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Health & Welfare

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8/15/12:

Former SCTA president Jim Lyon passed away this afternoon of respiratory failure. I miss him already and I know he’s already in heaven watching everybody at Speed Week.

 A big fan,   Fred Butler

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08/9/12:

Larry Burford passed away about 11:30pm last night - Aug 8. He was surrounded by his family. He will be greatly missed by everyone.

08/6/12:

Long time High Desert Racer Larry Burford fell last week and broke his hip and suffered a concussion. There were complications during surgery to fix his hip and a pacemaker was installed. He is at Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville. Your thoughts and prayers for Larry and his family would be greatly appreciated.

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07/18/12:

Ron Hammel, 81 of Lancaster, CA passed away Friday July 6th, 2012 he was a Pioneer in the early days of Hot Rodding. Ron opened 10,000 RPM Speed Equipment in 1964 located in Hot Rod City Torrance, CA. He developed a Engine Dyno capable of handling 8,000 hp drag racing engines, he was one of the first to develop Nitrous Oxide power enhancing systems for racers and most recently he built the Lightest Racing Clutch Assemblies for all types of racecars. Ron has also been involved in many forms of racing as a car owner, crew chief, sponsor and consultant for many Bonneville Land Speed cars, both Top Fuel and Funny Cars and NASCAR stock cars.

Ron was born February 11, 1931 in Alexandria, IN to Leonard and Helen Hammel of WI. Ron went to be wife & business partner of 38 years Betty Jean Hammel (Burchett) she passed away in 2002. He fought a long and painful battle with Prostate Cancer that later spread to the Bone Marrow. His last days were spent in the comfort of his own home with his family and friends by his side. With his humor, smiles and wisecracks right until the very last day. He is Survived by his Younger Brother; Elton Hammel, Son; Rick Hammel (Kimberly Wickerd), Daughter; Becky Hammel (Boyd), Three Granddaughters he Loved Dearly, Mikayla Peters, Alexandrea Hammel, and Rebecca Hammel. Special Thanks to Francisia Carranza and Tony Alvarado for their loving care with our Father in his last days.

Becky Hammel
becki1009@aol.com

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06/21/12:

Sad news.   Glen Hill passed away yesterday.  He was a wonderful fellow and was a member of the Bonneville team of Heathcoat, Thyer and Hill for many years. They raced the 141 Comp Coup.    - Glen

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05/28/12:

Julian Doty Celebration of Life
December 1922 — May 2012

Join us in celebrating the life of Julian Doty, the ultimate car guy. His first trip to the dry lakes was way back in 1934 and he has been hands on ever since playing with everything that had an engine in it, Aircraft, Sports Cars, Indy and Dirt Track cars, Dragsters and of course Land Speed Cars. 

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05/21/12:

GLASS, Willie H., of Sandston, passed away May 13, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Glass; a daughter, Sheri Balderson and husband, John; a son, Timmy Glass and family; grandsons, Johnny Balderson Jr., William A. and Kevin W. Balderson; and a sister, Frances Conway of New York. The family will receive friends 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Pkwy., Mechanicsville. A celebration of Willie's life will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Fairmount Christian Church, 6502 Creighton Rd., Mechanicsville.

Mr. Glass was the retired owner of Watkins Welding Supply. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to New Song Church Youth Program, 7450 Colt's Neck Rd., Mechanicsville.

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05/16/12:

It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you that Neil Thompson Sr. passed away early this morning. I personally, will miss him deeply. If some of you didn't have the privilege of meeting or hanging out with Neil, Glen Barrett sent me some background on Neil via Tom Burkland:

Neil was a fierce competitor through our early days of Studebaker comp coupe land speed racing. At one time he held every class record in the comp coupe category except the X vintage class. He even ran a 170 slant six Plymouth engine in his Studebaker to achieve this feat. Greg Frazier drove this car with an injected small block Chevy to get in the 200 mph club with identical speeds in both directions, makes the timers job of averaging easy! The rear axle was a V-8 quick change converted to swing axle configuration and anytime the car went fast using plenty of power it seemed to end up on jacks getting a ring and pinion replacement. The 271.78 one way speed gold leafed onto the roof was half of the 1969 A class record average of 265 that we bumped in 1985 with our B210. There are rumors of faster time slips approaching 300 mph but I have not seen them.

Neil later had what may well have been the first 34 Ford Highboy Roadster with similar blown fuel Chrysler power. He also supplied engines for the Hoy Brothers Lakester through the early 70's. His engine building and tuning skills with the early iron Chryslers helped many rookie land speed racers. He also had one of the tow trucks with character that are so common among land speed racers. It was a long wheelbase Dodge panel truck with dual wheel one ton rear axle and 392 Chrysler power.

Freud has been searching his files for an action shot of the Thompson Studebaker at speed in the timing lights on two wheels. Neil claimed it was over 300 mph at the time.

Heather

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05/2/12:

John Kilgore reported that Julian Doty passed away at 2:55 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.

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04/23/12:

Mike Waters is recovering slowly from knee replacement. The doctors discovered that he was going in circles with the new knee so he has been transferred to Ballard Rehabilitation hospital in San Bernardino. He is in therapy three times a day, but available on his cell phone. He is expected to be out by 30 April or when he can chase the nurses down the hall in a straight line.

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04/22/12:

Rudy Eleff passed away 3-29-2012, He crewed on Al Teague's streamliner in it's hey-day. He also helped on the BMR coupe and roadster.

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04/14/12:

Bob Oppermann lost his battle last night in Lake Havasu. He was surrounded by friends and family and will be fondly remember by many.

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04/13/12:

Bob Biehler 1472B  Buell Blast 500cc APG passed away April 13, 2012 of an apparent heart attack.  Bob was working on his bike in preparation for a run at both El Mirage in May and Speedweek in August.

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03/26/12:

This past week Bonneville  short course timer and short course starter Bill McDowell & Tammy  (Barrett) McDowell lost both his Mother and Father one week apart. Both had been in failing health for some time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. May they rest in peace.

Glen

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03/9/12:

Matthew Steven Timney died peacefully at home March 9, 2012 after a courageous journey with cancer.  He was born December 27, 1980 in Townsend, Delaware to Joseph and the late Catherine (Dunlap) Timney.

Matthew graduated from Middletown High School, Class of 1998.  He attended the University of Delaware, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  Upon graduation he moved to Maine, his favorite place to vacation as a child.  In addition to giving Matthew wonderful opportunities to fish and hike, moving to Maine also brought him to his loving wife Erin Hews, whom he married in 2009.  Over the years, Matthew had fond memories of the friendships he made, including those with various coworkers, most notably at Ocean Pro Shop in Townsend, Delaware, BerryDunn in Bangor, and the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, where he was the current Director of Finance.  He will be remembered for his cheerful spirit, caring heart, and love for fishing and almost every type of candy imaginable.

 In addition to his wife, Erin (Hews) Timney, Matthew is survived by his father, Joseph J. Timney, Jr, and his wife, Donna Timney, of Townsend, Delaware, sister Heather Timney of Asheville, North Carolina, sister Kathryn Timney of Wilmington, Delaware, father-in-law and mother-in-law Ray and Suzanne Hews of Presque Isle, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Libby and Paul Stuit of Grand Rapids, Michigan, nephew Gabriel Stuit, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Thanks guys,
Love you all,
Joe & Donna