We lost Earl Wade(Dyno Don crew chief and engine building genious) today. He was one of my best friends and by far the best engine builder I have ever known. All those that had the privilege of meeting him with miss him greatly. Rest in peace my friend
WOW,what a shocker!!! He was out at the CHRR last year helping out the Ford Powered cars and just hanging out with the crew! He WILL be missed!!! ROY.
Earl was the "throttle" man for Don at Service Chevrolet in '61 when they tuned the engine in my RPU. Then, later Earl tuned it for me when he partnered with Dick Burgoise. Sad to hear we've lost another pioneer. RIP Earl.
Roy, got the 5 am call from Ken, hearing this news. Shocked isn't the word, because I talked to him Wednesday morning, after his VA visit. Earl said he was fine, and he would see us in Cali, at the CHRR. He will be missed. Eric
Sad news.Met Earl couple times.Remember Dyno telling Racemad and me at York Reunion some years back that he was so happy Earl showed for his birthday that year. RIP Earl
Dean, in 1961 it was still C.S. Meade Chevrolet. I sat on the trunk of many cars on Don's dyno. Don was a good engine man in his own right' I always remember spending time at Don's house about the time he built a 450+ ci blown 283 sbc for a 4 door model A. he said it would twist that A in half if the power ever got to the ground. BURGOISE & WADE were true legends in their own time. happy sailing Earl
What I will remember fondly was when Don and Earl were both in their 60s and still having fun with Dyno's Nostalgia '62 Bel Air Pro Mod racing Beswick and other geezers who had decided let's do it again. It was like back in the 60s.
Great loss, he was a great builder, dyno guy, engineer, etc...a regular at Blair's when he and Bourgoise were racing, remember him well although it has been many decades...
Maybe you sat in the bed of my RPU. It was so light, it was tough hooking it up on the rollers. Wasn't sure when it became Service Chevrolet. I remember thinking how ballsy Don was leaning over an engine power timing it at 6 to 7 grand.
I found out today the Enderle Bug Catcher we're going to run on our AA/FA was bought new by Earl Wade in 1974. So Earl Wade will live on. Its going back on a Ford also.
Sorry for your loss. I was thrilled to meet him and Dyno. A guy I know [Dave Mcgrain] called me and said Dyno and Earl were at his house working on the P/M 62? They were in Indy for the Super Chevy Show. Got a couple of t-shirts and had them autograph them for me. Still have one of them in a drawer. Tom.
Since this came up again I thought I would share my time with Earl. In the late 80's Don Nickelson and I teamed up with my Pro Stocker with Earl doing the tuning. Don drove the car at National events and I drove it at match races, and Earl kept it running. He was amazing seeing things as the car whent down the track and making adjustments. I had so much respect for him.
respect RIP I was serching earl wade and came across this forum . i had never herd of him befor i just purchased a barn find with a what looks to be a 351 sbf with a big plaque on it that says earl wade racing engines also has custom headers and alot of race parts .so i am starteing to learn about earl wade a legand starting to make me wonder about the whole car i purchased
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