John Hinckley

[Joe L.]

Re: John Hinckley

We've lost the very best and among the dearest of my friends. I am utterly heartbroken.

[George J.]

Re: John Hinckley

We've lost the very best and among the dearest of my friends. I am utterly heartbroken.

For you, Joe. Not sure if you have this. Monterey 2002.PICT0014.JPG

[Joe L.]

Re: John Hinckley

For you, Joe. Not sure if you have this. Monterey 2002.[ATTACH=CONFIG]106874[/ATTACH]

George------


I don't think I have that one. Thanks for sharing. That was a memorable convention. The evening we had at the Sardine Factory was absolutely electric. I'll NEVER forget it and John was a big part of that event.

[George J.]

Re: John Hinckley

Dinner1.JPG

George------


I don't think I have that one. Thanks for sharing. That was a memorable convention. The evening we had at the Sardine Factory was absolutely electric. I'll NEVER forget it and John was a big part of that event.

Joe,
Agree with all. That was one of the most memorable trips of my life. Lots of great faces in this one.

[Duke W.]

Re: John Hinckley

John contacted me not long after I started posting on the TDB and mentioned that I started my career right out of college as a Pontiac production engineer. We had a lot in common, met in person at the Monterey National Convention, had a private dinner together, and then that infamous group dinner at The Sardine Factory.

At first I didn't recognize that guy between Joe and John, but finally realized it's me, but I don't recognize the guy on the right. Anyone know?

We kept in occasional touch over the years and collaborated on some projects until his health began to fail a few years ago. John was the launch manager for the Cosworth Vega at Lordstown and had a lot of great war stories than he chronicled in the Cosworth Vega Owners' Association national magazine and was guest speaker at a national Roundup held in the Detroit area. I recall asking him when he was going to retire after Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler and he said he had no plans to, but that soon changed.

John is one of a couple of handfuls who have made incalculable contributions to the vintage Corvette and car hobby in general. He will be missed, but not forgotten.

I have no doubt that he has a lot of personal papers that can benefit the hobby for decades to come and hopefully his family will find a good home for them

Duke

[Keith R.]

Re: John Hinckley

Excellent tribute to a pillar of the hobby. He will be sorely missed.

[George J.]

Re: John Hinckley

Duke,
even when I zoom in I can't read the name tag of the person on the right. Unfortunately, these were all taken with the first generation of digital cameras, and the resolution wasn't like today. Still glad to have them, though, and be able to share.
Regarding John's records, if I remember correctly, he had a lot of pictures from the early days of Corvette racing that he took himself. I hope they see the light of day. In fact some of the pictures I have of Monterey came from John, including the ones attached here. He was very diligent in taking photos that trip.

GeorgeJohn's pic1.jpgJohn's pic2.jpgJohn's pic4.jpg

[Patrick H.]

Re: John Hinckley

Duke you're sitting next to me and amongst 4 of us from Michigan there in the back row.

Patrick

[Vinnie P.]

Re: John Hinckley

Could the guy on the right in George's picture be Jim Frakes from upstate NY?

[Patrick H.]

Re: John Hinckley

Back row - Richard Dunham, me, Duke, Tom Phares, Mick Rak, Scott Kohn

[Duke W.]

Re: John Hinckley

...hard to believe that was 19 years ago, and it was the first time we all met each other in person after many great discussions on the TDB? What a great group of people.

So who's the guy in the blue T-shirt on the bench between me and Joe? He looks familiar, but I'm having a senior moment on the name.

Duke

[Enzo C.]

Re: John Hinckley

Meet John and talked for a while...what a great man and definitely a asset to th Corvette hobby
Thank for your knowledge and years of positive help when I had a question
RIP my friend until we meet again in Corvette heaven.. God Bless

[Michael G.]

Re: John Hinckley

John and I met standing under the fuel tank of a 63 Duntov car ar Kissimmee in 2009, where he very patiently explained most of the nuances of the rear suspension to this newbie. Several months later he drove across metro Detroit to go through the entire chassis of another 63 I had just purchased, pointing each and every good and bad component and explaining how to fix it. John had a rare combination of matchless knowledge and genuine humility. This old world could use a lot more gentlemen like Mr. Hinkley, now we have lost one that the term could have been coined for. Rest in peace, my friend.

[Joe L.]

Re: John Hinckley

Duke,
even when I zoom in I can't read the name tag of the person on the right. Unfortunately, these were all taken with the first generation of digital cameras, and the resolution wasn't like today. Still glad to have them, though, and be able to share.
Regarding John's records, if I remember correctly, he had a lot of pictures from the early days of Corvette racing that he took himself. I hope they see the light of day. In fact some of the pictures I have of Monterey came from John, including the ones attached here. He was very diligent in taking photos that trip.

George[ATTACH=CONFIG]106877[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]106878[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]106879[/ATTACH]

Anyone that was not at that dinner missed a once-in-a-lifetime event.

[Steven B.]

Re: John Hinckley

Rest for you now John. Thoughts of and prayers for Linda and family. Another great loss.