To those that have met the man in person, his kindness and generous spirit won't come as a huge surprise to you. He's racing a car called "Thing". It's a clone from one he raced back in the 60's? I believe. The purple motor wasn't running right so his crew was in the process of changing it out to the yellow motor. I sound like a real girl huh, with this yellow/purple motor thing. Maybe one of the guys can fill in all the details. We (me, Beatnik, BenD and Atch) had stopped by his pit a time or two to see how they were coming along. Everytime we stopped we were greeted warmly with friendly smiles, offers of beverages, chairs in the shade, etc. He has a new girl "friend" who is just wonderfully friendly and outgoing, and a hot rodder to boot. Lots of fun to be around. Anywho, we stopped once again to see how things were coming along and just to hang out and watch. Gene looks up from being very busy in the engine compartment, smiles at us and heads into the motorhome exiting a few seconds later with a book that he hands us. HOLY SMOKES! It's his very own personal scrapbook from 1949!! Everyone gathered around as we went thru it word for word and tried to absorb everything. With the turn of each page I kept getting more and more excited with the anticipation of what I was going to see next. He had photographs from the day, of all the great racers, time slips, pit passes, hand written notes of what he and his buds did, cars that he customized, shows that he attened, what awards he took, club functions, and photos of all his friends, the ones I had only read about in the mags. As we looked though the book I just kept thinking how lucky we were to be sitting there with Gene Winfield and him thinking highly enough of us to share a little bit of his past with us. It was one of the highlites of my visit on to the salt and I justed wanted to share it with you guys. I get warm fuzzy even now just thinking about it.
Whoa! Another fantastic photo-essay, Denise! I hope everyone else is digging these as much as I am...great stuff...thanks for your efforts!
I don't often reply with posts just to agree, but I've gotta say, this is really cool! I guess I think of the hobby's legends as larger than life, just like we would do with any celebrity. It's really cool to run across a guy who's just a regular guy, and is just as excited about his stuff as you are. We hear stories of how some guys will run you off, and then we see something like this. I talked with Gene at a Starbird's show a few years ago, and got an autographed picture of the Jade Idol. He was really nice to me then, taking the time to BS, even though his booth was swarming. Thanks for sharing your experience, it gives us all a chance to live through your adventures. Any more pics from the scrapbook?
Not exactly a great shots of the pages themselves but maybe you can zoom in alittle for a better view. I certainly wish more closeup shots would have been taken. These are all I have.
You're killing me - stop - I can't take anymore! No wait, I take it back - What else did you manage to fit in during that rodder's wet dream road trip?
Felt like a dream when I was sitting there thumbing through those pages and still does. Unbelievable. Thanks for posting those Denise.
They are better than celebrities, they weren't in search of fame and fortune, they just had a desire to go faster with their own creations and innovations. They achieved their fame on their own terms, not by whoring for the entertainment industry.
Cool post denise, We stopped by and listened and learned for about an hour and a half. While we were there Dick Bertalucci (?) was flipping thru the book and yelling at Gene, remember this/remember that. It was like story hour when I was a kid. I have my digi's that I still need to upload that show Gene / Dick & Kent Fuller grinning. I wish that I could have hung out at his pit and absorbed it all, I even had to go get my SCTA rule book to take notes about some of the story's that they were telling. Chris Nelson Kansas
Speaking of Kent Fuller..... Kent Fuller = funny man As we were leaving Gene's pits in Big Olds, Kent Fuller walks up and starts checking over Big Olds and telling me how I need fadeaways and fender skirts on him, hollaring "RIGHT GENE???" and grinning from ear to ear. Funny man
"Fade-a-ways and fender skirts" I couldn't agree more - your car is just begging for the full custom treatment! (and a carson top would do wonders for those 6:30a.m. rainstorms) Problem is, I don't think you ever stop driving it long enough to do anything to it.
Now I am really jealous, Kent Fuller actually talked to you? Just kidding, I've wanted to meet him for years and he just walks up and starts talking to you? AWESOME !!!!
THANK YOU CLEATUS !!!!!! Denise, you need to listen to those guys. They know whats best for you. I recall some guy from the KOA tried telling you this before. Now you can see he wasn't the only one who thinks that and besides he was just looking out for you.
Hi Denise... when I met you at the H.A.M.B. drags, I was wondering where you got that "opossum grin". Now I know, ya got it from Ben D. Great pics! I guess were just goin to have to make you a member. ------------------------------------------------ "OPOSSUM BENDERS" Central chapter
Thats some experience! Denise, you seem to have a lot of fun with your Olds and thats all that really matters. I feel I need to say that before I whisper very low; "Kent Fuller is right"...
Excuse me Denise, But you can't have a comprehensive Winfield post without a pic of him....So here you go. You can thank me later
I guess we get a little spoiled living here in SoCal where some of the automotive greats are just a day trip away. The wife and I were at Gene's shop in Mohave last year looking at some Merc stuff. He showed us the race car and the new flattie that he was porting/polishing and getting ready to build up for the car. It's nice to see a pic of the finished product. Since Gene moved out to the desert he doesn't get all the foot traffic into the shop like he did when he was closer to LA. In my conversations with him I get the distinct impression that he really enjoys the interaction (and admiration) he receives on his road trips. I'm sure he enjoyed your visit with him as much as you did...
I am so bummed! Every year I think this might be the year that I get to go to B'ville. The two years I actually had plane tickets and hotel rooms-it rained! So, I think that maybe Denise you have the right idea. Get in your car and just go! Look what happens, Gene Winfield invites you in for a sit down and you get to listen to his history lessons AND look at his personal history book. And if that's not enough you get Kent Fuller too-WTF! Denise, you definitely have the ability to do the right thing and to apparently enjoy the bejessus out of everything that happens while you are doing it. I wish that every streetrodder had your enthusiasm and the ability to share it with others as you do! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us.
You folks that got to meet Gene now know what I've known for years, He is one hell of a guy. I used to work for Gene and in a world full of fakes He is the real deal, He has been there and done it all, and He may just do it all again. Keep in mind that Gene is in His 70's, lots of other guys would be happy to "live on" the name but not Him, every day He gets up and works in the shop ( except when He is out of town), Gene Winfield still has the passion for cars that drove Him to become one the best known auto restylers in the world, He is one cool cat in My book. Von Doc
I met Gene a few years ago at the Wheels of Time show in Macungie PA. Saw that scrap book also. He just had it sitting open on a table & when I started looking thru it, he came over & started chatting with me about different things in the pics. Nicest Guy you would ever expect considering he is a living legend
[ QUOTE ] when I grow up I want to be just like Gene Winfield. what a cool guy. [/ QUOTE ] I'm with you FA. Met him at Back to the Beach in 2000. I had a little photo album with some of my pics, so I showed him mine and he showed me his. His was much bigger.
Another story I didn't see here is Gene was missing a shifter handle, so as where all hangin out at the State Line Casino, he spots Dave's roadster and swipes his patina shift knob. I don't know if Dave got it back, but I know it took at least one run in the Thing at 132 miles an hour
Gene Winfield is a great guy. I was introduced to him last year at CHRR by Andy and Sue Brizio. I saw him again at SEMA, he still remembered me and we chatted. Top guy - real genuine
The Jalopy Journal
