Damn that hurts and I never had the honor to meet him. My sympathies to his family. Their loss is certainly greater than ours but I hope they know and understand what a meaningful impact he had on so many people.

I will remain forever thankful for your advice John. Until we get the chance to meet, drive fast, and drive well.

RIP Capt'n

very sorry for our loss

Damn. RIP, Cap'n.

Since I have been a member here John has been a presence, a positive one in so many ways. Condolences to his family and all of you who knew him. I hope his family is aware of how important he was here.

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

Very sorry to hear this. Rust In Peace, John.

God's Speed Cap'n!

Salt of the Earth

1.(idiomatic) A most worthy person.
2.(idiomatic) A decent, dependable, unpretentious person.

Nuff said ....

Thanks for posting the photo. Words aren't right, and cannot rxplain how the Cap'n could tell me how wrong I am and still leave me feeling respected. Hard to do, hard to find in a person. Since I never saw him, the photo is nice and quite fitting.

Ken Kesey wrote in Sometimes a Great Notion "God damn this world for not holding still for us." This sort of loss that time brings is why I remember those words. I suggest we all drive our cars while we can.

Warren, I agree with everything you wrote. I read about his passing this morning, and was amazed how the news hung with me all day.

I never met the man, but based on the many references to his demeanor, I've met others like him. Gruff on the outside, but once the shell is cracked (if allowed) there's a true caring human just below.

I had posted a little over a year ago some OT questions about a car; John pm'd me and invited me to call to discuss it, on his dime. I got back to him, also via pm, that I would, but ended up buying the car, and felt the call would be unnecessary and a waste of his time. I regret not doing so, if for no other reason than to put a voice to the character.

What a perfect avatar.

I too, will do my best to perform a valve job this weekend, using his technique, as I've been wanting to for a little bit. Once done, I'll be sure to toast his name with a good single malt.

My condolences to his family, and also to his extended family, especially those here who were fortunate enough to know him, and the incredible wealth of knowledge he provided.

Rest in Peace, Your Krustiness.

I didn't get to meet him either, but I feel honored to know that he answered a few of my first (dumb) newbie questions very succinctly.

RIP to another wonderful character in the Porsche world

......*PEACE* be to Cap'n...God bless his family!

I'm sitting here at the airport and reading everyone's wonderful comments about the Cap'n. His method of delivery of telling you something was unique as it ever gets. So, I thought I would scroll back through some of Krusty's posts and it didn't take long to find this gem.

"Again, you're joining the ranks of those who call those things "copper" nuts. They're NOT copper, they're STEEL, with a copper plating. Clearing out the "pinch" makes them regular nuts with a hefty price tag.

The Cap'n"

I'm gonna miss that.

Cancer sucks

RIP

Thanks for all the help over the years Cap'n.

RIP

This news ruined my day.

RIP and God Bless.

RIP Cap'n.
You left us with a huge void.

So sorry to read about the Cap'n. Such a loss. He will live on in the archives to render his advice for years to come.

I only met John in person a few times but memories from the online world go WAY back and are all positive.

RIP.

Likewise. Rennlist days are way back, as is the original Club days. Been hearing advice from quite a few with more experience than I for a while now.

Some where in there I met John at the Parts Heaven swap. I was just a grasshopper, looking for little bits for my first or second 914, and there he was with a van load of parts spread out. I started asking how much for this, and how much for that, and what about if I add that, how much? No matter what I picked up, his answer was always the same, "Five bucks".
The lesson I learned that day, it's better to sell the parts cheap than to haul them home again, thanks to John...

I knew this was coming. I quess this is true for all of us.

I met John on four occasions. I had heard through one of the members here that he could rebuild 901 transmissions. I gave him a PM and asked if he could help, and of course he said he would.

We made the exchange in Pasadena, and it turns out we had more in common since I had grown up there and his parents had lived there too.

So after a few emails with the exchange and pictures, turns out the bearings in the trans were shot….brass cages were gone ect …ect. ..but gear cluster looked great.

He wanted it done right.

My goal was to learn something….I told him that…(no offense Doc)…but this guy knew more about Porsche and mechanics than anyone I had met, and probably ever will,(Maybe
Slits comes close). We just don’t live in the same time I grew up in. That is what has struck me about his passing.

The internet is information. John had knowledge. There is a difference.

Back in March of this year (I think), I knew he was coming down to the Phoenix Club for the annual swap meet. I saw him there and he looked healthy enough. He said he was almost done with it (the trans) and that I could pick it up on my way up there but that he was having some serious health problems. I knew what that meant just by the way he said it.

I went to his house, after the WCR, to pick up the trans with a couple of other folks that were kind enough to haul it back. I had so much crap stuffed into the frunk I just didn’t have room for it.

He hadn’t the strength to put the nosecone on the trans back on. I told him I could do it. He insisted on helping.

As I noticed the silicone on the shift fork flange I asked him why that was there?

His answer?

“Because someone else didn’t know what the fuck they were doing”.

Here is to you John. I had a few beers in my garage tonight (maybe more that a few) and wrote “Thanks John” on the top of the trans with my diamond engraver.

You shared so much with others.

God bless you and your family. I had the privilege of meeting them.

Damned shame, but he's left a great legacy behind.

Great read. Thanks for sharing.

That quote and this picture really puts it all together for me. What a great guy John was!

Rest in peace Cap'n.

You will sorely be missed on this forum. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Dave

Prayers for John's family at this difficult time. He was an amazing, stand up guy. Even though I'd only "met" him by phone, his character was ever present.

His wisdom, insight, and wry wit will be missed. There's lots of "how to" info on P-cars, but he had so much first hand experience, John could've wrote chapters on "how not to".

