A Longtime FABO Member Has Passed Away

I am devastated to learn tonight of the passing of a very dear friend on Wednesday, my old next door neighbor Russ Pennell. Known here on FABO as "DoubleM," he owned and operated Stick Shift Transmissions in San Bernardino, California for many years and was well known in the California race car industry.

Lots of memories are going through my head right now. My favorite: Mere moments after the arrival of my beloved Cuda at my new house on Newbury Avenue in 1996, Russ literally came running across my yard from the house next door with a huge smile on his face. Almost jumping up and down, he pointed at my car on the rollback and said "I used to have one of THOSE!!!! Is that a '68?" And we were fast friends from that moment forward.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Pam, his daughter Rachel, and son Eryn Pennell. (Eryn is a class act in his own right too. The last I heard, he was doing very well and building motors for one of the Pendragons.)

Rest in Peace my friend. You were an important part of my life for over two decades, gave me some of the best car advice I've ever gotten, hooked me up with some cool stuff and amazing memories, were an honored customer years after I moved away, and will be very sorely missed. This truly sucks.