Thread: Lost Icon - Stuart Hilborn

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We lost a true icon of motor sports today when Stuart Hilborn passed away. He was a true innovator. Rest in peace, Stuart, rest in peace. The Racing Community Loses Another Legend, Stuart Hilborn - LSXTV

RIP Mr. Hilborn....

Down at the PRI I stopped to say hello to Don Enrizues? and the Hilborn guys but unfortunely they were deep in conversations with customers and I didn't get to say Hi or how is everybody.Then I read that he had passed, so sorry--------you just gotta go and say hi to any of your old friends any oppurtunity these days because we are all cutting notches on that famous short timers stick-------------RIP Stu

RIP Mr.Hilborn. He will never be forgotten for sure!

That's to bad, everyone is so busy these days. Some times we just need to slow down and take time.
Though it seem's to get harder and harder to do that these days.

What a great loss to the world and the racing world
Stu was 1 of a kind, a genious, an innovator and 1 hell of a gentle man.
Side note.
Back in the 60's I was runnin a C/Gas dragster in So-Cal @ OCIR,
Lions, Fontana, Irwindale etc.
1 Saturday afternoon @ OCIR Stu walked up to me in the pits and commented to me how much he like my car and how consistant it was.
Then proceeded to ask me if I had considered jumping up in class to JR.Fuel.
I said I'd love to but can't afford it.
At that point he introduced himself to me and said he'd sponsor me and to come down to the shop and he'd give me what ever I needed.
The next week I go down and sittin in the back of the shop on a pallet it a BRAND NEW Bullit, ready to drop in my car.
All he said was, stuff it in and I'll see ya @ Fontana on Saturday.
Well Saturday rolls around and Stu shows up in the pits and does the final tune on it 4 me.
That started a very sucessful sponsorship of 6 years and a life long friend.
Gods Speed Stu.

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

....That started a very sucessful sponsorship of 6 years and a life long friend.
Gods Speed Stu.

That's a great story with a personal touch, Don. Thanks for sharing. Stuart Hilborn did fuel injection before the world knew that there was anything but carburetors. His understanding and intuition were mind boggling.

Don, that is so awesome. That is pretty unheard of these days. That just goes to show what a great person and innovator he was. Most of the people my age don't have a clue all of the good things they missed out on by being born 30-40 years too late.

Another side note guys.
Stu had a memory like a fox also.
Anytime I'd see him he come up to me and say "Hi Don"
While chatting with him, if in a crowded place, he would always be sayin Hi to anyone he knew by first name.
Just a down to earth guy.

The 10/1/10 issue of HRM featured an article on Stuart Hilborn, and a complete "how to" on the inner workings of mechanical fuel injection. I'm going to go back and see if I can find that one in my stacks.

yep---secret to fuel injection back then was pump size/pressure and barrel valve ramps along with various jets to fine tune the cylinders so they all ran at optamun instead of only being able to tune to the leanest cylinder

In my Sprint Car days (daze?), you weren't even in the race if you didn't have a set of Mr. Hilborn's finest sitting on top of the engine!!!!!!