I received a call last night from a friend, Max of S.L.O. telling me of the p***ing of Dan Iandola. He is the Author of "The George Riley Racing S****book" He also built and raced fast Ford 4-bangers for some 40 years, from Bonneville to the Antique Nationals. Which he raced his Yellow 4 banger powered Model A roadster pickup. He will be deeply missed by his Family and Friends. Mike
That's sad to hear. I used to talk to Dan years ago and he was always helpful with Model A questions.
Dan was a Ford Four man right up to the end even through his poor health over the last year or so he was still able to attend the odd event with the help of friends his intrest never finished and I beleive his performance motor is being worked on even now. He was well known for his castings in aluminium often earning him the name of ''Aluminium Dan'' He was one of the last links to the oldtime racersand early hotrodders still doing things the way it was done back in the day if you could not get it you made it. He mentored many world wide and we shall miss him. In Jim Brierleys recent book Four Bangers and me Ready For Fun he is mentioned through out it the ***le of Jims book almost sums him up. He had a presence at early drylakes meets winning ***les and always helping out in the background. As the V8s came in he carried the Ford Four banner forward into firstly drags and then in the formation of the For Ever Four Club all the time mentoring and bringing people forward with him. When F.A.S.T. Ford A Speed Technology was formed Dan was there as well. I am in New Zealand why do I know of Dan well around thirty or so years ago a good friend of mine was visiting the States a rare thing for us to do at that time we had heard of Dan and his skills so he visited him and ended up staying the night. Dan had taken him for a ride in his Jenkins converted Hotrod as Linsay said that car went like a cat with petrol under its tail he was both scared and astounded Linsay said if you ever get rid of that head let me know the next mornning when he got up to leave there was the head on the kitchen table, it recently went into the hands of Dereck the Kiwi Quickchange man as Linsay is not keeping the best of health himself in my book that sums him up yes I would say he was well known world wide forever helpful and mentoring others . I believe that his group of bangger friends is making a trophy to honour him featuring the winged symbol he used on his castings . It will not go to all out racers but to street cars at events so even now he will be still mentoring the every day banger guy. Rest in Peace Dan Rusty Skerten New Zealand.
thanks for posting fordcragar, and your comments rusttee. i've known dan since 1958 we were like brothers and i will certainly miss him. he was all that was said of him. excuse the typing but i had a stroke in oct. and it has slowed me a bit but i will get better! jim brierley
I never got to meet Dan, but read about him for years, so glad to have a copy of his George Riley Racing S****book. Prayers going out to his family and friends. Bob
Thanks RussTee for a great story about a fine man. Always sad to hear of the p***ing of important contributors to this hobby of ours.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dan only once. It was at an old timers club party and he welcomed a new face with a racing story. According to some of the others there, the "story" might have been stretched a little, but some of those participants, no, ALL of those participants kept going faster each telling. RIP, Dan, and I will keep Brierley and others correct on the "facts". J
RussTee, nice wright up . yes the Jenkins head is ready to go , Just returned from viewing our new salt car ,may fit Dans head to the new 5 bearing block as a back up engine , He was a great man, Too many great guys moving on , thats 3 this week, , Catch up down the line
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