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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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 Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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I had a fair number of chats with Darryl and met him, his son and his wife on the occasion of delivering my Syncro gearbox and front diff for rebuilding.
We all need to emulate Darryl. He was a true gentleman and struck me as a profoundly happy and contented man. I was very impressed in all contacts with him. Darryl was the kind of man that makes you want to be a better man.
I am sure his family will deeply miss him and equally sure they have many, many good memories. I wish them well and extend my deep condolences.
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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turbotransporter
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2006
Posts: 459
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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If I'm gonna go I'd like to take what Daryl took with him.
It's in these pages, it's on Facebook, in all the various e-mail forums I belong to and in private e-mail from other friends.
Hmmmm.
Smaht Fellah. 
Hope to see many of my fellow samba-nistas at the Life Celebration for Daryl.
Andrew |
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flyboy705
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2012
Posts: 40
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| I only knew Daryl from the phone having a tranny built. What a great person and gentleman. I'm very sad ! My condolences to Daryl's family. |
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dieseldabbler
Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| I just re-read the month-long email thread I had with Daryl 10 years ago when my ACP tranny got rebuilt. What incredible patience and care he demonstrated to me during that process! I was just an obsessive nobody on the opposite coast, and yet he answered every question and concern with prompt and useful information. He was a model of service and craftsmanship. Thank you, Daryl. |
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turbotransporter
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2006
Posts: 459
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:44 am Post subject: |
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A fund has been established by friends of Daryl's to assist his family with the costs associated with this event.
From the WetWesties Facebook page:
>
Many of you know that Daryl Christensen of AA transmission has passed away. There will be a Life Celebration for Daryl at the Thurston County Fairgrounds on April 26. Daryl's family will be renting the facility. A few of us gathered around our digital campfires (computers) and thought it would be nice if we took up a fund to help pay for the facility rental.
To be clear the family hasn't asked for any donations for the fairground rental, we just thought it would be a good idea. There may be a follow up for another type of donation in Daryl's memory, but we have yet to work out the details.
Click here to donate to the Fairground rental fund to help celebrate Daryl's life.
http://www.gofundme.com/74bld4
<
EVERYONE is invited to Daryl’s Life Celebration ‘cuz that’s how he rolls. |
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tarandusVDub
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1649
Location: Between Here and There
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:19 am Post subject: |
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What a loss and what a wonderful life to celebrate! I had the pleasure of working with Daryl over the phone to figure out my transmission needs when I did the Small Car subie conversion in 2012. He was fantastic to work with and got me dialed in. I often think of him when I crank up old ButterNut and head out with more peace of mind and safety with the family that I could have without him.
You will be missed, and have left a wonderful, powerful, lasting legacy.
"The birds have vanished into the sky,
and now the last cloud drains away,
We sit together, the mountain and me,
until only the mountain remains."
~ Li Po
RIP Daryl. And thank you.
_________________
1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16502
Location: Brookeville, MD
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LeftCoastKiteboarding
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2013
Posts: 123
Location: Left Coast
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| Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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He lives on under the floorboards of my syncro. 90k in on a rebuild and no signs of slowing down!!
Thanks D. |
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WLD*WSTY
Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2009
Posts: 438
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:09 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for everything Daryl, old friend. Sail on!
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
_________________
'82 SyncroWesty, the first ever conversion.'06 Subaru 2.5L |
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edbee
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2009
Posts: 49
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:04 pm Post subject: Daryl |
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| "Within a few minutes of meeting Daryl, I felt like I was hanging out with an old friend." |
These words written by a previous poster really resonated with me. I only meet Daryl twice, when dropping of a transaxle and diff at his shop and then when picking them up but that first time we met we chatted for about an hour, talking about things ranging from cat skiing to milling machines, differential design to the syncro and wetwesties groups. He was just such a friendly guy and the type of person you knew you could trust immediately.
