Folks Of Interest Paul Gommi RIP

HAMB member since 2006 (8dearborns)Sad news.I heard that he passed away on Jan 17th .Knew him well.Had quite a Hot Rod racing history. He was 81.Like many others it was a privilege to have known him.
Posting a tribute a buddy sent me by chopper ken

 

Sorry for the loss of your friend. Condolences to his family.

 

Paul A. Gommi
December 3, 1941 - January 17, 2023

RIP @8dearborns ​

 

1964: Paul's Austin Bantam at Connecticut Dragway


1964: Paul's Olds powered dragster





1965-1966: Paul's HEMI powered dragsters​

 

I first met Paul at the 2011 Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance ... where his Deuce Phaeton was part of the "Flathead Powered Hot Rods" class:

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... and then again at the 2014 GNRS ... when his Phaeton was a contender for the AMBR award:

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Here's his Deuce Roadster:

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Paul's Deuce Panel:

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I did not know the man but surely know the name and his cars. Great loss to our hobby.

 

I remember an article about his collections in a Hot Rod Deluxe, he had lots of cool stuff , sorry to hear of his passing.

 

Now there’s a man that lived life to its fullest, RIP Paul.

 

Connecticut native. RIP

 

I only knew him from articles on his 32's. The man obviously had great taste and it's really cool to see the racing history. May he rest in peace.

 

What a nice man. He helped me several times with my 32 projects. He was the king of the 32 Winterfront grilles. His presence will be missed.

 

I never really knew him but I certainly knew his hot rod reputation. I bought a pair of headlights from him and had a great conversation with him. The headlights are on my coupe.
RIP Paul. You will always be a legend in our hobby.

 

He would drive that panel to San Diego every year for the Big 3 swap. RIP Paul.

 

Great guy to talk to, Rest In Peace

 

Rest In Peace

 

bump

 

I remember the Paul Gommi and Russ Grady top fuel dragster when I lived in Connecticut. Paul's partner, Russ, had a custom 1957 Oldsmobile, too.

 

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Paul always had the goods at SoCal swap meets… RIP…..

 

Here's a circa 1975 photo of Paul's Deuce Roadster up against Dick @scritchfield's (ex-Bob McGee) Deuce Roadster at a nostalgia drag race held at OCIR:

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Rest in peace my friend.
Jimbo

 

Here's a circa 1983 photo of Paul's (ex Dale Lambrose / Frank “Ike” Iacono 99Jr) '29 Model A roadster at the Antique Nationals:

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Note that in 1982, Gommi had found this historic racecar in a garage near the port of Long Beach ... he (and some friends) threw a hopped-up flathead in it ... and went nostalgia drag racing.

Paul later sold the car to his friend, Neil O’Kane ... who eventually brought it back to its circa 1950s #99Jr orange & black livery (complete with an era correct Jimmy 6):

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Very, very sad news indeed.
Paul was a great, interesting hot rodder, who left his marks on the drag racing, hot rod and vintage V8 world.
Will miss you Paul!
A Look Inside the Amazing Hot Rod Collection of Racer-Turned-Rodder Paul Gommi (motortrend.com)

 

Very sad news. Race in peace Mr. Gommi.

 

Thank you Hemi32 for posting all that history about Paul.I personally never knew that.

 

Dang, hate to see that. He was one of the racers that I kind of followed when I was young and he was running the dragsters.

Now I discover all too late that I had taken a photo of his car on the trailer at the motel in Pismo Beach in 2016.

 

I saw Paul in his home 2015. He was really a great, interesting racer and hot rodder that among other things had a soft spot for the 21 stud flatheads as seen in his amazing deuce roadster and phaeton.
Rest in Peace.