I first met Larry and his family in the early '70s. Larry was a member of our street rod club: ... Here's Larry with some of his fellow NCEI members: Back then, he built & drove a "resto-rod" 1932 Ford Victoria: Bob Gregg's T-Bucket & Larry's Deuce Vicky at the 1973 LODI Mini Nationals The NCEI Deuces at the 1974 LODI Mini Nationals (left to right): Ramacciotti's Roadster, Meadors' Tudor, Gomes' Cabriolet, Westervelt's Vicky, & our 5wd Coupe Larry was caravanning (in his Deuce Vicky) with my Dad to the 1974 NSRA Nats in St. Paul, Minnesota when the HEMI32 coupe broke a rear axle on Hwy 80 in Sacramento (less than 100 miles from home) Larry's Vicky at The Secrest Collection (near Tulsa, Oklahoma) in 1976
In the '80s, Larry started punching louvers on the side ... hence the "Larry Louver" moniker. Through the years, Larry has built & driven several "HAMB-friendly" Hot Rods ... including this flamed Deuce Hiboy Roadster he's had since the early '80s [which you may have noticed is sans any louvers (i.e., they are all on the belly pan)]:
I'm sure that all of Larry's Hot Rod buddies that have gone before him [including (my dad) "Deuce Bruce" Olson, "Billy B" Burnham, and Gary "Goodguy" Meadors] were there to greet him at the "Pearly Gates" ... and that they are already planning / holding Drag Races* & Hot Rod shows! * NOTE: Larry was once the "Race Director" for the Billy B's "Ol' Blue" '29 Hiboy ~ Deuce Bruce's '32 5wd ~ Larry Louver's '32 Hiboy ~ Gary Goodguy's '32 Tudor RIP Dad ... RIP Billy ... RIP Gary ... RIP Larry ... I miss all of you
Larry did the louvers on my 1949 Chevrolet coupe and my Hot Rod Datsun pickup. .75 cents each. that was 35 years ago. I remember it smelled like horse manure where he lived..... the details you remember are funny sometimes.
Condolences to You, the Westervelt Family and Friends in the passing of Louver Larry...it's getting pretty full up there...may he Rest in Peace.. Regards, Stogy
Here's a nice tribute by John (@John D) Drummond posted on a Nostalgia Drag Racing social media page: “Low Fat” Larry Westervelt 1943-2021 Former Goodguys VRA Race Director Larry “Low Fat” Westervelt passed away Thursday, November 18th due to complications of diabetes. He was 78 years old. The gregarious and lovable Westervelt served in several capacities with Goodguys over a 10 year period. Westervelt was best known for his stewardship of the Goodguys West Coast Championship Series which ran a series of points events and a year-end Championship for vintage drag racers. While serving as Goodguys Race Director, Westervelt oversaw every aspect of the events including relationships with host facilities, the tech inspection team, race scheduling, staffing, and keeping the series organized and on track. He forged close relationships with many race teams, cementing him as one of the most popular Race Directors Goodguys ever had. A longtime hot rod enthusiast, Westervelt was first introduced to Goodguys founder - the late Gary Meadors, in Newark, California in the early 70s. The Meadors’ and Westervelt’s lived down the street from each other. Gary and Larry’s love for hot rods was the foundation for a decades-long friendship. Both men were some of the earliest members of the Nor Cal Early Iron car club. Westervelt was an airline mechanic most of his adult life, repairing planes for Pan American Airlines, PSA and U.S. Air before retiring. It was during his airline retirement that he came to Goodguys to join the event staff. He was a popular team mate and even though he was older than most of the Goodguys staff, he fit right in with his high energy and a hilarious personality. His black, flamed 1932 Ford Roadster was a fixture in the Northern California Hot Rod scene for over 40 years. He was a frequent attendee at Roadster Roundups, Andy’s Picnics, and regional events like the Lodi Mini Nationals, Western Nationals, West Coast Nationals and more with his wife Lani riding shotgun. Larry’s son Larry Jr got the racing bug from his dad and served as a crew member on several Nostalgia Top Fuel teams, allowing father and son