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Folks Of Interest RICH GUASCO - PURE HELL - PASSED AWAY

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jalopy Joker, Apr 14, 2025.

  1. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 33,995

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    Just saw a post on FB from Pure Hell Racing that Rich Guasco passed away. do not know how to post link.
     
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  2. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 33,995

    Jalopy Joker
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  3. lothiandon1940
    Joined: May 24, 2007
    Posts: 32,305

    lothiandon1940
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  4. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 33,995

    Jalopy Joker
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  5. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,195

    49ratfink
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    from California

  6. nochop
    Joined: Nov 13, 2005
    Posts: 4,554

    nochop
    Member
    from norcal

    Oh crap. Sorry to hear
     
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  7. Happydaze
    Joined: Aug 21, 2009
    Posts: 2,332

    Happydaze
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sad news. Rip.

    Chris
     
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  8. He had a good life. R.I.P.
     
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  9. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,010

    catdad49
    Member

    Pure Hell Chevy.jpg Had a "Pure Hell" of a Life!!
     
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  10. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,513

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    Crap! Not good. What an icon in drag racing. A real Hot Rodder. I met him at a gas station in B'field-I said, "Rich Guasco, You're a real hero!" He quipped, "I'm nothing of the sort!" Of course. Love Pure Hell. He'll be missed.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2025
  11. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,451

    AVater
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    My condolences to his family, friends and many fans. I remember seeing photos like those of him and his car in Hot Rod magazine as a kid. Even then I figured he had to have a big pair to drive a car like that as he did.
     
  12. INVISIBLEKID
    Joined: Jun 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,647

    INVISIBLEKID
    Member
    from Gilroy,CA

    I usually don't post of people's passings.......
    I met Rich about 3 miles from my home at a show one day.... Obviously, he had a connection. He was there with his roadster. He had a table set up, and all history displayed.
    I walked up, and he was alone, sitting. I, of course, said hello, and how you doing......
    Then , it hit............. I remarked that I knew who he was, and I guess I said something along the lines of "your ball's must be made of steel"..... He laughed, and said take a seat here.
    We had a good conversation for about an hour or so..... I said, I don't want to mess up your game, and he said= NO, your good........... He asked about my ride, and came and checked it out.
    I will say this= He was a nice man, articulate, and very humble. NO fame and fortune gone to his head......
    BUT, from history that I have read, kinda one of those= If you Fuck with the bull, you get the horns".....
    I have Pure Hell displayed in my glass case, since the day it came out.............That has been at least 25+ years ago.
    I just went and stared at it today...:(.
     
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  13. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 6,413

    Fordors
    Member

    Godspeed Rich.
    I’ve mentioned this before but I think it deserves to be repeated-
    At an Indy Good Guys event in the ‘90’s Pure Hell was a featured attraction. I had been following the car since the ‘60’s and I head over to their pit to buy another T-shirt. Crew guy says, sold out but Rich yells to him “Give him a crew shirt!” Same money and a treasured memento. Thanks for sixty years of memories Rich.
    IMG_3323.jpeg IMG_3324.jpeg
     
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  14. primed34
    Joined: Feb 3, 2007
    Posts: 1,548

    primed34
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  15. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,675

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Another Humble Genius gone, RIP Mr. Guasco.
     
  16. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,359

    Tow Truck Tom
    Member
    from Clayton DE

    A noteable 1320 crusader. A great show. RIP
     
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  17. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 15,653

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Send your condolences, mourn and pray but spend time with your heroes while you can. Time waits for no man.
     
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  18. nochop
    Joined: Nov 13, 2005
    Posts: 4,554

    nochop
    Member
    from norcal

    Living in Pleasanton for 50 + years I’ve had many encounters with Rich. Either having a tow, getting parts at his wrecking yard or just bumping into him around town. Great guy.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2025
  19. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,773

    Boneyard51
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  20. Max Gearhead
    Joined: Oct 16, 2002
    Posts: 7,853

    Max Gearhead
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    from Wisconsin

  21. Hemiman 426
    Joined: Apr 7, 2011
    Posts: 716

    Hemiman 426
    Member
    from Tulsa, Ok.

    Sincere Condolences to his family, friends, and all his loyal fans. Godspeed!
     
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  22. I saw Pure Hell run at Fremont many times. I'll never forget the time at a Goodguy's show at Pleasanton, they fired up Pure Hell and drove it through the fairgrounds, Awsome times. RIP.
     
  23. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 33,995

    Jalopy Joker
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  24. Butcher Boy
    Joined: Aug 6, 2008
    Posts: 311

    Butcher Boy
    Member

    So sad to hear of his passing. He was a great guy and friend.

    Here is a Rich Guasco story that shows the kind of guy he was.
    We were at The Adams Mark Hotel in Indy waiting to go out to dinner. Rich spots a guy walking from the parking lot with grease stains on his white pants and walking like he was beat down. The guy was carrying a briefcase with AA written on the side. Rich said to me, "look at this poor bastard, he looks like he lost his best friend. Probably a racer ....... Rich noticed the AA on the side of the briefcase and said, how'd you do today"? The guy looked up and said, It was miserable, we couldn't even go 200 MPH. Rich asked,"'what are you running"? the guy answered a Chrysler ! So Rich continued the ask question like how much nitro are you using, what pump do you have, what pill and how much lead. what kind of injectors and do you have a computer on the car? The guy looked at Rich and asked, Do you race? And Rich responded with "I use to a little bit". At this point Rich say, do you have a pen and paper? yeah the guy replies. Rich says take this down........ Get this pump, use this pill, use this much nitro, set the timing at this degree. use these injectors and get a computer. If you use this combo you'll hit 200 + mph every time. That will give you a start to build on. The guy was so excited with the info and said, Hey man thanks, what is your name. Rich response with "Rich Guasco" ! The guy almost fell over.
    Holy crap !!! Thee Rich Guasco? great to meet you and thanks man. As the guy walked away shaking his head, I said to Rich what a great jesture it was to give the guy a good set up. He said, "Yeah it may help him get where he wants to be. It took me years to figure it out and more money than I want to think about". That was the Rich Guasco I will always remember !! He was a real character that was a lot of fun to be around. I will miss him ...........
    My condolences to the family. RIP Rich
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2025
  25. Speccie
    Joined: May 22, 2021
    Posts: 412

    Speccie

    RIP Rich...thanks for all you did.
     
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  26. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,345

    loudbang
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  27. chevy57dude
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 9,559

    chevy57dude
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Very sorry, we lost another one.
     
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  28. Greg Rogers
    Joined: Oct 11, 2016
    Posts: 1,013

    Greg Rogers
    Member

    I was about 10 I guess, I made a "book" out of plywood and hinges- very crude.. Anyway, I took pictures out of Hot Rod mags and pasted them to the pages. Before each "section" was a title page, which I wrote "Pure Hell" on . My dad found that book and I started to get in trouble for using bad language!! RIP Rich, I wonder if he knew the memories he made on kids who are now old men!
     
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  29. KevKo
    Joined: Jun 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,033

    KevKo
    Member
    from Motown

    That photo of the early Pure Hell with the Chevy, it is missing one of the exhaust pipes.
     
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