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Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 11 June 2023 - 06:49 AM
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 11 June 2023 - 07:33 AM
My sympathis for Kevin and family... time to ease it over the line.
Posting Leader
Posted 11 June 2023 - 08:29 AM
Some of my best times were racing with Kevin. He would tease me, let me keep up with him, then blast away. And we would have a little laugh. He never felt like he was "slumming it" racing with us slower guys. I'll always respect him for that.
Enjoy the Great Beyond when you get there, Kev. Well earned.
Slot Parrothead
Posted 11 June 2023 - 08:55 AM
I never met Kevin... and wish I had. There's never an easy way to watch loved ones have to face these tough decisions. Sounds like Kevin's family is there to support him the whole way.
My dad's view of what happens "next" came from a near-death experience he had following a heart attack... from that point on, he said, "There's this life and then the fireworks." Meaning that what awaits us is spectacular!
Godspeed, Kevin.
Rollin Isbell
Checkered Flag in Hand
Posted 11 June 2023 - 11:10 AM
Great racer, even better guy. Always looked forward to seeing him when I was in Chicago.
Thoughts and prayers to Kevin and his family during this difficult time.
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!!!
Race Leader
Posted 11 June 2023 - 01:21 PM
So sorry to hear this... be strong... prayers...
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 11 June 2023 - 02:18 PM
Sending our very best to Kevin and his family.
Posting Leader
Posted 11 June 2023 - 06:22 PM
Horrible to hear this.
A motor is only as fast as the chassis it's in.
Dominic Luongo
Like Dominator Custom Chassis on Facebook
NERR photos from 2012-April 2016
NERR photos from 2016 to now
Age scrubs away speed!
Posted 11 June 2023 - 06:58 PM
Prayers said.
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 11 June 2023 - 10:49 PM
Prayers for you and your family, Kevin.
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 12 June 2023 - 08:08 AM
I was just informed with the sad, sad news that KVP has passed.
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
Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 12 June 2023 - 09:42 AM
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 12 June 2023 - 11:42 AM
We will always have the good times. Godspeed.
Checkered Flag in Hand
Posted 12 June 2023 - 11:55 AM
Our condolences to Kevin's family. Glad to hear he went peacefully with family at his side.
Godspeed, Kevin.
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!!!
Mid-Pack Racer
Posted 12 June 2023 - 12:23 PM
Rest in peace. Kevin was a very nice guy.
Posting Leader
Posted 12 June 2023 - 12:53 PM
Well, it's over for him now. What is left is for his family to deal with it, and I pray that will go easily. Kevin was cut from that same, rare fabric that several other slot racers I have raced with were produced from. Both rabid competitors and amazing human beings. We don't always realize that until something like this happens.
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 12 June 2023 - 01:24 PM
RIP, Kevin. Damn, this is sad.
Joe "Noose" Neumeister
Sometimes known as a serial despoiler of the clear purity of virgin Lexan bodies. Lexan is my canvas!
Noose Custom Painting - Since 1967
Chairman - IRRA® Body Committee - Roving IRRA® Tech Dude - "EVIL BUCKS Painter"
"Team Evil Bucks" Racer - 2016 Caribbean Retro Overall Champion
The only thing bad about Retro is admitting that you remember doing it originally.
Checkered Flag in Hand
Posted 12 June 2023 - 03:35 PM
I am having a hard time finding the words... I feel blessed I was able to get back to Chicago in time to say goodbye in person...
RIP, my friend,.
Mid-Pack Racer
Posted 12 June 2023 - 04:36 PM
One of the truly good guys you would ever meet.
At Sano 13, my buddy Richard was having a hard time getting around the flat track. Kevin gifted him with a Hitman controller that literally changed his entire racing program!
He will be sorely missed! My prayers go out to his family.
On The Lead Lap
Posted 13 June 2023 - 12:43 AM
Great racer, even better guy. Always looked forward to seeing him when I was in Chicago.
Thoughts and prayers to Kevin and his family during this difficult time.
Absolutely; agree. Kevin was a fierce competitor but just as important to him; he wanted us to have terrific race days, too.
He was always generous, helpful, and mentoring. I was not a member of his inner circle, but any stranger observing us talking at a race would never know that.
Thank God you made it back in time Bernie. We all knew what was inevitable, but my heart still sank to my feet when I read your post this morning Mike S. I'll keep prayers up for Kevin's family.
Kevin AKA KvP is one of the good guys, gone too soon; who definitely earned their angel's wings very long before his passing.
Godspeed, KvP.
Jersey John
Posted 13 June 2023 - 10:48 AM
A sad day for our slot car family. I met Kevin at several R4s. A very sweet man. RIP, Kevin.
John Chas Molnar
"Certified Newark Wise Guy since 1984" (retired)
"Certified Tony P Chassis God 2007.2023
Retro Chassis Designer-Builder
Mid-Pack Racer
Posted 15 June 2023 - 01:44 AM
RIP, Kevin. 
Checkered Flag in Hand
Posted 15 June 2023 - 04:57 AM
Da shoes, it's all about da shoes!
Miss ya, buddy.
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 16 June 2023 - 07:48 PM
Obituary:
Kevin M. VanPelt
Kevin M. VanPelt, 66, of Yorkville, IL passed away surrounded by his girls on June 12, 2023 in Naperville, IL, after a battle with cancer.
He was born the youngest of nine in Aurora, IL, on December 4, 1956, to parents, Ralph and Jane (Barry) VanPelt. He graduated from East Aurora High School in 1975 and later married his high school sweetheart, Nancy (Kremer) on October 15, 1977. They remained happily married for 46 years.
He was a self-employed electrical panel manufacturer for 38 years and supplied control panels to Simpson Technologies for much of that time. Kevin was a proud father and grandfather and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially out by their pool, and with their many beloved dogs over the years. Kevin was a respected member of the slot car racing community for the past 25 years and, prior to that, had been racing 1/8 scale gas-powered RC cars for about 20 years. He met many amazing and lifelong friends at the tracks. Over the years, Kevin became increasingly involved in the construction of several homes, starting with his own family home in Yorkville, the construction of his mother-in-law’s home across town with friends and family, and later, the construction of a speculative house in the River’s Edge subdivision. Friends and family will almost certainly remember him as generous, kind, and ever the jokester.
Kevin is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughters, Andrea (Joshua) Hinkemeyer and Amy (Jareth) Borneman; his brother Gregory (Pam) VanPelt; his grandchildren, Claire and Kaden; and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws including Randall (Judene) Kremer, Linda Gross, Gary Breyne, and Frances VanPelt. He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Patricia Vida, Barry VanPelt, Kathleen Haggerty, Cynthia Musgrove, Kimberle Breyne, Terry Richmond, and Richard VanPelt; and his mother- and father-in-law, Jacqueline and Jack Kremer.
The family intends to hold a celebration of his life at a date yet to be determined.
