Duane McKinney

[dw230]

I just got a call from Kennard Deeds long time partner of Duane McKinney. Duane paased away last Sunday, he was one of the original 49ers. A original 1949 participant at the first Bonneville Nationals for those unfamiliar with the term.

Duane was a participant each year since then, missing very few years. He joined the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 1979 at 210 MPH, upping his record speed to 282 MPH.

Kennard did not have details of a service at this time.

Dan Warner
President
Bonneville 200 MPH Club

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Ah, crap.  May he Rest in Peace and may he make pass after happy pass in the Sundowner.

[salt]

Wow, he took the Sundowner with him?

R.I.P. Duane, you truly were "Da Man."

Willi

[Stainless1]

GodSpeed Duane... you were one of our Founding Fathers... You are still among friends.

[DallasV]

Duane could drive the sh*t out of a race car. Not sure many sane people could drive the cars he drove at the speed he drove them. Let's just say he probably needed a specially made seat. Smooth salt, good air, Godspeed Duane.

[jimmy six]

Duane was one of the greatest guys I ever met. I became friends with him and Bob Kehoe in 1976 when they were running the Sundowner Corvette. Over the years we had great conversations about everything.
 I had great fun with he and Frank Currie ran Franks roadster and couldn’t stop it from spinning near 200 with Frank at the wheel. What stopped it was Duane who took it over 200.
He was a good friend and I’ll never forget him.. JD

[Stainless1]

I knew I had a pic from the late 70's... Hiding behind what I think is Seth's old Lakester.

[Dynoroom]

I first met Duane in 1979 when I was 22 years old. We became friends & eventually partners when I was supplying engines for the Sundowner Corvette. 

[Dynoroom]

Duane was a hell of a fabricator and drove many different cars at the salt. Fun story; Frank Currie of Currie Rearends had built a Boss 429 street roadster that he wanted to drive to Bonneville then run 200 mph with it. Everytime he would get near the number he would spin out. He asked Duane to see if he could find the problem. Duane promptly went out & ran 205 mph, Frank got his number...
I'm going to miss him.

[Dynoroom]

Duane also drove Glenn Deeds Blown Gas Roadster setting a 282 mph record in 1991. This got Bob Eaton & Tom Parris going so they tipped the can a bit as they couldn't have a gas roadster faster than a fuel roadster...
Fun times.

[Dynoroom]

My oldest son Ryan made his first trip to the salt at 6 years of age (2nd from left) as I was building engines for Duane then. Later, when he made his rookie pass at El Mirage in my Modified Roadster Duane was among the first people there to congratulate him...
Terrific memories.

[desotoman]

Sorry to hear of Duane's passing.
RIP and Godspeed Duane.

Tom G.