Dear FE men and women,
One of the heroes in our FE circle has long been the legendary and fierce FE guru Amos Saterlee.
Most recall that he built and tuned the wicked fast FE's for Fast Eddie Schartman for some time, raced and built for many fast Fords, and then was the Crew Chief and tuner for the venerable and brutally fast blown fuel Cammers in the Mickey Thompson, Danny Ongais strecthed Metallic Blue Mustang Funny car. They took them all on and won, Bristol, Indy and many points in between
I was at the March Meet this year running blown fuel stuff and got to catch up with Leon Fitsgerald who owns and runs the famous altereded know as Pure Heaven. I worked a lot on the Winged Express,,,Marcellus and Borsch, so we always share fun memories
Amos was on that bad bad Altered and looked just fine, and strong. I know of no tuner who could do a better job keeping the fuel cruve right and the tune up on center, tickling The Edge, and not crashing of the cliff.
I called over to his nice shop in Anaheim ,Ca, kind of by Disneyland for those who don't visit here a lot, and was going to meet 'Famous Amos' at this ALL FORD show at Knott's Berry Farm. We discuss blown SOHC's when we can, and a lot more. He is a fine guy
So I had a hard time reaching him which is odd, after 3 days I got a call from his boy, who is also super talented on race engines of many kinds, and Amos Jr told me, thus us, he found Amos lying on his back in the engine room and he was not alert.
Good luck was in the room because Amos Jr rushed 911 over, they administered the stroke drugs and so on, and they got to him to a Doctor in time Amos Jr says. AMOS had his 2nd stroke sadly. The good news, thank heavens, is that he is resting comfortably and doing rehab, did not lose any use of his limbs, is eating, walking slowly with help, and alert. His ability to speak is currently a challenge, but there are signs of improvement daily. He is alert and responsive, but just quiet and talk in short terms. Cogent, responsive, alert we are told.
It is a shame but we are all getting older and we never know when that knock arrives at the door I suppose.
I called NHRA's Steve Gibbs and we are sending pals over to visit. Art Chrisman and friends. Art is much better too thank God. Amos Jr says Amos Sr is quite pleased to have some company, so if any of you cats know him, and want to visit or express some act of kindness, email me and we can get you an address, in Anaheim,Ca., and possibly meet you over there or visit.
Amos Jr encouraged this and I said that I would pass it along. Now AMOS is 87, and such a nice, wise, sage veteran, he of all people, should do a book and has pages in the draft of what some of my friends are assembling. So, I guess it is proper and fitting to invite you folks to email me if you feel the desire to perk up a true FE Legend and fine, good man.
I invited his son, kids, grand kids and relations, to this FORD show, and I hope to get him a video of all of the cammers there, and, maybe a clip of the Gas Rhonda car running again.
Bear in mind he also advises the tuning calls on the Mickey Thompson/Ongais Funny car that runs Nostalgia Nitro in the NHRA Heritage Series.
If you could, we will bring him these emails we have expressing best wishes to get well when we visit this week. So email me, or post whatever you want us to print and hand him here if you like. HMStroppeVet@Gmail.com-Attn-Amos Saterlee
Also, poor Stroppe Jr blew out both his knees and he needed a double knee replacement this week, so he won't be judging this weekend unless we can roll him there. That is the tentative plan but shucks, 2 new knees is a painful deal, on top of losing your Mother...
Good news is several of the old team will be with us and that should be a blast. Plans include lighting the Les Ritchey Injected SOHC car, also the last SOHC Earl Wade built, and a lot more.
My friends and I love this FORD fraternity of sorts and we help each other as best we can. None of us bicker or fight or harm a soul. We just do our best to do good work.
AMOS helped me many times, and helped many friends, go fast, live, and make a bunch of ponies. He is just so good at dialing fast stuff in methodically, and expertly. One of his tricks he passed along 40 some years ago and it has helped many of us win. On a Drag Car that can win, and that has a dozen knobs to tweak, mag, blower over drive, nitro percent, clutch settings, and on and on, you have to learn, feel, and sense, when you smart to just 'Leave it alone'. That means, repeat the last pass exactly on the tuning calls, and do another sage trick...'Let the air come to the tune up'(Temp falls, water grains go down, barometer goes up, etc) (Makes more power on it's own), and; 'Let the track come to the car'. ( As the track gets more rubber, and absent bad oil downs, and given more VHT, cooler temp, and so on,the car set the same, may step up in MPH, and go quicker, absent any tuning changes). This is race winning advice. Many new guys play with it way too much, no doubt. 'If there is a knob, or adjustment, that doesn't mean you HAVE to twist it all the time'. Lot's of wisdom in such bromides.
I wish him and his family the best, in our hearts and prayers. I told Amos Jr that I would tell some of my Ford friends online. He said they would appreciate that.
Amos by the way, is a Great Great Grand pa....so his is a fortunate man,
The Stroppe , HMS guys all ran in a circle back then, we were the source of the race parts for many sponsored teams, so we have shared many common friends
Please join me in sending Amos best wishes to get well soon, and get back to the starting line with one of his cutting edge race engines. I know one thing for sure, if you draw him to race, you better be ready to get schooled because he has shown the best his tail lights for decades!
You have to be one heck of a Crew Chief to have your name on the side of Mickey Thompson's best fuel funny cars,,,
Thanks Kindly
Tom from Stroppe
Get Well Amos !
PS-Big news pending on one of the fastest Ford men ever, in a nitro car, soon....2 big fun things over the horizon.....
