Deepest Sympathy from someone, and others who have had events effect them, more than once.

I really was getting ready to get some parts from him and only pm'd him previously, but he knew his business. I would like to ask his friends and family to auction his equipment/parts on the forum, and all monies raised go to family. this helps, believe me, trying to keep a normal routine going on, when you have to deal with all the finances, and legalities for family, is very hard. I lost my Dad's brother [today would be his birthday]and my Dad within 6months of each other from 6/06 to 12/06, and both of them were totally, unexpected. Also other relatives and friends, continuing on into this year. I am medically trained, and have seen enough from that end of the spectrum, and dealing with it on a personal level is a lot different, although the training helps. There is help out there for family and friends if they need to talk about coping. There are no words anyone can express, other then in remembrance, that can alter this, and time will pass, as will we.

To his family, I wish GODSPEED, in your healing and understanding, and to his friends as well. Remember there is always someone who cares more about you than yourself at times.

ROB

CENTRAL FLORIDA ROTARY ASSOCIATION FOUNDER
CENFLARXCLUB VICE-PRESIDENT
ROTOR7VENCLUB MEMBER
DOWNSOUTHROTARYCLUB MEMBER
ROTARYALLIANCE MEMBER
BREVARDMOTORSPORTS.ORG

 

I met Blake back in '04 at a rotary swap meet. He will be missed.

 

He will definitely be missed. It saddens me to see one of the ultra-knowledgeable rotary guys go.

 

wow. i am shocked.

my sympathies to his family and friends.

 

Goodness gracious... Blake seemed like a nice articulate guy like many others who already said this. Our world does not need to lose anymore people like him. My condolences out to his friends and family.

 

I would like to contribute for flowers or something to whoever. please PM me.

 

Very sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

 

I'm in total shock. I've known and hung out with Blake for years through Rotary Power Northwest. numerous outings, meets and time at Pineapple racing. he was one of the cornerstone and most influential rotary guys in the Pacific Northwest. I've been realively inactive in the rotary world of late and I'm very sorry to not have kept in touch with him.

If you want an idea of the how many folks Blake has touched over the years just Google "Blake Qualley". You'll be blown away by how many hits you get.

Coorindated honor drive across the country sounds like a way for us all to get closure.

Like the idea of helping the family sell his stuff for to raise funds for whatever purpose they deem appropriate.

 

I'm in shock. Berny just called me ... Blake stayed at my house when he went cross country for the 2003 GRM challenge... I've known him for quite a long time, probably 10 years now, back from my old FC days.

I sat next to him at the SevenStock X banquet - he seemed happy. Just goes to show you don't really know someone.

Be safe all, and RIP Blake:

 

Guy,

Any word on his family? Did he leave a letter as to why? Did you guys notice any difference in his mood the last time you saw him?

He will be missed

He was in my passenger seat when I blew my motor at PIR and decided to restore the FD that day.

 

wow this is shocking. I have known him for a long time. he will be missed by many.

RIP Blake

 

>_< It seems surreal.. He seemed like a nice guy, though I only saw him once or twice..
I don't know what to say.

 

damn.

my condolences to his family and the Pineapple Racing family.

hope you found peace, Blake

 

Wow.
I take a few days off to move and THIS happens?

Condolences for his family. John called and told me.

 

Although I've never met the fellow I followed his exploits the 2 years he did the GRM challenge. Crazy stuff to drive an old RX-7 across the country. The RX-7 and a 1/2 was quite the cool setup. His desire and will power to accomplish what he had done certainly earns my respect.

This was quite the sad thing to hear today.

 

RIP Blake. This is terrible to hear. My condolences go out to all his friends, family and all the rotorheads hes helped over the years (including me).

 

Yes, Bern (SoCal RX Club) broke the news to me today as well. Just saw and spoke with him last month at Sevenstock X. He always took time to say hi and shoot the breeze. Sad ending to a great contributor. RotaryEngineIllustrated just won't be the same without his guiding hand. RIP rotorbro!

 

Has anyone thought about setting up a memorial fund or something?

There's no news at RotaryEngineIllustrated or PineappleRacing websites.

 

Out of respect for the family I did not add all of the info about is death or reasons why. It is better for all of us to remember Blake for his past contributions and actions.

There may be some things said by Pineapple Racing or fellow people that knew him but I would take all said or implied with a grain of salt. We have all done or said things in the past that we would not want to share with the world. Out of respect for Blake we should not even ask.

I first met Blake years ago when I shared a Shop with Rob (Pineapple). I did some bending and welding on his first GRM car. We were friends ever since.

When I moved my shop to a bigger place I allowed Blake to come with and he brought over a few cars and projects. It was interesting having him around for a few years.

