Memory of Jim

[Sam Colalillo]

I met my father in-law 11 years ago. He is one of the main reasons I am such a Turbo Buick fanatic. This past week my wife’s family and I had to make the toughest decision we have ever bean faced with in our lives. My father in law Jim was on life support systems and it was apparent he was fighting a loosing battle. On Monday these systems were removed. His funeral was yesterday.

He was one of the biggest NHRA drag racing fans I have ever met. His list of friends included names like Dyno Don Nicholson, and Arnie the farmer Beswick. I remember the year I first started dating my wife, she invited me to go with them to the 1996 U.S. Nationals. Arnie and Don where performing some match races at this event. I was so surprised to be around someone who was so close to these two guys. While in the pit area I felt like I was part of Arnies family.

He loved his Harley Davidson motorcycles. In the fall he would bring them into his house. The living room was the perfect place to store them through the winter months. After riding one he would spend hours cleaning it.

He was very opinionated. You never had to wonder where you stood with him or what his opinion was. You could put something together that you busted your hump on and he would find everything that was wrong with it. I remember taking first place at a Super Chevy show, and he asked me if the judges noticed a couple of things he pointed out to me that weren’t exactly perfect on my truck. I later fixed these things and he would find more wrong. This guy would push me to do beyond my best at everything I did.

Him and I had so many of the same interests and were so much alike in so many aspects. He was addicted to drag racing. When he was younger he had an ecno rail dragster. Which I have recently learned he would perform burnouts with on the street in front of his house. His lifestyle created a daughter that is very tolerable of all my crazy antics.

After my wife and I got married he gave me an ultimatum. He told me he was going to give us his WE-4 turbo T that had not been driven for about six years. These were the conditions: I had to sell it, or start making it road worthy, I could not just store it in our garage. I was on the fence with this decision. My wife wanted to go drag racing and I wanted to someday build a car that would go faster than the one I raced when I was a teenager. After about three months my father in-law reminded me that I still had not done anything with the car. My intuition was telling me he wanted me to sell the car and put the money into our house. I told him I was contemplating selling it and buying a V8 car. He recommended that I go over to US 41 for the Midwest BUICK challenge.

My wife and I decided to attend this event as spectators. I watched this ridiculous looking orange Buick pull up to the line. I can not remember what kind of times Jack ran with his car that day, but I was confused on how a 6 cylinder could go so fast. There were so many of these cars that were ripping off 10 second ¼ mile times, I was starting to change my mind on selling the car.

Not long after that event I took the car all apart. Got it repainted, rebuilt the engine, purchased a trick 200r4, and put the car back together. It consisted of a pt51 turbo 42.5 lb injectors, and a chip from Joe Lubrant. My wife drove this car and bracket raced it at our local track.

Life rolls on and now I have a much better job, bigger house with a pole barn. I recently tore this car down to the frame. My friends that have been over helping me with my recent combination know how picky Jim is. Now that Jim is gone I am so glad I never sold this car. My only regret is that he never got to see this new combination blast down the track.

[chopped39]

Sorry to hear of your loss. i cant imagine having to due that. do not sell that car. you know he will be watching you finish that car .so his daughter can go down the track again and put a hurtin on the v8 in the lane next to her. best of wishes to you and your family. sorry again

[TR Custom Parts]

Sorry to hear of your loss Sam. Sounds like he was a cool guy.

[QKRNYRS]

Sam,

Remember Jim will be watching over you and the Fam.
He lived a full life and as the pastor said at the funeral He found God.

GodSpeed Jim

[PaCemkr86]

sorry for your loss Sam...

[Mrs. TurboLoyd]

Sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers....

Think you can get the car together in time for the MWBC this year? You can dedicate your car to him.

Take care,

Shari

[turbo nasty]

Sorry for the loss bro. May the lord bless and comfort you guys.

Jason

[GNflyby]

I'm sorry about your loss brother, may he rest in peace.

[BOOSTBROTHER]

Sorry for your loss Sam

Godspeed Jim

[notacarlo]

if ever there were a wonderful story about friends, family, and TR's....This would rank #1 in my book.

Sam sorry for your loss, but he passed on his passion and love for life right to you....keep it going.