A friend visited Barney Navarro at a hospice. It is a one way trip with cancer. He's a truly great guy. I don't have any info on his exact location. Pete
I am so sad to hear that news......he's one of my biggest heroes! I sent him some photos a few years ago and he autographed them to me and my good friend, Jim........we both treasure those little mementos from a man who will always have my highest respect and admiration. I hope he is not in pain or too uncomfortable........definitely what the word *Legend* is all about... Brucie
He's a great, humble, intelligent man... I'm proud of the time I got to spend with him both in person and talking to him on the phone... Those conversations shaped me not only as a hot rodder but also as a person to a certain extent. He's had a good life that I recognized was drawing to an end but I didn't know he had cancer and that saddens me. I had hoped, with the selling of his business, he'd be able to live out his life in peace at home and without the pain of having to move around as much. It's too bad he'll have to continue fighting... Best wishes...
sad to here this, I hope theres a race track in heaven or I do not want to go. my best barney! what a life.
I'm not cheap with the word Hero. Barney Navarro surely fits it. Never met him, but I have the utmost respect and admiration. Hotrod1940 said it. God bless hospice. Thank God for the kind souls who provide it.
I often go back and read the excellent articles by Barney in the first 12 editions of Hop-Up special that came out a few years ago. Great reading then and now. I hope his last days are comfortable and peaceful. I'm sure he's receiving the best care possible.
It seems that every time I log on the HAMB I read about losing these legends and pioneers of hotrodding. I saw Barney's blown flathead powered roadster at the NHRA museum not long ago and this is the car that inspired me to build my blown flathead powered ride. Barney is for all intents an old man now who has lived a full life and has contributed to hot rodding and in many ways that no other has. A true mechanical marvel and an out of the box thinker who, as we Aussies say, HAD A GO !! I will say a prayer for him and I hope he isnt in too much pain atm. Rat
To me, Barney is hot rod history. He single handedly has done more for our hobby than perhaps anyone else. Without him, we, as true hot rodders, would have no idea what traditional is when it comes to cars, ingenuity, and all out know-how. Makes my day whenever I read about him or see his cars. Saddens me to know the end of The Legend is near.
Sad news indeed, but I have to believe Barney has led a very full life and will leave one hell of a legacy.
He was one of the first hotrod tech names I learned when I discovered the magazines about 1960...everything he wrote that I could find I read til it fell apart, trying to figgerout how my Stromberg worked... He did pretty well, ran his company and talked with a whole new generation of fans younger than his engines until near the end of his life. two careers... hotrodder in the forties and fifties, guru of the hotrod revival a generation later.
Barney,wealth of knowledge,great thinker.I was blessed that he spent time talking to me.I also love his flathead parts.
If I ever get to build my "dream" flatty...it will have the BEST parts.....those parts will be NAVARRO...... One of a very FEW pioneers that I look up to......
Sad news indeed. We all knew it was coming but the fact puts it in sharp focus. I've been reading and admiring his work since I first heard about him in 1956. He always had a slightly different take on things and his perspective was right more than not. A true pioneer, inovator and hot rod legend. While you're still here Barney know that your loved and respected by this community of people who thrive on speed and mechanical genius. Frank
Like others I enjoy reading his view on thing in the old mags. He is one of the true greats in this hobby. I hope that for him, he has a peaceful time without too much pain. Its sad to lose these guys, but it would be even sadder if they had never been around.
I am truly saddened to hear about Barney. I talked to Barney about 7 years ago when he still had he's shop and I have met no finer gentleman. When it comes to Flatheads, this man wrote the book. God Bless you Barney Navarro. Buzz
Totally bummed out to hear this. Barney was a pioneer. I will be thinking about him this holiday for sure.
A truly unfortunate event for such a remarkable guy. He will be sorely missed. A REAL Hot Rod Pioneer.
There's people on this board who know him personally. Would you pass on the sentiments of the members? I'm sure it would cheer him, and a good mental frame of mind can be very important in this kind of fight. Flatman
This may seem inappropriate, but a line from the movie Braveheart kind of sums it up for me,...... "Every man dies,.. But, not every man truly lives" You did good Barny,..... May the Lord be with you and your Family
Being one of Mike's personal precision machinist for H&H Flatheads I do have to add my two cents here... Bear with me...kinda long...but worth the read... I have worked with Mike and Max at H&H Flatheads for several years now and can say I truley love it! But, I remember the day back when Barney decided to pass the torch to Mike to continue the machining and manufacturing of Navarro parts (all of them), Mike calls me and says "Lain, you will never guess what I am doing right now..." Well, Mike was working with Barney then getting everything squared away to start the aquisition of the buisness. Why does this have anything to do with Barneys situation now in life...Well...let me tell ya... That was a day that changed things in my life pretty much permanently. Mike and I had major discussions on the manufacturing of the parts namely the machining processes of the Navarro parts soon to come. Mike asked me to machine the parts, and to say the least.... I about shit! Now, I have machined things in my 20 year background in machining like F16 fighter jet fuel pumps, Space shuttle fuel feed systems and all kinds of Boeing jet parts toooo numerous to count so machining Navarro parts should have been no problem.....right? HA!! I was more nervous than a whore in church! THIS was no airplane part, no space shuttle part... Nooo...This was an opportunity to machine the Name in flatheads... NAVARRO... I had been building flathead blowers for a while before working with H&H on their machining, so I was pretty versed in knowing what the blowers needed to run on a flatty...well....never in a million years would I ever think that I would be machining the Navarro parts for H&H Flatheads.. I used to look at Navarro parts in the past and think "One day I will have me a set of those heads" Well now.. Hahahaha!! To bring this to a head, I was very grateful of the opportunity to machine such a legends parts AND might I add, have Mike, and Barney himself look at the machine quality going into his parts today. I just have to say sometimes things happen, and you cannot explain, there are no words...it just happens. I wouldnt trade this for anything. I personally inspect EVERY single part that has Barneys name on it, Mike does too! The tradition of Navarro carries on to a strong drum! Barney in my opinion could not have picked a better group of people to pass the torch to... Rest assured to all of you who buy Navarro parts, you are getting a part of history for sure, and getting a part for your flathead that Mike and I personally make sure it matches EXACT specifications, tolerances and finishes that Barney wanted. Being the person who gets to do this with H&H Flatheads now, is truly a priviledge and not a right for sure! Barney has all of H&H Flatheads upmost respect likewise, and mine as well... Just have to say I am glad to be a part of this, and look forward to working with Mike, Max and Max for years to come! Barney, Mike, Max Sr, Thank you all personally for everything you have brought to my life! We all know its been a long, and sometimes difficult road...but if it were easy as they say, everyone would do it! Lain
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