Joe Crockett has passed away

[overrestored]

Joe Crockett has passed away. Evidently from a heart attack. Joe was a great friend of the VW community. He was a mentor to me... and hundreds of others. Some of my first experiences with the vintage VW scene were because of him and his efforts with the Vintage VW Club in Santa Barbara, CA.

He was a staunch supporter of preserving the cars. I don't really remember the exact year I met him... late 1970's... and Joe was in a Heb! He also built the "telefunken" barn door panel that is now owned by VW. He always had a cool vw or two in the garage. My favorite was his crew cab with the "james brown for president" bumper sticker.

Joe was a Vietnam Vet... and a strong supporter for veterans of that war always willing to lend an ear to a vet in need.

We will all miss Joe greatly. He was such a helping, low key and generous soul.

damn.

(photo courtesy of Randy Carlson)
_________________
some cars
some bicycles
some old skateboards
One cool crazy cat
a yard full of fruit trees
26 chairs for some reason
a crapload of old shoes
a lot of books on history of the Mexican Ranchos
200+ kamax bolts... stacked in rows

[overrestored]

here's a shot of joe... as you would typically find him... (from vintagebus.com)

_________________
some cars
some bicycles
some old skateboards
One cool crazy cat
a yard full of fruit trees
26 chairs for some reason
a crapload of old shoes
a lot of books on history of the Mexican Ranchos
200+ kamax bolts... stacked in rows

[overrestored]

he could also be pretty goofy and fun...

I'll say it again... we will all really miss you Joe.

(photo courtesy HAZETGUY)
_________________
some cars
some bicycles
some old skateboards
One cool crazy cat
a yard full of fruit trees
26 chairs for some reason
a crapload of old shoes
a lot of books on history of the Mexican Ranchos
200+ kamax bolts... stacked in rows

[56TIMOTEO]

Imagine the knowledge and stories that have been lost, Godspeed Joe!

[johnshenry]

I met Joe on every one of the probably 5-6 trips I had made to CA VW shows over the last 15 years or so, and every time he would great me like we had just had lunch a couple days ago. A super friendly guy, hardcore VW guy. I bought a lot of good early parts from Joe. Very shocked to hear this, he had just posted pics of stuff he was working on FaceBook about a week ago.

And this reinforces what I learned several years ago when we lost Erich Kircher: this hobby is not about the cars, it is about the people. Think about it, what would this hobby be without all of the people and the fun interactions?

A bunch of old cars sitting there, that is it.

The cars are our common interest, but the hobby is made by the people in it.

Life shouldn't be taken for granted, enjoy every moment with your family and friends.
_________________
John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[bwaz]

I too had met Joe on trips to SoCal, always ready to share info, tell a vw story, and help out in any way he could. Had a few emails back and forth with him earlier in the month. I asked how he was doing, still doing VW stuff? He said: "Yes, just climbing up in years. After 40 years of doing this, I had enough NOS parts for one more Barndoor motor. I am winding down and would like to retire, but customers keep bringing me full restorations. I love it so much, it is hard to turn them down."

Sounds like Joe. You'll be missed.

[belairman]

Very sad to hear this. I met Joe thru Cliff Crate many years ago. I was in my early twenties and was not into stock orig vw's. Meeting Joe, and talking to him made me appreciate stock vw's and I learned a lot from him and Cliff about splits and ovals. I remember when he pulled the 54 barn door panel shell out of Cliff's back yard and restored it with the Telefunken name on it. I also remember the stories he would tell about the early days of the Vintage Vw Club of America , the cars and all the great people that were around to help bring vintage vw's into their own. I'm going to miss you Mr. Crockett, may you rest in peace.

[laszlo805]

wow this is rely sad day for the vw community. I was supposed to meet up
with him on Thursday of this week. He was great guy and he would always
lend a hand to any vw person you will be missed

[campingbox]

Wow, such a loss. I just talked to him last week! I met him for the first time when he was working on the Telefunken bus, and that picture of him laying on his back is exactly what he was doing at the time.

RIP Joe, you will be missed.

[AC Mack]

The Vintage VW community has lost a true VW Historian . I first met Joe about thirty years ago. He was a mentor for me in my early years of VW's.
R.I.P my friend . " Always , Everywhere " Volkswagen


I believe Joe did 3 tours of Viet Nam. A book titled;
Low Level Hell ... has a complete chapter 4 "Sgt Joe "( I believe )is dedicated to him and his first mission flight.
M.W Waterman
_________________
1959 Model M1: 118
1964 Model 265
1965 Model 251 Deluxe walk thru
1966 Westfalia so42 Schiebedach fabrik 4864
1967 Model 231 EZ Kamper # 1940
1978 Westfalia P 31 / 1987 Westfalia Wolfram Grau
Split Bus Club / Lost Coast Bays / North Coast Vans
Long may that Split Bus run!
Always and Everywhere Volkswagen

[Zwitter]

This is news that NONE of us who knew Joe have any desire to be told.
I feel numb at the shock.

