hotrodbob01

Just received a note from a friend in NCRS that Dick Guldstrand passed away this morning.

Has anyone else heard this?

Katech_Zach

I just heard. He was a friend to me and many other people here at Katech. I just spoke with him a couple weeks ago and he was going strong modifying Corvettes. He was a living legend and will be greatly missed.

SB60

Just got the news too. Sad, but what a life! He did a top conversion on my 2007 Z06. He took me for a ride in his Kateck 50th anniversary Z06. I was hanging on for dear life! He also got me and a few buddies into Jay's Garage a few years ago. He was one of those guys that you feel you've known forever even when you just meet him!

Life well lived Dick Guldstrand!

Shaka

RIP friend. Attended many NCCC events.

https://vintageracecar.com/corvette-...d-passes-away/

hotrodbob01

Had a great chat with Dick a couple of years ago at a show. Great guy.

Mechanic

Dick Guldstrand was a true giant among Corvette racers. In the 1960s, he was Corvette racing writ large. He was so successful and so dedicated and did so much for Corvette racing during that period that, IMHO, Chevrolet should find some way of memorializing that history within the current brand. For example, it would be entirely appropriate to re-name and refer to the hardcore Z07 package the "Dick Guldstrand Z07 package." (Yes, there would be naming and copyright issues to be resolved, but they would be trivial in the grand scheme of things.) The man deserves meaningful recognition for his unique contributions.

hotrodbob01

I like the way you think. He was heavily involved in the suspension development with GM/Duntov on the early Corvettes and was the first professional driver for Penske. He operated his shop in Burbank, CA until last year.

Vasta

I had the pleasure of meeting Dick at his shop. He was giving a talk about his years racing with Corvettes. He was very entertaining.




At another event I had him sign my fuel rail cover.

b_pappy

He was such a great guy, so knowledgeable, so accessible, and the way he could tell racing stories!. I consider myself fortunate to have known him.
Bruce

l2vette

Dick Guldstrand.....Goldie!
We met at Laguna Seca, you were in your 2003 Z06 Anniversary Edition. You are a gentleman, glad I could be there!

CALVette

RIP I really enjoyed the stories he told about the early days of Corvette racing.

LTWALTHER2

What a gentleman!!! I met Dick several years ago at a Carlisle Racers reunion and all I can say is I was in total awe. The minute I met him, I knew why James Garner gravitated towards him in 1967-68. Humble with an overwhelming confidence, the same as James Garner. A total professional.
Racing down the Mulsanne Strait with the raising sun shinning in the passenger side window, he is once again a young man driving #9 at LeMans, at 171.5 mph, this time till the end of the race.
TED

savewave

<p><img alt="Sad Angel" src="https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/images/smilies/angelsad2.gif" style="height:22px; width:33px" title="Sad Angel" />&nbsp;R.I.P. Dick Guldstrand&nbsp; <img alt="Sad Angel" src="https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/images/smilies/angelsad2.gif" style="height:22px; width:33px" title="Sad Angel" /></p>

TCracingCA

Guldstrand's business partner and me talked, and to help out the Family and his wife, would people be willing to kick something $$$$ so we collectively can help her/them (they haven't asked- this is my hair brained idea for him/his wife and family), so that Lab Coat gets donated to the National Corvette Museum- instead of falling into my hands. This post is a little premature!
Also there is thoughts of something public in addition to the private ceremony! If and when I get the details, I relayed that I would put it up on this forum.

hotrodbob01

I'll help if possible. Does the museum want the lab coat? Hate to send it if they are not going to display it.

TCracingCA

If no one there knows enough about Dick to know about the Lab Coat (it has been his long term uniform when he has worked on his customer cars), then we will have them impeached!!! My post was premature in that the family/business holding the lab coat will have to decide it's fate. My idea was only a suggestion as to what I think would be cool! I hate to see something like this sold off, unless the proceeds directly help related to assisting the family related to his passing. But I personally would not like to see it sold! I thought I would gauge the novelty of my idea here on the forum and I naturally know what type of expenses a family incurs suddenly, when a loved one is lost. It was just an idea.

Naturally, I would hope that with each great Corvette personality that passes, that if something significant came their way, that they would be smart enough to display it. I hope they have some stuff related to Greenwood, Fitch, and guys like that! Heck they even have a new race track and they could have a row of Corvette drivers display over there across the street, if they have ran out of room for honors to our Champions in the main building!

PS He let me have his shop banner for my garage wall, so they aren't going to get that!

cvette79blu

Sept. has been a bad month for those of us old enough to remember the 60's As I found on the web Dick died on Sept. 2 at 87 year old and Marty Millner Star of Route 66 died on Sept. 7 at the age of 83. These guys were the reason I drive a Midyear Now. As a kid seeing the ( last 2 seasons of Route 66 they showed the 63 and then the 64 roadsters. My first Corvette was a 63 roadster and now more of the same. I got to meet Dick at Monterrey 2 years ago as the Vette turned 50. I ask him what was one of his tricks for beating the lighter and faster Cobras? And he said: " YOU JUST NUDGE EM"! They can't handle as well as the Sting Rays. Then he turned and walked away. He Autographed my book later. Corvette Thunder and California Screaming are his history and a must read.

There is a verse in Pink Floyd do you think you can tell.
(did they get you to trade all your heroes for ghosts)?

As another door to our youth closes these guys were the Best!
cvette 79..soooooo blue! https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ies/frown5.gif

TCracingCA

Apparently the Coroners office has not released Dick yet was the last update that I have from this weekend.

The Family, neighbors and really close friends have already had a get together or send off at the house and ***** and Family are thinking of a public something for the many people that have crossed paths with Dick. He is going to be cremated is what I am hearing.

Dick was not in good health for awhile and ***** is holding on (as was relayed by a close friend of the family). So these final times have not been easy on them. Plus he had the old shop Situation and that mess that happened.

I am going to be out in the Valley tomorrow, and will try to get more updates. I think someone said something about the Riverside Raceway Museum making some sort of offer! I am not on good terms with them, but one of the members here said something about that, so I will try to run that down and relay it out to the Family tomorrow.

hotrodbob01

I was contacted by a person here asking if we will say anything about Dick when we have the Corvette night at Irwindale this Saturday, Sept 19. I will gladly do what we can if someone wants to put something together. I will see if we can put it on the PA during the parade lap or possibly a display in the show area.

R50THC5

Had the pleasure meeting Dick at the 50th Anniversary celebration at the Corvette museum in 2003. What a great man, may he rest in peace.