I liked his sense of humor too: I remember I had asked about removing a stuck rear diff lock actuator pin and after giving some good advice he said, "..If all else fails..turn the van on its side and it will fall out.."
As others have said, the world could use more people like Daryl. I feel lucky to have met him.
My condolences to his family and RIP Daryl. |
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BavarianWrench
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004
Posts: 1045
Location: Oceans Edge
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| Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm selfishly saddened. For over ten years I've been a cyber admirer of Daryl's. I regret, being uncertain if he used two R's or not in his his name? What I do know, he wouldn't judge you if you got it wrong. His work, wisdom, and smile will be forever missed. A legend has moved on. He is free and his loved ones will feel that loss. My heart goes out to all of you. I never met him, and am saddened. It's Ironic. I currently have my gearbox all over my buddies workbench. New third gear, new fourth gear, slider, case saver plate, a few bearings, decoupler, oiler, then the two questions that led me here. Daryl, if I'm mating this to an AHU stage two tune, should I get an external support for the tranny and can you sell me what ever bushing you use for the decoupler shaft? RIP Daryl! We will figure this one out! Please do not entertain my question in Daryl's thread. My stating it, was only communicating how I found myself here. So many like myself, Daryl just bailed out. Truly a legend is lost! Peace and love to his family and friends! I wish I had made it to and event and met him. |
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pedrokrusher
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2011
Posts: 654
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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LouisVWAudi
Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2009
Posts: 17
Location: N. Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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I had the privilege of working with Daryl since he bought the company from the original owner. I will sorely miss his expertise, but also look forward to working with Matt in the future as the need arises.
Daryl was one of the friendliest guys that I have ever met and always enjoyed the times that we spent talking after he dropped the transmission off at my shop.
Daryl, you were a titan of the industry. |
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Syncromikey
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2012
Posts: 463
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:34 am Post subject: |
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So sorry to hear about Daryl. It's definitely a sad bit of news. He was a kind and generous man and our deepest sympathies go out to his Family. He will be greatly missed but the VW community.
Mike and Kim
_________________
Love my Westy ...
My build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=528954 |
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RR
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011
Posts: 1
Location: BC
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| Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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Daryl taught us so much of the machinery and so much more about life. His presence will be felt in those "best of camp" moments. |
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specialev
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2011
Posts: 281
Location: Mukilteo WA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:52 am Post subject: |
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| I only had the chance to talk to him once. I appreciated the way he freely shared his knowledge and its application to my small tranny problem. I'm sorry I never got the chance to brin his shop some of my business. Thanks. |
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Mr Brown
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 161
Location: Somewhere In Canada
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| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Sad news indeed. We never met in person but he rebuilt the trans in my Westfalia. When we first spoke I was surprised at how helpful and genuine he was to someone whom he had never met. I knew in the first minute of the initial phone call that he was going to do the overhaul. He is the only other person except for myself that has ever touched my van mechanically to this day. The transmission is flawless and I quietly thank him every time I get in and go for a drive. He was a true craftsman with a level of integrity and honesty that is hard to find these days.
RIP Daryl |
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stormforge
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2009
Posts: 355
Location: Adirondacks NY
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| Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:18 am Post subject: |
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I only talked to Daryl a couple of times but he saved our vacation with a rush job on a syncro gearbox and was unfailingly cheerful, helpful, and fun to talk to. I think the whole Vanagon community owes him a great deal and he will be missed!
-Bill |
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randiego
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2008
Posts: 75
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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Sad to read all these tributes. Amazing how one life can touch so many other lives. 
For those of us who are not regulars at this site - can you tell me what Daryl's handle was on here?
_________________
'85 GL, 1.9, 4spd (Sold, we'll miss it)
'89 Carat, Bordeaux Red, 4spd 2.1 |
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| randiego wrote: |
For those of us who are not regulars at this site - can you tell me what Daryl's handle was on here? |
AA Transaxle was his handle. He didn't post all that often though. He was much more of a person to person type.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_author=AA+Transaxle
_________________
"Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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