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Gary Wayne passed away doing what he loved best, drag racing, on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the age of 66. Survived by his loving wife Clara; son Garry (Tammy); daughters Amy, Sheena (Alex), Crystal (Corey); one grandson William and another expected grandchild; brothers Len (Gerry) and Vern; sister Sharon (James); nieces Leanne and Marie and nephew Stan. Memorial service will be held on Friday, September 16th at 1:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home on, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. Cremation. Interment at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com, 250-860-7077.
This coming weekend is the final NW Outllaws weekend and the series champion will be awarded the Gary Hough Memorial trophy
September 28, 2011 Gary was raised in my home town of Rimbey Alberta very small town in the middle of nowhere with no paved roads one local town cop. As a young lad Gary and my oldest brother Laurie Stearn had built an old model T pickup truck into one of his earliest hot rods, they had put a flathead v8 into it and because there was no box on the back they had made a flat deck out of 2 x 4’s. Once they got it running they decided to take it for a drive. They then proceeded to drive this thing with no seats, 2 pails to sit on, no mufflers virtually no brakes etc. And got nabbed my a RCMP officer about 3 miles from town. The RCMP started to write them tickets. No license, no insurance, no windshield, no lights, no brake lights, no mufflers, a 5 gallon can of gas sitting on the deck with a hose to the fuel pump.
After about 10 minutes the Cop looked at this thing and asked if he should call it a car or a truck. Gary never losing his sense of humour replied “ you better call it a tractor cause we have purple (farm) gas in it too.
The
cop laughed and ripped up the tickets then told them to get in the ditch and drive
it home and not to let him catch them again. (Keith Stearn) September 16, 2011 I first
met Gary in the late 70’s, and we became friends in the early-mid 80’s.
Our friendship spans wide, from drag racing in the 80’s and 90’s, to
sitting up until early hours of the morning chatting about “the meaning of
life”, to most recently email chats from our salmon troller while out on
the high seas, each sharing our own adventures. He always had the time to listen
to other folks stories and respond with thoughtful questions and comments eh!
I
first met Gary about 10 years ago in Spokane at the AHRA Finals. I was just out
of high school and had race cars on the brain especially blown alcohol altereds.
I was nosing around Gary's pit staring, inspecting, and dreaming of driving a
similar front motored,short wheelbase machine as his "T42" altered,
when he came up introduced himself and started answering my 100,000 questions
. He showed GENUINE excitement for my interest in the sport he lived for. Two
months after that I bought a chassis and started building my bucket. We raced
at the same event 2 years later,he beat me and with a BIG smile shook my hand
on the top end and the rest is history!
September 15, 2011 (more photos to come) Well
I don't even know where to start, some of my earliest memories in drag racing
include Gary. To say that I was obsessed with Drag racing when I was growing up
would be an understatement, I made made my parents take my brother and I to pretty
much every race there was around the northwest. Probably the biggest weekend I
looked forward to all year was world Finals in Spokane, And Gary was always with
my uncle Al(Carr) working on, fixing and or rebuilding something in the pits.
I think that is why as I grew up and became more involved in drag racing myself
I was less interested in driving a race car then I was in building one. I just
remember thinking how smart they must be to be able to build and tune the cars
they had.
If
you were into drag racing, somewhere, sometime, you were going to meet Gary Hough.
I did about 16 years ago. I was drawn to Gary’s incredible personality, humour,
and love for the sport. Never mind the attraction of a blown alcohol motor warm
up in his pit. If I was not running my own car down the track, I would hang out
in Gary’s pit and watch the goings on. Soon I was put to work, helping out
and loving every minute of it. Learning everything I could from Gary, a guy who
loved to share his love of racing. If you or anyone else had a question, Gary
would always make the time to answer and explain.
