Folks Of Interest Gene Winfield Is Winding Down His Journey - Thank Him For Taking Us All Along For The Ride

Last March 2024, This kool Ol kat drove my 55 Chevy. 96 at at the time. Wish I could upload the video. @river.ranch on IG if you want to view it

 

I don't have a lot of heroes but Mr.Winfield is one of mine.Talented,humble,down to earth and a gentleman.Thanks for all you've done for hot rodding sir.Hope you have a few more years.You will be missed and always remembered.

 

I met him at the Seattle Rod & Custom show when I was about 14 years old. I was just walking around, stopped at his booth and we just started BSing about cars. He invited me to sit down and he spent about an hour just shooting the shit with some kid about old cars. He treated me just like an adult and was super interested in the fact that by 12 I had already welded my first subframe into a 56 F100. We talked about cars we liked and what we would change on some of the cars sitting around us. At 14 I knew of him but didn't know how important to most car guys he was. There was no autograph or picture, just some car stories and a handshake and a great memory!

 

Gene has always had a soft spot for the young Ladies

 

Two all time greats , right there. I did have the pleasure of meeting Ed a few years back, he was pushing a hundred then! I bought him an ice cream cone, you can see the ice cream shop in the back ground! He acted like he had all day to talk to a peon like me. Really impressed me….like I said two great guys there!



Bones

 

I cant say that i have met him but he was in Sweden at the easter show thats hold every year here.
But i got this picture of him with some other rather well known guys.
I belive it was 2011.

 

I can’t help but wonder how many thousands of gallons of paint the man sprayed with his paint guns over the years.

 

Met him at TROG in 2018. Nicest guy in the world. Asked him if I could get a picture and he said, “Right now!” Classic. I was in awe of him running his blown Ardun roadster down the sand. Car was flawless. It was fast as heck! He was obviously having a blast. Pulled all the fenders off of it on the sand to make it TROG compliant. I wish him the best and a smooth journey. He deserves that.
Andy

 

DallasTexas Autorama I showed him a picture of my Scorpion still on stands he told me to make sure to finish it !

 

I think that there is a lot of truth in this. The nature of the automotive hobby is such that people can stay involved in the game building even well into their advanced age, especially if you go at your own pace. It involves staying moving, keeping your mind sharp and your body active, without the stress of strenuous activity or physical contact. Same goes for guys I know who are still practicing law well into their 70s and 80s. We joke that they're going to die at their desks, but in a weird way, the work is what's keeping them going, giving them something to look forward to, and most wouldn't want it any other way. But the bottom line is guys well into their 70s, 80s and beyond can still operate at a very high level of the hobby or profession.

That stands in stark contrast to guys I play beer league hockey with. Where by the time dudes are in their 40s, they're really struggling to keep up with the young bucks coming home from college or recent juniors players, and by the time they're in the 50s, their knees and hips are toast. Even dropping to lowest level rec leagues, it's just too strenuous for most dudes once they're into their 60s.

It's also worth noting that Gene has kept himself in good shape, which certainly helped him achieve such longevity. Not being overweight, eating right, no smoking or drinking, black coffee....

 

Gene's the Kat, built cars to race, win custom shows and knows how to keep a beautiful girl on his arm.

 

Sadly, this is the time for folks like us to loose all of our Idols to the ravages of old age.
Although I have never met Mr Winfield, I've been aware of him and his work since I was a teenager. From everyone's testaments here and all of the press I've seen (from people who don't really know him well), he seems like a great guy.
No one can take away his influence on the scene, his talent and skill or his longevity; however there might be another side to the story.
I came apon this Reddit thread while researching the man. I know none of the people involved and obviously can't attest to it's honesty/accuracy, but it's not good. The only reason that I post this link is in the interest of openness, unbiasedness and the will to inform.
Be warned, it's controversial and may taint your opinion of our hero.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Truthoffmy...lings_of_a_car_legendgene_winfield/?rdt=49509

 

old news batted around here months ago!

 

Can you blame him, every girls crazy bout a sharp dressed man. Hehe.

 

undeniable skills and unbelievably great taste; that's gene!

 

I got to meet him a couple times at a car show here that he used to attend. Really nice guy. I have a couple of educational books put out out by Petersen Publishing back in the 70s, one of them covers how to do basic and custom bodywork. There are some photos of him in it using metal working tools like an English wheel and planishing hammer. I've got his signature in it.

 

At Mercury Charlie’s gig (LSRU 2010) Austin, TX.

 

Have a welder autographed by Gene.

 

Gene Your the best. Your work is the greatest.

 

The man, The myth, the legend. What a credit to the human race.

 

Now thats a new meaning to using your head .

 

Gene now thats using your head ..

 

Met Gene at SEMA one year and got his autograph on a paper printout of the Gold Caddy fade. Not sure I had been on that many airplanes and walked that far on that trip. Did win 18 bucks though.

 

I was part of a class that gene taught outside of Chicago. He spent a lot of time showing me and then watching me learn lead work. I don t look up to many men but he is one I'll always be thankful I got to meet. There is a lot to learn from him besides the automotive talent and willingness to teach. THANK YOU Gene.

 

Honored to have met him. A true legend!

 

Breaks my heart. Had the pleasure of taking one of his classes at his place a few years ago. He is one of the most giving people I have ever met. A true American icon. The amount of patience he has for all of us yaking at him, hearing out stories, asking him every question under the sun, and always showed respect and grace.

He brought out the Strip Star and fired it up for us. Hearing one of the 1st 427 side oilers ever produced, seeing it, smelling it, was the closest things I've ever had to an outer body experience. We were all star struck. In total awe. That was an amazing gift he gave me and one that I will never forget.

 

On the Mt. RUSHMORE of the founding fathers of the rod & custom culture GENE WINFIELD has earned his place front and center. Period.

 

His never ending willingness to teach the craft
to others bestows upon him the title "Master"

 

My husband I were stationed at Edwards from 2001-06 and was told I should go out to Gene's shop. Took me a year to get up the nerve. Like someone mentioned earlier, meeting him was like visiting the neighbor you'd known for years. After that I'd go out now and then and see what everyone was up to and to smell all those smells you get when around cutting and welding metal. Reminded me of home and my dad. One of the last times out there before moving he had raced at El Mirage I belive it was. He said come over here I wanna show you something. He wanted to show my one of the flatheads he blew up. He says, "I put all new pistons and everything in this and look at it now! Pieces everywhere. I blew up the big one and the small one!" It was a sad sad sight I tell you! I'm not real familiar with flatheads at all but the cam was in 2 and 3 inch pieces, the crank was busted, pistons mangled. I told him his foot was tougher than the motor I think! He laughed said may be! One of those became a coffee table in his museum. Saw it in a video of the museum. Such a great guy and so humble and always interesting to talk to. He will be missed!! Only wish he still had his place so he could tinker around in the middle of the night when he couldn't sleep like he usually did. Thankful I was able to make it to the benefit show in Paso Robles to see him for the last time. He'll be building with all the other greats that are already gone I bet!