Not good... Pat Ganahl

[Maindrian Pace]

55 minutes ago on David Freiburger's FB page.

"The worst. Pat Ganahl died today in an incident of unknown cause at Riverdale Raceway in his Ike Iacono dragster that he restored years ago. With Pat went an irreplaceable mind loaded with facts and contacts from the history of rods and customs. In the magazine world, Pat was on the first staff of Street Rodder and became the editor, he worked for Sunset mag, then was hired onto Hot Rod where he eventually became the editor with the second-shortest tenure, and he later revived Rod & Custom magazine before leading Rodders Journal. He wrote many books and freelance stories about our hobby, and he maintained a huge inventory of vintage photos. Pat can be credited with popularizing the nostalgia drag racing movement in the ‘80s. He was the first person I knew personally who painted his own cars—well. He restored the dragster and built a number of VWs, fat Chevys, drag cars, and hot rods including the Nitti-inspired roadster in the first pic. He drove the yellow F1 everywhere. As far as I last knew, he only drove old cars. He inspired me before I ever knew him, but now I have more Ganahl publishing stories than will fit in this space. Here’s the one that most affected my life. In 1991 I had a job interview with Jeff Smith and Pat Ganahl simultaneously, Jeff for Hot Rod and Pat for Rod & Custom. Pat later said that he told Jeff, “if you don’t hire him, I will.” Jeff did, and hence my whole career. Ganahl mentored me along the way and enjoyed causing me just a bit of trouble. I’m one of many 100s of thousands of people who gathered knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration from Pat Ganahl. Godspeed, and much sadness for his wife Anna and son Bill."

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=david freiburger

[TonyW]

So very sad.

I first started reading Pats articles way back in the seventies. He was one of the most dedicated and informed Hot Rod and Custom writers out there. He will be very much missed.

Condolences to his wife and son.

Tony.

[Snake45]

Very sad news. Thanks for posting it. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

What devastating news. My condolences to his family and friends.

A big loss to the automotive community and also model car community.

[Oldcarfan27]

I knew he was a big car guy. I remember him in Hot Rod Magazine. IIRC he was also a model car builder.

He went out doing what he loved.

My condolences to his family. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Surprising that there haven't been more comments made. Not much showing in a Google search yet either.

On the modeling side Pat was the first to contribute to the Street Rodder Magazine modelers corner. I remember one of the first articles being a big t with a jaguar irs.

[Ace-Garageguy]

A tragic loss, but he went out doing what he loved. 

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/weve-lost-a-good-one-god-speed-pat-ganahl-hot-rodding-grew-and-flourished-with-your-help/

https://www.customcarchronicle.com/forums/topic/pat-ganahl-passed-away/

Edited August 21, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[Scott Colmer]

Pat was a great story teller and a really nice guy. I had a chance to talk to him at an NNL West many years ago. He was very nice and accessible. A true car guy. He will be missed.

[tim boyd]

I just learned a few minutes ago that Pat Ganahl passed away Friday in a drag racing accident.  I am shocked, saddened, and struggling to find the words.

Those of you interested in hot rod, and those of you who were model car builders back in the 1970's and 1980's will know that Pat was an irreplaceable figure in both of these fields. 

He was without compare the world's pre-eminent hot rod journalist and historian and played a lead role in the evolution of several of the hot rod worlds' most respected magazines.

To us model car builders, Pat was the Editor of Street Rodder back in 1977 when he gave this model builder the go-ahead to start a monthly column on model car building.  We called it "Modeler's Corner".  Though Pat went on to bigger and better things shortly thereafter, the column lasted over 20 years in the mag.  And when Pat decided to move on, he wrote me a letter offering me the position of assistant editor at that magazine (which I respectfully had to decline due to recent employment at Ford Motor Company/)

Pat and I stayed in touch over the years; occasionally I would see him in person at some of the California rod events, I think the last time was at the LA Roadster show a few years back.  We corresponded from time to time, and those of you following his blog found out that Pat was a very accomplished model car builder, too.  He even attended our second-ever NNL West event near SFO airport in January 1983 when he was at Hot Rod magazine, and he played a key role in organizing the Hot Rod Model Car Nationals which ran for several years in the midwest.

