The passing of Hank Blankenship

Michael Beard · 01-08-2013, 01:25 PM

My last photo of Hank Blankenship, as he scaled cars at the 2012 IHRA Pro-Am event at Darlington, SC.

Probably my favorite memory was setting the SS/BX record in Adger Smith's Camaro at Milan. As a Modified car, 'teardown' was just a P&G, pump for cubic inches. Hank held the long tube as we pumped the motor, and his thumb traced across the chart. He looked at the engine. He ran his thumb across the chart. He looked at the engine. He looked at the chart. He looked at the engine. He looked at the chart. With a sigh, he quietly proclaimed, "It's too big." Adger grinned and wagged his finger, "Uh-uh! Six cylinder!" "Oh!" Hank grabbed a calculator and ran the figures manually, and discovered we were actually a couple cubes shy of the 277ci we claimed. Adger grins again and says, "Hey, I can go take some weight out!" "Oh, no you don't!" said Hank.

Godspeed, Hank. You will be missed.

Ross Family Racing · 01-08-2013, 01:39 PM

So sad to hear this.Hank was a very bright beacon for the IHRA and drag racing .
Jeff Ross

Bobby Butler · 01-08-2013, 01:43 PM

such sad news Hank was more then a tech man , He was a friend. Miss u buddy
Bobby Butler

KEN BUGAJ · 01-08-2013, 01:49 PM

Sad News, What a nice guy , RIP Hank , Prayers got out to Hank's Family..

HR9121 · 01-08-2013, 01:58 PM

Sad news indeed. Hank was a truly nice person and gentleman. I will miss seeing him at the race track. My story of Hank was from this past year, I was attempting to leave the track and had pulled my motorhome onto the return road to exit. When I hit the pavement near the tech building I thought I heard something dragging but wasn't sure because I still had the generator running. Hank flagged me down and sure enough the exhaust pipe had fell off the generator. After some quick work rigging it up in the rain I was on my way but not before Hank told me, "He might start taking a better look at my car in the future." Godspeed Hank.

pauldilcher · 01-08-2013, 03:16 PM

Hank was a great person .

Tracy Robbins · 01-08-2013, 07:02 PM

Hank always had a story from "back in the day". He was a bright spot w/in IHRA racing and will truely be missed. RIP Hank

Bob Bender · 01-08-2013, 07:03 PM

RIP Hank

chevy2junk · 01-08-2013, 07:21 PM

Funeral arrangements are posted on Shortridge and Ramey funeral homes web site.It is in Grundy Virginia.

Mike Carr · 01-08-2013, 01:50 PM

I/we (myself, Mom and Billy Nees) tore down at Beaver Springs in 2004 for a National Record (I wanted/needed the points that came with records back then). Once we got the car all apart, everything inspected and deemed legal and ready, Hank walks up to Mom, puts his arm around her, and says "OK Mom, now that everything is legal, the driver is not permitted to touch anything--YOU have to put it all back together". The look on my Mom's face was priceless...LOL.

R.I.P. Mr Blankenship. You will be missed.

01-08-2013, 01:25 PM	#1
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship My last photo of Hank Blankenship, as he scaled cars at the 2012 IHRA Pro-Am event at Darlington, SC. Probably my favorite memory was setting the SS/BX record in Adger Smith's Camaro at Milan. As a Modified car, 'teardown' was just a P&G, pump for cubic inches. Hank held the long tube as we pumped the motor, and his thumb traced across the chart. He looked at the engine. He ran his thumb across the chart. He looked at the engine. He looked at the chart. He looked at the engine. He looked at the chart. With a sigh, he quietly proclaimed, "It's too big." Adger grinned and wagged his finger, "Uh-uh! Six cylinder!" "Oh!" Hank grabbed a calculator and ran the figures manually, and discovered we were actually a couple cubes shy of the 277ci we claimed. Adger grins again and says, "Hey, I can go take some weight out!" "Oh, no you don't!" said Hank. Godspeed, Hank. You will be missed. __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

01-08-2013, 01:39 PM	#2
Ross Family Racing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St.Clairsville, Ohio Posts: 459 Likes: 0 Liked 51 Times in 14 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship So sad to hear this.Hank was a very bright beacon for the IHRA and drag racing . Jeff Ross

01-08-2013, 01:43 PM	#3
Bobby Butler Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sevierville , Tn. Posts: 101 Likes: 382 Liked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship such sad news Hank was more then a tech man , He was a friend. Miss u buddy Bobby Butler __________________ Bobby Butler 2937 STK

01-08-2013, 01:49 PM	#4
KEN BUGAJ Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: LEXINGTON NC. Posts: 389 Likes: 43 Liked 18 Times in 7 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Sad News, What a nice guy , RIP Hank , Prayers got out to Hank's Family..

01-08-2013, 01:58 PM	#5
HR9121 Live Reporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Bern, NC Posts: 3,467 Likes: 146 Liked 3,363 Times in 731 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Sad news indeed. Hank was a truly nice person and gentleman. I will miss seeing him at the race track. My story of Hank was from this past year, I was attempting to leave the track and had pulled my motorhome onto the return road to exit. When I hit the pavement near the tech building I thought I heard something dragging but wasn't sure because I still had the generator running. Hank flagged me down and sure enough the exhaust pipe had fell off the generator. After some quick work rigging it up in the rain I was on my way but not before Hank told me, "He might start taking a better look at my car in the future." Godspeed Hank. __________________ James Williamson W200 J/SA. SS/JA

01-08-2013, 03:16 PM	#6
pauldilcher Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 425 Likes: 1 Liked 52 Times in 9 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Hank was a great person .

01-08-2013, 07:02 PM	#7
Tracy Robbins Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Youngsville, NC Posts: 846 Likes: 3 Liked 25 Times in 11 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Hank always had a story from "back in the day". He was a bright spot w/in IHRA racing and will truely be missed. RIP Hank __________________ Tracy Robbins SS 9766

01-08-2013, 07:03 PM	#8
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,734 Likes: 1,599 Liked 460 Times in 91 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship RIP Hank __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

01-08-2013, 07:21 PM	#9
chevy2junk Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship Funeral arrangements are posted on Shortridge and Ramey funeral homes web site.It is in Grundy Virginia.

01-08-2013, 01:50 PM	#10
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 83 Times in 37 Posts	Re: The passing of Hank Blankenship I/we (myself, Mom and Billy Nees) tore down at Beaver Springs in 2004 for a National Record (I wanted/needed the points that came with records back then). Once we got the car all apart, everything inspected and deemed legal and ready, Hank walks up to Mom, puts his arm around her, and says "OK Mom, now that everything is legal, the driver is not permitted to touch anything--YOU have to put it all back together". The look on my Mom's face was priceless...LOL. R.I.P. Mr Blankenship. You will be missed. __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912

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