09/03/2016
We were fortunate to meet Blackie back in '06 or '07, I believe. He was a huge fan of '50 Mercs and the one we did sheet metal, body & paint for Ed Potestio (pics in comments) was picked to be at Blackie's Fresno Autorama. Great show! Also got to hang out and talk with Gene Winfield, who is a great inspiration of mine. Was also fortunate enough to have Tom Minnemeier's, Jim Hauk built '32 Hagan bodied Roadster that I painted also picked to be in the show a few years prior to that. Thanks for all the recognition Blackie, may you rest in peace ✌🏼
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1117728214940385.1073743635.100893159957234&type=3
Sad news in the hot rod and custom world today. We have lost another HOT ROD HERO & LEGEND.
Blackie has left us and with his passing a very big hole in many many hearts and in the hot rod world.
We got to meet Blackie for a few minutes on one of our trips put west to the GNRS and what a treat. He never made you feel like a stranger but he saw you as a friend immediately.
While everybody knows Blackie as a hot rod legend and show producer(Fresno Autorama), he was also a succesful grape farmer
Just have to say there is one heckuva hot rod show in heaven today.
Rest in Peace Blackie...