drag-racing museum

Autographed Ron Capps 2005 Brut Funny Car (L) and Eric Medlen 2005 Funny Car (R).

Tony Pedregon’s 2003 autographed Championship Top Fuel Funny Car.

A few of the 160 fire suits, all autographed.

There is a room full of glass cases packed with 1000+ very special die cast drag cars including very hard to find prototypes. All the die cast drag cars are autographed! He has an impressive display of fire suits, helmets, jackets, hats, and crew shirts also – all autographed!

A road leads from the barn, past the pond and a vintage gas station to the back acre. This is where Randy’s hot rods were built and are stored in his 5,000 sq. ft. auto shop! He needed more storage space, so he put 6 shipping containers end-to-end across from the auto shop. He has very creatively disguised them as a western town. The town has a General Store, Antique Shop, Ace Extinguisher Co., Hot Rod Garage, and antique license plates from all 50 states.

Randy you’re amazing!!
Check out more at: randysdragracingmuseum.com

Thanks for the Show!!