Remembering jhaas

Dang it. Great guy.

SVreX wrote: crud. I was passing through in May, with full intent of swinging by the Yacht Club and stealing the eVilalliance trophy from behind the bar. Had the full plan, accomplice, decoy, everything. Didn't do it because I was running late and short on time. Missed opportunity. Stupid. Perhaps it's just as well... That trophy belongs on the back bar in the Yacht Club forever. Rest in peace, creative one.

+1. It just never happened. We weren't sure if he'd have a laugh, or we'd have a hit out on us for taking the trophy. Or maybe both. berkeley. Too late now. I am not handling this well.

Damn. I didn't know the man, but I know I liked him. His Forty Niner and the barcade are both ideas that are never far from my mind, and both are things I've told myself I'll get to doing before long. With his passing, I think I'll let him teach me one more lesson: don't wait. Planning begins tomorrow.

Adios, jhaas. Thanks for being you.

I actually made it to the Yacht Club in 2012. I was on my way to Deal's Gap and dropped in unannounced. Unfortunately, even then, I was too late. I was told he was very sick and the prognosis wasn't good. I'd been meaning to inquire about him lately, but was scared I'd hear news like this...

Rest in peace John. You were inspirational.

I never knew Mr. Haas as a car guy unfortunately, but as the cool prof in a furniture design class I took at UT. At the end of the semester I wound up with a weird but awesome table/shelf setup, and the next semester I found out about the house resto-mods he did in his spare time. Just a few months after graduation I saw the Fourty-Niner in GRM, and promised myself if I was ever near the Architecture building I'd stop in and try to get in touch. Unfortunately the Metro Pulse obit article was the next I would hear of Jon... So much cool in such a short life. RIP Prof Haas.

I didn't know him but I remember his presence here.

Too damn young.

Crap. I thought maybe he was just busy and hadn't had time to post. I think I still have a grill for him out in my shed. RIP Jon.

Words don't describe this.... way to young to pass. I met him at all the challenges I attended, remember his turbo 2.3 Opel GT, 914 and slammed retro rod. Loved his love of life, engineering and business mind. Great guy, John rest in peace, you lived life large!

just don't know what to say...probably spinning wrenches with Pigeon in the garage in the sky. RIP fellas

I never met Jon but his 49'r build for the 2007 Challenge was a primary motivator to attend future Challenge Events. I didn't know of his other passions but his CV reads so deep and broad it's hard to believe it was done by one person. My heart breaks for his wife and children. Jon truly was a light that shined very brightly but for far, far to short a time.

I've been enjoying reminiscing some of his builds here.

I'm sure the last two years of his life were a battle on a scale we will never know. This is how I choose to remember his legacy. berkeley You Cancer.

Met jhaas @ challenge the year he brought the 2.3T Opel GT. Always looked forward to hanging with him @ the Challenge. Stopped in @ the Yacht Club with my wife and daughters the last time I drove through Knoxville, sure am glad I did. I had a total man-crush on that guy, full admiration for his accomplishments and attitude. RIP my friend.

E36 M3, rereading my post, just remembered that I got my signature quote from jon. Not sure if he's the originator, but I never heard it before hearing it from him.

Our little corner of the world just got a little bit worse.

Sorry to hear this, he was quite a guy.

In reply to David S. Wallens:

Wow, that sucks. All my best to his family. He was able to accomplish a lot during his lifetime. A trip to the Yacht Club was on the list, still is.

Only got to meet him once when he drove from knoxville with an mr2 to trade for my s30 but he definitely made an impact. His builds on here and just his genuine awesomeness are something to admire.
He was sickly when he was here in nc but still had a hell of a fight in him and definitely seemed to be beating this thing.
He scraped part of his trailer ramp off in the gravel driveway and rewelded it on the spot with a next to useless northern flux welder.
His resourcefulness, ingenuity, and fighting spirit were an inspiration, and my thoughts go out to those who knew him better and are surely still reeling from this loss.

If he built the Opel GT from the $2006 Challenge, then I remember who he is. I was living in GA then, my wife and I were just married in June, and for my birthday she surprised me by getting me off work and driving down to watch the Challenge. It was a fantastic weekend, and the Opel was one of both my wife and I's favorite cars--I have some pics somewhere on my computer. His wife and kids will be in my prayers. Thanks for the update, David.

Rip

I never got a chance to know him personally, but I remember him from his posts.

Here's hoping that we can aspire to enrich our own lives in the same ways that he did in his short time here. Definitely an inspiration.

Karl La Follette wrote: Rip

What? Are you saying Tom passed also?

RIP JHaas. . .

JohnRW1621 wrote: What? Are you saying Tom passed also?

Wait...what? Please say it ain't so!

Yes Tom passed couple days after Thanksgiving . The shop is not the same . He taught me alot about cars and for that I am very grateful. Been working on his projects the Jensen .

Man, more bad news!
RIP Mr. Clark. I always enjoyed Karl's pictures of you fixing engines. You look like an interesting dude.