Nitro does make you a bit crazy
September 14, 2011 I have known Gary for
about 35 years. and over that time he started by fixing up a old Chevy mid engine
Van. We went to the drags and when he made a run the rear doors opened up and
the tool box flew out the back and all over the track. in late 1978 gary ordered
a new Monza from GM, the difference when they delivered down to Halls speed shop,
it showed up with no motor trans or diff. that's the way he wanted it. the next
year we went to Seattle to the fall nationals. and Grumpy Jenkins was their with
his new pro Stock Small block Monza. He looked like Grumpy Jenkins. From their
on we named him (Grump). I
have run into Gary several times over the years at various tracks. I really dug
his altered, so I made a point of finding and talking with him when we were at
the same track. Over the last year Gary and I spoke on the phone several times
concerning his current dragster project. I could tell he shared the same passion
for our sport as I did and was excited about the new dragster and the thought
of pouring a little nitro in the tank. SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 Just a little story..... Earlier this summer in Ashcroft a few of us were standing around watching Gary try to figure out his new fuel system on his beautiful new digger. I made some comment about fuel pressure and data logger and off course that got Gary going about real race cars verse electric toys. I told Gary that he was stuck back 30 years ago and things change, "not for real race cars" he says. We all laughed as we usually did around Gary and went on our way. Later in the evening as I was wandering around the pits I stopped in at Gary's site, he comes over to me with a straight face and says "You insulted me earlier today". At first I was a little shocked and I asked him how I did that, and he says with a smile "you said I was stuck back 30 years ago and 30 years ago would be 1981 and I'm not that kind of guy, add on at least another 15 years next time!!". He was completely right, he was an old school 1960's racer to the core. Going to miss his sense of humour, his smile and his ribbing about all that electronic crap I have on my race car. (Steve...Summit Drag Racing...Penticton, B.C.)
Many condolences to the Hough Family from the loyal fan base down here in Spokane, Especially Don and Chris Denison, "Performance Machine" Racing. The next 11 photos are courtesy long time friend Leon Aines.
Gary and I have been friends since we met at school in September 1964 at High Prairie, Alberta. A couple of nerdy gearheads surrounded by wheatfields and gravel roads, farm kids and rednecks. Here are a variety of pics from 1981 through to 2009. I see that Al has posted ones from CHRR and I have added some from Gary's 60th birthday party that we all enjoyed so much. (Leon Aines)
Ross Bacon On Behalf of Zazula Racing, Gary
was an elder statesman of drag racing here in Kelowna, he had more smiles per
mile then any most racers I know.
September 12, 2011 Gary was a very humble racer. He and wife Clara were truly in their element at the race track, and you could tell Gary was as knowledgeable as they come. He was very much an old school racer and hated the electronic aspect of drag racing. The new series that started this year was just what Gary was looking to get involved with, but he did not want electronics as a part of it. I explained to him that the most important thing was getting cars out, and on a pro tree a delay box in most cases was not used. For sure no throttle stops would be allowed. He seemed okay with those stipulations but just looking at the set up on his new FED, that he wanted a simple basic race car and let the driver do the rest. As he and 'many have stated: "We don't need on stinkin electronics". God speed Gary you will be missed by all of us. To Clara, Gary JR (and grandson), Amy, Sheena and Crystal be strong and know that Gary lived life to the fullest and he will be up there watching all the great Nostalgia race cars go down the track. (Dean Murdoch)
Hi guys. Man, tell a story about Gary. Where do you start and what weekend. There's dozens of stories, all great, and all worth telling. I met Gary and Clara around 10yrs ago through Leon Aines. Every weekend we all spent together were grounds for a new story.
From Spokane to Mission, in the heat of Ashcroft and even over on the island when Leon bribed Gary and Clara to Port Alberni by installing a new windshield in the wiener Mobil. Two weekend's that will stand out the most was being in Bakerfield with Gary, Clara, Leon, And Tina. That was one of the funnest race weekends I've been to, and Gary's surprise 60th B-Day. We still sit around Leon's shop and laugh over that night enjoying a few beers.
