{"id":7558,"date":"2016-09-09T14:36:02","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T21:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/customikes.com\/?p=7558"},"modified":"2016-09-13T23:05:42","modified_gmt":"2016-09-14T06:05:42","slug":"blackie-rip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/customikes.com\/?p=7558","title":{"rendered":"Blackie,… RIP,…"},"content":{"rendered":"

We were all saddened with the recent passing of Blackie Gejeian. He was a great guy and was loved by many. He loved his fans too.<\/h2>\n

Page 1 of 2<\/a>. Link at bottom of page for your convenience.<\/p>\n

There was no limits to him when it came to interacting with those who idolized him, and there were many. In the past several years it became harder and harder on him to attend events, but he loved the people so much that he would almost have to be bedridden to miss an event. I never rode home with him after an event, but my guess is that he was exhausted.<\/h3>\n

\"Blackie<\/a><\/p>\n

He was such a visible and approachable person. Never turning anyone away. When people would come up to him and say \u201cHey Blackie\u201d he would always respond \u2018Hey Hoss\u201d to them with the excitement of someone seeing a friend they had known for years. He made everyone feel like his friend, and he loved that. His smile and his manner were captivating and he instantly made you feel comfortable whether you were an old friend or meeting him for the first time. Some celebrities give the impression that you are invading them on their \u201coff\u201d time, but never Blackie. Quite the opposite. At a show just look for a group of people meandering though the show and in the middle was Blackie. Always surrounded by his friends and admirers.<\/h4>\n

\"Blackie<\/a><\/h4>\n

\"Black<\/a><\/p>\n

I would see Blackie each year at GNRS<\/a> and Cruising Santa Maria<\/a> as well as other events and gatherings. We would talk and laugh for a while about cars and old racing stories and drivers I remembered from my childhood. He had endless stories. The stories. How I will miss those. He would always show up for GNRS<\/a> on set up day. There are less people at the show during set up, but for me, working the show, it is one of my busiest days. I would hear a \u201chey Jim<\/a>\u201d in that gravelly voice and work became secondary. It was really the only time we could visit without being interrupted by a handshake or a selfie. Does anyone ever remember him saying no to a selfie with someone? I think not. There must be 1000\u2019s of them floating around, yet in all the years I knew him, I never took one.<\/h4>\n