Joe Lunati, 88, of Germantown, Tennessee went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Joe was born in Memphis, Tennessee on August 7, 1935. He attended Catholic High School. Joe loved his family and friends. He lead a full and blessed life. Joe was the ultimate prankster; when you saw that grin you knew something was up. He also loved to tell a good story, from his days as a kid riding the city bus downtown to work at his Uncle Pete's grocery store, his stories of how hot it was at the Kroger Bakery, his countless great stories involving his racing adventures and later to his stories about go-kart racing with his kids. Joe grew up from very humble beginnings and became the true American success story. Joe founded Lunati Cams in 1969, later Lunati Crankshaft and Lunati Taylor Pistons. He was an innovator that had a tremendous impact on the high performance automotive industry. With his home built and nationally known race cars, Trouble Maker and Dixie Devil, he accumulated 5 NHRA national Champion titles, 9 class speed records, and 2 U.S. National Wins. He was inducted into the National Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Hot Rod 50th Anniversary Hall of Fame, Don Garlits Hall of Fame. He was also awarded World Karting Association Mechanic of the Year Award. He was a cornerstone in the Memphis drag racing history. Joe had a gifted mechanical mind. In a room full of engineers, he could have them all scratching their heads with, as he would put it, his "8th grade math". Joe is survived by his wife of 66 years Peggy Lunati; son Joey (Brenda) Lunati; daughter Judy (Barry) Ticer; grandchildren LuAnn and Barry (Haley) Ticer, Joey (Tristan), Emily and Anna Lunati; and his brother Ralph (Amy) Lunati. Family and friends will gather on Tuesday, September 19th from 12:00 pm until funeral services begin at 2:00 p.m. all at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119. Burial will follow in Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Joe Lunati's "Trouble Maker Too" 1965 Corvair: Off-Topic for the HAMB ... but here's Joe Lunati's "The Dixie Devil" Super-Experimental Stock (S/XS) 1967 Camaro:
In the late 60's, if you didn't have one of Joe's cheater cams in stock, you were a loser. A true American success story. R.I.P.
Race in Peace Brother. The first racing camshaft I bought was a Lunati. I was very proud to put his decal on my Nova.
Sorry to hear of this! We lost another great guy! My condolences to his family, both immediate and Hot Rod! Bones
Condolences to the Lunati family and friends in the passing of Joe. Quite accomplished and a mover and shaker without a doubt...Perhaps his genius will live on in his name through family or friends that have helped along the way...may he rest in peace...
These were the movers and shakers of the performance world. I have taken it for granted that these guys would always be with us.
The Jalopy Journal
