VALE: Horst Kipper 22/7/1940 to 02/10/2010

Horst Kipper: A Legacy of Vision, Grit and Innovation

Horst E. Kipper (1940–2010) was a visionary, innovator, and community builder whose life’s work left an indelible mark on both the world of aquariums and motorsport in Australia.

Early Life and Marine Biology Roots (Germany)

Horst began his career in Germany, training as a Tierpfleger (animal technician) with a focus on fish breeding in Hamburg in 1958. His passion for aquatic life quickly evolved into pioneering innovations in the aquarium industry. In the 1960s, while working with Hilena in Bielefeld, he invented groundbreaking products for planted aquariums — including the first specialized aquarium plant fertilizer (Crypto-Dünger), a CO₂ diffusion system, continuous pH monitoring kits, and precision aquarium heaters. These innovations significantly advanced the hobby and science of aquarium keeping, allowing aquarists to maintain healthier, more natural aquatic environments.

In the 1970s, Horst co-founded Dupla Aquaristik GmbH, based in Bielefeld. The company became well-known across Europe for its advanced aquarium technologies and education in aquatic life. He published books such as Wunderwelt unter Wasser (Wonder World Under Water), combining his scientific knowledge with a love of underwater photography.

Dupla products and systems were revolutionary for the time, and Horst’s innovations and patents — more than 20 in total — helped shape the modern aquarium hobby worldwide. He also played a key role in organizing Germany’s first international aquarist symposium and was one of the first to successfully convert Europe’s largest saltwater display into a thriving freshwater system.

A New Chapter: Australia and Family Life

In 1984, Horst and his wife moved to Australia seeking a new adventure. They initially settled in Western Australia, living on a farm in York before relocating to Byford, where they raised their children. Horst and his wife moved to Australia in 1981 with their daughter, and in 1986 their son, Tobia Kipper, was born. In 1989, the family moved to Cairns, Far North Queensland, where Horst could combine his love for nature, open spaces, and entrepreneurship.

Horst established Dupla Aquariums Pty Ltd in Queensland, continuing his aquarium work. But in time, his interests expanded toward motorsports and the growing interest in karting — especially after his son Tobia began go-karting in 1994 at the age of 8 at the local track in Edmonton, Cairns.

The Birth of MakoTrac (1997)

Frustrated by the environmental limitations and lack of infrastructure at the existing Cairns Kart Club — plagued by sandflies, flooding, and poor pit conditions near the mangroves — Horst began to dream bigger. In 1996, he took his family on a research tour across Germany, visiting several major karting facilities from north to west. He visited the famed Michael Schumacher track in Kerpen, owned by Rolf Schumacher, and was deeply inspired by the scale, vision, and professionalism of these venues.

In 1997, Horst acted on this vision and established MakoTrac International Racetrack on a sprawling 38-acre property in Mareeba, Queensland. The track was designed to be a multi-purpose motorsport and karting venue that would meet the highest safety and engineering standards — long before such standards were common in Australia.

Initially, Horst introduced 10 Swiss Hutless "Belsta" karts for hire, setting a new standard for public karting in the region. Over time, he added a unique mix of engine options including Diesel, Rotary, and 4-stroke petrol karts — a rare feat in Australia. He was always experimenting, always improving.

He paid close attention to international trends, especially in Europe, and in 2001 began promoting Bambini racing in Far North Queensland — allowing children as young as 4 years old to start their motorsport journey. This was groundbreaking for the region and inspired by the likes of Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and Fernando Alonso, all of whom began karting early.

Horst was driven by a desire to raise the standard and professionalism of karting in Australia. He introduced a Star Grading System, the first of its kind nationally, which allowed drivers to level up under supervision of trained marshals. It became an important stepping stone for driver development.

He also designed a custom plastic barrier system — fabricated in Far North Queensland specifically for karting safety — and ensured all hire karts were equipped with remote shutdown systems from the Dutch company De Haardt. Safety was always front of mind.

The Land and the Details

True to his nature, Horst’s focus wasn’t just on the track. He was obsessed with keeping the land dust-free, spending countless hours on the mower. He and the family planted hundreds of trees around the track’s perimeter, and installed an extensive irrigation system across the entire property. He even commissioned four oversized fiberglass tanks made in Cairns, delivered by special truck, just to store water for irrigation — a testament to his attention to detail.

MakoTrac was never just a track. It was his canvas.

The Motor Racing League and Grassroots Karting

Alongside MakoTrac's professional-level hire kart operation — Go Kart Action — a new grassroots racing movement was quietly emerging. Horst and local supporters helped create a separate racing series called the Motor Racing League (MRL). This community-driven effort eventually evolved into the Mareeba Karting Club.

The Naylor Family — Mary, Glen, Jamie, Leigh, and Mitchell — played a pivotal role in building and sustaining the club. Their commitment to karting and the Mareeba motorsport community helped make racing more accessible for families and enthusiasts who were priced out or felt disconnected from more formal associations.

The goal was never to compete with or undermine the Australian Karting Association (AKA), but rather to offer an affordable, inclusive racing environment open to all. The MRL and Mareeba Karting Club created a genuine entry point for kids, teenagers, and adults alike — people who just wanted to race and have fun without the complexity or cost of national karting structures.

Although MakoTrac was a world-class facility, it was never fully utilized for competition. The majority of energy was directed into running Go Kart Action, the hire karting business — and that became the economic engine that kept the whole operation running for years. Still, the MRL and Mareeba Karting Club ensured that grassroots racing had a home and a heartbeat.

Final Years and Legacy

In 2010, Horst passed away on October 2nd after a brief but difficult battle with leukemia. He had kept his illness largely private but was realistic and optimistic — a “glass half full” kind of man. He hoped that chemotherapy might help, but unfortunately his body became too weak to benefit from the treatment.

His passing sent waves through the local community, with a large gathering of friends, business people, and motorsport enthusiasts attending to pay their respects. He was truly admired and sorely missed.

Horst rarely took a day off. For him, standing still was death. He was always moving forward, always dreaming bigger — whether it was building a global aquarium company in Germany or designing one of the most progressive go-kart venues in regional Australia.

His legacy lives on through the work his family continues to do at MakoTrac, the racers who got their start there, and the spirit of innovation, courage, and relentless self-improvement that Horst embodied every single day.