Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

They better move over Jan Opperman will be trying to pass em both,heaven is full of some very special drivers right now.RIP Chuck

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Here's a link to what the local television station had about Chuck. I remember seeing Chuck and Richard Poe have some pretty good races at Cape Girardeau, MO.

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/videos.php?v...&vidType=smMov

Big Mike

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

I am the husband of "Uncle Charlie's" niece, Lisa. I met Uncle Charlie in 1986. Later that year, his sister, Joann, got sick in Southern Illinois and eventually passed away that same year. Charlie was the ultimate brother to his sisters, who showed tremendous love and support. During that time, I got to know a man by reputation and by personal contact that was a gentle, special, caring, loving, and fun gentleman. He really loved his family and was quick to welcome me into the family. Recently, my wife and I watched our wedding video from later that year. We both smiled when Uncle Charlie took the screen. That's how he will always be remembered... someone who made those around him smile! I only saw him race one time in Southern Indiana. When we arrived at the racetrack, we mentioned the name, Chuck Amati. We were immediately greeted with a smile and the comment about how great the "One Armed Bandit" was. I was proud to know him. His family will be touched by all the love shown to him on this posting. You are obviously a special group of people. My email is moebruiser@san.rr.com. If you want to relay any messages directly to his family, I will make sure they get them.

Uncle Charlie, we will miss you dearly. Your old buddy, Bob....

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Sad news indeed. I got to watch Chuck race growing up several times, but only got the chance to race against him a couple of times. Probably my biggest win, and fondest memory, was a 4th of July weekend 50 lapper at I-55 in Pevely in 1980. Chuck was driving for Ray Marler out of Farmington, in a ride that Kenny Schrader normally was in. He led the first 25 - 30 laps or so with me right on his tail, and finally I was able to slip under him off of turn 2. I was able to hold on for the win and I'll never forget that as soon as I climbed out of the car on the front stretch, Chuck was the first guy there congratulating me on the win. I hadn't met Chuck before and didn't get to cross paths with him much after that. Getting the win, one of 3 that year for us at Pevely, was great, but passing the 'One Armed Bandit' for the lead and having him make the effort to get to victory lane to offer a handshake is what made it extra special. A class guy all the way.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Wow, i was so bummed out to read this earlier today. I did not know Chuck very well, but met him a number of times with my Dad over the years. He was just one of those guys who always put a smile on your face.

I think i first heard about Chuck in a story told to me by my dad about when he drove my grandfathers midget at Manzanita the week before Turkey Night in 1970. Chuck was wearing a bubble shield on his helmet, kind of like the ones some of the motorcycle racers wore at the time. I don't know if he had worn it before, but apparently Dad and Grandpa agreed that it was not the right thing for a midget on a fast half mile. As the story goes Chuck came to the same conclusion after hot laps when it basically tried to yank his head off the whole time he was on the gas. Dad said the shield came off as soon as he got out of the car and ended up in a trash can in the Manzy infield shortly after.

The last time I talked with Chuck was at an indoor race at Duquion last winter. it was the first time i had been to a race since my Dad passed away in January. I was walking in from the pit area to watch hotlaps and saw Chuck in the grandstand and decided to grab a seat by him. We talked a bit before and after hotlaps. nothing really significant was said, it was just your typical quick Racer to Racer conversation, but somehow it made me feel a little better on a tough night. i think that was just part of the magic or charisma that alot of the other posters had mentioned when talking about him. He was just one of those guys that had a little something extra that is so rare to find.

The racing community has lost a great driver, but Heaven has gained a helluva Racer.

Steve

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Attachment 515

thought you guys might like this one.

shane

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

hell of a racer and a great friend. RIP Chuck

News and Funeral Arrangements
 

The Marion Daily Republican has news of Chuck's accident
and should have the funeral arrangements:

http://www.mariondaily.com/homepage

Dave


____________________
God's speed Chuck Amati!

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

My best friend is gone forever. I have traveled millions of miles with Chuck and have never regretted a one of them. He loved racing and it was truly "the love of his life". It was bittersweet last night to go through all the pictures from the 60', 70's, 80's, 90', 00' what a racer. He loved all of you and was always amazed when we raced out of state and someone knew his name. He was grateful and thankful for the wonderful career he had. He life will live on through his grandson Shane. Thank you for your prayers and concerns. We will need them especilly during the next few days.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Watching Chuck in the late 70's and 80's at all the southern Indiana dirt tracks was definatly what gave me my inspiration to become a sprint car driver. The countless battles I saw between him and Larrry "Buckwheat" gates, Dick Gaines, Bob Kinser, Leon Gentry, just to name a few were totally awesome.