I allowed Blake to use my pick up to tow his GRM project to Florida for the second time he went and he blew up the motor of my PU near Stockton. They limped the truck into a U-Haul slash liquor Store with bars over all the windows. Blake said it wasn't a very good part of town. They rented a U-Haul and towed the car back and left my Ford there. It was stripped in two day and was never seen again. I will miss that truck

I helped him with the RX7 and a Half with some of the fabrication and thought plans. It was a hands on for the two of us and did test the limits of our friendship. A mutual friend of ours and me did have some fun on Blake's behalf. I remember it was 2 days before he had to leave for the trek with the RX7 1/2 and he was completely stressed out to the max. He was running around the shop ranting and raving telling us that he had leave and had no time left. He was supposed to be wiring the trailer for the lights and fuel pump. We decided to use the factory tank and pump in the 1/2 for the trip to help limit his stops. I gave him a fuel line quick disconnect for the fuel line and spliced it in to the RX7 so all he had to do was flip a toggle from main tank to trailer tank.

My friend brought over a fresh batch of Brownies that was laced with 420, if you know what i mean. Blake did not know and he ate like 3-4 brownies in a sitting, kind of a post lunch and couldn't figure out why he wasn't getting anything done. My shop help and my friend and I laughed so hard because Blake was sitting on my creeper chair bobbing and swaying from side drooling for about two hours in the middle of the shop floor. He was a lot more calm but still far behind schedule after that.

We just told Blake last year at the Super Bowl party about what we did a few years back to him and we all laughed so hard, he was finally able to figure out why he didn't get a thing done all day and why he had the munchies after.

Our nick name for Blake was "Q", after the character from Star Trek Next Generation. "Q" was the all knowing and all seeing (Omnipotent) and it did seem natural to call him that. Any of you that talk to him for a while could see why we called him that. He all ways had to be right and we would argue with him on purpose to get him all worked up. I will miss that the most, seems a little selfish but I think we both enjoyed that.

"Q" was alway available to see a movie, go out for a few drinks and to help out anytime, he was always a phone call away.

So I think that the questions need not be asked or answered. I will remember Blake for being a caring and giving friend, knowledgeable in what he enjoyed and I will miss the opportunity to sit and watch a Mariners game, have a few drinks, debates and for being a royal pain in the ***!

Maybe Dan from Pineapple can get the info on Blake's service and post them here for all of us to see.

 

at this time I dont know anymore info about why he did it, or if there was a note or not. His mother came down and we gave her all of his belongings. I helped him move some personal stuff to his house 2 weeks ago and everything seemed fine. Ive seen him way more stressed out than he has been so I was not expecting any of this. After we were done moving his stuff he let me try out his setup for Gran Turismo 4 with the FC seat, pedals and steering wheel and we then talked about me helping him build more and start up the little tournaments he had in mind. He still had some engine builds in the works and more stuff cooking so all of this was well camouflaged. I am open to suggestions about when and where for the drive so we should all talk and decide on something.

-Guy

 

Adam,there are some details that will be released once his mother gives the OK,as far as a memorial service goes,i asked today about it,and nothing as of yet,when i am informed,i will post it if it hasn't already

Paul

 

Thanks for thinking of that, we just put up something on the front page of RotaryEngineIllustrated on behalf of blake, the PineappleRacing.com page is currently offline.

---

It came as quite a shock when I heard about Blake too, I would have never thought. I was fortunate enough to work with blake for quite awhile over several years. He actually inspired me to do many things looking back on it.

Blake originally setup RotaryEngineIllustrated and back then allowed me to help add stuff to the mix, and ever since being actively involved in a website it has changed my whole focus on interest in internet entrepreneurship thanks to blake.

He helped me start a sticker business a couple years ago, and the machine we still used. He helped me late at night put together large banners that took hours and was always fun to joke with, he always had new gadgets and stuff he could show off at the shop like his iphone, the equipment for pineapple racing, his new car toys, the electronics, the shooters he had and everything.

It was also fun to work with Blake when we were shooting the videos for RebuildingRotaryEngines, blake would do the video shooting, so we were in contact and it is sad to see him go. I put some stuff on the frontpage of REI in his name because of the above post for bringing up the idea, as his animations that he created for REI will still be seen by everyone and all the new enthusiasts, and the videos will be seen for as long as the internet is around.

Thanks for everything Blake, we'll miss you

 

• Here is some of Blake Qualley's Work.
• Animations by Blake Qualley
• Rotary Engine Background by Blake Qualley

I still today don't know how to make those animations, I remember he said he actually took the specs, and scanned the sides of the rotary engine parts, and used them for the actual image. Just by the images the cars alone, everyone knows he was one of the most rotary engine enthusiasts around. This is just a collection of blake qualleys work, there is much more. But this will shed some light into his talents.

 

Terrible NEWS..

My thoughts and prayers for his family and friends..

I wonder if this has anything to do with:
https://www.rx7club.com/pineapple-racing-171/what-happened-pineappleracing-com-699124/

 

I'm shocked. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace Blake.