If there is bright spot in this dreadful news, is that for me, living in SoCal all my life. I would come in contact with Pat quite often. We would chat for a few minutes or for some extended time. We would see each other at various places including but not limited to LA Roadsters meets, GNRS, El Mirage, and even SEMA. I am devastated at his far too early passing and absolutely grateful for the opportunities to share time with him. Two quick remembrances. I was at El Mirage one time while he and Baskerville were doing photo work. I finally caught up with him, sitting on the tailate of his 56 pickup, fiddling with his camera. He was parked on the southside near the finish line. I asked him where Gray was, and without looking up from his camera, pointed to the finish line where Gray was standing what looked like 5 feet from the course taking pictures of cars as they came through the traps. Pat said, "he's over there, much braver than me!". The last one is when I bumped into him and I heard he was doing a book on Von Dutch. Having had a wild experience with Dutch pin striping 40 convertible I had helped a customer with, and the craziness that Dutch brought to the experience, I thought Pat might like it for the book. He told me the book was at final editing and he couldn't add anything at that point. He asked for the story anyway. He laughed, shook his head and said to me, "after doing my research, every story you ever heard about Dutch, well they're ALL TRUE!". Then he told me a few he got from others after the book went to final. All incredible ! Thank you Pat for allowing me into your life, I am deeply saddened by my and hot rodding's, but equally grateful to have known you. RIP, hot rodder you leave a void that is impossible to fill.
We are in a grieving way and like yourself I could not find anything referencing this tragedy...I suspect there may have been an accident involved but will wait for more news before assuming anything...I wish it was all a bad mishandling of information...but unfortunately there may be truth in the mixed messaging...
Sad day for our hot rodding family. Pat was a gentleman and he was a great part of what influenced me and so many others with his writing, passion and knowledge of our hobby. Rip Pat and God bless your family and friends.
We have all been blessed and lucky to have had Pat Ganahl with us in our world. A legend gone, yet he will live on............. forever. Godspeed.
Very Sad News.!! You will be Welcome up there by those that have gone before you. They now have an Editor.!! You will be Missed.!!
So sorry to hear this , may he rest in peace. This is a huge blow to the hot rod world. I enjoyed reading his articles and will continue to do so. My condoleces to his family and friends.
This will be unfortunately a rough time for our group. Others closer to Pat and the situation will share the pain and his legacy but I'm sure there is a great deal of activity still going on around this unfolding situation. May he rest in peace.
Tragic news, sincere condolences to Pat's family. Grew up reading Pat's work it inspired me to follow that path...the world was a better place with Pat in it, may he RIP. So awesome meeting him in person with my friend Steve in 2016 at Santa Maria, treasured memory.
Sad News Prayers to Family Met him at LARS, was standing near his roadster and as he walked up I asked " Are you Pat" his response was "Do I owe you money" He kindly signed a photo for me, great guy
Major bummer, Pat was a real credit to our hobby/sport. I am glad to have met him a couple times. From what I heard (and I wasn't there), he ran off the end with no attempt to brake. May have been a medical event. The track is certainly crude but not to blame. That would certainly put a damper on the start to a really cool event.
So sad to hear of Pat's passing. Loved his blog a lot. He was a hot rodder to his core. I will miss seeing him at all the places we would bump into each other. RIP Pat ! My deepest condolences to Anna, Bill, the family and friends.
Saddened to my core. Within days of my wife and I moving in one house down from Pat and Anna ten years ago, they knocked on our door and welcomed us to the neighborhood with baked goods. Who does that anymore? Pat and Anna, that’s who! It’s one of my most cherished Ganahl memories. Thanks for your friendship and help over the years, Pat. I’m so glad I told you that often.
My day off yesterday and I was catching up with his blog. And now this. Rip Too Tall. Quite the legacy you've left behind but.....I'm going to miss you.
NO! Pat was a great inspiration to me as a journo on this side of the pond. Everything he wrote gave you hope and simply fired you up - from the story of re-tiling his own shower to explaining why the worlds top rods and customs are so. I was privileged to meet him once at Famoso (I think). Inspired me so much in my own writing and rod building. Such a sad day - much love sent to his family!
The Jalopy Journal
