Greetings from Long Branch NJ,Americas first seashore resort and 7 time US summer capital....Got a call the other day from my buddy Ronnie Lane Jr. that his uncle Jimmy was in the hospital in serious conditon....about an hour after I stopped in to see Jim and talk to the family I received a call that he had passed away....Jim.Jimmy,Jimbo hot rod custom car race car driver guy former radio DJ .....FLAMETHROWERS OF AMERICA guy along with Joe THE FONZE Carloni and most of all my friend ....The Jersey Torch has joined Fonzi....gone at 58 Thursday January 7,2010. I could tell you so many stories about knowing Jimmy throughout these many many years....some funny like the time he and and Bobby THE JERSEY KID Rogers who had a daily driver 34 Ford coupe went around the corner for a cup of coffee and would up getting the coffee at Fonzies house in Virginia!.... some not so funny like when he sustained a major injury in a racing accident at Wall Stadium Speedway . Condolences to the Mcglaughlin family extended family and friends of MY FRIEND the late JERSEY TORCH Jim Mcglaughlin....REST IN PEACE. LEE WRAT-FM at the Jersey Shore.
jimmy was a great guy i did a lot of cruzing with jimmy and joe in the late 80,s early 90,s they will always be missed jim was a guy that like cars customs racr cars and when he and the fonze got to throwing flames they put a hell of a show on r.i.p jimbo you will be deeply missed teddyp
Thanks, Uncle Leo. I havnt been on here in a long time, I just signed in to let everyone know about Uncle Jim, you beat me to it..
I got the call last night.I knew Jimmy and the Fonz very well.We did the Asbury Park Convention Center show together in '89. Jimmy will be deeply missed.Condolences to his family. Godspeed Jimbo.Godspeed.
That's sad. I met the Jersey Torch at Lead East back in the 90's. I have some nice photos of him and his Ford somewhere. R.I.P.
I'm sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to all his family and friends. Please forgive my ignorance, but I can't seem to put his name, face and car together. Can somebody post some pictures of the Torch and his car? Thanks.........E
Some here at this thread... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243683&highlight=jersey+torch
Thanks for the link isettajohn. That was the car and the man I was thinking of. Gone too soon. Vaya con Dios, Amigo..............E
Here are the details.The Torch will be laid out at Higgins Memorial Home,Its located on 20 Center Street Freehold,NJ 07728.The phone number is 732-462-0895. Viewing will be tomorrow only.The hours will be from 3-6.
i remember seeing him and the fonz around freehold car shows and steves burger joint in howell when i was a little girl .. RIP jersey torch
I met Jimmy back in ‘83 when he first painted my ‘57, and the rest was history. Jimbo, you touched a lot of lives, and will be missed. At least now you and Fonzie will be back kruzin’. Just watch out for them telephone pole guy wires!!!!!! Love ya and miss ya man. :-( RadCadDad aka 'Purple Haze'
To all of you who have sent your regards as to my father, Jimmy The Jersey Torch Mclaughlins passing last year. I want to thank You so much. I always knew that my father was a blessed man to have so many great friends. I am just sorry that I never knew some of you. To my uncle Chris I want to thank you for all of your words of wisdom and and of your help over the last year. My father was and always will be the greatest man I ever knew. For those of you who didnt know my dad as well as the rest of us here is a brief look into who he is/was. He was born July 30, 1951. He loved old cars and built several of them. Some I may not even remember. The last two cars that he built were both 53's and they were both white with flames. One was a chop top. 4 of his cars currently reside in Maryland with Chris Johnsen The Maryland Torch. The first one is the all time famous Born in the USA video car. The second is in the movie IQ with Tim Robins, Meg Ryan and Walter Mathil. Both cars are also featured in the video Flame Throwers of America. Anyways back to my dad. James Robert McLaughlin also known as Jimmy the Jersey Torch and Hollywood would of been 60 years young on July 30, 2011. He has 6 kids, (3 boys and 3 girls) and 11 grand children who miss him so very much. He also has a wife that would give nothing more then to have the love of her life back. I am asking that for those of you who knew my dad to join me on July 30th 2011 in a salute to my father. Pass a police station and wave, Take a trip to your local hospital and visit a sick child with a smile and maybe even a joke or two. Why because this is what my father did. This was who he was. He was always out to help others before himself. For those of you who dont remember my father or his cars you can go to my facebook page and see pictures of him and his cars. Again Thanks to everyone for all of your love and care. Thank You to Uncle Chris and Thank You to my cousin Ronnie Lane Jr.
I used to DJ with Jimbo after meeting him from the Jersey Cruize scene. We lost touch after I moved to North Carolina in 97. To make a long story short I was watching PBS doo wop show and decided to look him up, and found this posting which saddens me deeply. He was one of my favorite people in my life and I have missed him. My condolences to the Family and Friends . 51Cards a.k.a. Dr Devin Lee Professor of Cruzology.
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