BangShift.com Dave McClelland Has Passed At 85. His Voice Will Forever Be Remembered, But His Soul Is What I’ll Miss.

I took Sunday off from Social Media this weekend and as a result, I missed the announcement that my good friend Dave McClelland died. My heart goes out to all his family members, buddies, and lovers. At 85 he lived a pair of lifetimes more than numerous who had traveled the planet with him, and lovers will undoubtedly smile when thinking about him and Steve Evans lastly reuniting in the afterlife. Dave’s earlier is storied and consists of numerous awards, achievements, and accolades, but it is his spouse Louise, their kids, and grandchildren, that introduced him the most pleasure. His enthusiasts, myself involved, will pass up his voice but his soul was what manufactured him Dave and that is what I will miss most.

Dave McClelland was a larger sized-than-life character that was rooted in a really like for Drag Racing and its people today. His tales ended up seldom about a particular motor vehicle, apart from when they revolved around the individuals who made up the staff. He experienced terrific just one-liners, remembered things that occurred a long time previously like they ended up yesterday, and was extraordinary at remembering names. He was also the ONLY announcer I have at any time achieved who shared each and every “secret” he experienced.

Dave started out in the drag racing world as a enthusiast and a racer and drove his famed Tuna Tank Fiat Topolino. He ran race tracks and timing associations, was an NHRA staffer at a variety of levels, declared drag racing occasions about the planet, and distribute the gospel of drag racing like the genuine gentleman that he was. Because of all people yrs performing just that, he was awarded life span accomplishment awards, was inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, and far more.

And for all these points he was thankful and very pleased of his achievements, but oh so humble.

I have as well many stories about the things that Mac did for me, or with me about the decades and will reserve some of all those for podcasts, dragstrip storytelling, etcetera. But I will never forget very first conference Dave on Hot Ability Tour. When I say conference, I indicate basically acquiring a dialogue and paying real time jointly.

I had been hired to be the “Man on the Street” for Scorching Rod’s Electrical power Tour asserting group, with a lot of public speaking experience but no official announcing of any form. As I was carrying out on phase saying with Joe Pagano, interviews and saying out in the crowd and all-around the display, and then getting concerned in the night awards and displays on stage each and every working day, I experienced the opportunity to commit time with Dave throughout the 7 days. This was Electrical power Tour 2006. Dave was on the tour as the voice of Flowmaster at the time, and was performing all their stage shows and giveaways just about every working day.

On working day two of the celebration, I had been on phase with one particular of the people from GM General performance Division and they experienced taken my mic to do some conversing. The presentation went properly and I arrived off phase for the subsequent individual to go and Dave was standing there. He reported to me, “Chad, a person piece of guidance. Never permit them have your mic.” I looked at him and realized what he was stating and he continued “You can not manage the speed and complete it up if you aren’t the a person with the mic. Whoever has the mic controls the demonstrate.” It was excellent information and supplied when I hadn’t had an problem but surely could have. We invested the 7 days working alongside one another, talking about our drag racing pasts, and evaluating notes on exactly where we had been jointly about the a long time.

Later that 7 days, as Electrical power Tour wrapped up, we observed ourselves at English Town New Jersey for the final prevent of Electrical power Tour 2006. Although there, contributors could make exciting runs down the dragstrip and I went around to announce some from the tower. Visualize my surprise and enjoyment when Mac walks in the doorway of the tower following a minor while and states. “Do you brain if I announce with you for a small when Chad?” Did I brain? Are you F’ing kidding me? Of system, I do not brain! This of class was not what came out of my mouth, but he sat down and we started announcing pairs of muscle autos and scorching rods, going down the monitor, with no winners or cash, or just about anything else on the line. It was wonderful.

And as wonderful as it was, it would be surpassed by dozens of other activities I had with Dave over the years.

When my late wife Daphne fulfilled Dave for the very first time she was so fired up she could hardly hold from crying. She did of course as quickly as he walked absent, but he had that result on people.

Standing in the staging lanes, or on the beginning line, at the dragstrip at California Speedway whilst Daphne was racing and so were Dave’s son Kevin and grandson Daniel, conversing about racing and loved ones, with no actually operating at a race was a single of the things I’ll by no means overlook.

There are so several times. So many handshakes, so several hugs, and so many amusing points he claimed.

Dave McClelland, thank you for sharing a smaller piece of your life and experiences with me. Thank you for staying these types of a great human staying, and thank you for being you. I will miss you my close friend.

I know that the McClelland family knows how happy he was of them all because Dave was not a male who was frightened of expressing his emotions, but I hope they all know how profoundly noticeable that like was to all of us all-around him. My sincerest condolences to you all.

I promise we will share more Dave tales this week on Beards, Burnouts and Beers as nicely as Powershift, equally podcasts that you can check out on the BANGshift YouTube channel or Fb web page.

 

Click on In this article TO SEE ALL THE Cool Factors We have Run ABOUT DAVE In excess of THE Yrs