As we reported earlier this month in the breaking news story “Man dies after crashing his hot rod on California state route 67,” El Cajon resident Mike Gharring passed away in a tragic accident while behind the wheel of his 1932 Ford Roadster in Lakeside, California. Our readers had been asking what happened after the initial reporting. Following his passing his fellow hot rodders organized a cruise in Gharring’s memory. Members of the Ramona American Graffiti Club decided to raise money for a flower arrangement for the funeral service.
A cruise was organized to the money and celebrate Gharring’s passion for vintage hot rods. On August 6th, friends and club members cruised Main Street in Ramona in honor of their friend. According to NBC 7 in San Diego, dozens of people turned out for the cruise event and any additional funds raised during the cruise destined for a local charity in Ramona.
On Sunday evening, August 2nd, Gharring was driving his ’32 Ford when for reasons unknown the vehicle veered off the highway. The ’32 careened down an embankment, through a fence, and collided with a post before coming to rest on the street below the highway. The video illustrates the violence of the roll down the embankment that tragically claimed the life of the 48-year-old man.
Gharring’s ’32 was not equipped with seats belts, and when the car rolled he was ejected from the vehicle. Seat belts are not visually appealing and many do not wish to add them to vehicles that are exempt from the requirement, but they have been proven to save lives. Not to say that Gharring did anything wrong, but it makes one think about safety and vintage vehicles. We have all experienced this dilemma, but sometimes safety is worth the clutter.
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