Jim Drake (RIP)

Mitch's brother Jim Drake was the skatecar specialist of Team Tunnel. Together with a partner from a metal shop, he built the Tunnel skatecar by hand and raced it downhill at Signal Hill in California and Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. Jim Drake and his wife Leslie Drake (Ritzma) opened Tunnel South in Garden Grove that had a large warehouse in the back for skateboard distribution and a Mitchell's retail skate shop in the front. A warm and social guy, Jim Drake was probably best known in the skateboard world for his De Tomaso Pantera complete with personalized "Tunnel V" license plate.