I just got an email this morning from a friend of mine...
HELD, Rudy -
Passed away at K-W Health Centre, Grand River Hospital on Monday, July 29, 2013 at the age of 73 years.
Rudy was born in Poland to parents Edward Held and the former Olga Krebs.
He resided in New Hamburg and he owned and operated Rudy Held Performance Centre.
Rudy, New Hamburg’s own, once drag racer extraordinare, has had a career involving the racing and building of performance vehicles since 1959. Years ago in a newspaper interview, when asked about his career choice, he said he has no explanation other than “I really like taking things apart and making them better and faster.”
In 1959 Rudy began on the road to what would become a very credible racing career which would include a Canadian, New York State and an Ohio State Championship, while also competing in some of North America’s most prestigious racing events such as the NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis and the Molson’s Grand Nationals in Sanair, Quebec.
He began that career in a garage at his home in New Hamburg. It was the summer of ‘59 that Rudy started racing at tracks in Cayuga, St. Thomas, Grand Bend and Deseronto, in a 1955 Ford that he “Souped up” in the garage in his spare time. This ran in the D/Gas class.
In 1961 he became a certified Auto Mechanic and worked at the General Motors dealership in Baden, Ontario. During the time when Rudy was using his garage to work on his race car, he and his brothers formed a car club. The Crusaders were a bunch of guys that street raced and sponsored road runs. “Even today when I see some of the guys they still talk about those days” recalled Rudy. Closing down a stretch of rural road on a Saturday night or a Sunday morning for a street race to take place wasn’t out of the norm.
By 1963 Rudy had moved onto a new race car, a 1963 Pontiac 409 cubic inch, 425 HP, campaigning in the A stock, and the A/FX classes. This Pontiac carried him to the championship titles. This car competed regularly at tracks in St. Thomas, Cayuga, Thompson Ohio and St. Pie, Quebec.
In 1965 the legend of the Gold Gambler got its start as Rudy’s first race car with the legendary name was built. The first Gold Gambler was a 1948 Prefect competing in the A Gas and the B Altered class. This is where Rudy’s wild driving and expertise on the lights earned him the nickname “Holeshot Held”. Every weekend was action packed with continuous racing. St. Thomas on Saturday, then over to Grand Bend on Saturday night, and down to Niagara for Sunday. Any broken or blown parts were repaired during the wee hours of the night.
In 1970 the Opel GT Flip Top was built by Rudy. This new version of the Gold Gambler brought even more trophies, winning awards for excellence in safety features, best engineered car, best build and best modified in places like Montreal and Indianapolis, where Rudy travelled to race. This car ran in the B/Altered and E/Econo Altered classes.
In 1972 Rudy decided to take his racing and building expertise and start his own business. Doing what he’d been doing for himself for so long for others. Rudy and his brother Rich started Rudy Held Performance which will by the end of this year be celebrating its 41st Anniversary.
Rudy retired from racing in 1990.
Along with his nephews Ron and Rob they built a 1992 Iroc Camaro Super Stock car which they campaigned at the NHRA Points Meets in Martin, Michigan and the Spring Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
Even today the legend of the Gold Gambler lives on with his sponsorship of his Great Nephews jr. dragster.
From the days of the flagman starter to the introduction of the sophisticated Christmas tree, to the electronic controls and computers, drag racing has been Rudy’s main passion in life.
Loving brother of Richard & Wendy Held, Olga & John Buchenauer, Ella Kurtz and Frieda & Ernst Wildeman.
He was predeceased by brother Eric Held and sister-in-law Lynn Held.
Rudy is lovingly remembered by his partner Marie Smith, and her children Mike & Patti Smith and their children and Lisa Gabel & friend Scott and her children, as well as by many nieces and nephews.
He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Kitchener.
A Private Family Funeral Service will take place in New Hamburg, on Thursday, August 1st.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Grand River Hospital Foundation Oncology Unit or the K-W Humane Society would be appreciated by the family.
I've personally known Rudy, Rich and Ron for over 25yrs. Rudy was a great fellow, I'll certainly miss him. To think I drove by his shop yesterday and taught about stopping in, to do some catching up.
So sorry to hear this news. He was one of the fun guys in our hobby. He helped a lot of car guys with their builds.
Our thoughts are with the family today. Rest In Peace Rudy.
Geez, that is sad news, a great lot of talent and tuning know how has been lost.
I first became aware of Rudy Held when he first ran the Prefect Gold Gambler at St Thomas dragstrip.
He ran a 1st class quick car. Also rember seeing him at the Nationals.
I've known Rudy quite awile,always friendly, went out of his way to help me on my cars. I will miss him. He was car guy. May his lights always be green.
Rudy has always been good to me, he also sponsored most of the tracks in the area, from Cayuga to St-Thomas to Grand Bend, it is a great lost. The Gold Gambler ( the Opel ) is still at the shop, it hasn't been restored after it's demise, in the '90's.
