An acquaitance of mine (WRX driver) was at Willow Springs this weekend & watched a tragic event unfold. The Mini community has lost a great guy.

Willow Springs Wreck Claims Capistrano Man

May 26, 2008

By Jonathan Volzke, The Capistrano Dispatch

Waves of shock and sadness rolled through San Juan Capistrano Monday as word spread about a weekend auto-racing accident that claimed the life of former Planning Commissioner and Rotarian Joe Drey.
Drey died after an accident Saturday at Willow Springs Raceway in Kern County, where he was driving his 2002 Mini Cooper.
An avid driver, Drey stepped down from Rotary and the Planning Commission in 2007 to spend more time with his family, and on the track. As he told The Dispatch then: "I'm finally totally retired and can spend all the time I want with Valerie, family and my grandkids in Walnut Creek, [as well as] spending fun time on racetracks with my modified Mini ... plus not having interruptions to our beloved three-week trips to Italy."

Services had not been announced Monday.

 

Sorry to hear. Our hearts go out to his family

 

This is truly horrible news. We have been chatting about this over @ the NUThouse.

As there are a number of NUTs and SCMM folks going up to Willow Spring this upcoming weekend, this has hit all of us rather hard, and has really opened some of our eyes to the dangers that exist being on the track. As supergimp said "that could have been any one of us".

Our thoughts are with Mr. Drey's family.

-Jason

 

this last weekend a mini driver apparently died during an hpde at big willow. His accident was coming out of turn 9, where the car became airborn and rolled multiple times. Details are skechy about the accident, but there's a thread about it on trackhq.com. I would post a link but don't have the ability to do so from my phone, which I'm posting this from.

Just a reminder to everyone to be safe and use the best safety gear you can afford. It deeply saddens me that this guy went there to have fun with his mini like so many of us do, and didn't make it back.

 

Here's the link:

http://www.trackhq.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1179

 

thanks for the post gents.

beyond that, words fail.

 

Dam! !

Sorry to read about this. Hope they figure out what went wrong.

 

Very sad, turn 9 there since the repave seems to be causing lots of accidents at much higher speeds than years past. Details are sketchy so don't know if it was the something in the accident or ensuing surgeries, either way I'm sure it's hard for the families.

 

Crap. Just.... crap.

Joe Drey. Did any of us know him?

 

Was Mr. Drey one of ours? I believe I read he was 75, and enjoying his golden years.

Willow Springs Wreck Claims Capistrano Man

May 26, 2008

By Jonathan Volzke, The Capistrano Dispatch

Waves of shock and sadness rolled through San Juan Capistrano Monday as word spread about a weekend auto-racing accident that claimed the life of former Planning Commissioner and Rotarian Joe Drey.

Drey died after an accident Saturday at Willow Springs Raceway in Kern County, where he was driving his 2002 Mini Cooper.

An avid driver, Drey stepped down from Rotary and the Planning Commission in 2007 to spend more time with his family, and on the track. As he told The Dispatch then: "I'm finally totally retired and can spend all the time I want with Valerie, family and my grandkids in Walnut Creek, [as well as] spending fun time on racetracks with my modified Mini ... plus not having interruptions to our beloved three-week trips to Italy."

Services had not been announced Monday.

 

Jan e-mailed me about this yesterday. Sad times indeed . According to some sources, I've heard he's actually still alive, just in critical condition.

I track my car at WSIR all the time. Scary stuff.

 

Yes, Joe was one hell of a nice guy.... He invited me to go last Saturday with him to the track but things came up and I couldn't make it. It makes me sick as we have lost a fine man

I know Joe had expressed his love of driving as he has owned many Porsche's in the past and loved his Mini. I know he will be missed....

God Bless

 

In answer to my own question, yes, Joe was one of ours.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?p=901454

 

Very sad... God Bless his family and friends.

 

Wow. Scary. I was supposed to be there in the RX7. The Mini looked crushed in the pics.

Condolences to the family and friends.

 

Deleted. Became a repeat after the merge.

 

i was there that day and Joe came up to me and chatted about my setup before the run session that the accident occured. The session before we ran nose to tail and had a great time. I only spoke with him for ten minutes and ran with him on track once, but it was enough for me to know he was a classy and talented individual. one lap after i pulled off track cause of a mechanical issue Joe rolled, i saw it happen and i couldnt believe it, If i hadnt come off track cause of my mechanical issues i wouldve been in close vacinity of the crash since i was following him nose to tail once again cause of the fun we had the session before. My condolences go to his family and friends

 

Vary sad. My heart goes out to his friends and family.

 

Joe Drey was a SCMM member and his passing will be a sorry loss to our club. Joe was active in promoting track days and driving schools within SCMM. A group of SCMM'ers will be at Willow Springs this coming weekend for the BMWCCA LA HPDE - we will take a few moments to remember Joe.

Joe was a dedicated MINI enthusiast. He was planning on displaying his loved MINI at our upcoming all MINI car show and participating in our DIY event in June, his absence will be sincerely felt by many.

On behalf of SCMM, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We will miss Joe.

 

Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.....

Tim

 

I hope he died doing what he loved. At least he wasn't bed-ridden, incapacitated, or a couch potato, etc. It seems to me Mr. Drey lived life more fully than a lot of people. Rest in peace. Good thoughts to his family, please know he is free!

Ken

 

Pics?

Link?

 

This is so sad. My heart aches for Joe's family and friends.

 

True, Kentiki.

As morbid as it sounds, I agree that would be a great way to leave this blue marble; driving a MINI on a track at full speed...

Not meant to sound offensive or disrespectful in the least; I truly believe it.

Rest in peace, Mr. Drey.

 

RIP