We are all destined toward the same fate, but John was the kind of guy that we all would've liked to have had much more time with.

His family suffers an immense loss, and we morn the loss of a friend, colleague, and invaluable resource; but from what little I know of John, I'm sure it is well with his soul.

Peace be with you Cap'n.

John was a guy that I loved to argue with.. and argue he did! But whenever he pushed his opinion on something you knew there was more than a grain of truth.. there was decades of truth and The need to help others.

Great character of a man who will be sorely missed..

There is a big hole in the 914 World that can not be filled.

Cap'n Krusty, "The Krusty One" reminds me of my fishing mentor in the Ten Thousand Islands,(Florida) his nickname was also Captain Crusty. He taught me how to tie all my fishing knots. He once asked me "who tied this Bimini Twist?" Like I did it wrong, I said I did...he replied you did it right, looks good.

People like the Cap'n are Old School and I wish we had more like him in today's world, mechanics with a CAN DO mentality that figure things out because that's what they had to do to get things fixed. We have all been in the presence of greatness and we are all better for what we have learned from men like John Larson.

I wrote a thread about how I put some Pilot Fog Lights on my 914 and explained how I attached them, he responded, "Those better be Eye Candy Only!"

Rest In Peace John Larson.......You may be gone but you will never be forgotten!

Thank you for your sage advice on everything!

Vysoc

I just cant believe it...... I hope he is driving a great road up there.

Aha! That was YOUR trans that was there! It was while working on that that John started really showing his illness. I was watching him assemble the gears, and he stopped, and I could tell he was mentally questioning himself. He went inside, looked at the exploded diagram, came back out & resumed assembling. He had done it right, but his memory was making him question things. When he started getting frustrated because of it, I knew it was over. We stopped working on the car projects, and started getting things together so they could be sent to their respective owners. It was a very sad day for me.

John had more knowledge about cars than I will ever dream of having. I now can take apart a 914 and put it back together with very little trouble. John was the one who taught me that. I'm not good with engine & transmission internals, and he was the one who told me that it was OK not to be good at EVERYTHING. He couldn't do upholstery, and I could, so we each had our place. When I had to give up the 914's, I decided to get out of cars completely & revive my music career, and he was immensely supportive. He came to watch me play a few times with his wife and gave me constructive criticism and praise in the same breath.

There are a gazillion stories I could tell, having been at the shop with him for 7 years, but I'm only going to say that I have, and probably never will again, meet a better human being than John.

Rest in peace.

I will definitely miss the no bullshit responses and great information.

RIP.
Tom

I'm sorry to hear this, I always enjoyed his posts and comments. RIP

So sad to hear of Cap'n's passing. He led a full life, and his expertise will live forever here on 914 World. That's pretty special, I think. I was out and about with my 914 at swaps and races all over 2008-2010, and less so lately. John's passing reminds me how awesome it was to meet him and all the other faces behind the names here on 914 World (back then, 914 Club!).

Cheers to John, and to all the gifts he shared with this community

P.S. I'll second that request to find and post a pic of The Cap'n in his signature big 'ol swap meet hat. That's how I'll always remember him.

RIP

The Capt was one of the reasons I stopped "lurking" and joined. Someone with tons of knowledge , who only spoke when necessary and was looked up to by everyone. My condolences to his family and to Mark. It is hard to lose someone you work with and respect, and love like family. I hope someone thinks up a fitting way to honor this kind man, so others will learn of him in the future.

RIP sad news I always enjoyed reading his post, and appreciated his expertise.

RIP, Cap'n. I met you a couple of times at Parts Haven swaps in years past. To be honest, based on some of your posts here on 914Club/World, I was expecting a crotchety old fart -- like my recently departed grandfather who was also a consummate tinkerer/fixer and who also had a sharp tongue. But you were actually more like a kind and caring teacher in person. And you always wanted me to take more than I needed so you wouldn't have to haul it home. My car -- whenever it is finally done -- will be better thanks to your kindness and your wisdom. Thanks brother.

Sad loss, can't find his last post

RIP, John.

I remember when John first joined the Porschephiles mailing list. As I sized up the newbie, I quickly realized that John knew his stuff. When he posted, it was time to pay attention because I was going to learn something.

John's knowledge and hard on the outside/soft on the inside personna were a great asset to the World.

Wow I just met him, On the first leg of our 914 experience run. I'll try to put a small clip of the interview we did with him @ eric display booth. He came up to me and ask how I was doing from the heart attack I just had. And then he told me about his sickness

RIP, Cap'n

Sorry to hear of this loss.
I would like to express my condolences.
My thoughts are with the family.
We will always remember him as an extraordinary member of 914world.

RIP

I am saddened to hear of John's passing. He was a good guy for sure. We will all miss him. RIP John.

Wow, so sorry to hear this, going to miss you buddy!

Left town for a few days only to return to this unfortunate news. John, RIP my friend.

Andys

I only had a few exchanged posts with the Cap'n in my couple of years here and missed meeting him by one day out at Bonneville last year. In those exchanges and reading other posts you could tell the knowledge was there and in abundance- his delivery was impeccable and his attitude was never condescending.
You're missed greatly already our friend...

This was written a long time ago .....

'twas the end of an arduous day,
the garage doors closed quietly,
lights in their turn dimmed and went out,
wrenches cooled from the warmth of the hand.

tomorrow will not see the rising of the sun,
tomorrow will not hear the bustle of activity,
tomorrow and beyond the mechanic will rest peacefully,
tomorrow his horizon is eternity.

Beautiful and fitting!