I just heard Rich Towle had a massive heart attack Options

[rick 918-S]

Rich and I have been communicating over the last year about the house they were planning to build. I introduced him to my friend at Extreme Panel. They manufacture SIP panels. I used them for my house. I received a text from my guy at Extreme Panel that he just heard from Lisa that Rich passed a way. So sorry for them. they were just ready to finalize one of their life's dreams.

[ctc911ctc]

All,

Rich was involved in Tech and early in his career he was part of a Company called Baltimore. They competed with RSA and others. My sister was their banker when they entered the public markets - I vaguely knew Rich through Baltimore and then I came on board here and found him - or he found me - small world.

He was very good at getting you to focus on the most likely culprit. He favored ignition as a primary source of 914-concerns. He was very good. As I was chasing the final bugs out of a '74 2L all original - he kept me revisiting the Distributor, I had rebuilt mine and he kept at me - I bought a rebuilt one and I was able to reset dwell to within a few degrees and things ran so much better. Yea, perhaps I am not a good distro re-builder!

I invited myself to go to Dunstable MA and visit the 'too much barn' ranch and found a sprawling barn filled with toys, a few 914s, a 356 (or two) a 911 driver, boat, lots of stuff. We chatted for a few hours and I left driving the silver '74 2L. I stopped for gas and found that the car would not start. I waited about 30-40 min for the car to cool down (was pretty sure it was vapor lock - longer story) and I then called Rich...................

He asked a few questions and then abruptly hung up. NP, he was rebuilding the barn and was busy. A few minutes later he was at the service station with tools and a huge smile. The car started when he arrived - of course - and he lectured me about moving the fuel pump to the front.

While I was at the "TooMuchBarn" ranch, we were talking about various 914 adjustments, we went into an adjacent room where there was a big pile on the floor of 914/356 parts in the middle and to the edges of the room..... He move a few things, found a cable and pulled......out popped a Bosch tester! I used it, essentially a break-out box, and just cleaned it on Saturday for returning to him this spring.



Good eclectic guy, lots of fun to hang around with, will miss him at "German Car Day" at the Brookline Automotive museum.