Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson

Andys dad · 12-30-2009, 03:11 PM

Richard was "old school" liked to drive to the race and not get out of his 427 MG and win the bracket at Long Beach.

A regular at San Fernando drag strip, he was famous for custom engine swaps.

A fabricator who did not believe in "bolt on" parts.

Owned the dyno shop called FIASCO Automotive in Nort Hollywood for many, many years.

Sponsored my first championship car in AHRA.

He was a genrtle and good person I will miss him as will others.

scubasteve · 12-30-2009, 03:39 PM

sorry to hear about your loss,, thoughts and prayers go out to all his family and friends

Greg Reimer 7376 · 12-30-2009, 09:44 PM

Really sad to see this one.I met Richard when we worked together at the Los Angeles County Mechanical Department shop on Eastern Ave. back in 1980-82.He was an old racer and had been around long before I came around,but we became friends and talked about drag racing, outrageous ways to make absolutely unreal amounts of power out of ordinary parts,his ballistics experience making acetylene fueled devices to create massive booms in the middle of the night around his Burbank home,his days owning a dyno shop known as Fiasco Automotive in North Hollywood,his blown Chevy sixes,my 409,his 427 powered nine second MG,which he drove on the street, and he knew EVERYBODY. I went up to his house and worked on side jobs with him, as his back wouldn't stand for too much anymore,saw his penchant for Pontiacs,his GTO,his motorcycles, his two 57 Chevy sedan deliveries,his incredible stockpile of parts,and anybody who talked to this guy for more than five minutes agreed that he was a real genius.His way with words was absolutely classic. His one-liners were both effective and deadly. I saw him absolutely do in certain people without them ever catching on.He was a blast to work with, a real knowledgable individual,and an incredible friend. This world is an emptier place without him. Thanks to Andy's dad for posting this sad news. Let us know any further info.

Andys dad · 01-09-2010, 01:55 AM

Looks like Jan 24th will be a get together for Richard at the Burbank Elks lodge.

He did everthing from Toyota road race cars to Pro Stock AMC cars for North Holliwood Rambler (Jeff Lee would know about that). What an invovator. I remember him building a manifold for a 3 cylinder Triumph motor cycle and putting a 2 br Holley on it. Ran like crap but he did it just becasue he could.

RIP Richard Johnson. Road King charter member. Street rod wizard for the stars. Drag race expert for low budget champions. He felt all technology improvements were bullcrap.

Like a father to me, my brother, my friend, you will be missed.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 01-09-2010, 12:36 PM

Post the details as you can.Thanks!!

Showbizkid · 01-13-2010, 02:33 PM

RIchard is my brother. Thanks for the kind words and memories.

Memorial will be Sunday, Jan. 24th, 1PM, at the Burbank Elks Lodge, 2232 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank.

I wish I had more pictures of him from the old days, but here's one from 1964 with that 427 MG. When I was about 6, he gave me my first ride in that car. Just accelerating up the on-ramp to the 101, I nearly peed myself.

MEMORIES · 01-13-2010, 09:11 PM

That pic reminds me of this one that a friend of mine took in 1964. He thinks this was Bakersfield. Does anyone remember this car?

Wayne.

12-30-2009, 03:11 PM	#1
Andys dad VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, Ca Posts: 1,571 Likes: 48 Liked 175 Times in 78 Posts	Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson Richard was "old school" liked to drive to the race and not get out of his 427 MG and win the bracket at Long Beach. A regular at San Fernando drag strip, he was famous for custom engine swaps. A fabricator who did not believe in "bolt on" parts. Owned the dyno shop called FIASCO Automotive in Nort Hollywood for many, many years. Sponsored my first championship car in AHRA. He was a genrtle and good person I will miss him as will others. __________________ time is our most precious resource, you can always make more money but you can never make more time spend your time wisely with the ones you love - Ron Durham Last edited by Andys dad; 12-30-2009 at 04:16 PM.

12-30-2009, 03:39 PM	#2
scubasteve Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 189 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson sorry to hear about your loss,, thoughts and prayers go out to all his family and friends

12-30-2009, 09:44 PM	#3
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,136 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson Really sad to see this one.I met Richard when we worked together at the Los Angeles County Mechanical Department shop on Eastern Ave. back in 1980-82.He was an old racer and had been around long before I came around,but we became friends and talked about drag racing, outrageous ways to make absolutely unreal amounts of power out of ordinary parts,his ballistics experience making acetylene fueled devices to create massive booms in the middle of the night around his Burbank home,his days owning a dyno shop known as Fiasco Automotive in North Hollywood,his blown Chevy sixes,my 409,his 427 powered nine second MG,which he drove on the street, and he knew EVERYBODY. I went up to his house and worked on side jobs with him, as his back wouldn't stand for too much anymore,saw his penchant for Pontiacs,his GTO,his motorcycles, his two 57 Chevy sedan deliveries,his incredible stockpile of parts,and anybody who talked to this guy for more than five minutes agreed that he was a real genius.His way with words was absolutely classic. His one-liners were both effective and deadly. I saw him absolutely do in certain people without them ever catching on.He was a blast to work with, a real knowledgable individual,and an incredible friend. This world is an emptier place without him. Thanks to Andy's dad for posting this sad news. Let us know any further info.

01-09-2010, 01:55 AM	#4
Andys dad VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, Ca Posts: 1,571 Likes: 48 Liked 175 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson Looks like Jan 24th will be a get together for Richard at the Burbank Elks lodge. He did everthing from Toyota road race cars to Pro Stock AMC cars for North Holliwood Rambler (Jeff Lee would know about that). What an invovator. I remember him building a manifold for a 3 cylinder Triumph motor cycle and putting a 2 br Holley on it. Ran like crap but he did it just becasue he could. RIP Richard Johnson. Road King charter member. Street rod wizard for the stars. Drag race expert for low budget champions. He felt all technology improvements were bullcrap. Like a father to me, my brother, my friend, you will be missed. __________________ time is our most precious resource, you can always make more money but you can never make more time spend your time wisely with the ones you love - Ron Durham

01-09-2010, 12:36 PM	#5
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,136 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson Post the details as you can.Thanks!!

01-13-2010, 02:33 PM	#6
Showbizkid Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson RIchard is my brother. Thanks for the kind words and memories. Memorial will be Sunday, Jan. 24th, 1PM, at the Burbank Elks Lodge, 2232 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank. I wish I had more pictures of him from the old days, but here's one from 1964 with that 427 MG. When I was about 6, he gave me my first ride in that car. Just accelerating up the on-ramp to the 101, I nearly peed myself. Last edited by Showbizkid; 01-13-2010 at 03:24 PM.

01-13-2010, 09:11 PM	#7
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Long time friend and racer passes - Richard Johnson That pic reminds me of this one that a friend of mine took in 1964. He thinks this was Bakersfield. Does anyone remember this car? Wayne.