45 replies to this topic

[TSR]

I learned today that our good friend of many years, Pete Zimmerman, died from a massive heart attack last Saturday. His great childhood friend, John Cukras, called me to let me know.

Pete was a greater than life figure in the world of slot car racing in the late 1960's, a free spirited man who did not expect much from life and lived a day to day existence. He was an excellent motor builder and helped John Cukras and "John" Tore Anderson in their racing, often providing them with fast and reliable horsepower. Pete was also an excellent chassis and car builder.
Pete had returned after a 37-year absence, racing in D3 classes and obtaining some success. Lately, he had again given up on the hobby he loved.

He was 63 years old, survived by his mom and a sister in Switzerland.

John will let us know when we will have a little gathering in the near future, to celebrate Pete's life and achievements.

RESQUIESCAT IN PACE.

[MSwiss]

What a bummer.

I remember as a 14 or 15 year old, looking at the Zimmerman ad in Model Car Journal, trying to figure how many hours I was going to have to bus tables to buy a Zimmerman arm.

[Richie]

Really sorry to hear this. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family. RIP Pete Zimmerman...

-Richie

[68Caddy]

That is very sad indeed, sure like Pistol Pete, luckily I got some interviews of Pete and Cukras with Terry.
Maybe I will post a short video clip of the last time I met Pete.
RIP Pete and I sure will not forget you. Click here this is a low resolution cut, but the original is so much better.


Nesta

[Tex]

Very sad indeed; my condolences to his family and friends. We lost a fellow slotter here last week also, same age as me. We may feel 17 in our heads again, but it just ain't true.

R.I.P., Pete; say "Hi" to Paul Watts for me.

[68Caddy]

I found this one also...Click here


Nesta

[Charlie Nelson]

Sorry to hear that, but I think he would want us to keep on slot car racing. I actually knew him 42 years ago and was hoping to catch up with him again this January at BPR.

Maybe we should have a race dedicated to him during the Next Checkpoint reunion? He will live forever in our tiny little slot car memories.

Charlie Nelson

[Ron Hershman]

RIP and Godspeed.

[68Caddy]

Can someone put Pete in his role as a racer and motor builder back in the sixty's, specially for us that where not there back then and are new to the blog?
He truly was a West Coast Legend, and I bet if I had stuff made my Pete to day it would be very valuable. Lets hope that his stuff that he left behind goes to a legit collector and be saved for the future.


Nesta

[Bryan Warmack]

Pete was a character, my good friend and will be missed.

[eshorer]

Pete was an energetic and passionate racer back in the '60s, and nothing changed on that front in recent years. He will be missed, indeed.

[CruzinBob]

RIP Pete. I got to race against him a couple times and many of us can relate to the great passion he had.

[Gus Kelley]

Hey Pete! You're ina better place. I'm glad I got to re-make your acquaintance at the last "Checkpoint". I enjoyed your stories of coming up north and giving the San Francisco guys hell shortly after the thingie era. Gus in Sacto

[Keith Tanaka]

Pete was one of the Legends from the '60s who was quite a character. Never satisfied no matter how fast a motor or car he had, nevertheless always giving it his best shot.
We'll miss Pete, his always interesting conversations and craziness livened up our slotracing environment.

Rest in peace, Pete.


Keith

[Mike K]

I was stunned to hear the news today when I was at BPR. Pete was a character of many eras. I only new him briefly in the present, but it is sad to hear of his passing.

Rest in Peace.

[Gary Mayeda]

My friend Tore called me and told me the news. Sad to hear that he is no longer with us.

I remember in the old days seeing his ads on MRJ. He did everything. Mostly motors and arms and they were as good as anyone else at the time. At the '93 Nats, I got the opportunity to get Cukras and Zimmerman in my room, still have a pic of both of them.

He may be gone, but he's up there with Bill Steube Sr. and Jr., thinking of all the new stuff they could be making.

Gary Mayeda

[John Gorski]

What a shock to hear of Pete's passing...

Pete was one of the top Sano motor nuilders of the '60s. I bought my first handwound pro built rewind motor from him in the '60s,
it ran great. I got to meet Pete again in 2008 when I came to LA to race.

Pete was always funny, outspoken, had great slot car stories to tell with an unforgettable laugh. He always ran good when I came out. He cut me for TQ in F1 the first time out then I cut him for TQ in Can-Am just this year.

Thanks for the competition, great motors, and laughs through the years. We'll miss you bud.



Pete (in the blue shirt) with his racing friends Johnny Cukras, Terry Schmid, and Oscar Morales.



Me and Pete battling in 2010 Checkpoint Cup Can-Am.

[Howie Ursaner]

Pete will be missed. There is no one in slot racing that is like Pete. He would come in to the track and you could feel his wild energy. It was amazing how fast he could go in qualifying on the King track. Racing next to Pete was another experience that racers will be talking about for a long time.

I knew Pete back in the day and he has always been like a brother to John Cukras. He was always very kind to me and I liked and respected him very much.

Rest in Peace, Pete, your struggles are over.

[The Bugman]

I'm happy to have called Zimmerman a friend and "my racing buddy". I got to know Pete through Cukras for over 20 years, as he was at his place either hanging out or building some new wild D3 chassis.

And as cantankerous as he was, he did have a great heart and if you needed any kind of help doing almost anything, Pete was the first one there to lend a hand...

I will miss him, too.

R.I.P. Pete Zimmerman.

Your "racing buddy",

Oscar

[Prof. Fate]

Hi,

Crap!

Last time I talked to Pete, it wasn't our usual thing about motors, but ironically, being worried about about Cukras and his health.

Pete had the best GRIN in racing.

Fate

[Mark Wampler]

So sorry to hear the passing of Pistol Pete Zimmerman! He built and raced rocket cars in D3.

My favorite memory was that Pete being the only one who was able to stop big Bryan after advancing three times at one big event (Checkpoint/Western States... I forget). Was shy of one or two laps from beating John Gorski. Wow, that was a match up. Pete knew how to go super fast!

RIP Pete. I miss you, too!

[gascarnut]

I was honored to have met Pete, as it is an honor for me to have been able to meet all of the Legends I grew up reading about in the magazines from 10,000 miles away. It is a shock to learn of his sudden passing and my sympathies go out to his surviving family, but also to his "old" friends, who are feeling a tremendous loss at this time.

[Old pink can guy]

Very sorry to hear it.

I have this vivid memory of Mr. Zimmerman walking into a big race out near BPR. I was only thirteen years old at the time. All the Pros were there. He had his blue win breaker on and was holding a McLearn M8A body in his hand. It had the most beautiful Candy Apple red paint with three meatballs with numbers. I sure would like to know what motors he had in his pockets? His stuff was first class!

RIP Pete.

[idare2bdul]

I've been missing Pete at the races, I'm sorry he won't be there again to talk to and race against. Pete was an original, we won't see his like again.

[S.O. Watt]

A larger than life character, for sure. And that our friendship back then is still, to this day, one of my all time best moments in life.

I still remember the many times we thrashed. The Parma NCC race and the legendary trip! The New Orleans race and its adventurous journey, the races after the races, to see who could get there (where ever there was that night) the fastest. Pete and Lee with their Bs, Pete driving out of the dust cloud and ice plant, the so many adventures. Pete stepping through the track at the 28 hour enduro at Santa Ana. Cleaning Tore's braid and on putting the car back down, that spark igniting the sloshed-about excess in the car, and Pete yelling at Anderson, "Punch it, and blow the flames out!"

I ran for Pete for a while, got my first couple of pro wins then. Oh Pete, wind me up another of them 27/28s!

Yes, Pete, I love ya still.

God Bless.