to be together on race weekends. “One thing I will always remember about Larry was his passion for hot rods and drag racing,” said Goodguys President Marc Meadors. “From the time I was little until the last time I saw him, Larry was always talking about hot rods and race cars. He was a great fit for our staff during the years he worked for us. He always showed up for work early, made us laugh and was a great asset to Goodguys and a great ambassador for the hot rod industry.” Former Goodguys PR Director John Drummond remembered Westervelt as a great friend and a thoughtful person. “Larry would always come to work on Valentine’s Day with a special gift for every female employee Goodguys had. He was so thoughtful like that. When there was tragedy at the race track, Larry always made it a top priority to comfort the families of stricken racers and make sure they were taken care of. He hated computers. He was as old school as they come. He would much rather work with his hands and his heart than join the tech revolution of the new millennium. When any of his friends were enduring hardships of any kind, Larry was always one of the first to call. He thought of others more than himself, which is the greatest trait a man can have.” Larry Westervelt is survived by his wife Lani, daughter Holly, son Larry, grandson’s Brandon, Cooper and Griffin, granddaughter Julie, son-in-law Matt and daughter-in-law Jami. Memorial Services are pending at this time.
I recognized the name, so sad to hear. Thanks for posting the write-up by John Drummond. A life, and story, well done.
On a side note, Larry purchased his Deuce Hiboy from HAMBer Rick @193257 Bales when it was still in primer: The "NO WIMPS" sticker Rick affixed to the roadster's dash is still there today (i.e., Larry never removed it!):
Larry & Lani are long time friends - we are surprised & saddened to hear about Larry - love and prayers to the family On a lighter note, when the CVRs were asked to help put on a car thing for the shooting of 'The Junkman' in Paso Larry was out directing traffic rods/customs parking & street cars parking when this big caddie pulled up trying to park with the rods & Larry pointed him the other way - yhe driver said "I'm George Barris!" to which Larry said, "I don't care who you are, park over there"
I attended Larry's "Celebration Of Life" today (Saturday, May 21st 2022). The Lockeford Community Center was packed full of Larry's family, friends, his fellow Hot Rodders (including a few members of the H.A.M.B.*) . . . and several photo albums & lots of memorabilia. * John (@John D) Drummond, Darryl (@hollenbeck32) Hollenbeck, Terri (@Born a HotRodGal) Brizio Hollenbeck, Kevan @Sledge, Rich (@rich roberts) Roberts, Dennis @Rod and Wheeler Gomes, & Cole (@SlingShoter) Ruchonnet Drummond emceed the occasion ... Larry's grandkids showed a nice video ... folks shared stories ... and a food truck served Larry's favorite food (gourmet hot dogs/sausages ... with all the fixin's) to everyone. Here's some of my snapshots from the day ... inside the community center: NOTE: Larry polished & painted the Beehive oil filter to be used as an urn for some of his ashes ... at a later date, the rest of his ashes will be scattered in a "very fitting manner" Larry was an airline mechanic for PanAm ... and played on their softball team & bowling league "Larry Louver" ... and out in the parking lot: The one & only time Larry's Deuce Roadster was "Power-Parked" Roy Haile’s '40 Pickup George Ayla’s chopped Deuce 3wd Coupe Chris LaCasse's Deuce 3wd Coupe John "Rocket Man" Paxson's Deuce 5wd Coupe Rich "Pure Hell" Guasco's Deuce 5wd Coupe The Walsh, Burnham~Daviess, Meadors, & Hollenbeck Roadsters Tom & Diane Walsh's Deuce Roadster Billy Burnham's "Ol' Blue" '29 Hiboy and Gary "Goodguy" Meadors' track-nosed '29 Darryl & Terri Hollenbeck's Deuce Roadster and Marc & Marilyn Meadors '29 Roadster The Hollenbeck's 2016 AMBR
Just stumbled upon these pics of Larry's Deuce Tudor: under construction "finished" ... with his Deuce Roadster
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