Lost one of Texas' greatest motorsports innovators, drag racers, and land speed racers. Ed Mabry was a legend. RIP Ed, I'll miss you. http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/05/16/3079812/mabry-racing-owner-dies-after.html?storylink=addthis It is with the greatest regret and sorrow that we report the passing of Ed Mabry. Ed passed away Friday, May 13, 2011 at his race shop and the Headquarters of Team Triumph Texas. Ed is one of the select few whose name is synonymous with Bonneville Speed Week. His record of racing successes is both long and exemplary. Ed will be sorely missed but he will never be forgotten. RIP Ed Ed’s racing career spans the late 40’s when he was racing his Whizzer to present day at the Bonneville Salt Flats…and a lot in between… This includes street racing in Alvarado, Texas and a Texas Top Fuel Championship in 1962. And professional racing at drag strips like Green Valley and Caddo Mills, Texas; Bakersfield and Pomona, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Bristol, Tennessee and others all over the United States. And some late night testing of Top Fuel cars on a certain street in Arlington, Texas! A pioneer in professional drag racing, milestones include developing safety drag chutes along with Bill Simpson and Jim Diest; and especially developing rear engine Top Fuel cars along with his rival and friend Don Garlits. This major design change has saved the lives for countless drivers and paved the way for the 4 second ET’s and over 300 MPH speeds of today’s dragsters. Ed was a founding member of the Specialty Equipment Market Association's (SEMA) Chassis Rules Committee in the late '60's. Ed built top fuel and funny car chassis for race teams from the late '50's until the mid '70's. Ed was inducted into the Texas Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2000 at Texas Raceway. In the 70’s and 80’s Ed and friend Lee Manis (and later David Wade) formed Team Triumph Texas and built Triumph race bikes. Closely aligned with Jack Wilson of Big ‘D’ Cycle, they set a multitude of drag race and land speed records. Ed built turbocharged fuel-burning Triumph Trident engines that make a LOT of horsepower…and the chassis that would handle them. Star rider Jon Minonno was five-time national road racing champion, two-time national Pro Mod drag racing champion and member of the exclusive Bonneville 200 MPH Club. Ed’s motorcycles have set 15 different World Land Speed records Bonneville. His masterpiece, No. 601, holds class records exceeding 238, 224 and 213 MPH and a highest unofficial one-way speed of over 261 MPH. At three-quarter throttle! It is the fastest “pushrod” motorcycle in the world. In 2003 No. 601, Ed, Jon, David and Team Triumph Texas were on their way to a tremendous qualifying run and potential new record, when they experienced an oil fire at over 240 MPH. As a result of his many land speed racing accomplishments, Ed was inducted into the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame in Buellton, California in September of 2004. Ed was a retired Bell Helicopter Engineering Manager, machinist, welder, race car and bike designer and fabricator, and was a United States Air Force pilot training to fly jet fighters in Korea when that war ended. He was also a thinker, philosopher, humorist and long time supporter of the North Texas Norton Owners Association and its members.
Ed was truly a legend and will certainly be missed. I will always remember the "The Skid Inn" and cold Pearl beer......... RIP Ed. 408 AA/D
I got to watch one of his cars make a pass or two back in the 70's when I lived in Texas. May he rest in peace.
<META content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19046" name=GENERATOR><STYLE></STYLE> Friends of Ed Mabry - Ed Mabry died about 2:00PM, May 13 from injuries sustained in an accidental fall Friday at his shop in Haltom City, TX. I have a lot of info to give a lot of people, I'll make it as short as I can. On Sunday, May 22, from 11:00AM - 4:00PM, we will have a "Friends of Ed Mabry" gathering at: Up 'n Smoke BBQ House 134 S. Main St. Keller, TX 76248 (817) 431-9091 http://www.upnsmokebbq.com/index.html We will enjoy food & beverages and everyone is encouraged to tell "Mabry Stories". We will also have a table available to display your pictures, albums and any racing memorabilia related to Ed. Actual Memorial Services will be held 3:30PM, Monday May 23rd at: Memorial Park Funeral Chapel 8525 Mid Cities Blvd. (Near Davis Blvd.) North Richland Hills, TX 76182 817-428 9500 (Extra parking in rear) http://www.memorialparkfuneralservices.com/index.cfm Click homepage to go to Ed's Guest Book. The service will be informal and casual. It didn't take us long to agree that Ed would want it that way! We will not be mourning his death, rather celebrating his incredible life. Riding motorcycles to the Service is encouraged, vintage is better, Triumph is best of all! Again, everyone is invited to share their favorite "Mabry Story", and a table will be set up for all our racing memorabilia related to Ed and his racer friends. After the Memorial Service (at about 4:30PM) we will lead a motorcycle ride to another "Friends of Ed Mabry" gathering at Up 'n Smoke BBQ House in Keller for anyone who was unable to attend on Sunday or wants to go to both. Beverages & food will be served on the patio. The celebration can last as long as we like. Everyone is responsible for their own tabs at both Up 'n Smoke Celebrations. A brief article about Ed appeared in today's Fort Worth Star Telegram's Sports Section. http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/05/16/3079812/mabry-racing-owner-dies-after.html The actual obituary will be in the Friday, May 20 Star Telegram. Ed's "Mabry Racing/Team Triumph Texas" website. http://www.teamtriumphtexas.com/ Please help us reach all of Ed's many friends, former co-workers, racing partners & competitors by emailing or calling to let them know of Ed's passing, and these Services & Celebrations. Thank you.
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