Chuck's personality and charisma around the track was 2nd to none, he was always a winner! :checkered:

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

http://www.legacy.com/TheSouthern/Ob...onId=120383424

Arrangements are incomplete at Johnson-Hughes in Herrin, Illinois. You can tune back to this link though to sign the on-line guest book and read the updated obituary as they post it.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Sad new's indeed, R.I.P. Chuck.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

very sad moment in my life,Chuck@I rub wheels many laps all over the states. Was just talking about him last nite; he will be in my PRAYERS always. God bless all of you!!! Butch Wilkerson

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Butch call me or let me know that you are still on line.
I would love to talk with you. I am at work and cannot use my cellphone
until after 4PM

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

The following are arrangements for the visitaiton and memorial service.

Visiation 5-8pm Friday evening

Memorial 1pm

Memmorial donations can be made to Sprint car hall of fame, or American Heart association. Envolopes will be available at funeral home.

Johnston Hughes Funeral Home
201 south 13 th street
Herrin, Il 62948
618-942-3102

Alex Shanks

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

The racing world has lost a true hero!! I consider myself fortunate to have watched him race and I am proud to have known him on a personal level thru my dad. What a racer!!! Rest in peace.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Chuck was a heck of a man and racer! He will be sadly missed. God bless the "One Arm Bandit"!

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Going to try and post some pics from when Chuck drove for my dad. The picture is Chuck, Mike Johnsons daugters and me.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

More pics 1st pic is of Chuck in the car my Uncle on the nerf bar Scott Gerkin Steve Kinsers crew chief on the tire and my Dad holding the car at Haubstaut. 2cnd pic is the race at Kokomo that cecil was talking about earlier in this post when Chuck and Sammy Swindell battled to the end. The pole is Chuck in our car outside front row is Sammy in the Nance house car. Second row is Ricky Hood in the Corsi Cabinet 50 and outside looks to be Randy Kinser in the 1X. Don't know about 3rd row but the inside car looks to be a shores chassis and outside looks like a Stanton car with Stanton house car paint job.]

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

We saw Chuck at Haubstadt earlier this year and we will dearly miss our friend. He was a hero to Dave and always took the time to get updated on Dave's racing. We will truely miss seeing him at the races! He was a true HERO! RIP Chuck! We will miss seeing you at the races!

Dave Darland Motorsports and Family

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Hero

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

I knew Chuck for years. The first winged car I ever saw was his. I helped some on the cars and went to many races with him.
My condolences go out to his family.
Thanks for the memories, Chuck. RIP.
Charlie Hunter

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Chuck lived up to the old song lyric "the love you get is equal to the love you give". We were honored a few years ago to be able to vote Chuck into the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans (HARF) Hall of Fame, a very fitting inductee, and it showed by the number of votes he received from our membership how loved he was. Chuck was at our Banquet to accepts his Hall of Fame award and was truly touched by it, so much so that 2 weeks later we were shocked to see a huge ad in Speed Sport News bought by Chuck to thanks everyone for voting him into the Hall of Fame. He never took anything for granted and lived everyday to its fullest. A one of a kind guy that we will all miss. God Bless you and our deepest sympathies to the family. bob & vicki black:crying:

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Dick Schulz, Sioux Falls I am posting this for the younger generation.
I was working with Frantsen and doing heads for Woodke and doing my
own deal. It would be a summer or post season race with a slightly bigger
purse. Racers would start showing up and they would be named Kenny.Jerry,
Chuck, Donny, Jan, Ray Lee, Leonard, Doug, Donny, Frank, Earl,Darrel, Roger,
Dick, Keith, and a bunch of other guys that we only knew the first name of.
It was the best and toughest racing anyone has been lucky enough to see. The
guys that rose to the top, well we learned their last name. Amati was high on
the list and he's in pretty good company. T

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Dick Schulz, Sioux Falls I am posting this for the younger generation.
I was working with Frantsen and doing heads for Woodke and doing my
own deal. It would be a summer or post season race with a slightly bigger
purse. Racers would start showing up and they would be named Kenny.Jerry,
Chuck, Donny, Jan, Ray Lee, Leonard, Doug, Donny, Frank, Earl,Darrel, Roger,
Dick, Keith, and a bunch of other guys that we only knew the first name of.
It was the best and toughest racing anyone has been lucky enough to see. The
guys that rose to the top, well we learned their last name. Amati was high on
the list and he's in pretty good company.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

ricochet, is keith frantzen still alive and building cars. i remember him racing at atomic (kc) in ohio in the early 80's. and bobby geldner..

