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-   -   In Loving Memory (https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/loving-memory-1011507/)

XLR8 09-12-12 09:38 PM

In Loving Memory
 
August 31st 2012 I lost a very dear friend.

We were more than friends, we were brothers. I knew Travis Steele since the 1st grade. He was a great man; loving, friendly, and always had a smile on his face,. We grew up together, rode motorcycles together, partied together, and built Rx7's together.

That Friday night he had received new parts for his FD. In his excitement, he jacked up the car, placed it on a jack stand and got to work. Somehow the car slipped off the stand and fell on him. He passed away doing what he loved.

He didn't post much or come on the forum too often, but he was a serious rotary enthusiast. Travis (Steelemotorsports), his younger brother Dave (FCinWV) and I (XLR8) were all very close. We've been into rotaries and Rx7's for a long time. Travis added the FD to his Rx7 collection last year. It was his dream car. Dave & his dad will be driving it up to the Chris Carlisi BBQ. Travis had been looking forward to the event all year. As we celebrate Chris's life, and his passion, we will also be celebrating Travis's life.

I wanted to create this thread in his memory. Please be safe everyone. We forget sometimes how dangerous our amazing hobby can be.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...89085214_n.jpg

MisterX 09-12-12 09:50 PM

What a horrific way to go; I hope he didn't suffer for long. My condolences on the loss of your best bud.

XLR8 09-12-12 09:56 PM

From what I was told, it was instant.

Thank you.

Scrub 09-12-12 10:05 PM

I'm sorry for your loss....That's definitely a horrible way to go! He was at rotor fest wasn't he?

-Dan

XLR8 09-12-12 10:10 PM

Yes he was. He and his brother drove up that weekend.

ric7777 09-12-12 10:11 PM

My condolence to you and his family

zensokuracer001 09-12-12 10:16 PM

sorry for your loss yeah my old man almost went out the same way but a jack stand saved his ass, taught me to never work on a jacked up car alone incase you need help. but anyway again sorry for your loss.

Supernaut 09-12-12 10:16 PM

:(. At least he got to own his dream car before he passed. Not many people can say that.

1QWIK7 09-12-12 10:23 PM

Yeah i said my condolences in the brothers thread in the NE section. This is absolutely horrific.

I knew of a person who went out this way. He was under his accord supported by a jack ONLY and the jack apparently failed and was left under. His mother went outside to find her son gone under his car. I cant fathom that traumatizing vision that poor mother has to now live with. That poor family and poor kid.

Thats why even just to do an oil change, which is super quick, i put a jack stand. Even though you're supposed to, i still know of people who rely on jacks only and even myself back in the day used only a jack. I still remember installing my PFS exhaust using an OLD OLD rusty jack i had laying around. Thank god it didnt fail on me.

RIP to travis.

okevin 09-12-12 10:37 PM

hey , man be strong! My condolence to you and his family

SayNoToPistons 09-12-12 10:39 PM

Seems like some of you guys completely missed the point where OP said the car was placed on jack stands.

OP, sorry your loss. My condolences for all effected.

Tem120 09-12-12 11:36 PM

really sorry to hear that... sorry for your loss , and a loss for our community as well .

misterstyx69 09-12-12 11:49 PM

That is such a Tragedy,I am sorry for your loss.
I work on my car alone,and I am so strict with myself,when others work with me they get mad,but I don't care.I only care that I can tell about how hard the job was later on..and whine.
Thoughts are with your Friend.

GoodfellaFD3S 09-13-12 12:13 AM

As I posted in the NE thread, my deepest condolences..... I can't even imagine what you and his family are going through. Really puts things in perspective.

Montego 09-13-12 12:23 AM

Wow. My condolences and extremely sorry for your loss.

:(

prew 09-13-12 12:27 AM

Sorry for your loss Josh. My condolences to his family and friends.

tkuwaha 09-13-12 01:24 AM

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It's sobering to hear that something like this could happen even when you use jack stands like you're supposed to.
This caught my attention because I've been sliding rhino ramps under the tires in addition to the jack stands for some extra safety measures.

Alex Rodriguez 09-13-12 02:03 AM

My condolences bro sorry for your loss.

Mahjik 09-13-12 08:46 AM

That's a sad story and my heart goes out to his family and friends.

Folks... when working with jack stands, always do a 'shove' test on the car to make sure it's secure on the stands before going under. You'd want it to fall from that test rather than something happening with you being under it.

ImStillOnJava 09-13-12 09:00 AM

My sincere condolences.

I came across a Porsche forum thread with similar unfortunate circumstances, and what was to blame was that the jackstand used was the "teeth" type, and eventually the teeth were dulled down enough that it caused a slip and failure.

I try to stick with ramps and jackstands that use a locking pin now...

Ceylon 09-13-12 09:09 AM

This is the very reason I'm paranoid about jacking low cars.

Deeply saddened to hear this news, my condolences to his family & friends.

Fritz Flynn 09-13-12 09:22 AM


Originally Posted by Mahjik (Post 11220383)
That's a sad story and my heart goes out to his family and friends.

Folks... when working with jack stands, always do a 'shove' test on the car to make sure it's secure on the stands before going under. You'd want it to fall from that test rather than something happening with you being under it.

My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

I always do the shake and I also try to remember to crank a jack under the section I'm working on. Thanks to the OP this thread will make me that much more careful.


Originally Posted by ImStillOnJava (Post 11220397)
My sincere condolences.

I came across a Porsche forum thread with similar unfortunate circumstances, and what was to blame was that the jackstand used was the "teeth" type, and eventually the teeth were dulled down enough that it caused a slip and failure.

