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Title: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: bugnut68 on February 25, 2010, 00:17:57 am http://www.cal-look.com/forum/index.php/topic,32048.new.html#new
Just saw this over on the CLF, I guess EMPI founder Joe Vittone has passed on. Sad day in VW and Cal-Look history. I'm grateful I got to meet the man at Bug In 32 in 2005. RIP, Joe! :( :'( Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Zach Gomulka on February 25, 2010, 00:20:26 am Terrible news! I also feel very fortunate to have met him at that same event. He will be greatly missed, but always remembered :'(
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Donny B. on February 25, 2010, 00:24:23 am Met him one year at Kelly Park. This is truly a sad day.
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: rick m on February 25, 2010, 00:44:54 am He will always be remembered as someone who learned to accessorize the plain VW beetle and give it more appeal in a car market dominated by V8 lovers. His willingness to expand on the humble beetle and hire people like Dean Lowry and support the promotion of VW performance made a huge contribution to our hobby.
I extend my condolensces to Darrell and Joe's surviving family members. Think of where this hobby would be without the original EMPI along with out other lost VW icons, Dean Lowry and Gene Berg. Having been fortunate enough to know Dean and Gene personally, I can tell you that I miss them all. Help keep the hobby alive and well by drivingy your VW's everywhere. Rick Mortensen Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: IP359 on February 25, 2010, 00:47:25 am RIP Joe.....
A big thought to Darrell and his family. :'( NB: Joe Vittone on the right, Graham Hill on the left Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Georg/DFL on February 25, 2010, 00:48:20 am Very sad to hear. He was one of the greats! RIP, Joe!
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: . on February 25, 2010, 01:16:12 am Very sad news.
Now that I think about it, it's funny that most of the conversations I had with Joe had nothing to do with VW's, we always talked about vintage aircraft. I will miss him. :'( Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Frenchy Dehoux on February 25, 2010, 01:33:39 am Sad day for all VW people I am fortunate I had the chance to meet him back in the early 70's at the dealership in Riverside and also at at one of the Bug In in Fontana Bug In #32 . Joe will be missed RIP Frenchy Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: kingsburgphil on February 25, 2010, 04:10:50 am Lift your glasses gentlemen, in a toast to Joe........"May we live respected and die regretted!"
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Geoff P DVKK on February 25, 2010, 04:38:03 am Very sad news, without him this would be a very different hobby. RIP.
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: nicolas on February 25, 2010, 06:48:01 am Very sad news.
He has done great things for our hobby. he will be missed by many. RIP Joe. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Lids on February 25, 2010, 07:07:02 am Never met him, but he managed to inspire a whole generation.
But here he is in 1968 looking pretty dapper. (http://www.michaelliddle.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/EMPI%20NY/Full%20size/Joe-Vittone-1968.jpg) Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: SPEEDWELL66 on February 25, 2010, 07:35:15 am DESCANCE EN PAZ SEŅOR VITTONE :'(
THE MEXICAN VATO Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: j-f on February 25, 2010, 07:39:23 am He will always be remembered as someone who learned to accessorize the plain VW beetle and give it more appeal in a car market dominated by V8 lovers. His willingness to expand on the humble beetle and hire people like Dean Lowry and support the promotion of VW performance made a huge contribution to our hobby. I extend my condolensces to Darrell and Joe's surviving family members. Think of where this hobby would be without the original EMPI along with out other lost VW icons, Dean Lowry and Gene Berg. Having been fortunate enough to know Dean and Gene personally, I can tell you that I miss them all. Help keep the hobby alive and well by drivingy your VW's everywhere. Rick Mortensen Amen to that. RIP Joe. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: El Dub on February 25, 2010, 08:09:08 am Another very sad day! RIP Joe.
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Fastbrit on February 25, 2010, 08:50:56 am A sad loss indeed. My condolences to Darrel and family.
(http://web.mac.com/kseume/iWeb/Site%205/Company%20history_files/Speedwell3.jpg) Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: benssp on February 25, 2010, 09:47:15 am A sad loss indeed. My condolences to Darrel and family. X2 R.I.P Joe Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: guillaume on February 25, 2010, 12:39:57 pm A sad day, RIP Joe. The VW world wouldn't be what it is today without him.
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: MacRavens on February 25, 2010, 12:56:37 pm One of the last "Deanosaurs" disappeared !
A big thought to Darrell and his family. (http://[attachment=1]) And THANKS for all Mr EMPI !!! Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Rocket Ron on February 25, 2010, 13:53:43 pm very sad news :(
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Kobus on February 25, 2010, 15:34:06 pm R.I.P. Joe!
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Rennsurfer on February 25, 2010, 15:36:55 pm Rest in peace, Joe and thank you for all that you contributed to the realm that is VW high performance.