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

RIP child hood hero one armed bandit!!!!!!!! you will be sorely missed

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Keith ain't dead, he just smells that way. He is building wings and sliders with Lev.
Jerry is still kicking also but had to give most his stomach to cancer. He is still polishing
stainless for custom trucks and making knee pads. Last time I saw him he weighed about
110. Geldner had a bout with cancer also and I'm not sure how he is doing. He has two
boys racing that do pretty well but don't incite riots.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

We continue to lose the good ones way before their time. Chuck was truly an entertainer as well as a great driver. The word "fan friendly" is next to his name no matter who you talk with. RIP.:crying:

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

When Sheldon was sick and in the hospital in Bloomington most of his friends called and told me that they would not visit him in the state that he was in and wanted to remember him they way he was before the cancer. One day I looked up and Chuck Amati appeared in the doorway and talked to Sheldon about "old times" and some of the races that they had raced each other. He knew he couldn't answer back and probably didn't even know that he was there, but that didn't stop him. He stayed for several hours and talked with me and offered his help if the kids and I needed anything. I will never forget it or him.... RIP, our friend, and hope you and Sheldon are up there today trading racing stories.

Suzie Kinser Hodges

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

How to Become a Winner

Charles A. "Chuck" Amati

1969

A Winner says - let's find out.
A Loser says - nobody knows.
A Winner goes through a problem.
A Loser goes around it and never gest past it.
A Winner makes commitments.
A Loser makes promises.
When a Winner makes a mistake he says - I was wrong.
When a Loser makes a mistake he says - it wasn't my fault.
A Winner says - I'm good but not as good as I ought to be.
A Loser says - I'm not as bad as a lot of other racers.
The Winner is always part of the answer.
The Loser is always part of the problem.
The Winner always has a program.
The Loser always has an excuse.
The Winner says - let me do it for you.
The Loser says - that's not my job.
The Winner sees an answer in every problem.
The Loser sees a problem in every answer.
The Winner sees a checker at every track.
The Loser sees two or three tracks near every checker.
The Winner says - it may be difficult but possible.
The Loser says - it may be possible but it's too difficult.
A Winner tries to learn from those who are superior to him.
A Loser tries to tear down those who are superior to him.
A Winner is always willing to try a new setup.
A Loser always wants to leave the set up that worked.

This poem was written by Chuck in 1969. A copy of it hangs in my garage to this day. Thought you guys might enjoy. RIP Bandit

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

neat i have one also!

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

I went through all of these posts today 8/20/09. Chuck has been gone 9 months now. I miss him every day. These posts are what keeps the memories alive. He was such a great guy, and s few people really knew him off the track. I have watched him laugh and cry, sing, dance and even get mad a tim or two. But, when I needed him he was always there. My heart has this huge hole that no one can fill. Thank you for honoring him with your praises.

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Chuck Amati - auto racing fan favorite, veteran, champion, and legend - a good friend.

To Chuck - I do miss seeing you and talking racing at the ole' race track. RIP my friend.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...uckAmati-1.jpg
at Tri City Speedway, Illinois - My good friends Chuck Amati and Shane Wade who is aboard the #69 sprinter.

Have a good day...see you at the races

Rich - Arnold, Missouri

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

cbeardsley0788,

Thanks for posting this poem by Chuck! That is as true as true can be!

Take Care,
BC

Re: We Have Lost Chuck Amati the "One Armed Bandit" an Original Outlaw
 

Thanks for sharing the poem. We were going through some of our old pics the other day and found one of chuck at The Action Track in Terre Haute in his knee high boots!!! I was a REALLY great pic. RIP Chuck, you ARE missed by MANY!!!