45 replies to this topic

[68Caddy]

I bet Pete is laughing up there, the sad thing is that he can't hear all the good things that are being said about him at this time!

I sure miss him like every one else that met him, a true character indeed. Too bad that characters are not appreciated in their life when they are alive?

Love you, Pete, and you were very lucky to have Cukras and the others that were there for you.

Nesta

[zipper]

Pete was my hero - I started with his arms and still have some left.

May he rest in peace.

[Bryan Warmack]

Zipper,

We used to call Pete Zipper also.

[zipper]

So guess where my nickname comes from? I was probably the lone Zimmerman arm user over here.

[redbackspyder]

To my friend Pete,

I will never forget our great times together, in the old days at Don's Raceway, and at BPR. Pete had a great heart, tough exterior, and was a blessed pain in the *** to many, but no one will ever doubt his competitive fire that burned so brightly on the BPR King Track. We will all miss the scene of Pete stopping at the Checkpoint Cup to pop the comm drops, only to watch the lap times get slower and slower!!!

Pete was an original. More stories and greater opinions hath no man. Pete loved his dogs, loved his friends, and thank god he had John Cukras to watch over him.

I will miss Pete dearly, for I always thought that life had come full circle when he came to me in the last year of his racing to break-in his motors for him, and I gave him some bullets, for very few knew more about motors than Pete.

Please take care of him well, God, as he can be such a joy as a character, and please give him that motor that he was always looking for.

Pete, we will miss you.

Mill and Phil Conroy

[Glenn Gordon]

You know I never met Pete but I have read many things here that show how much he meant to everyone. You know life is short and we all have had things happen to us as racers that have ruined friendships in the past. Racing is supposed to be fun and although I love racing a bunch it is the friendships that I have gained over the years of racing together with good people. Long after I have moved on from one form of racing or another I always will have friends from those experiences.

Pete's passing should make us take a look at ourselves and friends or ex-friends and think just how short life really is. Take a minute to tell them how much you enjoy seeing them whether its at the races or anywhere you might see them. Just a thought, guys and girls.

Glenn Gordon

[Phil Nyland]

I don't know were slot car racing will go in the future, all I know for sure is we have lost a great one! Innovator, pioneer, legend, and character for sure!

R.I.P. Pete Zimmerman.

[HarV Wallbanger III]

I was sorry to hear about our old friend Pete.

RIP, Pete... wait, he is still yelling about motors to that big race director in the sky! MORE HORSEPOWER! I hope they have real motors at that last track in the sky!

For the little time I got to know him he was a true slot racing great and will be missed by all that remember the "good times".

Not sure if Pete had anybody closer than John Cukras... We will all miss your good buddy, John!

We will always remember you, Pete!

Take care.

Barney and Annette Poynor

[68Caddy]

Any one has new news about Pete? Sure I will be missing him at the Checkpoint.

Nesta

[Steve Deiters]

Pete Zimmerman in the late '60's and early '70's era of the "boutique" armature winder had to be one of the best. Not only were they consistently fast and of the highest quality, but they were almost a work of art to look at-neat, tight winds with excellent finishing in the epoxying, balancing, and comm truing. Some of the best success I ever had in slot racing was with a Zimmerman 28 double. A high winding armature with a very smooth power curve.

I was able to see Pete under circumstances that most people didn't. During the summer of '70 after a big race at Parma, I think it was the NCC race, Pete, John Cukras and Tom Hansen were going to spend the night at my house before driving back to California in this very, very used Nash Ambassador they had driven from California. As they pulled up to my house early that Monday evening the engine was chugging and lurching in its final death convulsions from overheating. This story has been documented in detail elsewhere on the blog in the past but, I came away from this episode with a great life lesson. What Pete did was throw himself into diagnosing the problem which as it turned out to be terminal, got on the phone to find a replacement (which they did in a pile of engines destined for the furnace at a boneyard for $35), arranged for a portable engine lift, and proceeded to install the engine on the street in front of my house using a box of tools from his trunk. After a couple of days it was up and running and he and Tom Hansen were on their way back to California.

As I moved on in my career and managed turn-key installations of large industrial equipment, in the field repairs, or the installation of trade show exhibits and was confronted with a problem of not enough tools, not enough equipment, and not enough time my thoughts would go back to Pete and Tom replacing that engine with nothing more than their own wits, ingenuity, and a box of random tools. You make the best of what you have and tailor the solution to the circumstances you are confronted with. For that lesson Pete a belated thank you.

Pete's family and his long time friend John Cukras are in my thoughts with his passing.

[Gary Lum]

I had no idea who Pete was... Me, being a drag race regular at Buena Park, I would ocassionally stop and watch the "roadies" race or test their cars. Pete, one day called me out. Told me to drive one of his cars that he was testing. I took the controller and fell off about 10 times on the first lap on the flat track. Poor old Pete got a good laugh at that...

I have had the pleasure of meeting some really great guys who have always treated me with respect and kindness, even though I'm a drag racer... Legends like Pete, Jeff Easterly, Barney, Oscar (who I have known since South Bay Raceway), Mike Boemeker, Phillipe, Mill, Nesta, Keith Tanaka, Wakamatsu, my hero Foamy, and all the rest (I'm horrible with names)...

Thank you for the memories, Pete. R.I.P. and I hope to one day drive one of your cars again, and not fall off...

Gary Lum

[John Gorski]

[usadar]

There is at least one slot racer in Japan who respects and remembers Mr. Pete Zimmerman.

Thanks to Keith, I had a great opportunity to visit BPR this January for the Checkpoint Cup, where I saw such legendary heroes/racers as Pete racing.

I lost a chance to race with him and, of course, get beaten by him at the coming Checkpoint Cup.

Rest in peace and good racing in heaven,

Haruki Kan

[Dave Larsen]

[TSR]

Real men used Cox controllers then...

[68Caddy]

Philippe, what did you say that for?

Nesta

[TSR]

Nesta,

All pro racers worthy of the moniker used Cox controllers in 1968; the Russkit controller had not quite convinced too many yet. You are too young to have known this blessed era. Pete was a true enthusiast to the core.

[tonyp]

The Cox and MRC controllers were much better out of the box than the Russkit was.

[Tim Neja]

R.I.P. "PISTOL" Pete!!

One of the true "characters" of slot racing!! Just amazingly fast on the King at BPR in D3 - his constant "bitching" about his motor being slow was a highlight of racing with him. Never had a bad time racing with Pete - a lot of fun to just be around and watch him work his motor magic!

Definitely taken too soon!! God Bless.

T

[TSR]

The Cox and MRC controllers were much better out of the box than the Russkit was.

Nesta is simply confused a few more degrees than normal.

[32Deuce]

R.I.P. Pete