I try to stick with ramps and jackstands that use a locking pin now...

I'm going to look my stands over today when I get home. I already have a few locking type jack stands but I have cars on jack stands all over the place so this thread is a great reminder to us to be careful and use safer equipment.

1QWIK7 09-13-12 09:23 AM


Originally Posted by SayNoToPistons (Post 11220104)
Seems like some of you guys completely missed the point where OP said the car was placed on jack stands.

OP, sorry your loss. My condolences for all effected.


I saw that already.

I was just sharing my story about how the kid i knew used only a jack and how i myself used only a jack back in the day.

Accidents do happen, even if you're the safest person in the world.

theorie 09-13-12 09:38 AM

Wow really sorry / saddened to hear this. Let this be a lesson to all of us.

moneymaker42141983 09-13-12 09:38 AM

I'm so sorry to hear this has happened to someone on here. That's a horrible way to go. We forget sometimes how something as simple as jacking up your car on simple stands can affect are lives and are families. I'm a mechanic by trade and it does happen more then you would think. even if there are people around to help, most of the damage is already done. This is my worse nightmare being on the job. I always leave the jack under one side of the car for extra safety. Better safe then sorry is the motto in my shop. My condolences to everyone that was affected by this tragedy.

djseven 09-13-12 10:08 AM

Sorry to hear of this. My condolences to his family and friends. Hate to lose a rotary enthusiast, though I doubt I ever met him I feel all of us are somehow connectred through our passion for these engines/cars.

stauren1203 09-13-12 10:46 AM

Thank you for this sobering reminder of how fragile and precious life is. My deepest sympathy goes out to those closest to Travis. I only pray that his family finds peace with God in their grieving process.

MazdaSpeedDan 09-13-12 12:01 PM

Wow that really sucks, makes me think I am going to go out and buy 2 extra jack stands for my engine swap. RIP.

Polak Graphics 09-13-12 12:12 PM

My condolences.

Everyone, keep safe.

FCinWV 09-13-12 01:00 PM

I've been following this, reading the posts, mostly trying to keep it together. There was no one closer to him than me. I sware he is in my head and have his thoughts. I barely make it through the day know ing hes never coming home to close the garage door for me cause Im only 5'7". For god sakes always remember to put the damn car in gear before climbing underneath. I hate myself for being the one left alive. I was the ass of the family, Travis was kind, polite, and could also drink 2 cases in one sitting if provoked. It is true only the good die young.


You never think of where to go from here. But now Im forced to. I will carry his legacy, and build the Fd, the vert, and the fb. Its the only thing that really keeps me getting off my couch in the morning...causeI still havent slept in myown bed since.

We were at Rotorfest..I believe the only ones drinking. I will be very active in club meets as well as on the forum. Please be safe and cherish those closest, they can be gone in an instant.

-Davey

XLR8 09-13-12 04:40 PM

^ brothers for life man. Love you.

Thank you all for your words.

curacaosfinest 09-13-12 04:45 PM

you have the condolences from the whole So.Fla crew man...he's somewhere in heaven still rolling around in an FD!

Siraniko 09-13-12 04:47 PM

RIP rotary brother.

nashman69g 09-13-12 08:34 PM

my condolences...always sucks to loose someone, especially when that close! Lesson to all...

Ol-Skool 09-13-12 09:28 PM

That really is shocking news to hear. We all forget how precious life can be and it always takes a tragedy for us to remember we are only on this earth for a short time.

My heart goes out to you and his family and friends.

I had a mate pass away a few years ago now from leukemia. Absolute RX7 enthusiast and we used to organise and go on cruises all the time. We organised a massive remembrance cruise for him and had a massive turnout of rotors.

XLR8 09-13-12 09:40 PM

Travis's passion.
 
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/IMAG0166.jpg

rx7rocks 09-13-12 09:42 PM

My sympathy goes out to the loved ones left behind. R.I.P.

James Paventi 09-14-12 12:48 AM

Peace.

ZE Power MX6 09-14-12 02:22 AM

This sucks :( My condolences to his friends and family.

I always leave a jack on one side of the car for extra support, and use ramp when I don't need to take the wheels off, but once in awhile I do jack up the car with just a jack for some quick underneath check , for sure I won't do that anymore.

mono4lamar 09-14-12 08:37 AM

I believe Rich and I spoke to you and your brother briefly at Rotorfest. It's really really sad to hear of your loss. It's good to hear you'll be carrying on his memory and love for the car. Try to not hold your head down as I'm sure he's proud of you. See you at the meet!

justy 09-14-12 08:48 AM

Sorry to hear for your loss.

94RHDFD 09-14-12 08:59 AM

My sincere condolences

Shiryuoss 09-14-12 06:22 PM

My condolences :(

unvmyrx7 09-14-12 08:33 PM

my condolences to his family. take comfort in knowing that he is not alone in rotor heaven..

HawaiianRedMako 09-15-12 07:32 PM

R.i.p.

DOHC Vobra 09-15-12 07:46 PM

R.I.P. my sincere condolences to family and friends. :(

Ruler_Mark 09-15-12 07:53 PM

RIP, brapbrap

Herblenny 09-16-12 09:16 AM

A sad day when you find out fellow FD owner loosing their life... I have to say this reiterates how import our lives are and how we should be more careful. My condolence to you and your family..

KrisD1 09-16-12 09:43 AM

My deepest condolences to all his friends and family, it's a hard reminder for all of us to keep it save, had a bad experience myself with jackstands, now I always put a set of wheels under the car just to be sure.

IRPerformance 09-16-12 10:28 AM

Very sorry to hear about your loss. We can mention something at the Carlisi event if you like.


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