Pat Ganahl was larger than life. Literally a tall drink of water, the inveterate hot-rodder was known for his superb writing about the hot rod universe, his work as editor of Street Rodder, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom and The Rodders Journal magazines that brought the 75-year-old Ganahl massive respect.
He was also applauded for his hot-rod restorations, including the well-drawn orange paint on the Ike Iacono dragster that, unfortunately he was driving when he died, at age 75, in an incident at Riverdale Raceway in Toutle, Washington. While the cause of Ganahl’s racing incident at Riverdale in the bright orange car hasn’t been revealed, he was driving the dragster he’d restored many years ago, and that in itself was unusual. Ganahl was normally seen in one of the many hot rods he’d also brought back to life. Not in a racing car.
In addition to writing many books and freelance stories about the hobby of hot-rodding, he was renown for his selection of vintage photos depicting unrestored, restored and in-the-midst machinery. His encyclopedic knowledge about vintage automobiles and drag racing led him to popularize the nostalgia drag racing movement that began in the 1980s and continues today, in particular with Steve Gibbs’ Nitro Revival, which is being held November 5-6 this year at Irwindale Event Center.
Ask any writer who was enveloped in Pat Ganahl’s aura what this man meant to them and you’ll receive ovations for his innate and acquired knowledge of hot rodding, for his patience with others trying to learn as much as he already knew and his willingness to share that knowledge to increase appreciation of the calling that helped him find his way in life.
Hot rodding ran through his veins, one friend wrote. Another related a story of driving a roadster through a California forest fireball. “We can be sure that Pat’s place in hot rodding history is well established, with an enormous amount of superb writing over the years,” another wrote. David Freiberger’s heartfelt comments will strike home to anyone that knew him: “Ganahl mentored me along the way and enjoyed using me just a bit of trouble. I’m one of many 100s of thousands of people who gathered knowledge, entertainment and inspiration from Pat Ganahl.”
It’s been related, since Ganahl’s Friday, August 19th passing, that he blew through the lights at the end of Riverdale’s drag strip and never applied brakes. It’s thought he suffered a medical emergency. RacingJunk sends our sympathy to his wife Anna and son Bill.
Wow, so sorry to hear of Pat’s passing.
GodSpeed, and may his family and friends take comfort in knowing he was doing what he loved right to the very end.
He will be missed. R.I.P.