[buzzinhalfdozen]

It's with great sadness I have to report Donn left us around 11:00 Saturday evening. Knowing the end was near didn't really lessen the blow of the news. I believe I was 14 or 15 years old when I first met Donn, I was amazed at just how high he would wind that small block before dropping the clutch. I was hooked..... over the years Donn has helped me in many ways. Showing me how to properly assemble an engine, how to work on my clutch, so many things throughout all the years. He helped me put together a couple IHRA and NHRA record setting engines, I'm sure he was as proud of the performance as I was. One of my favorite fairly recent memories was a couple years ago. I hadn't raced in nearly a year, I gathered up a bunch of parts and Donn helped me put an engine together just so I could race. The first outing was an IHRA Sportsman Nationals at Dragway 42. I got lucky enough to win the Saturday event, afterward in the staging lanes awaiting contingency and pictures Donn came up shook my hand and gave me a big hug. Told me he was proud of me,It sort of caught me off guard as if you knew Donn for any amount of time....he really wasn't much of a hugger. There are so many memories that come flooding back. I was honored to have known him and have him as a friend. See you on the other side my friend.