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Mark Wampler, 1950-2022

Started by Dan Searcy , Mar 11 2022 04:20 PM

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21 replies to this topic

#1 Dan Searcy

Mid-Pack Racer

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 04:20 PM

Our friend Mark Wampler, after a brave battle with cancer, finally went to be with the Lord.

Mark passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 2:37 PM in Inglewood, CA. He is survived by his children, his church brethren, and his many slot car racer friends.

Mark was an avid slot car racer and was always a pleasure to race with. Mark was a long time slot car racer on the Central Coast of California. His home track was Foster's in Santa Maria, CA, but he also, on occasion, would race Retro with his friends at Buena Park Raceway.

He was an all-around good guy and we will miss our friend greatly., RIP, Mark.

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Steadfastly refusing to grow up...
Dan Searcy

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#2 MSwiss

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 04:22 PM

Sorry to hear about Mark.

He was super-passionate about slot racing.

May he Rest in Peace.

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Mike Swiss

Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA^® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder

17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)

Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559

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#3 DavidR

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 06:03 PM

Sorry to hear, didnt know him but enjoyed reading his posts.

David Rodgers Sr.
3/24/54-3/25/2023
Requiescat in Pace

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#4 Mike K

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 07:38 PM

Godspeed. Mark. Sorry to hear this news.

So much DRAMA for such small cars....
Mike Kravitz

Don't DQ me for having the wrong SHADE of orange on my McLaren... after all, it's ONLY a toy car!!!

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#5 slotcarone

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 07:41 PM

May he R.I.P.

Mike Katz

Scratchbuilts forever!!

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#6 Bill from NH

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 07:52 PM

I knew Mark through OWH and Slotblog. My condolences to his family and friends.

RIP, Mark!

Bill Fernald

I intend to live forever! So far, so good.

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#7 Keith Tanaka

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 08:03 PM

RIP, Mark.

Team Rolling Hills circa '66-'68

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#8 Roy Lievanos

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 10:04 PM

Very sad to hear.
I met Mark a few years back when we teamed up for the Boola Enduro at BPR.

He built the car and mailed it to me for testing. I could tell he was a very meticulous builder noticing the detail of his work that he explained to me.

RIP, Mark

2024 Western States TMO Champion
2023 Barnburner OMB TQ
2022 Western States HB12 Champion
2021 NASRA OMB National Champion
2021 NASRA OMB National Lap World Record

2017 USRA Div 1 Nats “F” class National Champion
2017 Western States "Retro Hawk F class" Champion
Thank you, John and Dee Hale - Santa Ana Raceway circa 1962

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#9 Jason Holmes

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 10:04 PM

Going to miss talking to Mark. RIP

Jason

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#10 eshorer

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 11:08 PM

A nice combo of soft-spoken and opinionated, I'll miss our pit talks.

Eddie

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Eddie (not so Fast anymore) Shorer
Team Boola (circa the '60s)

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#11 Bryan Warmack

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Posted 11 March 2022 - 11:23 PM

Very sad to hear this. RIP Mark and condolences to his family.

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#12 Tex

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Posted 12 March 2022 - 10:05 AM

R.I.P., Mark....

so sad.....

David Reed likes this

Richard L. Hofer

Remember, two wrongs don't make a right... but three lefts do! Only you're a block over and a block behind.

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#13 Tim Neja

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Posted 12 March 2022 - 10:12 AM

Really sad to see another of our slot racing friends pass. RIP Mark-- prayers for you and your family.

She's real fine, my 409!!!

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#14 Tim Wilkins

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Posted 12 March 2022 - 11:35 AM

Very sad news. Mark and I would often talk about our Christian faith while racing at BPR.. Mark loved the competition of slot car racing and purposely bought an RV so he could bring his autistic son with him when racing at BPR. Mark's Faith in Jesus Christ as Hhs Lord and Savior has now become Sight.

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough" - Mario Andretti

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#15 Gary Donahoe

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Posted 12 March 2022 - 11:46 AM

Sorry to learn of Mark's passing, RIP Mark.

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#16 911GT3

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Posted 13 March 2022 - 08:57 AM

So sorry to hear.

Eric Balicki

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#17 A. J. Hoyt

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Posted 13 March 2022 - 11:37 AM

Sorry to hear about this. Mark seemed like a mellow kind of guy and I enjoyed his posts. He was there for all of the slot car shenanigans through the decades. I wish I had met him. Condolences to the family and friends.

Sorry about the nerf. "Sorry? Sorry? There's no apologizing in slot car racing!"

Besides, where would I even begin? I should probably start with my wife ...

"I don't often get very many "fast laps" but I very often get many laps quickly." ™

The only thing I know about slot cars is if I had a good time when I leave the building! I can count the times I didn't on ~~one~~ ~~two~~ three hands!

Former Home Track - Slot Car Speedway and Hobbies, Longmont, CO (now at Duffy's Raceway), Noteworthy for the 155' Hillclimb track featuring the THUNDER-DONUT - "Two men enter; one man leaves!"