I will, like everyone else that new Gary, miss him dearly. And that Big smile will stay with me for ever. My heart goes out to Clara and the rest of the family and I will see you all very soon. God Speed. (Al Stacey)
This is Troy Clayton , i cant believe this is real . I was going through some pics and i have some of last year at Thunder Mountain when Kim and i took our race car for a weekend and Gary and Clara came up to give us a hand.
I am going to miss Gary alot , what a tragedy , he was one of a kind, always had the best stories and the greatest sense of humour , anyway hopefully some of these will be good enough , the one with Gary and Clara beside our racecar taken sunday afternoon after we were done for the day and the other ones were of Gary Hough and Gary Sylvester getting ready to send me down on another run. ....(Troy Clayton)
Just
a note to say what a great racer and person Gary was. We didn't know him as well
as others but he was always eager to talk to others and was just out to have a
great time running his car. We were actually pitted next to them in Bakersfield
last year and that was our first meeting with them. He was so excited to be running
there. Very nice people. We are so sorry and shocked to hear about his accident
and please pass on our condolences to his wife and family. Webb
Family Motorsports
At Bakersfield Gary was the #1 qualifier after the first round of qualifying at the California Hot Rod Reunion.
For the firsttime ever racing at the event, that was a pretty good statement to his ability.
7.0 Pro Final Qualifying Results 1 - Paul
Peterson - Tribuco Canyon, CA - '48 Fiat - 7.002 - 190.31 He ened up # 7 in the 17 car field and unfortunately lost in round one. But he was the quikcest competitor in the class for the weekend with a 6.85/207
Round one elimination's # 7 - Gary Hough
- .486 - 6.854 - Loss
After the CHRR, Gary sent me a report from the event (below), and you could tell this was an event he will remember forever
Reunion Redux (story by the Hough's)
The friendly Aussies are happy to fill you in on the story while pressing a cold can of Fosters in your hand. It seems that Roly was a visitor to Bakersfield before, and before reaching his coveted goal of 200 mph, passed unexpectedly. Family and friends have come halfway around the world to finish the job. Roly's son is driving and Roly resides in a minature moon fuel tank bolted to the roll cage. 200 or bust! This is turning out to be a happening, a race that stands out, something special!
We
go to Fridays qualifying session prepared. At Ashcroft two weeks ago we ran two
7.00 passes in a row. The air meter says the 1800' 70 degree air at Eagle is about
the same as the 95 degree 600' air at Famoso It must be the orange trees that
make me put a flat in the barrel valve to get the idle back down to 1840 rpm.
Clara brings me up to stage in the right lane, Leon, Tina and Al fret on the sidelines.
27 cars in our class for a 16 car field, two chances. The lights flash, I pound
on it, the chute comes out with a bang, pulling the back wheels of the ground,
and I go hopping through the shutdown area, make the second return road. Every
one throws their popcorn in the air, No.1 this session with a 7.07 @ 205. Let's
see them pack 16 cars between 7.07 and 7.00, we are in! Merriment, as they say,
ensues.
Luckily there are no catch nets, just 300"of soft sand and all that is hurt is my chute and pride. It is no shame to lose to 7.03 and a .040 light. I just wish it had looked better. Clara and I had a great crew, Leon & Tina, Al Stacey, even Gary Sylvester & Corey pitched in. The Aussies make a last ditch effort to run 200 Sunday afternoon, with the permission of the event director. The car goes in to an enormous wheelie, hits the guardrail, lays on its left side, slides down the guardrail a ways then flips back on its wheels! No 200 mph this year, but done with a certain style. I haven't even mentioned the two hour Saturday evening 40 car cacklefest, or the Winged Express antics, or Kenny Youngblood drawing pictures of your car for the fun of it at Claude & Lisa's pit. This was the best race I have ever been to.We'll be back! (and probably Roly too).
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