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

Rest in peace Gene

 

RIP Gene.
You will be missed.

 

i'm not the most social media-savvy guy and am not on instagram but i snapped this post. maybe someone can confirm this is an official account but i thought it might be helpful to share here. if it's not appropriate to to have this posted by all means delete.

 

He was kind enough to sign the glovebox of my car in 2018.
Back then I thought it's maybe a bit odd because he had no relation to my car, but afterwards I was surely glad he did it. And still am.... RIP

 

R.I.P. Gene. Truly one of a kind. Spoke to him briefly at the Grand National roadster show four weeks ago. Unlike some of the other big name builders he always had time to talk to you as if you were and old friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

 

RIP sir.

 

A great man who lived a great life. Goodbye Gene.

 

As I mentioned in post #55, Gene and I were distantly related...something like 5th or 6th cousins...neither of us could figure it out.

We always had a great laugh over the fact that the ONLY reason we were both standing here together was because 2 people were humping somewhere in England a couple hundred years ago.

God speed (distant) cousin.

 

Rest in Peace, Gene.
What an amazing life lived.

 

Gene was a fine and talented gentleman who set a great example for everyone and shared his immense talents for decades. Never forget, "Every day is a school day." RIP, Gene.

 

RIP Gene, we will always remember what you did.

 

RIP, now lets catch those SOB and make them sorry the stole from him.

 

Sad indeed, but what a full life. Rest in peace.

 

He was helping on a chop at Back To The 50's took time to talk and sign autographs he was the best much more personal then Goerge Baris rest in peace.

 

R | P

Legend.

A cool interview with Gene that was on a 'non-hot rod' auto blog some might like to read.
https://www.speedhunters.com/2024/04/throwback-thursday-meet-gene-winfield/

 

RIP Gene.
I met him at SEMA in 2005.

 

I never got to meet him but kinda feel like I knew him. We will all miss him and the things he was capable of doing and the gentleman he was.
RIP Gene.

Dave

 

Rest In Peace my friend, from your Canadian buddy. I will truly miss you.

 

The Day the Chops Died.

 

As a kid of the 50's, I was a big fan of the Solar Scene Merc, so the name Gene Winfield stuck with me into adulthood. I had seen Gene at swap meets, but never got to know him until 2000. He had a booth at the Portland Roadster Show, and during a slow time we got to visit. He pulled a photo album out, and showed me pictures of his oval track racing days, and he raced a '40 Merc Hardtop Racer. It was the start of a long friendship, and we tried to work out a time for him to race my Track Roadster, but our schedules never allowed it. RIP Old Friend.

 

I spoke with him at SEMA some years back for the last time. He greeted everyone like an old friend and was pretty laid back. A humble man who lived an honest life IMO.
Godspeed sir.

 

I don’t know if Gene was a drinker, but I think we should All have a beverage of choice in His Honor. Here’s To You, Gene!

 

Damn, this hits way hard.

Rest in peace sir.

 

Rest in Peace Gene..

Of all the car builders and customizers I had idolized growing up, Gene was the only one I had ever met. He came to our little city for the grand opening of "Windy's Diner", an ice cream shop designed and dedicated to the man himself by his friend Nick. Sadly, Nick and the Diner are both a distant memory around here, but in 2017, to know Gene was going to be here for an event was HUGE.

I was able to meet him, shake his hand, and chat briefly about how much of a nerd I was because of being such a fan. He signed a scalloped 56 Ford headlight ring I brought for him to sign. My kids couldn't get over the fact they met him as well. After some birthday cake and a speech, the car show continued. I stood back and watched Gene as the centre of attention, as he should be.

While I was looking at the posters he sold for autographing, I was trying to decide which additional one I wanted. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see it was Gene. He asked which one I liked best, and like a geek, I said "All of them.". He chatted with me about each picture, and told me a few stories. Then, and I'll never forget, he stood there with the picture from his first shop, stared at it for a few minutes in silence, then smiled and said "We sure had a lot of fun." He promptly grabbed one of each picture, handed them to me and said "Here, you need one of each." Then, he motioned over to the first table he was at and said "She will take your money." Haha!

So many good memories. I will never forget my meeting with one of my idols, Mr. Gene Winfield.

Rest in Peace sir...

 

He was not! Never smoked or drank! He He was a milk drinker.

 

Godspeed GW......
That classic song, "Whose Gonna Fill Their Shoes"comes to my mind, BUT....He shared so much of himself, and taught so many skills....

 

A true legend that will forever be missed….God Speed…..

 

Rest in peace Gene. Another Legend Gone,

 

He packed more into ONE lifetime than most of us could if we had THREE. Rest easy Gene.

 

Meet Gene in the 90's when he flew into Mt Holly NC to help a local Kustom shop complete a chop. He was certainly a nice Gentlemen.