El Dub's OLD SCHOOL & Nostalgia VW Page

TRIBUTE TO DEAN LOWRY : LIFE IN PURPLE.

Note that the purple theme of these pages are a tribute to Deano's favorite color...

Just a few words about someone who will stay one of the best VW drag racer & engine builder of all time. In fact, these few pages will be a tribute to his devotion and knowledge about how to hot rod a little VW engines.

Boy, if only I had the opportunity and chance to meet Dean in person...

Unfortunately, Dean passed away the 11th june 1999 at the age of nearly 70, way too early...

Since then, the world of Volkswagen Drag racers would never be the same.

We miss you Dean...

Picture showing Dean, Darrell Vittone & Jim Black, at Riverside H.R.M. Drags in the mid 1960s courtesy of Glenn Miller. Note the EMPI bus.

Deano memories by Glenn MILLER

I met Dean in the early 1960s, he was working for Joe Vittones Econo VW and then over to EMPI, he was always Grinding on VW Heads in the shop, ( Porting ) even after work, Looking for more Airflow, fooling with Okrasa, Denzel and the Stock VW 36HP Head, and carrying out many Special early VW Projects at EMPI, like the All Metal Sportster, the various EMPI Demo Cars, 2 Dragsters, Inch Pincher 1 etc.

He was an amazing guy, if he couldn't get the special part needed for a project, he just Built It, always the innovator, I shot Photos of EMPI Parts for their Catalogs over the years and would cover some of the Drag Racing around So. Cal. with them, Remember, the Inch Pincher was the Test Bed for EMPIs Products, I never saw him raise his voice or complain about anything and he always had that big Grin Smile and Easy Going Style, a very special person and a nicer guy I have yet to meet!

Last saw him in 1998 at Bonneville with Bob Stahl (see photo), we had a great visit, sadly he passed away soon after, we are all still very saddened by his passing!

Regards, Glenn Miller...

Frenchy DEHOUX gave me some times ago this incredible signed pictures by him and Deano. It shows a relaxing Deano chating about Volkswagen and the good old days in Frenchy's home.

Note the immaculate garage floor of Frenchy... LOL!!!

WANTED : Deanos pictures, stories... Email me.