A Pontiac Guy passes away.
 

Richard Maskin Owner of Dart Heads in Michigan has passed away.

Royal Oak - Richard Maskin, 74, of Royal Oak, Michigan, died on October 16, 2021. Way too young to die. His family owned a Pontiac Dealership just like my family's Pontiac Dealership.

https://www.freep.com/obituaries/det106711

"Richard was a legend of the motorsports world. He began his career as a lot man and mechanic at his family's Pontiac dealership, before becoming a professional drag racer. In 1972 Richard made the leap to NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Pro Stock, where he won multiple championships and set national records as a driver and crew chief.

A true mechanical mastermind and entrepreneur, Richard founded Dart Machinery in a humble Oak Park garage in 1981. He spent the next 37 years growing Dart into a globally recognized aftermarket manufacturer that helped to revolutionize the auto industry, with its premium aftermarket cylinder heads and engine blocks. Dart parts have won multiple NHRA Pro Stock world championships and dozens of national events.

Richard was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2015, and in 2019 was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the NHRA in recognition of his contributions to the sport and industry."

RIP Richard. You were one of a kind.

Tom V.

I pray that he and his family are honored and recognized for all his contributions.
May he rest in peace.

Never knew he was a Pontiac guy. Sorry to hear he passed . Certainly developed a lot of innovative HP gains through the years always thought it was just later corporate pro stock stuff though. Sad to see yet another Pontiac guy pass.

Chevrolet powered pro stock Trans Am .
Driven by Andy Mannarino
Called the M&M boys
Before that it was Maskin and Kanners in the AMC .
RIP MR. Maskin

Richard was aligned with at least one other Pro Stock racer. I'm thinking it was Jim Yates for a while???? Someone correct me if needed.
When he joined whatever this team was, they were instantly competitive.
I hope Dart Industries can carry on...

Correct. Jim Yates won the championship 96 and 97 IIRC

Maskin family has no part in Dart Machinery now. It's part of Race Winning Brands Inc. which also owns JE, Wiesco, Diamond, K1 and some other performance brands.

Sorry to see Dick pass on.

Richard M. wasn't exactly aligned with Wally Booth and Dick Arons.

Dick A. was building both Wally's and Maskin's engines.

Dick Maskin and Dave Kanners fielded the only other serious AMC Pro Stock entry at the time.
They never won the championship but were serious competition in Pro Stock.

So the circle was a very small one in the Detroit Racing Community.

Tom V.