Godspeed. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Liou on February 25, 2010, 15:52:00 pm R.I.P "SIR" joe vittone
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: johnl on February 25, 2010, 16:45:50 pm I never had the opportunity to meet Joe Vittone, but I did take delivery of my original '63 at Econo Motors in July of that year. I've said it before and I'll state it again, that day changed my life forever. It provided me with a life long love for the VW and thanks to Mr. Vittone and his efforts with performance parts I feel I was provided a career first in the VW performance industry and have continued in the foreign car parts industry.
I'm sure he has joined those notable names that left us before him. Rest in peace Mr. Vittone and God Bless you. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: roland on February 25, 2010, 18:13:03 pm Sad news..
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: DKK Ted on February 25, 2010, 18:21:14 pm The man is a legend, RIP Mr. Joe Vittone.
Ted Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: gibber! on February 25, 2010, 18:35:03 pm Lift your glasses gentlemen, in a toast to Joe........"May we live respected and die regretted!" Well put. Very sad news.... RIP Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: bluestar on February 25, 2010, 18:42:54 pm good bye "Joe" , we never forget your influence ......
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: jick on February 25, 2010, 19:06:54 pm Lift your glasses gentlemen, in a toast to Joe........"May we live respected and die regretted!" I'll drink to that! Thanks for everything Joe. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Jeff68 on February 25, 2010, 19:43:15 pm I met, shook hands with and spoke with Mr. Vittone when he came to the Florida Bug Jam a couple of years ago. Very nice man that had such a huge influence on the VW performance part industry.
R.I.P. Mr. Joe Vittone..... Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: smurf67 on February 25, 2010, 19:45:08 pm Lift your glasses gentlemen, in a toast to Joe........"May we live respected and die regretted!" I'll drink to that! Thanks for everything Joe. Me to, sad day indeed Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Prowagen on February 25, 2010, 19:53:06 pm Its such a horrible part of life and I cannot imagine the pain and grief that his family are going through, my heart goes out to them!
We should look on the current performance market and cal-look legacy as a celebration of Joe's life! He did something great with the time he had on this planet! Thanks Joe for making the history and helping shape the scene into what it is. I have no doubt that without the people like Joe, Gene and Dean none of us would be on this forum today! RIP Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: plasticblack on February 25, 2010, 20:09:05 pm (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/plasticblack/Illustration01.jpg)
Isn't History great. It has something for just about everyone and because we all share the same passion, Empi and it's History is right up there. Some on here have posted remembering meeting the man in person and how very lucky they have been in that. I never met Joe, but like many here feel connected in some small way, through the enjoyment I derive from Empi, it's Race Cars , History and Products. Like all Good (Great) things though, there has to be an end. Many Thanks Joe. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: speedwell on February 25, 2010, 21:24:02 pm yes very sad day for the vw performance industry :'(
Thank you for all that you made for our favorite car my thought goes to darrellvittone and family RIP JOE , We shall never forget you Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: vwcab on February 25, 2010, 22:42:00 pm RIP Joe,and thx.
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: speed7 on February 26, 2010, 01:48:49 am Thank you for all you stood for and RIP , Mr EMPI !
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Nico86 on February 26, 2010, 03:38:02 am RIP :'(
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: charlie on February 26, 2010, 21:54:53 pm Sade news
Thanks for all Joe ... Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Black Sheep on February 26, 2010, 22:54:02 pm R.I.P. Joe
Another giant in our world has gone , a sad day indeed . Thankyou for all that you gave us in our hobby. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: ESH on February 27, 2010, 00:29:15 am I think for a lot of people Joe was a name and not a face and an older guy so there is an inevitability with this but reflecting on it as someone who had no personal contact with him whatsoever it's still very sad. At the very least it's the end of a story but more than that this is a person that genuinely made a difference to the VW in a way that could possibly only be understood if we were able to compare this 'now' with one where he hadn't been around and that world could have been very different. I like this 'now' and enjoy having a hot VW so thanks for that, it really is very much appreciated.
:'( Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: Bewitched666 on February 27, 2010, 10:04:57 am Rest in peace Mr Vittone :-[
Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: jamiep_jamiep on February 27, 2010, 10:26:23 am Sad day for the VW community, and a truly terrible one for his family....
God speed Joe. Title: Re: Joe Vittone passed on... Post by: SlingShot on February 28, 2010, 01:32:59 am Zach and I meet Joe briefly at the Bug In meet and greet.
He mentioned to us how he loved driving VW's, but he felt they were just missing that little bit extra. We should all be thankful to Joe, for without his initiative to bring replacement valve guides and sweet steering wheels to the masses, we all could be off in some other direction, instead of the lounge. Food for thought, but somebody that knows alot about Joe should start a WIKI on him, that would be very cool 8) R.I.P. JOE, I hope your cruising in Style. |