Who We Are - Meet the Personalities Behind NEDRA

SHAWN LAWLESS - President

I am an EV drag racer and believe strongly in promoting and growing the sport. I believe that there is room in this organization for personalities of all types. Diversity of opinion is what makes this sport, (or any sport) fun. It's about getting together online and at races, discussing strategies, motor setups, batteries, control systems etc... We don't all have to see eye to eye on every issue, (or even most of them) to share a community that holds a basic goal... "To Promote Electric Drag Racing". We have here something special, something that hasn't been spoiled by commercialism.

KEN KOCH - Technical Director

Ken was born in Chicago in 1941 and lived in Indiana until age 5. After that his family moved to Southern California where he has resided ever since. In his senior year of high school he acquired the need for speed when he installed a Chrysler engine in a Plymouth coupe. Ken used to drag race it on the weekends and never forgot how much fun racing can be. In college he majored first in education, then pre-pharmacy, and ultimately engineering. Ken received a BS in electrical engineering from Cal Poly in 1973.

Ken worked for various military, aerospace, and commercial employers for about 25 years, performing mostly electrical design, test engineering, and reliability engineering. In 1984 he started KTA Services to supply EV hobbyists with conversion components and kits. This became a full-time business in 1992. KTA developed a nice history while supplying EV stuff to hobbyists and others over the years. KTA was downsized the end of 2006 so that Ken could enjoy some semblance of retirement. In its history KTA provided components and kits which enabled customers to build more than 1100 EVs.

Today Ken revisiting his old drag racing days by proudly serving as NEDRA's tech officer while beginning to build his dream project: An electric '32 Ford roadster with a drive system that has 800 peak hp capability. This is going to be a gorgeously-built street rod that he and his wife will enjoy immensely. Of course, the '32 will see some drag strip time at future NEDRA events. As Otmar Ebenhoech once said, "Your roadster should 'go like stink' and look good doing it!" Estimated completion is late 2007/early 2008.

CHIP GRIBBEN - PR Director/Webmaster/Northeast Regional Director

Growing up Chip enjoyed drawing cars, airbrushing T-shirts and messing around with electric gizmos. His interest in EVs began when he took joy rides in the golf carts at his grandfather's golf course. Chip's education is in Graphic Design and he worked for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace and Boeing as an illustrator and graphic designer. Today he owns a Web/Graphic Design business called DigiZone Designs.

He converted his 1986 Ford Escort to electric power running on 144 volts and has built several custom electric powered bikes. He joined NEDRA as the webmaster in 2000 and coordinates the NEDRA Power of DC. Chip designed the NEDRA logo and the current website. He also illustrates many of the event T-shirts and designed the graphics for Roderick Wilde's Gone Postal truck, and his website, Suck Amps and John Wayland's Plasma Boy.

Chip also owns a part-time electric scooter and bike repair business called ElectroScooterWorks where he does repairs on kid's electric scooters, personal mobility scooters and builds custom electric bikes and scooters.