Just heard from abomber30 that Charlie Laing died in a plane crash today outside Dalton, Georgia. Please put in a good word to the guy upstairs for Charlie. He was a top notch guy, a Sycamore real estate developer with a p***ion for flying and hot rods. Drew and Charlie were very tight; Drew was almost finished building Charlie's awesome Hemi A coupe when this happened.
I only got to know Charlie in the last year, while hanging out at Drew's shop during the build of my sedan. He was a real down to earth guy; super easy to talk to; and Charlie had done just about everything at one time or another. He could tell you the answer to just about anything you might need to know; and not 'cuz he'd read about it somewhere, he'd actually done it already. Might have been last week, might have been in the early seventies. He was like an encyclopedia of knowledge, on just about anything you could come up with. And he was free with any of that stuff he might know. But more than that was this: it was nothing for him to p*** by me, sanding away while I'm ****ing down bondo dust; and next thing you know Charlie was on the other side of the car, quietly sanding away. Just to be doing it. Didn't know me from adam, but there he was, helping a guy out anyway. I guess that's just the kinda guy he was. That always blew me away. I wish I'd known him longer... My condolances to Drew, his family, and everybody who knew him.
I didn't know Charlie, but I said a few words to the Big Guy for he, his family and his friends. God Bless . . . Dale
Man... that's sad. In a borrowed plane, too. The owner must feel aweful... though he shouldn't. My best to all of 'em. You too, Drew. Very sorry for the loss of your bud. JOE
Marx - same here. Charlie was a fixture at the shop, along with his little dog. When were sanding on my car, Charlie would drop working on his own stuff, come over and silently pitch in. He had a great deal of monetary wealth, but you would never know it... just a fine down-to-earth guy.
I talked to Charlie at Drew's the weekend before Halloween, he was very stoked about his coupe nearing completion. Told me he was going to drive it to Detroit and back for Autorama, no matter the weather. Maybe we should throw a little testimonial in his honor there.
I think we need to get that car to Detroit! Let me know what we need to do. Charlie was indeed a nice guy. I was sorry to hear about it. http://www.suicideaxle.com/charley.htm
Im doing the hemi for charlies car. I just got the block and heads back from the machine shop yesterday morning then hear that he died in the afternoon! charlie realy was a great guy he will be missed dearly by a lot of people. Im one of them!- Brad
i found out yesterday afternoon and i' am still in shock. my dad and charlie were real good friends and we worked together all the time and i will miss him. i have never seen my dad get choked up till yesterday. he will be miss by all that kmew him. and we will finish his car we have to for him that is what he would have wanted. thanks brian
I think this p***age says it all, John, 14:1-3. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Jhn 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Jhn 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
thank you very much guys. in a short Charley made me what kind of a worker I am today and was my best buddy. Always there to help, encourage and show me determination through anything I did. And yell a bit. And I was just one of many people he did this for. a very special guy I wish all of you could have met. I worked day and night on the car from a pile of blasted parts to a painted roller and over to his funeral. and ready for our desoto hemi to be implanted soon. and then on it's way to detroit where charley wanted it to go. thank you so much again drew
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