Van

old timer 38 · 3/21/11, 6:46 AM

Have heard that Van from VANCRAFT HAS PASSED AWAY DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE?

Andrew S. Quinn · 3/21/11, 5:06 PM

I havent seen Van for awhile,I used to go to his shop all the time. I might have to try calling him in a bit.

jjsprt92 · 3/21/11, 5:38 PM

If you go to openwheelracers3.com, it's on there

I learned this afternoon from friends that Merle D. Van Steenwyck passed away this morning. Merle, known as “Van, the Body Man” and “the Mayor of Gasoline Alley” and also the proprietor of the Van Craft race car fabrication shop located in the heart of Gasoline Alley in Indianapolis, Indiana. With Van Craft, Van was the owner of the Kurtis Kraft midget name, and the caretaker of the original jigs, patterns, and fixtures for building midget race cars created by master race car builder Frank Kurtis including frame rail cars, upright cars and the super rare midget roadsters. In addition to building complete cars, Van also was a race car restoration specialist, or could fabricate specific parts like stainless steel headers.
Van was around 75 years old, and had been in poor health for the past 18 months. Van was a 45-year veteran of the race car fabrication business, having worked for Shelby American as a fabricator in its race shop during its heyday from 1963 to 1965 before striking out on his own. In the 1960’s and 1970’s Van was the “go-to” guy if a race team needed repairs to the race car tub done in a hurry. In recent years, Van was known to TV audiences for his co-starring role in a 2005 episode of the A & E Network reality show “Biker Build-off,” when Van helped Jason Hart fabricate a tank for his custom motorcycle. I first met Van in 2006, when a friend and I stopped in during a tour of Indianapolis race shops, and he immediately treated me like an old friend. I made many more visits to his shop through the years, whether to listen to his wonderful stories, look at his huge collection of racing memorabilia, or just sit and watch a master artisan at work. Van had a great sense of humor; as evidence, on the back of his business card were listed important phone numbers- The White House, The Kremlin, The Vatican, and Van Craft. I shall miss my friend Van very much; Heaven has a great fabricator now.

SUPERDUKE · 3/21/11, 6:26 PM

van van the body man! One of the best! Rip

Andrew S. Quinn · 3/21/11, 8:01 PM

Van making a Kurtis Roadster midget exhaust pipe

Van hammering on the Caruso Offy midget cowl

Heating and bending the exhaust pipe for a Kurtis Roadster midget

---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 PM ----------

Funny story on bending the exhaust. If you look closely there is a smaller piece of tubing inside the exhaust pipe with a ball we turned in the lathe to help keep the exhaust from crinkling while heating and bending. Van was heating and bending,and heating and bending some more,and later when he stopped for a bit,had the ball sitting on the welding table. The ball was very hot from all the heating and bending and one of the locals came in (I'll with hold his name) went right over to the ball and picked it up! You could hear the skin frying. Then he picked it up by the handle,threw it in the corner and left. We had a good laugh over that one!!

Topless77 · 3/22/11, 12:27 AM

This just sucks. Van was a hell of a guy and an amazing fabricator ta boot. He was one of the last car owners to really hire a guy cause he could drive and not because of the size of his checkbook. I haven't seen Van in a while, (my fault unfortunately) but i always enjoyed the time I spent with him. He really was old school in every regard and that's what made him so great. Van, I'm gonna miss you pal you really were a great guy. My thoughts go out to his family and all his friends. Now all the great racers we've lost over the years have one hell of a body man to fix their sh1t boxes at the big race in the sky. Gods speed Van, we'll miss you bud.

Forgot to ask about plans for services for Van. If anyone knows could they please post them. Thanks

interpreter66 · 3/22/11, 7:30 AM

how ironic, i went to a car show this past saturday and out of all the race shirt's i have i happen to where my van craft shirt

R.I.P VAN

LocalYokel · 3/22/11, 8:45 AM

Godspeed Van...
I met Van a few years ago when he had Dean Franklin driving his midget. He was always a pleasure to talk to. Like so many other greats these days he flew somewhat under the radar of those new to the game. However I would always feel awed that a legend like him was even giving me the time of day.
Posted via Mobile Device

