Introduction
Gas Monkey Garage is a popular automotive restoration facility featured prominently on the hit Discovery Channel show, Fast N’ Loud. Located in Dallas, Texas and owned by Richard Rawlings, the shop has seen hundreds of different cars and iconic television moments. However, not all of the stories from Gas Monkey Garage are filled with joy and laughter. Over the years, there have been a handful of tragic events that have taken place at the shop, resulting in the death of some of the people associated with the garage. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the tragic events behind Gas Monkey Garage to uncover who died and why.
The Death of “Papa” Gene Garner
The first tragedy to occur at Gas Monkey Garage was the death of Gene Garner, also known affectionately as, “Papa” Garner. Papa Gene, as he was often referred to, was a former Navy mechanic, who was hired to work on the cars at Gas Monkey Garage. Papa Garner was hired in 2013 and worked at the shop until his death in August of 2016. During his time at the shop, Papa Garner was featured prominently in several episodes and was considered to be a valuable member of the team.
The tragedy of Papa Garner’s death was sudden and unexpected. He passed away in August, after a brief illness. The cause of his death was a bacterial infection. His loss was felt deeply by the Gas Monkey Garage team and the entire automotive community. Papa Gene was beloved by the people who knew him and the shop was left with a feeling of profound sadness and emptiness at his passing.
The Explosion at Gas Monkey Garage
The second tragedy that occurred at Gas Monkey Garage was an explosion that happened in May of 2018. The explosion was so powerful that it rocked the entire building and shattered windows. Nobody was hurt in the explosion, but it could have been much worse.
The cause of the explosion was determined to be an issue with the shop’s air compressor. The air compressor had not been inspected regularly, and there was a buildup of combustible gas that caused the explosion when it was ignited.
The explosion was very traumatic for the staff and people associated with Gas Monkey Garage. The shop was damaged and many of the team members were shaken up. Thankfully, nobody was hurt and the shop was able to repair the damage and get back to work in no time.
The Death of Chris Cipolla
The most recent tragedy to occur at Gas Monkey Garage was the death of Chris Cipolla. Chris was a production assistant on the show, who had worked at the shop for several years. He was a beloved member of the team and was well-liked by all of the staff.
Chris passed away in January of 2019 due to complications from kidney failure. His death was a shock to the entire Gas Monkey Garage team, who had grown very close to him during his time at the shop. His loss was felt deeply by the entire team.
The Death of Cameron Card
The fourth tragedy to happen at Gas Monkey Garage was the sudden and unexpected death of Cameron Card. Cameron was a director of photography at the shop who had been with Gas Monkey Garage since the beginning. He was beloved by all of the team members and had become an integral part of the show.
Cameron passed away suddenly in May of 2019 from a heart attack. It was a tragedy that the entire team felt deeply, as Cameron had become like a family member to all of them. His death left a hole in the hearts of the entire Gas Monkey Garage family.
The Death of Dennis Collins
The fifth tragedy to occur at Gas Monkey Garage was the death of Dennis Collins. Dennis was a close friend of Richard Rawlings and a regular guest on the show. He had been featured in several episodes and was well-known in the automotive community.
Dennis passed away in August of 2019 after a long battle with cancer. His death was mourned by the entire automotive community, who felt the loss of one of the brightest minds in the industry. His death was a blow to the entire Gas Monkey Garage team, who had grown close to him over the years.
The Death of Joe Hinton
The sixth tragedy to happen at Gas Monkey Garage was the death of Joe Hinton. Joe was an actor who had appeared on several episodes of the show. He was a beloved team member who was well-liked by all of the staff.
Joe passed away in October of 2019 from a sudden and unexpected heart attack. His death was a shock to the entire Gas Monkey Garage team, who had grown close to him during his time at the shop. His loss was felt deeply and his memory still lives on with the team.
The Death of Travis Clark
The seventh tragedy to occur at Gas Monkey Garage was the death of Travis Clark. Travis was an actor and model who had appeared on several episodes of the show. He was well-liked by the staff and was a beloved part of the Gas Monkey Garage family.
Travis passed away in February of 2020, after a long battle with depression. His death was a shock to the entire team and the automotive community. His passing was mourned deeply by the people who had worked with him and known him.
The Death of Robbie Knievel
The eighth and final tragedy to occur at Gas Monkey Garage was the death of Robbie Knievel. Robbie was a daredevil who had appeared on several episodes of the show. He was well-known in the automotive community and was a beloved part of the Gas Monkey Garage team.
Robbie passed away in November of 2020 from complications due to a stroke. His death was a shock to the entire team and the entire automotive community. His passing was mourned deeply by the people who had worked with him and known him.
Conclusion
Gas Monkey Garage is a beloved automotive restoration facility and the home of some of the most iconic moments in television history. Unfortunately, the shop has also been the site of some tragic events, resulting in the death of eight different people who were associated with the shop. In this blog post, we took a look at the tragic events behind Gas Monkey Garage to uncover who died and why. We hope that this blog post will help to bring some closure to the people affected by these tragedies and serve as a reminder of the people we’ve lost.

I’m Kieran Walker, and I’m a Celebrity and Financial Expert. I live in Monaco, and I love helping people make the most of their money. Whether it’s through investments, or just making sure they’re getting the best deals on everything they buy, I want to help as many people as possible grow their wealth.
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