I first met Ed Neumeyer at a Cars & Coffee event at the Ford location in Irvine about 2005.
He was there with his beautiful 1967 BJ8, that had been fully restored and rebuilt to modern standards at the Healey Factory in Australia. I had never seen such a beautiful and unusual Healey. Ed and I instantly “locked on” and became very good friends, a friendship enjoyed over the next 18+ years. With his recent unexpected passing, Kathy and I are very saddened, but look back on the many great times, and many Healey trips with Ed, several of them overseas.
Ed was one of the most knowledgeable Healey people I ever met, with connections from all over the world.
He brought a world of Healey experiences and enriched our local club with his knowledge, relationships and enthusiasm. He drove his Healey everywhere (never towed it), including several cross-country trips to Rendezvous and national AHCA Conclave events. He was very active assisting at several California Healey Week events. He was the one who introduced Rocker Cover Racing to the US, and built the track we used for our events at CHW. He also was responsible for me attending the “Healeys Return to Bonneville” event in 2009.
Ed was also influential in getting a few of us in the club to travel internationally with our Healeys...in fact we used his shipping container in a few of our early trips, including to England & Scotland in 2013, New Zealand in 2015 and the Black Forest in 2018. Ed & Abbe were scheduled to travel to Norway with our club group to the 5th European Healey meet next month. He will be missed there by many international Healey friends.
Ed was a inspirational supporter of our club and enriched it with his support. He won the first “Spirit Award” which recognizes the member who attends the most events each year. He was also very supportive of anyone who needed assistance, always willing to go out of his way to lend a hand to those in need.
He personally helped Kathy and me when we broke down in New Zealand, and also coming back from a Rendezvous in Bend, Oregon...
and when my knee broke down at Laguna Seca in 2014.
Kathy and I will really miss Ed...he was one of a kind. Rest in peace, my friend...God Speed.