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Author Topic: Brian von KleinSmid  (Read 6816 times)

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Offline Cookieboystoys

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Brian von KleinSmid
« on: January 14, 2014, 08:28:25 AM »
a tough week for the Pinto community, just wanted to post this here as well.

Brian von KleinSmid aka Vonkysmeed here on Ford Pinto
aka Project Frenkenpinto on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Frankenpinto/348192476964

Brian passed this past weekend, I know little of the details but an accident while working on a car was mentioned. Brian was pretty active on Facebook and the Pinto fan pages. The sad news was first mentioned there and many kind words and well wishes for the family have been shared. I know we are all thinking of his friends and family during this difficult time.

I've followed the progress of Project Frankenpinto over the years and have enjoyed seeing what Brian was up to next. Recently he painted his pinto to look similar to the Flying Tigers and there was talk of him joining the 2014 Pinto Stampede. I so wanted to meet him in person, seeing Project Frankenpinto would have just been frosting on the cake. Rest in peace Brian, you will be missed by many.

In Memory of Brian von KleinSmid
We toast our hearty comrade who has fallen from the sky
and was gently caught by Gods own hand.
It's all about the Pintos! Baby!

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2014, 08:57:20 AM »
Very sad, RIP Brian.
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Offline Back in Blue

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2014, 11:01:44 AM »
Losing Brian is a big blow to the Pinto community. He pushed me to get out to the shows and represent the Pintos. He was tireless and usually had his boy Nico with him every weekend, going somewhere. He helped me organize the PintoBarn beach cruise last summer and gave us enthusiasm. i am so used to seeing Brian, Nico, and FrankenPinto at the shows, I can't imagine what it's gonna be like now... We're gonna miss him, a lot.   Steve     (aka PintoBarn)
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Offline claudermilk

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 03:00:16 PM »
I have not logged in for a long time here--I kind of let Brian take the lead with the project lately. I will also not be real eloquent as i'm still trying to deal with the loss. I'm his brother-in-law, and co-conspirator in Project Frankenpinto. I knew he was active here and that you all would want to be informed. It is very tough and we are supporting his wife and kids to help everyone get through this. HIs loss is going to leave a huge hole in our lives, but just remember the help he provided and fun he had.

I am not thinking too clearly right now, but one thing that is becoming clear to me is I want to continue work on the project and eventually complete the car. He would be pissed at me if I simply dropped it all. We spent so many hours over the years working on the car together it is a part of both of us and nobody else will appreciate like we do.

His dad has told me he just entered in the Fabulous Fords show, so one way or another I will make sure it gets there--I also enter my own car in "Mustangland." I also want to keep bringing it to Donut Derelicts when I can--not for a while as starting it will have unfortunate effects on his wife right now. A close family friend and myself have already been charged with making sure Nico is still with us at car events.


OH, and I'm not sure who put together the image, but I think he'd like it. I'm stealing it for my own archives, and it's currently his mom's phone wallpaper.

Offline Scott Hamilton

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 06:01:03 PM »
I did not meet Brian- I do know him from his posts on the site and yes he was very helpful.

God bless his family in this time of need, let us know if we can help you pick up the reigns on the FrankinPinto Project.

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Offline dga57

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 11:40:40 PM »
R.I.P.  vonkysmeed.
 
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Offline tbucketjack

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2014, 12:36:28 AM »
Very Sad indeed. RIP Brian, may you be ripp'in da Pinto in the Sky!!!

Offline r4pinto

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2014, 12:35:24 PM »
I didn't know him either but enjoyed reading about what was being done to the Frankenpinto. That was a car I wanted to see up close in personal since it sounded like some major work was going on. He will be missed on here. RIP Brian.
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Offline Pintosopher

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2014, 02:24:24 PM »
Like many others, I didn't know Brian, but follower his posts. Had I made it to Knotts, I might have had that chance.
 It's tough to see so many devoted club members taken too soon.
R.I.P. Brian , the fab work in heaven should be great

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2014, 02:46:25 AM »
This is the first I've read of this as I haven't been on the site in about a month. This is very sad and compounded by leaving behind two small children. My prayers go out to the family. Even though I would see Brian at car shows from time to time I never got to talk to him at great length until I bought some parts from him last summer. I went to his house and we talked V8 Pinto's, cars and life for a couple of hours in the garage. He was a real down to earth, out of the box kind of guy. I really enjoyed the visit. I will miss him. RIP Brian   
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Offline entropy

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2014, 01:44:22 AM »
I just blundered into a reference to Brian's passing while reading a different, unrelated, thread.  I hadn't known until just now.  I am stunned...and sickened and more than anything else, sad.  Brian was a friend.  Every year at Knotts, we parked our cars next to each other and hung out.  One year when I was too broke to attend the show and missed the registration cut off, it was Brian who got me in that year. Last year, it was Brian who helped me push that silver V8 car with the elaborate bodywork and wild headers when we saw that it had broken down on the street right before the entrance gate. He was, without question, my best friend in the Pinto community, and I will absolutely miss him and talking to him about the most recent changes to the brilliant FrankenPinto.  I am totally crushed by this news....and my thoughts are with his family and his son.

Rest in peace, my friend...
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Offline Back in Blue

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2014, 12:41:12 PM »
I would like to invite any and all Pinto people to join us on Saturday morning, March 15th at the Donut Derelicts cruise in car show in Huntington Beach, California. It is a morning event and starts very early and is usually wrapped up by around 9 AM. The cruise in will be informally dedicated to Brian von KleinSmid, as this was his weekly cruise event. Hopefully we can arrange to get FrankenPinto out there again.
I know this is an early event (starts around 5 AM), but it gets a lot of awesome cars, and is a cool show. I will update you guys a little more as things progress, so if you can come out and meet us please do it!
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Offline entropy

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Re: Brian von KleinSmid
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2014, 02:37:10 AM »
I'm going to try to make it, but I probably won't be able to bring my Pinto.  I would literally wake up the entire neighborhood starting it that early.
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