Del has had an interest in cars since 1957 when his brother started hanging out with a bunch of local hot rodders and the neighbour was racing at False Creek Speedway.

As his legs would not allow him to participate in running sports, he turned his attention to automotive and electri-cal activities. He went to work for Freightliner on the assembly line doing electrical wiring. This gave Del his own little niche. He found he enjoyed the complexity of the work, he was good.

For many years Del designed and wired the Freightliner Christmas truck.

Soon Del found himself being called to work on cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles. Many of these vehic-les went on to become class winners.

Ever since those early days at the Creek, Del has been into circle track racing and has helped many a racer with their wiring problems and other repairs.

Del's interests became varied once

DEL KLEIN - Inducted 2003

Supporter - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

By Doreen Brookshaw, 2003 - edited by Brian Pratt, 2004

Del Klein Deuces Wild drag boat  (Doug Harder collection)

he was into motorsport. He owned one of the first drag boats in our area, with Mel Keen doing the driving. Del then found himself not only doing the wiring, but designing wiring systems.

Del has sponsored racers and race clubs by helping them get started, buy-ing trophies and supplies as well as providing electrical help, in particular at Kent Raceways. He is a founding

member of Star-Short Track Auto Racing which now races mini-stocks at Kent Raceways. Del was also pit crew, electrician and part owner of the sprint and modified cars owned and raced by Brian Taylor.

He has worked on many vehicles that have become familiar to those in-volved in motorsport, such as Jim Hartney's race car, Ken Boote's pick-ups and many of the Harley Davidson show bikes.

Del has never let his handicap keep him on the sidelines; he has always been there for motorsport. Although he is semi-retired, he continues to do custom design work and wiring.

Thank you Del for all your support over the years.

 

Del Klein, 2007