We’ve owned White Performance since 2003, except for the machine shop, which was owned by Fred White. Fred operated the machine shop and continued building engines for us while we sold online under the eBay user ID skipwhite and the store name whiteperformance1.

Due to their limited production capabilities and disagreements over the engine-building process, we decided to open a full-scale machine shop in 2008. Around this time, Fred White began competing with us, despite a non-compete clause in our contract. We then changed our company name to Skip White Performance to make a clear distinction.

As our business grew, we expanded in 2011, opening a larger warehouse and machine shop on Brookside Ln. in Kingsport, TN. Through dedication and passion, we became the number one street rod engine builder in the nation. Our engine program is unique and unmatched.

In 2016, Fred sold his shop (White Performance & Machine) to an investor. This investor, lacking industry knowledge, continues to benefit from the confusion between the two businesses. Despite claims of being "in business since 1979," we had already purchased the White Performance company in 2003, excluding the machine shop.

Our dedication to building street rods spans 47 years, and his extensive knowledge has helped grow the business into a leader in the field.

The "pretenders" continue to capitalize on our success, but they have tarnished our reputation. We regularly receive calls from customers who mistakenly think they purchased from us. Many customers have waited 12 months or longer for an engine promised within 6-8 weeks and have not received a refund. Some mistakenly believe they bought from us, contributing to negative feedback that affects our reputation. Despite this, we have maintained an "A+" rating with the Better Business Bureau for years, while they have an "F" rating with a fraud alert. As of October 20, 2019, they had 55 complaints, 52 of which were in the past 12 months.

The confusion continues, with complaints being filed against us with the Tennessee Consumer Affairs division. We’ve also had attorneys approach us for lawsuits related to vendors, only to learn they had the wrong company. We've also been notified that White Performance & Machine used our exact name, "Skip White Performance," on their credit card merchant account.

In early 2020, the company was raided by the U.S. Secret Service/Department of Homeland Security and shut down. Prior to this, the owner was arrested for writing bad checks amounting to $25,000. We are working to restore our reputation despite the damage caused by the confusion.