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Printavo | What Racing Taught Riley Hopkins About Screen Printing Success

Printavo | What Racing Taught Riley Hopkins About Screen Printing Success  | Screenprinting.com

Josh Valencia |

In this video from Printavo, screen printing legend Riley Hopkins shares his journey from race cars to revolutionizing manual screen printing. He talks about how his passion for racing led him to build the first Riley Hopkins press in the late 1960s to fund his racing career. The press quickly became popular, selling 40,000+ units before partnering with Ryan Moor of Ryonet, who helped bring Riley’s designs to a wider audience through online sales and video tutorials.

WHY RILEY NEVER BUILT AUTOMATIC PRESSES

Riley explains why he never designed automatic presses, choosing instead to build durable, upgradeable manual presses that could last a lifetime. He emphasizes how manual printing creates jobs and helps shops train employees rather than replacing them with machines. Even today, he continues to innovate, designing new print accessories while still racing and building cars. He also gives back by teaching screen printing at vocational schools and using his custom-built race cars to raise funds for student scholarships.

RILEY’S ADVICE: "STAY NUTS"

Riley’s advice for success? “Stay nuts.” He encourages entrepreneurs to take risks, experiment, and follow their instincts—even when others doubt them. His story is a testament to the power of innovation, persistence, and a little bit of craziness.

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

  • PASSION FUELS BUSINESS – Riley started screen printing to fund his racing, showing how business success often starts with personal passion.
  • BUILD TO LAST – His presses never became obsolete, allowing users to upgrade without replacing their entire setup.
  • STAY FLEXIBLE – Riley adapted to industry changes but never abandoned what worked, balancing innovation with reliability.
  • GIVE BACK – He now mentors students in screen printing and car restoration, proving that success is about more than just profit.
  • TAKE RISKS – “Stay nuts” means trying bold ideas even when others doubt you—because sometimes, that’s how game-changing innovations happen.