Team News
  • Our friend Steve Reasner

    • We have lost a true friend in Steve Reasner. Steve was a friend to everyone, to be a friend of Steve's was to be more like family. As an active member of the Elks lodge Steve devoted countless hours of volunteer work. Steve was the leader of the Elks parade participant BBQ, which was a huge event that served over 3000 chicken lunches, served. On one occasion Steve had his BBQ teams all lined out and organized like a Swiss watch as only he could do, when one of the teams came to tell him that they had made a mistake of grabbing the wrong sprayer to baste the chicken and had used Diesel Fuel instead. This required quick thinking and decision-making and Steve was the man for the job. Steve promptly came up with a recovery plan of tossing out the bad chicken cleaning up the mess and reloading the BBQ pit. As you can imagine this was a major hiccup in the previously well-timed plan. Steve pulled it off to prevent us all from having 3000+ parade participants breathing down our collective necks. Steve loved to talk about his adventures with his family and friends, he would often recite stories like the trip to Lake Shasta when a part of the house boat was lost and Steve had to do some sharp explaining to the rental people. Or the trip to Hawaii to ride back with his son David on the aircraft carrier, and the time Diane and he went on a business trip vacation and entered a costume competition. They tweaked the theme of the costumes and went as pirates and won handily. Greatly thanks to the vision of some very realistic swards that he and Danny Rich fabricated the night before complete with rhinestone.

    Steve loved his racing, just about any kind of racing. He was the crew chief on my drag boat team and you could always count on him. He used to hate it that if I was driving the rig to the race because I was never much for stopping once we go going. I like to think I kept him from smoking, as much and I know he cut back on coffee. I'd never stop. Once Steve and Diane were not able to leave with the rest of the team for a race in San Diego but they came down after work. I’m positive Steve holds the world record from Santa Maria to San Diego… Diane can confirm. On another occasion Steve’s brother in-law Danny Gibbon’s was taught the fine art of NASCAR Drafting techniques by none other then Steve Reasner during some early driving lessons. Then there was the time he and Danny Gibbons were in his blue Camero Z28 coming back from Fomoso Drag Strip while we all followed under a "full moon". Or the time he and Danny Gibbon’s sunk his boat on its maiden voyage. Upon our arrival at the boat sight Danny Rich yells out across the bow “Reasner, where’s your boat?” and Steve with the same o’l smirk yells back "your on top of it Rich".

    I would often go cutting bbq firewood with Steve, his dad Alex, and Bobby Jones. I never knew if my stomach hurt more the next day from lifting all the wood or from the great stories they'd tell.

    Whether it be at the races or starting a new business venture he had the "can due attitude" which always prompted the often heard comment "we can do this". Steve was a born motivator and leader. Steve and his family started a started Santa Maria BBQ Outfitters a few years ago. I thought at the time it would be a side venture while he remained working at Praxair. But Steve had other plans, he up and quit Praxair to peruse the new business fulltime. I thought he was nuts but I knew if anyone could pull it off it would be Steve and family. He had taught them the skills required to get things done. Over the years I met literally hundreds of people thru Steve and they all were special to Steve, as he’d later tell me about them and of course another little story. The gleam in his eye was special when he talked about the grand kids or the little ones Diane babysat. It was truly love from the heart and he loved kids. I could go on for pages as but there are just to many stories and memories to count but none will be forgotten.

    To Diane, Sons Darrell and David Daughter in-law Kristin, Grandchildren Bailey, Braden, and Henry you will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Like so many others will do what ever we can to help you.

    Steve will be deeply missed by all that knew him. I know I for one am a better person because I knew him. My family and I will always cherish him and his memory and will never forget our friend Steve.

    So with a tear in my eye I say goodbye my friend, but not goodbye forever. We will meet again and together we will wave the checkered flag.

    Jimmy Perry