Most of all, perhaps, he was a wonderful husband to Anna and father to Bill.  

Perhaps Dave Darby can add more details about what happened, or you can check out the HAMB at JalopyJournal.com 

GodSpeed Pat. You were truly one in a billioni....TIM 

Edited August 21, 2022 by tim boyd

[Snake45]

16 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

A tragic loss, but he went out doing what he loved. 

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/weve-lost-a-good-one-god-speed-pat-ganahl-hot-rodding-grew-and-flourished-with-your-help/

https://www.customcarchronicle.com/forums/topic/pat-ganahl-passed-away/

I think I have that book. If I do, I bought it really cheap at Ollie's a few years ago. 

[Danno]

Well said, Tim.  One in a billion. Huge loss . . . to family and all his extended family (us). 

 ?

 

 

[carrucha]

So sad. RIP.

[TooOld]

Oh my . . . such terrible news . . . been reading Pat's articles for decades and subscribed to his website . . . God Bless and God Speed Pat .

[cyclone kevin]

Heard about this sad event Friday afternoon with a Phone call. I thought about calling Pat direct as this surely couldn’t be true…..So I did not post this news anywhere as I just felt I’d wait for some form of confirmation. 
True it was… I’ve written elsewhere what he did for all of enthusiasts in print and many of his ideas. 
when he brought back R&C Mag, he said that I’d be surprised what they shot for a cover and he knew I’d really like and the complete magazine content. 
It is only 2nd to the Bud Bryan edited R&C “Chop Top issue, IMHO the very best issue in that titles existence. 
Pat knew that I was involved in multiple car related interests. 
One being our “Pasadena Roadster Club Reliability Run”,  The other, Cook’s Machine Works-Cyclone Racing Equipment L.A.22,CALIF. The all important Bob’s Big Boy Broiler aka in the past as Harvey’s and later Johnie’s which he wrote about in the 70’s while still of the employ of SRM-TRM Publishing. The other placing it on the Cover of R&C Feb 93, Then lastly when it was in peril and most had doubt that it would survive. Which it has and has been a Bob’s longer than it had been Harvey’s by 3 years. He put it in TRJ #36 to call attention to my drive. we were successful in saving such an icon so I say “Thank You” for that. 
Pat was a Hot Rodder who initially drove 6cyl Stovebolts, but went nuts when P-Wood turned him on to a genuine Pasadena Garage Found 32 Cad powered roadster. 
He like “Yer Ol Dad” Gray Baskerville hit all of the local haunts. Blair’s & Cook’s, both being original 40’s era Hot Rod places. A more recent Hot Rod Place that both He & Gray Baskerville hit was Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Repair, later Parts which was in Temple City and remarkably looks similar to what it once was. The company with current owners (The Slover’s) has been in MO. for 35yrs. now after spending 12 years in TC with both the originators Pete,Jake & “The California Kid 34 3 Window Coupe”.

During the initial outbreak of Covid-19, I decided to take pix of both my 32-34 roadsters which carry P&J’s parts sourced from the T.C. location. 
Pat had done a great shop tour in a very early Rodders Journal.  He did a follow up with the P&J’s location among 3 others for his Pat Ganahl’s Rod & Custom Blog. A very Kool read!!!!!

Lastly, Pat did an article on a Old School Body Man = Stan Beringhele of  W.L.A. Culver City.  Who was a very good friend of both of ours and really had been in the thick of it all during the Days @ The Clock Drive-In and Piccadilly Circus Drive-In where the west side Hot Rodders met for races. 
 

Rest In Peace Pat and sending both Anna & Billy my condolences at this very sad time. 
Sincerely,

Kevin Preciado 

Cyclone Racing Equipment. 

 

[larman]

Eventhough I did not know him, this hit almost as hard as when you find out about a friend you have known for some time. He was such a great writer and as so many have said, made you feel like you knew him. It is just a terrible thing. I really enjoyed the blog he was doing and looked forward to seeing the emails when they popped up. Condolences to his family and friends.

