In Memory of Earl Laskey
We pay tribute to a great contributor to the sport compact community
Posted:  Nov 20, 2007
Type:  General News
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Photos: TunerZine Staff     Words: TunerZine Staff
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On December 1st, 2006 the sport compact community suffered a great loss. Earl Laskey of Laskey Racing tragically passed away. We here at tunerzine.com wants to make it known how much Earl Laskey meant to our industry. His achievements, patience and assistance to drag racers across the country will be irreplaceable. We would like to extend a special thanks to Paul Huizenga for the timeless photos in capturing Earl Laskey at what he loved doing. Earl Laskey was a great asset to our community and condolences goes out to his family and friends.

About Earl Laskey

Born August 7, 1944 in Chicago IL

Moved to Orange County, California in 1957 and has lived there ever since. He graduated from Cal State-Long Beach in 1967 with a degree in accounting. His interest in motors started when Earl was 11 years old by helping friends work on motorbikes and go-karts. His first car was a 1950 Ford followed by a 1955 Chevy. He did his first swap at 19 years old installing a 283 V-8 where a 6 cylinder used to reside. The first race car was a 33 Willis with a Chevy V-8 and the car turned out to be very evil and sold it before it drove him into the guardrail.

He then built a D Gas 1955 Chevy and raced at Lions, originally Irwindale and Fontana Drag strips. When Orange County International Raceway was built in 1967, he applied and became one of their first tech inspectors. Worked there for seven years and also campaigned a new lightweight 1955 Chevy. It was one of the first small block 55’s to break into the 10’s locally.

In 1974-5 he competed in the new NHRA competition eliminator class, B Econo Dragster. This team won Comp Eliminator at the 1975 NHRA Fall Nationals in Seattle as well as setting some speed and ET records with the car. A short shot at an alcohol funny car ended his first racing career.

Even though 20 years passed without any active racing, Earl never lost the love for drag racing. He began racing again in the late 90’s because of Mike’s interest in Hondas. Earl says, “I remember driving his turbo street car for the first time. The acceleration felt like warp speed from Star Wars with all the stars passing me up very fast!”

Racing keeps him young but also makes him feel old to be around the new breed of Sport Compact racers.
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