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Posted by: rick 918-S Mar 31 2024, 07:10 AM

I started to post about the former owner of the 6 I am working one in my build thread. I thought I would do as he wished and share something that meant a lot to him.

When I purchased the car I got in touch Rocky. I wanted to know some of the history and his time with the car. He was very honored to be offered a membership in the SoCal R Gruppe. He talked about a tour he was specially fond of as he was the planner. He asked for my address as he had something he wanted to send me.

One day in the mail a large envelope arrive. In it were two booklets he assembled. One was about the the car. On the coverage was a note from him about sharing the info.

Well time passes. I was building a house, juggling work and trying to figure out how i was going to finish Juergen's 6 with no shop. The post mark on the mailing I received is July 23, 2019. Turns out he lost his battle with stage 4 Lymphoma on July 22. 2020. I should have been a better friend. It appears Freda passed away a year after Rocky.

So here is the first booklet he sent. A special memory as he wished.








He also sent me a copy of the tour he planned.













I started to make the triangle window into a plaque for him. I was going to mail it out as a surprise. I am still going to finish it. But now i have to think of a fitting place for it. Maybe the R Gruppe guys would do a Rally in his honor and present the plaque to the winner.



https://www.californiafuneralalternatives.com/obituary/Rocky-Kuonen

Posted by: TROJANMAN Mar 31 2024, 07:18 AM

You never know when...........

I hope to see an event this year. RRC?

Posted by: mlindner Mar 31 2024, 09:40 AM

Thanks for sharing Rick. Life is short, enjoy the ride. Mark

Posted by: SirAndy Mar 31 2024, 10:17 AM

Posted by: infraredcalvin Mar 31 2024, 11:13 AM

That’s so cool, RIP Rocky and Freda, best legacy is the car’s resurrection.

Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: Dion Mar 31 2024, 12:03 PM

That’s very cool Rick. Do it. I’m sure those guys would enjoy it.

Posted by: Shivers Mar 31 2024, 12:28 PM

I'm sorry to hear that. I remember when you were looking for a replacement for that window.

Posted by: burton73 Mar 31 2024, 01:01 PM

Just sad to lose a 914 Brother, we all owe a debt to our vets. He was 74 very close to my age. This is my backyard, we grew up running these roads in So. CA from 16 on.

Song by Jethro Tull – Ian Anderson

Life's a long song,
Life's a long song,
Life's a long song but the tune ends too soon for us all



Best Bob B

Posted by: rick 918-S Mar 31 2024, 11:33 PM

Since posting this I had an exchange with my friend in Cleveland. The guy i did the 280SL for. He asked me to send him the glass and he would make a base for it out of Cuban Mahogany for me. I am not sure what will come of the memento but I will think of something.

Posted by: rick 918-S Apr 8 2024, 01:08 PM

I posted an inquiry over on Pelican but didn't really get any interest. I was referred to the Early 911 forum. I have been on the sight as I have the Long Hood 912 project on the back burner. I was referred to TRE Motorsports. Sending an email with Rocky's info.

Posted by: rick 918-S May 1 2024, 07:44 PM

Well I am not sure what to do with this tribute I had made for Rocky. While I was attempting to track down someone in the So Cal R Gruppe I sent this window off yo my friend Pat in Cleveland. He read the post about Rocky and offered to build a base for it. I just received it back today.

I did make contact with a gentleman in the club who stated he knew Rocky. We exchanged email. I offered to send the finished plaque to him but I did not hear back. I was hoping for a better response. Anyway I am committed to do something special for Rocky. Anyone have a good idea?




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Posted by: mepstein May 1 2024, 08:21 PM

Pay it forward.

Posted by: Shivers May 2 2024, 07:31 AM

That came out great!

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com May 2 2024, 10:52 AM

He was a good guy, had many many conversations with him and he bought a lot of parts for his six from us

Posted by: ClayPerrine May 2 2024, 11:03 AM

How about turning it into an award for one event.

The Rocky Kuonen Memorial Trophy.

A people's choice award.

Posted by: rick 918-S May 2 2024, 12:14 PM

That is what I wanted to do. But this had lineage to the So Cal R Gruppe which I am not a member of. Rocky was very fond of his time with the club.

I am not attempting to use their club to promote myself or the car.

I was informed by the former President of the So Cal club that they frown on anyone flying their club stuff or attempting to market the car of a former owner that was a member. that is how I even came up with the idea of pulling the triangle window and sending to Rocky. This person stated he has withdrawn from the position and then stopped responding as well as another person.

I just thought this would be something the So Cal club would do. Rocky did say in his letter to me as I posted above, to share the info. So I did. I am still hoping to get this to a So Cal member that will have an event in his honor and do as Clay suggested.

If I fail to locate an interested So Cal group member I may just peel the So Cal stickers off and add it to a 914World event. We shall see.

Posted by: infraredcalvin May 3 2024, 10:18 PM

Get a brass plaque, make it removable, inscribe the previous/current owners names on it, keep it with the car.

During your stewardship, add any other event stickers to the window, it’s already got an alien sticker memorializing it’s revival from the crash…

Posted by: rick 918-S May 26 2024, 07:16 PM

Looks like Rocky is back traveling with the R Gruppe. I was able to track down a member here in the Midwest. They had an event planned in NM this weekend. I tried to find a Trophy shop last minute to engrave a nice plaque in his honor. I was unable so I made one and got it boxed up and shipped to the hotel when it was received by Scott Zellner. He is the Mid-West R Gruppe Chaptermeister. I received a text that the Triangle window was awarded to a member who traveled the longest distance. 2400 miles.

They plan to pass it on over the years to keep Rocky rolling!

Posted by: jim_hoyland May 27 2024, 04:19 PM

I’m glad to brought up to date. I never met Rick, but seen his car at the 2008 German Autofest in Ventura and later driving down Newport Blvd.


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