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I was just informed we lost Paul Grichar tonight. RIP Grich, I had a lot more I wanted to learn from you yet.
Paul "Grich" Grichar
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Ain't it the truth. That's the way we all learn, by being around and learning from those before us. I once asked both Joe Reath, and Joe Mondello, what in hell are we going to do when the day comes you're not here. Almost verbatim, each replied at different times "...you're IT....learn all you can and pass it on to the next young guy coming up". I've never had the pleasure of making "Gritch's" acquaintance, but I sure know of him, and I'd bet there was a wealth of knowledge there. Rest well Paul.
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549 Posts
A sad day!!
Lynn "Pie" Youngs
Photo #1 - Grich, the late Bernie Buck, and me -1966 Salton Sea 500
Photo #2 - Grich and Bernie - making horse-power - 1966
I'm sitting here with a "heavy heart" after learning of Grich's passing ! We go back over fifty years - this is a sad day !
Lynn "Pie" Youngs
Photo #1 - Grich, the late Bernie Buck, and me -1966 Salton Sea 500
Photo #2 - Grich and Bernie - making horse-power - 1966
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Yet again we lay another legend to rest. It has been a true honor to have Grich call me a friend. To all that know him, that's not an easy title to earn. I can't thank him enough for all the long afternoons on the phone that started with one simple question and resulted in hours of in depth return questioning as he forced me to think for myself to achieve the end result, right, wrong, or indifferent. I truly wish I could have had a lot more time with "The Riddler" lol as I still have so much to learn! Paul will always stand as an icon and a hero in my eyes! He has experienced and achieved so much in his career in racing, not only flatbottoms, but hydroplanes, outboards, asphalt, dirt and circle track. Lol not to mention, many, many street cars! I truly wish that I could have spent more one on one time with him in the engine shop, as he was such a wealth of knowledge in all applications. He's helped me work through quite a few odd ball combinations, never answering a straight question with a straight answer! And it's that, that I respect the most, because he simply could have told me the answer and I would have moved on. Instead, "The Riddler" stepped in, and he forced me to think about "the little guy inside the engine". And with that quotation comes the most important thing any aspiring engine builder or tuner can ever hear. Because when you are forced to think about every fascit and detail inside an engine, you will start to then begin to understand what is truly taking place. I truly can't say enough about Grich, half the time I didn't know if he was screwing with me or being serious. It's his straight-faced, dry humor met with a half sarcastic smirk that I will truly miss! It is at this point in our journey that my heart goes out to Becky, as she has tolerated this driven, dry humored and even sometimes sarcastic man who I have come to love and respect. At this point, all I can say is Godspeed, my friend, until we meet again!
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RIP Paul, you will truley be missed
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Grich
Paul was not only a good friend, mentor, engine builder, teacher, but was also another father to me as well as to many others. The thing I will miss the most is debriefing after each race, going over videos, discussing what we could have done differently (maybe driving deeper into a turn or sliding out more to keep the RPM's up) it was always to make us a better competitor. I remember how proud of us he was when we won the Moyle Mink coat in Burley in 2003.
A large hole will be left in the racing community and in our hearts.
RIP Paul.
Dan Doidge
Gramp's Cracker, P-21
Paul was not only a good friend, mentor, engine builder, teacher, but was also another father to me as well as to many others. The thing I will miss the most is debriefing after each race, going over videos, discussing what we could have done differently (maybe driving deeper into a turn or sliding out more to keep the RPM's up) it was always to make us a better competitor. I remember how proud of us he was when we won the Moyle Mink coat in Burley in 2003.
A large hole will be left in the racing community and in our hearts.
RIP Paul.
Dan Doidge
Gramp's Cracker, P-21
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264 Posts
Video Tribute
Saw this yesterday, it's a very nice video tribute, sorry for the loss of your friend.
Seemed like a great guy with positive attitude.
Maybe someone can embed.
https://youtu.be/JwF_utKi3lE
Saw this yesterday, it's a very nice video tribute, sorry for the loss of your friend.
Seemed like a great guy with positive attitude.
Maybe someone can embed.
https://youtu.be/JwF_utKi3lE
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128 Posts
Boyd here! Sad Day to return to this V-Drive format
Paul was so much to so many! If I may echo the remarks before me here and on facebook, and simply add what a huge helping friend he was to me. Pictured above: Here we are in Burley 2009. Grich is to my right mentioning (very quietly) that i have left off some of the Cav plate hardware!! Opps! So embarrassing! He had helped me all through this boats build and NOW, he simply explained why I have to fix it,,,,,,NOW! That 7/8" clamp made so much difference in my handling! Then, like a Father who really wanted me to do well, he told me how to run Burley and which tree to use! Some of you know what this means and we all will MISS this Man, A LEGEND! My best to his Family and Becky!
PS, I forgot to mention Paul allowed me to run his old number SS26 and his suggested name of 'Gone Broke Again'! And shared is old driving suit! Somewhere i have that Burley picture of me gasping for air in RED!
Paul was so much to so many! If I may echo the remarks before me here and on facebook, and simply add what a huge helping friend he was to me. Pictured above: Here we are in Burley 2009. Grich is to my right mentioning (very quietly) that i have left off some of the Cav plate hardware!! Opps! So embarrassing! He had helped me all through this boats build and NOW, he simply explained why I have to fix it,,,,,,NOW! That 7/8" clamp made so much difference in my handling! Then, like a Father who really wanted me to do well, he told me how to run Burley and which tree to use! Some of you know what this means and we all will MISS this Man, A LEGEND! My best to his Family and Becky!
PS, I forgot to mention Paul allowed me to run his old number SS26 and his suggested name of 'Gone Broke Again'! And shared is old driving suit! Somewhere i have that Burley picture of me gasping for air in RED!
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Grich's Celebration of Life
Grich's wife, Becky, asked me to let you all know ...
He passed away Wednesday 8/30/2017, after a gallant fight against cancer.
A Celebration of his life will be held, locally, at the Hurst Ranch, on Saturday, 10/28/2017,
from noon to 5pm. There will be sandwiches, beer and wine SO, PLEASE RSVP.
Hurst Ranch (Hurst Ranch Historical Foundation if you are curious)
1227 South Orange Ave.
West Covina, CA 91790
Becky: 626-962-5877
Jessie: 626-962-5952 / [email protected]
Parking: At the Mormon church, next door, and on the street
Grich's wife, Becky, asked me to let you all know ...
He passed away Wednesday 8/30/2017, after a gallant fight against cancer.
A Celebration of his life will be held, locally, at the Hurst Ranch, on Saturday, 10/28/2017,
from noon to 5pm. There will be sandwiches, beer and wine SO, PLEASE RSVP.
Hurst Ranch (Hurst Ranch Historical Foundation if you are curious)
1227 South Orange Ave.
West Covina, CA 91790
Becky: 626-962-5877
Jessie: 626-962-5952 / [email protected]
Parking: At the Mormon church, next door, and on the street
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935 Posts
Ahhh .... Ross, has anyone thought this through? 10-28-17 is the Enduro. Yes/No?
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