John Buttera, noted chassis builder

[machoneman]

Correction: This was a March 2008 article, not 2012.

http://www.hotrod.com/whereitbegan/hrdp_0803w_lil_john_buttera_death/


Just learned that JB passed earlier this month

He and Dennis Rollain ran R&B Automotive, then R&B Chassis, in Kenosha, WI for years and built many a notable Ford-powered (and non-Ford) dragster, F/C, IndyCar and even some LSR chassis. I purchased a near new Ford-powered F.E.D. years ago once I learned that it had an R&B chassis and that ride was trick indeed!
  
http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/5609-john-buttera-passes

[cammerfe]

...and a tip of the hat for Li'l John!!

KS

[Hemi Joel]

Lil John passed away 4 years ago. That's the problem with these web articles that are not properly dated, you never know what YEAR they are talking about.

[machoneman]

I knew that Rollain had passed some years ago in a WI auto accident but thought that Buttera passed only this month, 2012. Sorry, I missed that he also actually passed years ago as well.

[Hemi Joel]

I knew that Rollain had passed some years ago in a WI auto accident but thought that Buttera passed only this month, 2012. Sorry, I missed that he also actually passed years ago as well.

Don't worry about it. There's probably some 90 year old Jap soldier in a cave somewhere who dosen't know the war is over yet as well...

[jayb]

When Buttera died I read several articles about him and was surprised to find that he was part of Mickey Thompson's 69 Mustang Funny Car team.  I'll bet he would have had a lot of interesting thing to say about that season, and the SOHCs of the day.  RIP 'lil John...