It saddens me to report that Dave Benisek passed away this morning. I know that he been battling various illnesses over the last year but not sure what happened. I hadn't been able to see him since I returned from Kentucky. He was an incredibly generous man, but to me a great mentor, coach and friend. I'm really going to miss him. I had the pleasure of meeting Dave about 18 years ago. I had just got into Buick racing and through all my reading of the Kenne-Bell newsletters I had 3 people who I wanted to meet. These were the guys that had the fast Buicks on the west coast. Dave was one of them. It was my first time at Pomona Raceway with what would become my white GS years later. I was in the pits with some friends looking over my car trying to figure out why my car only would run 12.60's when I thought it was going to run in the 11's. Up walked this distinguished gentleman with snow white hair and a Hawaiian shirt. I instantly knew who it was. I introduced myself and we wound up chatting about my car. He gave me some ideas and encouraged me to keep at it. This would be the first of many many discussions. The first time he brought out his red GS I had pitted next to him. This was the most beautiful GS I had ever seen and I was parked next to it. I needed to jack the back of my car up to put jack stands under it. I had this cheesy little floor jack. When at full lift my car started to tip sideways and would have hit his car had it not been for my wife and I jumping up and steadying the car while another friend lowered the jack. That would have probably ended our friendship before it got started. Over the years I heard so many great stories about his first car to his first Buick, how he met Doug Jones, Jim Bell, the early years in the heads up GSE-GSP and so on. He loved the heads up racing. Almost every year during the GSE/GSP years on our flight home he would start a list of what we going to do next year. One year the Makely group all wore Hawaiian shirts to dinner to honor and tease him. i'm going to go buy some for next year. I encourage anyone who has a story to share it. I'm going to share this link with his son and daughter. They knew him as Dad but didn't know what an icon, inspiration and friend he was to many of us. Bruce
Wow,what a shock and great loss.Condolences to his family. I haven't talked to Dave in awhile but he was always a wealth of knowledge and gentleman.A true Buick legend. Godspeed Dave
I remember one time at BG Dave and I were standing on the starting line ,and the track was not hardly prepped at all . So we walked up to the guy that was running the starting line and asked him if he could spray down some vht . His reply was that it would not do anything . So Dave tells the guy ....Well... Then just humor me than. We both turned around and kinda chuckled. Rest in peace Dave . My condolences to his family and friends.
Condolences to Dave's Family, A true Buick Icon and Quality man. only knew him from BG trips, but was easy to talk to and a wealth of info for many people. God Bless. Bruce
talked to him once at BG , he was standing next to a BBB apollo ( skylark ? ) if i remember correctly . had a nice talk and he explained a couple things to me . yep - loud shirt .
Condolences to you Bruce and to Dave's family....The name Benisek was known as a legend to Buick racers everywhere. RIP.
Never met him but I respect him for his wealth of buick info over the years and watching that Apollo run down the track. Condolences to his friends and family. Bill
This is a tremendous loss to the Buick community. I offer my condolences and prayers to all of Dave's family and friends. GOD bless.
RIP > The Godfather of Going Fast with Class I'm devastated, I just cannot compose myself right now to type, but you'll get a good long story later today of our great relationship... you'll laugh your asses off, and then grab a tissue box..
A true pioneer and legend has left the Buick world....I know you will help keep that legacy alive Bruce, the vanity plate on your Apollo is a good tribute.
In 2007 I met Dave and Bruce at Irwindale Raceway here in California on a Thursday test and tune night. Bruce was driving a red 1970 GS and Dave had his Hawaiian shirt going on. They just made 120 mph pass at the 8th mile track and I was there with my 69 Stroker making passes and Dave jumps out at me in the pits asking me to stop. So the conversation began and I met two real Buick guys. I always ask about Dave and Bruce but Sam Davis always could fill me in on what they were up to. :TU: Glad to have met Dave Benisek the Pleasure was all mine sir. :TU:
That's some very sad news to hear.. Definitely lost and "Icon" from Buick racing.. Alway was a great guys to talk with, after a race against the old Sweezy car, at a Buick race in Las Vegas, Dave came up after seeing me run a 9.40 on a 10.20 dial, his words "very impressive". From then on I got some credibility in his eyes, and that met a lot to me...Bruce and Dave were a serious combination in the Buick racing community. Dave will be missed. RIP Gary Giessen
Bruce, I am very sorry to hear this, and sad that I never had the chance to meet Dave. I was so involved in the Division 5 NHRA racing and the local brackets, in the late 80's and early 90's that I made it to BG only once, and after that, well the whole working for myself deal kept me away.. wish I would have met him. His place in Buick racing History is secure, no doubt about that. He was a Pioneer. My condolences to you and his family. Alan, those are great pictures, bring back a lot of memories.. when I went to tech school, we had all the same equipment, and even the same type of hoists.. JW
