Featured Folks Of Interest Gene Winfield has gone to the great car show in the sky

He spent a few minutes with us, here he's chatting with Smooth and Josh

 

Gene had a good run, indeed... I was fortunate enough to talk with him at Paso many times over the years, sign stuff at Santa Maria with him, and see the man beam about The Reactor being on the lawn at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance! Gene Winfield kept his foot on the gas right up till the end. God Speed...

 

RIP sir!

 

As I scrolled through social media sites today it was great seeing so many paying their respects and sharing photos of their time spent with Gene. I only met him once, but he made me feel as if we'd known each other for years. It's great reading other HAMBers interactions with him. He's a legend and was the salt of the earth. If he met you, he genuinely wanted to hear about your build, which cars you have, and what you're working on. He was so down to earth; we lost a great one. Gene's contributions and inspiration will live on forever and he will forever be in the hearts of the rod and customs community.
Rest In Peace, Gene

 

Every Day Is A School Day

I took his metal shaping class twice (I'm a slow learner) and attended the Winfield-Watson Reunion twice.

Gene, A hearty "Thank you" for making a difference in my life.

Russ

 

Thanks for the ride, Gene - you will be missed.

Rest In Peace ….

 

sad day. Damn.

 

Rest Peacefully Sir.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rWMgnInsm5w?si=GSEZeor59ODiJp8H

 

Sad News
Prayers to Family
R.I.P from us Aussies

 

This is really sad news, all you guys who knew Gene or ever talked to him, know what a great person he was. I don’t think he ever met a stranger. The photo of his shop is one of my favorites.
You see Joe Barnett’s 41 pickup out front with the right rear fender ready to paint. Gene told me he painted the truck Candy Bronze for Joe and it was ready to pick up, when an employee spills a can of paint on the fender, hence the reason it was being re-painted.

 

I don't know who else can say this but Gene and I raced our mobility scooters at the L A Roadster meet a few years ago. We were sitting there chatting when Jimmy or somebody asked why don't you and Gene have a drag race. I don't know who responded first, but the next thing you know, Gene and I have our scooters lined up in front of his booth and Jimmy flags us off! We raced away from his booth and back to it twice. He won two and I won two! Great fun and even drew a small crowd! A real high point of my mobility scooter racing career! We both had a great time and laughed alot! It isn't often that you get to match race Gene Winfield on mobility scooters, not once but 4, count'em 4 times! Real fun time!

 

RIP Gene!!!!! so sad !!!

 

Robert Eugene Winfield
June 16, 1927 - March 4, 2025​

 

I just saw this a few minutes ago and I am sad.
We are losing our greats.
I'm glad I met him, I am glad I own one of his cars granted I think it's a parts car or was a parts car but still to quote Gene every day is a school day rest in peace Mr Winfield.

 

RIP Gene ! I was fortunate enough to see him several times at Salina Kansas for the KKOA. show , he even flag started me at the drags one year !

 

Truly a very special person—-was in his element—-very generous with his “time” and mixed well with others who had similar interests. Always seemed to take the time to be reachable to the common man. Got an autographed poster in Austin and picture taking with him in Houston. His “fadeaway paint” schemes were a speciality and greatly admired for their creativity and artwork. GOD SPEED GENE, you did it all well!!

 

I was fortunate enough to meet Gene both down here and in Japan; what struck me was how he truly was an individual and did it his way till closing time.

Godspeed Gene !

 

RIP Gene, a loss to the world.

 

rest in peace, Gene. He truly was a giant in the custom car world

 

The fact that so many of us here actually met him, and not just saw him on a stage or in passing but actually got to talk and interact with the guy, and only come away from that experience with great things to say, really says a lot about him.

 

One of the conversations I had at Salina with him through the years was about how he became more famous with age. To have work and skills that stand the test of time is really unusual. R.I.P. Mr. Winfield.

 

Yep. We were all his fans, but he treated us as friends

 

Sad to hear of the passing of one of the original movers and shakers and shapers, of the world of hot rods and customs.
One door closes and another door opens!
R.I.P. Gene, head on out brother, and kick ass in the next dimension!

​

 

If there is one thing I'd add to this conversation and tribute to Gene, is that although we are sad he's gone, perhaps we can take some solace in knowing that we had the opportunity to express our gratitude to Gene during his life, and not merely after his passing.

I'm reminded of this because last week, Al Trautwig, a long-time media personality for my beloved NY Rangers passed away at the age of 68. About 3 years ago, the network didn't renew his contract and after 30+ years of covering the team and being one of their major faces and voices, he was gone. There were rumblings that he was ill, but then suddenly, there was news that he had passed. Tributes poured in over Facebook, IG and Twitter from colleagues, former players, executives, etc., but I wondered if he himself knew how cherished and respected he was, and I was disappointed that he couldn't have heard all of those warm sentiments prior to his death.

I don't think that was the case with Gene. I would imagine that Gene was well-aware of his status in the automotive community and that people loved and respected him. The tributes that have poured in for Gene are things that were likely said to him face-to-face.

 

When he said "Every day is a school day", I am sure he genuinely meant that we all should continue to learn as much as we can at each and every opportunity. Being the humble man he was, he included himself in this.

Turns out, Gene ended up being the teacher, the leader, and the inspiration to so many of us. Thank you Gene.