Author Topic: Jim Deist passes  (Read 14739 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Glen

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7024
  • SCTA/BNI timer 1983 to 2004, Retired,. Crew on Tur
Jim Deist passes
« on: March 09, 2009, 05:22:20 PM »
Racing & safety equipment pioneer Jim Deist passed away this morning. Having known Jim for over 50 years and using all of his equipment as well as working with him at the drags and Bonneville it is hard to put into words what a major loss this is. He will be missed and never forgotten. :-(

God Speed Jim Deist
Glen
Crew on Turbinator II

South West, Utah

Offline maguromic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1736
    • http://www.barringtontea.com
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2009, 05:27:48 PM »
This is a shocker. :cry:  I was just talking to him last month.

God Speed my friend.  Tony
“If you haven’t seen the future, you are not going fast enough”

Offline Stainless1

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8948
  • Robert W. P. "Stainless" Steele
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2009, 05:48:53 PM »
Very sad day for all racing enthusiasts, Jim kept a lot of us safe over the years  :cry:
God Speed Jim...
Stainless
Red Hat 228.039, 2001, 65ci, Bockscar Lakester #1000 with a little N2O

Offline desotoman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2815
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2009, 05:53:50 PM »
Sorry to hear of Jim's passing. My condolances to the Family.

Tom G.
I love the USA. How much longer will we be a free nation?

Asking questions is one's only way of getting answers.

The rational person lets verified facts form or modify his opinion.  The ideologue ignores verified facts which don't fit his preconceived opinions.

Offline DahMurf

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 630
  • 2006 Hayabusa Mutt
    • Twin Jugs Racing
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2009, 06:18:08 PM »
What an incredible loss to the racing community as a whole. Our condolences to the many many people that knew him well.
Debbie & Todd
Miss you my friend :-* - #1302  Twin Jugs Racing
ECTA 200MPH club@202/Texas 200MPH club@209/Loring 200MPH club@218
                         Official body guard to the A.S.S. liner :lol:

Offline manta22

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4137
  • What, me worry?
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2009, 07:24:29 PM »
I was fortunate enough to get his advice a few years ago on how to attach a parachute to my car. Godspeed, Jim.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

McRat

  • Guest
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2009, 07:49:43 PM »
Without Jim's help at Speed Week last year, we would have had to pack it up.  Our window net wasn't cutting it with tech, and Jim dug around in his truck until he and found us a "super-size" window net and mount.

God Speed Jim. :-(

Offline 1212FBGS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2532
    • http://www.motobody.com
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2009, 08:06:00 PM »
I tried to call him a couple of weeks ago and couldnt get an answer... then this morning about 11 i remembered "shoot i gotta call Jim" and even made a note so i could get with him this week..... Bummer another great loss of history, information, and help....
kent

Low Sodium

  • Guest
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2009, 09:27:42 PM »
Somehow, the world is not quite the same anymore without men like Jim Deist. I'm proud to display his name on my parachute. Godspeed, Jim!
Willi

Offline Bville701

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 580
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2009, 09:54:58 PM »
A very sad day in racing indead. Jim has done many things for our sport. He will be greatly missed. Godspeed Jim.   :cry:
Ryan LeFevers

701 C/GMR - 216.509 MPH El Mirage Record Holder

El Mirage "Dirty 2" Club Member

Offline Howard

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 53
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2009, 10:02:42 PM »
So sorry to hear of Jim's passing. He had a wealth of knowledge about safety equipment and shared it freely. He helped me so many times I can't recall them all.
He called me "the gila monster" from Arizona. Condolences to his wife and family. I am sorry now that I did not keep in touch better after I quit running the car.
Howard Nafzger

Offline willieworld

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1818
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2009, 11:05:49 PM »
So sorry to hear of Jim's passing. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. Gods speed Jim.

Willie and Sheri Buchta
willie-dpombatmir-buchta

Offline Brian Westerdahl

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 271
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2009, 11:08:46 PM »
  I am very sorry to hear of Jims passing.  He was a great guy to just sit and talk to he had so much expierence in safety you could always learn something talking to him and he was very happy to help in anyway he could.  I had to send my fire suit back and have it altered and when it came back you could not tell where they had added 2 inches to it.   He had a couple of Peach trees in his back yard and we would talk Peaches every year when I would see him.  It was fun.  God Bless him and God Bless to his family.  Brian #7796

Offline Freud

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5419
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #13 on: March 09, 2009, 11:17:03 PM »
He was the first man to ever give me a B'ville shirt. I think we should reproduce it for B'ville 2009. I had talked to him about that. Maybe we owe it to him.

Wouldn't it be something to send the family a shot of the early shirt (probably about 1965 or '66) with 100 people wearing it the first day of B'ville ?

I'll dig out the image and post it. We could do that and pay tribute to him and his dedication to all racers.

I'll bet Frank and John would approve.

This shot was from Gas Up  2008

FREUD


« Last Edit: March 09, 2009, 11:35:36 PM by Freud »
Since '63

Offline interested bystander

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 997
Re: Jim Deist passes
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2009, 11:29:38 PM »
Jim's efforts from day one with Landspeed 'chutes no doubt saved lives and set the standards for high landspeed retardation.

Yrs truly remembers him working out of his driveway in the early days, and of course. the old Irving Air Chute building  Diest occupied -although a bit of a firetrap, should be declared some sort of historical site.

Passing of a motorsports giant.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2009, 11:43:00 PM by interested bystander »
5 mph in pit area (clothed)