Mountain Of A Man: Sonny Leonard Has Handed At Age 77 – Legendary Engine Builder Leaves Superb Legacy
(Picture by Charles Wickam) – Some of the legendary drag racing engine builders of all time has died at age 77. Sonny Leonard who pioneered large cubic inch engines, paved the way in lessons like mountain motor professional inventory, radial vs the world, professional modified and extra, has left this mortal coil. Leonard was troubled by pneumonia on the finish of December and was seemingly recovering earlier than he handed away yesterday. It’s onerous to sum up what the person meant to the game of drag racing however when one begins to consider the truth that his engines received 13 IHRA mountain motor professional inventory championships, have dominated in truck pulling, and have truthfully set the gold normal for what it means to be a innovative engine builder in each sports activities, it solely begins to scratch the floor of who he was and what he did.
His story is one among humble beginnings. It’s one among measured progress that became a cascade of demand that he labored a lot of his life to maintain up with. Certainly one of his engines might be discovered within the Sport Over boat of Mike Finnegan. Attend a PDRA occasion or any race the place lessons like high sportsman or dragster are being run and also you’ll see that famed Sonny’s emblem on hood scoops, valve covers and extra.
Proudly owning an engine from his works was and can proceed to be an aspirational purpose for therefore many drag racers it’s practically unattainable to think about. Relating to the enterprise that produces these superior engines, they’ll keep on. Right here’s their assertion, “As most of you may have heard, sadly Sonny handed away this morning. He’ll can be deeply missed past what phrases can describe, however we wish to reassure our prospects that Sonny’s Racing Engines will proceed to thrive and stay open for enterprise.”
Past constructing issues like a 1,005ci engine that made 2,000 naturally aspirated horsepower, successful all these races, and altering the game, Leonard was a implausible man. He was a pleasure to be round, to take heed to, and to study from. For those who might spend time round Sonny Leonard and never smile or snort, your life was severely out of whack. It was uncommon to see him with out his glasses round his neck or with out his trademark smile.
Sonny Leonard’s legacy will reside on together with his identify, his enterprise, and the beastly engines that he solid a path in creating, engineering, and tuning into winners. Most significantly it should lengthy reside within the reminiscences and fond emotions his family and friends have for him. Anybody that knew this man was richer for the expertise.
