Sad News :( Gerry Gostenik

ROYALOAK62

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 1
RIP Gerry.
When I started in this crazy 348-409 Chevy hobby I meet Gerry at my sons home in Dearborn, MI, it just so happens that Gerry lived on the same street. P
It was some years after I purchased my 62 Chevy conv 409 and I drove it to a birthday party at my sons, that I meet Gerry when he was driving by. He stopped just to look at my 100 ft looker. After talking with him some, he invited me and my son, to come over to his place at a latter date. I had no idea that he was A connoisseur of the 348 409.
When we came to his place and looked in his garage and saw 2-race cars & his suburban W powered tow truck, I know I was talking a TRUE, W powered person.
Over the years of meeting him on and off and talking shop, we became friends. During our Conversations he said at one time he had 12 W engines at one time setting in his garage. After a some years he sold off one of the race cars, keeping the nostalgia drag 61.

About 10 years ago my 62 was acting up, broke one of my number eight valve lifters. I thought it was time to rebuild the Chevy from he ground up. So after finding the metal shop to do the body work and an painter, off we went.

At the same time I stopped over to Gerry’s to visit and he asked why he hasn’t seen the 62 lately. I told him I was doing a body & paint refreshing. He said that would be the right time to refresh the engine at the same time, wasn’t even thinking about that, $$$$$. But after the Conversation about it, we Decided that was the best time to refresh the engine. After talking to him about where is the the best shop in town. He said he could do it if I would do all the running around for parts. So we set a price for his services and what kind of engine I was looking for. So off we went p. When ever he needed parts or machine work he’d call and off I went. About 7 months later, he called and said come over to hear your 409. All I can say is WOW.
unfortunately my son had to move out of state and I haven’t talked to Gerry since as much as I should have.

RIP, friend I will never forget our Conversations.

Dave Krueger (ROYALOAK62)
 

bjburnout

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 4
Was Gerry at the first convention in KC.....:scratch If so I think I sat with him on the bus ride to Day Automotive.....:good
RIP Gerry.......thanx for the memories.....:hug
 

blkblk63ss

Well Seasoned Member
Supporting Member 5
Gerry was at the convention in great bend,ks and raced the 61. Never talked to him ,but was very impressed with his racing. He would pull the front wheel's up about a foot . . I believe he was top dog at the convention.
 

ROYALOAK62

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 1
Godspeed Gerry. Sold him a 3x2 intake about 2 years ago. Curious what project he was working on.
Floyd, Gerry was starting on a 61 or 62 Chevy station wagon that I saw sitting in his garage the last time I was at his place.
Dave
 

4speedman

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
I saw him at the clay city ky event and he ran well as I remember I saw him a couple of years later at the hot rod reunion in bowling green he was coming out of a Ihop restaurant and he said he was headed home i don't think he was to happy with the reunion
 

Barry Taylor

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 3
I met Gerry at the Clay City, Ky race also. He was a very friendly person to talk to and like everyone said he could shift those gears. A true Ambassador and a great racer for our 348-409 community. RIP Gerry
 

Mearl

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 6
I barely met him at Great Bend but I'm still proud that I did. RIP
 

DIV1RACER-2

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 12
I am deeply saddened by the news of Gerry's passing ... I met him at National Trail raceway around 2003 at a NSCA race .. I was to become friends w/ him from that day on ... Quiet person but there was a lot going on in the backround ......I knew of his health issues and had kept in touch w/ him ... The last time i saw him in person he came down from Mi. and bought a block from me ... He always had an interesting project under construction ... Great guy , better person , terrible loss for his family and friends ... RIP Gerry ....
 

BSL409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 6
I first met Gerry at the Thompson Race and then when he bought 58 wagon from my buddy Bob and we had also talked on the phone a few times when Gerry was buying some 409 parts I also remember the Hot rod reunion Race at Epping ware Gerry was going in to the finales with the broke trans! Great guy ! very sad RIP
 

RickyGos

New Member
This is Gerry's son Rick. I just wanted to thank all of you for sharing your thoughts about my father at this trying time. It was comforting to hear some stories from those who had the good fortune of interacting with him. He was a good person and an excellent teacher. You will be hard pressed to find a person more dedicated to exploring the potential of that 409 engine and mechanical systems in general. May he rest in peace.
 

montemike79

Well Known Member
Sorry to hear about Gerry. Drove out to his house a few yrs ago to buy the back seat out of the '61 for my '62 bubble top. He was a nice guy and we spent a while talking with him, and him showing us some of his stuff and other cars. Glad I got a chance to meet him. RIP.
 

63 dream'n

Well Seasoned Member
Supporting Member 4
So sorry to hear about Gerry’s passing......Condolences to his friends and family...... sounds like a ...........“stand up gentleman”.........:pray RIP
 
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