I met Joe via my friendship with Cliff Crate and Bob Scott. That's almost 40 years ago now...
End even though time would slip past and we'd not chat with a regularity, every time we'd see each other, it's was always "Hello Steven, how are ya?"..and it was as if we were the best of friends.

Yes, the VW Society has lost one of the great ones.
Joe, Thank YOU for having accepted me as your friend. You will be missed.

Steve Walker

[Brezelwerks]

One of the most genuine people in the hobby I've ever met. Just an easygoing guy that seemed to have life in real perspective, will miss his presence even though we lived on opposite coasts.

[Mr. Okrasa]

I'm sadden to hear we lost another true gentleman in the VW scene. I have known Mr. Crockett for over 30 years and was one of the most easy
going VW guys I have ever met in person. Godspeed to you my friend. You will be missed but not forgotten.
Mr. Okrasa
_________________


See my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okrasa/

1959 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe / Bamboo-Green / Denzel 1300cc / OG. owner, paint

Denzel engine running. See this link: https://youtu.be/DgUlsQDTXTE

VW www.Okrasa.com
356 www.PreA356.com

[Jedi]

I am saddened by this and I am proud to say he was my friend. He will be missed by more people in the global VW community than anyone I could think of. I have always looked at him as a leader and someone to trust. If he knew I needed a part he would send them to me without telling me and surprise I would be so stoked to find the rare parts I would need sitting in the mail. RIP old friend
_________________
1961 Westfalia SO23 Mango Green/Seagull grey
1961 Westfalia SO34 T/BW
1961 Westfalia SO34 SWR
1964 Westfalia SO33 pearl white
1965 Westfalia SO42 Velvet green
1986 Syncro Wolfram grey with black int GL
1986 Syncro Doka
1987 Syncro Sevana beige Adventurewagen
1987 syncro Sevana beige GL
1973 Pumpkin orange Thing
2 1963 Rag top bug's
1965 Manx
1970 Single cab
1971 combi
1990 Vanagon GL
2007 Audi A4 3.2L quattro

[Lind]

Joe will be greatly missed. I can't even remember when I first met him, it was like he was always there. I remember him camping out in Ouzo's courtyard after the '03 Bad Camberg meet. I think that I talked to him at every southern california VW show I went to.

next time you are with friend's of Joe's, raise a glass and give a toast to a great man in the hobby and remember our friend.
_________________
.
Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
.

[overrestored]

An excerpt from the book... "Low Level Hell" mentioned in a previous post...this chapter is about Joe... (Page backwards and forwards using the arrows at the top of the page when it opens...)

http://books.google.com/books?id=YUkvCcX6V58C&...=html_text

http://books.google.com/books?id=YUkvCcX6V58C&...=html_text



Eric
_________________
some cars
some bicycles
some old skateboards
One cool crazy cat
a yard full of fruit trees
26 chairs for some reason
a crapload of old shoes
a lot of books on history of the Mexican Ranchos
200+ kamax bolts... stacked in rows

[RustyPan]

Met Joe during a non-vw transaction.... I was selling a pinball machine dolly and he had several games in his spare room so it was a perfect tool for him. Eventually we got to talking VWs after I saw his other room full of old photos and framed articles. Little did I know much Joe was involved in the community.... Needless to say the VW talk evolved to him showing me his 4 wheeled prized possessions. Sadly, it's been about a year since I last spoke with him....

Joe....you are missed. They don't make 'em like you anymore.

[Mr. Motorhead]

I was shocked last week when I heard the news, very sad. It does make me feel good that Joe did what he loved right up to the last day......working on VWs. I had just seen him a couple weeks prior out at Randy's in Pismo, he was the usual Joe. I'm heading out to the salt today so I decided that Joe needed to be a sponsor on the car (he was indirectly). Going out with us to run on the salt was on his to-do list, we had talked about it the last couple years. Joe will be missed but well remembered.

_________________
30 years experience in the sales of new and used auto parts!
36 horsepower parts for sale at http://www.aircooledresearch.com/
Or the new site at http://www.bugparts.com
Check out the Bonneville project:
http://aircooledresearch.com/docs/thebonnevilleproject.html#

"All limitations are self imposed."
Some Chinese guy

[ScottMcW]

Very sorry to hear this news. Joe was always a great guy with so much knowledge about our ridiculous hobby. Joe, we'll raise a toast to you this weekend at the Treffen and many more in years to come.
_________________
Read the story of Vern as it unfolds

[robert davis]

the VW brotherhood took a hit with the passing of joe crockett.
for me, and i'm sure for many, joe was a friend, an elder, a teacher, a resource, a conversationalist, a helping hand, and a one-of-a-kind.
joe will not only be missed by those of us in santa barbara, but also in california, the u.s. and across the entire globe. his love and knowledge for the hobby was felt by many.
rest in peace joe, you deserve it.