25 replies to this topic

[Bob Chaney]

Lifelong NorCal slot car racer, Gus Kelley passed away in Sacramento on Tuesday morning, July 22.

 

His last known competitive win, was in the NorCal Retro Series, at T'nT Raceways in Modesto, on April 17, 2011.  He took the Can-Am win by one lap over Jim Fowler, driving one of Jim's loaner vehicles. He was also on the podium in the F1 race that day on the infamous Corkscrew, with a solid third place run.

 

Over the next two years he cycled in and out of the hospital until being admitted to a nursing facility just over a year ago.

 

There will be a Memorial Gathering for Gus on Saturday, August 2, from 2-4 PM, at the McMillan Center, in Fair Oaks Park, Fair Oaks, CA. The informal gathering will include barbeque, chili dogs (from Der Weinerschnitzel), and a poker table.

 

All who knew, raced with, and loved Gus are urged to attend, and perhaps hear the motorcycle chase story one more time. :0)

 

Gus Kelley - age 59

 

Memorial Gathering - Saturday, Aug 2, 2014, begins at 2 PM.

McMillan Center

8020 Temple Park Rd

Fair Oaks, CA

[Cheater]

Thanks for posting this sad news, Bob.

[Tom Eatherly]

Wow. I got a chance to meet and talk to Gus at BPR when I first got back into racing. Very nice guy. He wasn't racing, just there watching the race.

 

RIP, Gus.

[Bill from NH]

I only knew Gus through his posts on here. He was an interesting guy to converse with. I knew he had health problems, but I'm sorry to hear of his passing.

 

RIP, Gus.

[chaparrAL]

RIP, Gus.

 

Lunch with Oscar? 

[Bob Chaney]

Lunch with Oscar? 

 
Hadn't thought about it, Al, but I think you're right.  :0)

[Tom Eatherly]

Bob,

 

When I got back into slot cars, Oscar was one of the first people I hooked up with at BPR. What a an experience that was! I always seem to pit next to him, and we had a blast. He'd loan or work on my car and I'd pit for him, always, as he wasn't really mobile around the track.

 

I miss Oscar; what a character.  He was a hoot. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Yeah, they're lunching.

[Cheater]

They might have started with lunch, but my bet is they're racing slot cars on the best track we've never seen and laughing uproariously.

[Dave Fiedler]

Sad news. Rest in peace, Gus.

[Zippity]

Always sad to see another slot racer leaving us.  

 

Look after yourselves, guys.

[team burrito]

Sad news, indeed. I only knew Gus for a little while, but he was a hoot to hang around.

[Jonathan Forsyth]

Sad to hear. RIP, Gus, you were a good guy.

[JimF]

While not unexpected, this is sad news. It's sometimes difficult to put thoughts into words and this is one of those times. I will miss Gus for sure, yet I know he is in a better place.

 

Thanks, Bob, for the posting and for your caring for and about Gus these last few years.

[usadar]

RIP, Gus.
 
I met him at the major D3 races at Buena Park.

He had a very warm heart.

I remember he gave me very warm words for those who were suffering from the huge tsunami/nuclear disaster of spring 2011, when we met at the Western States at Buena Park Raceway.
 
Haruki

[Bryan Warmack]

Very sorry to hear about Gus.

From all the racers at BPR, Rest in Peace.

[ingram]

Very sad news.

I had the privilege of meeting Gus during my short stint in Rocklin and NorCal.

His posts in the last few years were "interesting" to say the least .

The last few months I've wondered how he was doing, didn't know he was in a nursing home.

Bob, thank you for passing along the sad news. Like others have said, always sad to lose a fellow racer, especially a lifelong one with "personality". If he's having lunch there's probably a bottle of Bookers next to him.

[Howie Ursaner]

So sorry to hear this.

Rest in peace, Gus.

[idare2bdul]

Hope he is in a place where he can still bench race. He was an interesting guy.

[S Forsyth]

RIP, Gus, you will be missed. Super great guy.

[Craig]

RIP, Gus!

[Mike K]

Godspeed, Gus.

[Mark Wampler]

I didn't get a chance to meet Gus, and so another racer enters the realm of eternity where we all are headed. Some will arrive sooner than others. 

When Larry Shephard passed, a particular era of local slot car history was sealed. I was just 17 when I met him on 1967. He left a stamp and for me some inspiration and innovation. 

There's a memorial of Larry's handiwork in Steve's museum upstairs at the track. How will we be remembered will depend on a lot of things. Things that happened to us or because of us. 

Gus' passing reminds us that we're only here temporarily. If someone gets hold of one of my chassis after I'm gone, I hope it's a winner!

=M=

[Daytonaman]

I got acquainted with Gus several years ago in my attempt to identify my unusual large Engleman style track. He saw the pictures and immediately recognized the track that had mysteriously disappeared after the closing of C&M hobbies in Sacramento in 1972. Without his help, I probably would have never found out where it came from. His memory and knowledge of the past will be greatly missed. I regret that I did not get the track set up again in time for him to run on it one more time.  

 

Rest in peace, Gus.

 

John

[Randy Tragni]

Gus was a good guy and I truly enjoyed the few times I raced against him along with the time spent bench racing with him. He was a true living and breathing slot car guy.

Rest up for your next race, Gus.

Randy

[John Gorski]

Condolences to Gus and his family. A great racer.