3/21/11, 5:38 PM	#3 Re: Van
jjsprt92 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 489	If you go to openwheelracers3.com, it's on there I learned this afternoon from friends that Merle D. Van Steenwyck passed away this morning. Merle, known as “Van, the Body Man” and “the Mayor of Gasoline Alley” and also the proprietor of the Van Craft race car fabrication shop located in the heart of Gasoline Alley in Indianapolis, Indiana. With Van Craft, Van was the owner of the Kurtis Kraft midget name, and the caretaker of the original jigs, patterns, and fixtures for building midget race cars created by master race car builder Frank Kurtis including frame rail cars, upright cars and the super rare midget roadsters. In addition to building complete cars, Van also was a race car restoration specialist, or could fabricate specific parts like stainless steel headers. Van was around 75 years old, and had been in poor health for the past 18 months. Van was a 45-year veteran of the race car fabrication business, having worked for Shelby American as a fabricator in its race shop during its heyday from 1963 to 1965 before striking out on his own. In the 1960’s and 1970’s Van was the “go-to” guy if a race team needed repairs to the race car tub done in a hurry. In recent years, Van was known to TV audiences for his co-starring role in a 2005 episode of the A & E Network reality show “Biker Build-off,” when Van helped Jason Hart fabricate a tank for his custom motorcycle. I first met Van in 2006, when a friend and I stopped in during a tour of Indianapolis race shops, and he immediately treated me like an old friend. I made many more visits to his shop through the years, whether to listen to his wonderful stories, look at his huge collection of racing memorabilia, or just sit and watch a master artisan at work. Van had a great sense of humor; as evidence, on the back of his business card were listed important phone numbers- The White House, The Kremlin, The Vatican, and Van Craft. I shall miss my friend Van very much; Heaven has a great fabricator now. _________________________________________________ Last edited by jjsprt92; 3/21/11 at 5:40 PM.

3/21/11, 8:01 PM	#5 Re: Van
Andrew S. Quinn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,255	Van making a Kurtis Roadster midget exhaust pipe Van hammering on the Caruso Offy midget cowl Heating and bending the exhaust pipe for a Kurtis Roadster midget ---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 PM ---------- Funny story on bending the exhaust. If you look closely there is a smaller piece of tubing inside the exhaust pipe with a ball we turned in the lathe to help keep the exhaust from crinkling while heating and bending. Van was heating and bending,and heating and bending some more,and later when he stopped for a bit,had the ball sitting on the welding table. The ball was very hot from all the heating and bending and one of the locals came in (I'll with hold his name) went right over to the ball and picked it up! You could hear the skin frying. Then he picked it up by the handle,threw it in the corner and left. We had a good laugh over that one!! _________________________________________________ Last edited by Andrew S. Quinn; 3/21/11 at 8:21 PM.

3/22/11, 12:27 AM	#6 Re: Van
Topless77 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 75	This just sucks. Van was a hell of a guy and an amazing fabricator ta boot. He was one of the last car owners to really hire a guy cause he could drive and not because of the size of his checkbook. I haven't seen Van in a while, (my fault unfortunately) but i always enjoyed the time I spent with him. He really was old school in every regard and that's what made him so great. Van, I'm gonna miss you pal you really were a great guy. My thoughts go out to his family and all his friends. Now all the great racers we've lost over the years have one hell of a body man to fix their sh1t boxes at the big race in the sky. Gods speed Van, we'll miss you bud. Forgot to ask about plans for services for Van. If anyone knows could they please post them. Thanks _________________________________________________ Last edited by Topless77; 3/22/11 at 12:32 AM.

3/21/11, 6:46 AM	#1 Van
old timer 38 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 31	Have heard that Van from VANCRAFT HAS PASSED AWAY DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE?

3/21/11, 5:06 PM	#2 Re: Van
Andrew S. Quinn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,255	I havent seen Van for awhile,I used to go to his shop all the time. I might have to try calling him in a bit.

3/21/11, 6:26 PM	#4 Re: Van
SUPERDUKE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,256	van van the body man! One of the best! Rip

3/22/11, 7:30 AM	#7 Re: Van
interpreter66 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,388	how ironic, i went to a car show this past saturday and out of all the race shirt's i have i happen to where my van craft shirt R.I.P VAN

3/22/11, 8:45 AM	#8
LocalYokel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 412	Godspeed Van... I met Van a few years ago when he had Dean Franklin driving his midget. He was always a pleasure to talk to. Like so many other greats these days he flew somewhat under the radar of those new to the game. However I would always feel awed that a legend like him was even giving me the time of day. Posted via Mobile Device