The passing of Hank Blankenship

GUMP · 01-08-2013, 07:46 PM

Very sad. The IHRA wont be the same without Hank. He was always great to deal with and very kind. I will miss him.

Daren

Ven302 · 01-08-2013, 08:33 PM

This IS very SAD news.

I always felt that Hank was an original. A true car guy who loved what he did. He seemed to be as excited for someone when they set a record as they were. And I will never forget the handshake and smile when he handed you the contingency forms, you sure felt that he meant the congratulations from the bottom of his heart. He leaves some very tough shoes to fill at IHRA. Godspeed good friend, I am grateful to have crossed your path.

Venice Perno
SS/CS 3041

CFM · 01-08-2013, 08:42 PM

Hank was a large part of the "friendlyness" of IHRA. He will certainly be missed by us all.

Bart Kilraine · 01-08-2013, 08:57 PM

Really going to miss Hank at the races,always pleasent and happy.He always worked with you if there was a small problem.IHRA and racers lost a very good man.

Dave Turner · 01-08-2013, 10:27 PM

My first time at an IHRA event, Hank was the guy who made me feel welcome. He knew my car, having teched it many times for a previous owner. It was as if he were re-uniting with an old friend. The man was a terrific ambassador for the IHRA nation and always seemed to enjoy the Canadian races. I will really miss Hank's good natured approach to a tough job. Gone far too soon.

cambria · 01-08-2013, 10:37 PM

Shirley and hank they lit the room wow only 61 too .raiser and I on our way to Kentucky to pay respects. RIP. hank

Albert Lee · 01-08-2013, 10:44 PM

While I didn't race that much with IHRA, Hank always made me feel welcome when I did. He was a true gentleman.

Godspeed.

Al Corda

jim reynolds · 01-08-2013, 10:49 PM

UNBELIEVABLE! My favorite memory of Hank was at Jacksonville. After moving the A/mod record I went to tech to be pumped and Hank asked "now how big did you say that motor is?" I said "how accurate is your p&ger?" He didn't find that as funny as i did, anyway while he made the 1st attempt to pump it my engine blew the seal out of the checker and i caught it. Hank laughed and said " well you still have great reflexes.....pity you won't be able to use them at this race....your motor is TOO big!" I did NOT find that as funny as he did. Many good memories! RIP.

Curt Smith Jr. · 01-08-2013, 11:06 PM

Was so sorry to learn this morning that Mr. Hank passed away. Him and Dad were good friends and have some great memories.... So glad dad got to see him at the Division 9 Coastal Plains race. Prayers go out to the family.

Lambertcars · 01-08-2013, 11:13 PM

I talked with Hank last year, don't remember which race it was. He told me that he had remarried, showed me pictures of him and his new wife. He seemed very proud of his new bride and I know that he was very happy. Sure is sad to hear of Hank's passing. He was a good friend to me.
Allen Lambert

01-08-2013, 07:46 PM	#1
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,827 Likes: 2,180 Liked 2,359 Times in 557 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Very sad. The IHRA wont be the same without Hank. He was always great to deal with and very kind. I will miss him. Daren

01-08-2013, 08:33 PM	#2
Ven302 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Stoney Creek Posts: 262 Likes: 41 Liked 34 Times in 7 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship This IS very SAD news. I always felt that Hank was an original. A true car guy who loved what he did. He seemed to be as excited for someone when they set a record as they were. And I will never forget the handshake and smile when he handed you the contingency forms, you sure felt that he meant the congratulations from the bottom of his heart. He leaves some very tough shoes to fill at IHRA. Godspeed good friend, I am grateful to have crossed your path. Venice Perno SS/CS 3041

01-08-2013, 08:42 PM	#3
CFM Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clinton, NC Posts: 226 Likes: 18 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Hank was a large part of the "friendlyness" of IHRA. He will certainly be missed by us all.

01-08-2013, 08:57 PM	#4
Bart Kilraine Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Carrolltown,PA Posts: 118 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Really going to miss Hank at the races,always pleasent and happy.He always worked with you if there was a small problem.IHRA and racers lost a very good man.

01-08-2013, 10:27 PM	#5
Dave Turner VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Schomberg, ON, Canada Posts: 1,222 Likes: 1,606 Liked 364 Times in 138 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship My first time at an IHRA event, Hank was the guy who made me feel welcome. He knew my car, having teched it many times for a previous owner. It was as if he were re-uniting with an old friend. The man was a terrific ambassador for the IHRA nation and always seemed to enjoy the Canadian races. I will really miss Hank's good natured approach to a tough job. Gone far too soon. __________________ Dave Turner SS/GT #1153

01-08-2013, 10:37 PM	#6
cambria Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo Posts: 235 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Shirley and hank they lit the room wow only 61 too .raiser and I on our way to Kentucky to pay respects. RIP. hank __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

01-08-2013, 10:44 PM	#7
Albert Lee Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 255 Likes: 149 Liked 258 Times in 49 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship While I didn't race that much with IHRA, Hank always made me feel welcome when I did. He was a true gentleman. Godspeed. Al Corda

01-08-2013, 10:49 PM	#8
jim reynolds Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 129 Likes: 218 Liked 24 Times in 11 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship UNBELIEVABLE! My favorite memory of Hank was at Jacksonville. After moving the A/mod record I went to tech to be pumped and Hank asked "now how big did you say that motor is?" I said "how accurate is your p&ger?" He didn't find that as funny as i did, anyway while he made the 1st attempt to pump it my engine blew the seal out of the checker and i caught it. Hank laughed and said " well you still have great reflexes.....pity you won't be able to use them at this race....your motor is TOO big!" I did NOT find that as funny as he did. Many good memories! RIP.

01-08-2013, 11:06 PM	#9
Curt Smith Jr. Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 86 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Was so sorry to learn this morning that Mr. Hank passed away. Him and Dad were good friends and have some great memories.... So glad dad got to see him at the Division 9 Coastal Plains race. Prayers go out to the family. __________________ Curt Smith Jr. 3 GENERATIONS www.curtissmithracing.com

01-08-2013, 11:13 PM	#10
Lambertcars Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Johns Island SC Posts: 114 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship I talked with Hank last year, don't remember which race it was. He told me that he had remarried, showed me pictures of him and his new wife. He seemed very proud of his new bride and I know that he was very happy. Sure is sad to hear of Hank's passing. He was a good friend to me. Allen Lambert