[ChrisBcritter]

Met him once at a swap meet at Irwindale Raceway when I recognized his recently-acquired '52 Chevy two-door sedan. Real nice guy.

[Bainford]

Sad news indeed. I have a few of his books, and his words were a large part on my hot rodding education back in my teens & twenties. Always a trusted voice who has given every North American car nut so much. R.I.P Pat. Condolences to his friends and family.

[Phildaupho]

I am shocked and saddened. Pat was one of my favorite automotive writers in magazines, books and on-line. I have many of his books on my shelf. He will definitely be missed.

[Dave Darby]

On 8/21/2022 at 12:46 PM, tim boyd said:

Perhaps Dave Darby can add more details about what happened, or you can check out the HAMB at JalopyJournal.com 

Hi Tim, I learned about it late Friday night. I don't have a ton of information, other than he was piloting the Iacono GMC powered dragster that he restored, and from what Ive read that there was no attempt to brake or steer when he reached the end of the track. This would indicate that he either died or at least lost consciousness during the run. I corresponded with Pat occasionally over the years, but never got to meet him in person. Yet I feel like I knew him. His writing style was that personable.  I first discovered Pat's writing on the pages of Street Rodder magazine, when he first joined the staff. His autobiography of a hot rod type articles really influenced me from the time I was a young teen all the way up to today. His passing has hit me extra hard. 

Life is precious and fleeting. And it can end in the wink of an eye. 

Godspeed Pat. 

Edited August 22, 2022 by Dave Darby

[Muncie]

One of my favorite authors - always the right amount of information and easy to read. Books, Magazines.  I had a chance talk to him once at an NNL West - probably about 1989. If I remember correctly; he had some models on the tables. Good guy, easy to talk with. I had planned to go the drags at Riverdale.  But it had been a tough week and no energy.  If I knew that Pat Ganahl was going to be there - a rare opportunity so I would have made the effort.  Now, I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed the trip...

RIP Too Tall, you will be missed.

[Dave Darby]

More information has been trickling out about what happened. From Autoweek: "Pat Ganahl passed away yesterday in a drag racing accident at the Estranged Car Club show," said Anna Marco, a former longtime staff member of Rod & Custom magazine who worked under Pat Ganahl for many years. "He was in the Iacono dragster when it happened. He never lifted and went into the woods at the end of the track. We think he had a medical issue in the car, possibly a heart attack. He said he wasn't feeling well and wanted one more run. His wife Anna was there and said he died doing what he loved because he wasn't a retirement home kind of guy."

My wife and I think(and this is pure speculation) he may have suffered from a ruptured aorta, similar to how John Ritter passed. Guys that tall often have connective tissue disease. Chancess are, he may have died even if he hadn't made that last pass. But better to go piloting a drag car than in a hospital bed. Either way, how or why doesn't matter. We've lost a hero and a muse.

https://www.autoweek.com/news/people/a40963863/pat-ganahl-rodder-and-writer-killed-in-drag-racing-accident-in-oregon/

[oldscool]

I didn't know a lot about him but remember seeing his name in print throughout the years. I spent the last two days reading everything on his website. Such a great loss to the hot rod car world. Not many like him left. RIP Pat.

[Ace-Garageguy]

HOT ROD Mag obit and links to other Ganahl stuff:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/pat-ganahl-obit/:

 

[stavanzer]

https://www.bakersfield.com/sports/horrific-scene-racer-killed-at-march-meet/article_5361415c-d2c8-5bef-ad58-adf2d2b896af.html

This has happened before, in the 2008 March Meets. 

John Shoemaker died on the Track. He never lifted. I was there when It happened, which is why the Pat Ganahl accident felt so tragic to me. I remember the confusion about what had just happened. To hear about it happening again is, spooky.

http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=7462

 

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I jut saw this, I guess I'm a little behind the times. Pat was a titan (at 6'10") in our hobby. I've really enjoyed his blog (the right term?) since the demise of SR and R&C.

RIP, Mr. Ganahl.   -RRR