Folks Of Interest Another great one gone, R.I.P. Doug Thorley

My very good old friend and sponsor Doug Thorley passed away this last Wednesday at home with his family in Utah. Doug has been building headers and exhaust systems since 1958. Doug's Headers and Doug Thorley Headers were on most all of the top Drag Racing cars for many years. Doug himself was a national record holder many times over driving the "Chevy II Much" and his very famous Corvair blown Big Block Chevy powered funny car which was the first Funny Car to run 7 seconds. Doug was a member of the N.H.R.A. Hall of Fame and several other National racing Halls of Fame. Bruce Geisler my late Bonneville racing partner excavated Dougs first muffler shop pit in 1958 in Whittier, Ca. and they were friends from that day foreward. I was so fortunate to have known these guys and through both of them I met most of my racing heros. R.I.P. Doug, God Speed! See you on the flip side.

 

Damn hate to hear this. I grew up buying headers from him. Always great stuff. RIP Doug. Lippy

 

Condolences to the Thorley family and friends on the passing of Doug...a giant in the Go-fast Community without a doubt...

@saltracer219 thoughts your way and thanks for sharing this loss to the Community...may he Rest in Peace

Regards,
Stogy

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...olved-with-what-company.223019/#post-12291049



The top image was Doug at a Show around 2017 with a Clone in care of or in fact owned by Hamber @Paul Brown and an older image of the real deal back in the day I suspect signed by Doug for Paul...

Credit to Photographers, Owners
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Wow - lots of history, and talent - Sincere sympathy goes out to his Family, friends and fans

 

Another library burned

 

One of the founding fathers of the funny car class, thanks for the memories Doug, RIP.

 

WAY too many of these notices lately. Sorry for the loss of your friend.

 

Another Icon gone! Never knew the man.... but knew his product! Much respect to the man.....and his contribution to the sport!






Bones

 

R.I.P.
It took a long time to save enough money for my first set of headers.
Bought Doug Thorley headers and Thrush mufflers at Hi Gear at the age of 16.

 

I met Mrs. Thorley while standing in line at the CHRR in the early 90's. That was when it was held in october and it was about 40 degrees and windy. We were waiting to get coffee from a McDonald's truck. The truck ran out of coffee and had to run back to town to fill up. R.I.P. Doug. My sympathies to the family and friends.

 

It seems we are constantly saying goodbye to So many of our Industry Pioneers. I never met Doug but his name was synonymous with racing and high performance. New Companies today use social media and the internet to build brand recognition. These early icons built their brand over time with blood, sweat and dedication to their products and Customers. In Doug’s case- one race at a time.
God Speed Doug..Rest in Peace.

 

R.I.P Mr. Thorley. Have run your products over the years. Sad to hear of another icon leaving this world.

 

We are saying goodbye to too many! Having said that, look at the hair do's of the crowd at any car show/cruise-in. It is a sea of grey! Was at the NSRA 50th in Louisville and never in my life saw so many scooters! The "old car guy" breakfast group that used to get together every Saturday morning averaged 10 - 12 guys. We are now down to two. I'm 74, have no kids/grand kids interested in my junk. They are all wrapped around "tech" and games.

 

Doug was an icon to our sport. He will be missed. RIP.

 

For a short while Doug had a small shop in Garden Grove Ca.. I needed a set of custom headers made and I sent the car to him and told him the basics I wanted to achieve. About a week later and he showed me the headers that he had configured...
the fit, finish, welds, everything was world class.. We talked for a while and he was such a nice guy in my opinion.
With the passing of these craftsmen, who will take up the torch and continue ?

 

Did he ever have a shop on Whittier Blvd. in east L.A.? It would around the 4-5 thousand block.

 

https://www.nhra.com/news/2021/nhra...A U.S. Nationals Funny Car champion,He was 92.

He had a good full life, but still sad to see a legend pass. His Nova is still one of my all time favorite drag cars!

 

Yes, his first shop was in Whittier, I don't know the address, that was way before my time with him but my race partner Bruce Geisler dug his first muffler pit there in 1958.

 

That would have been his wife Dorthy, she was a wonderful person and a great friend also. Dorthy passed several years ago.

 

God Bless Doug and all his family.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/any-of-you-old-guys-remember-doug-thorley.346517/

https://www.nhra.com/news/2021/nhra-funny-car-pioneer-header-manufacturer-doug-thorley-1928-2021

Doug Thorley

1928-2021

Credit to Photographer, Owner
​

 

I didn't know him but you would have to have been living under a rock not to know his name.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race..." RIP

 

I grew up in SoCal seeing his name on and admiring his work on so many of my favorite race and street cars. That admiration led me to a career building headers at Cyclone and Hedman. He truly led the life with his business and his racing. A life well lived. RIP Doug, we will miss you.

 

Sad to see that. He was one of those who I followed by reading about his racing in the magazines. I never had a car worth of a set of his headers but dreamed of the day I would.

 

My Condolences to his family, friends and the many lives he touched through his competitive spirit and products!

 

Another sad day. RIP Doug.