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Roger Coburn Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Roger Coburn
Timothy Jameson
December 2, 2024
It has been along while since standing beside you smelling the nitro. I can remember like yesterday I would be at your house after school and help you load up the car. We would both head over the mountain for the drag strip. Everyone else would follow later. Had alot of great times. I have started building two model cars. Front motor and the rear motor car I do hope that I can complete them before my time to see you and the rest of our families. RIP my love, Tim
Jeff Robinson
September 24, 2024
14 years since you left us Roger, Not a day goes bye that I don´t think about what you Taught Troy and I. Definitely missed and will always be remembered. Rest In Paradise buddy, See you on the other side Roger.
Wayne King
November 24, 2021
It´s been ten years since you left us. I
Think
About you James and Chuck often. Rest In Peace Roger.
Rebecca(Becky) Martin(Jameson)
December 30, 2010
I just found out about Roger coburn. He will be greatly missed. Like what my cousin's Tim and Jim Jameson said about him. I remember Roger when i was kid. When my uncle Erine and my dad Charles Jameson Would take me out to the race's. He will be greatly missed
December 12, 2010
Thanks you uncle Roger for being who you are.
Jack Beckman
December 6, 2010
Honored to be able to attend the services for one of the men who seared the dream of drag racing into my (then) seven-year-old mind. His humility made his accomplishments all the more impressive. With enormous respect. W-C-M fan since 1973
joshua annis
December 4, 2010
i will miss you grandpa thanks for being the best
December 4, 2010
After reading Roger's friends' comments about him, and many tears, snot rags and reminising about the past, it is hard to express the hurt in my heart when I think about Roger passing away. He wasn't supposed to ever die as most of us believe our loved ones shouldn't. It's the same feeling as when my sis, Shirley passed. The things that stick in my mind about Roger is that he was really the person that all the people in the "Guest Book" wrote about him. He was always like a big brother to me and exciting to be around. I remember when he went golfing with my brother Johnny and me. I jokingly told Johnny, because Roger was siting between us, that we aught to take him out into the country and kick his butt. And, he calmly said, "Did you pack a lunch?" And I quickly laughed because I knew that he could knock me out from about ten feet away. Good thing he had that good sense of humor. Anyways we enjoyed the golf game. One of the most exciting times about his racing career was when they won four years in a row at Famosa, beating Garlets, and the rest, I was most happy for them. There are so many good things I could write about but time and space won't permit. Now, my heart goes out to you LeeAnn because I know how you feel about loosing a mom and dad and I certainly miss both of yours more than words can express. Sorry we can't attend the funeral. Our prayers and love are with you always Uncle Charlie and Aunt Darlene
Jerry McNaughton
December 3, 2010
Thank you Roger for being my friend!
I was privlaged to spend a lot of nights in the garage on Lum Ave.
We will all miss you!
Carl Olson
December 3, 2010
The thing I remember most about Roger and James is that they were both perfect gentlemen on the race track. I had the honor and privilege of racing against them on many occasions, and there were never any of the "games" routinely encountered with other racers. They came to the starting line confident in their preparation and performance, and challenged you to beat them to the finish line "fair and square". While working at Waterman Racing Engines in the early 1970's, Roger and James were among our very best customers. The bills always got paid on time, and they always performed extremely well. During this time I got to know Roger much better on a personal basis, and learned that despite his quiet demeanor, he had a wonderful sense of humor. Roger was an icon in the sport of drag racing, and he will be sincerely missed by me and anyone else who had the good fortune to know him.
ricky twist
December 2, 2010
i will always remember how roger & james showed up for a division 7 race in sacramento ca in the 70s and uloaded the Ridge Route Terror Fueler and ran a 6.00 off the trailer. i followed the rain for rent team all my life. god speed roger rip. you will never be for gotten.71
December 2, 2010
To Roger's loveone's, Roger was a great inspiration to me over the years. This resulted in my winning a Wally at Indy in 1969. He has left a great heritage and encouraged young people to get to the track and not race on the street. Ed Feldner NHRA Bakersfield
December 2, 2010
To the family of Roger Coburn, Bakersfield and the NHRA community have suffered a great loss with Roger's passing, however he has left a lot of great memories. Lynn Hubbard NHRA Member Bakersfield
Carl Olson
December 2, 2010
During the "golden years" of California drag racing, I had the distinct honor of racing against Warren & Coburn on many occasions. The two things I always knew when we went to the starting line was that there were not going to be any "games" played, and it was going to be a very tough race. Both James and Roger were always gentlemen, and never tried to play any of the tricks that were so often the case with other racers. They knew they were going to run well, and it was up to you to run even better and get to the finish line first. When I worked at Waterman Racing Engines and James and Roger were among our best customers, I got to know them much better on a personal basis. Two nicer and more sincere people I've never known. That said, I'll always remember Roger's very witty sense of humor. I had the opportunity to spend a little time with Roger at the California Hot Rod Reunions at Famoso over the past few years, and always enjoyed that time. Roger was a great guy and a great racer, and will always be remebered by me with great fondness.
Jeff and Carol Sayer
December 2, 2010
Our sport has lost another icon. our deepest sympathies to the family. We are not close family friends, but can still grieve and do our best to ease the pain.
AFD 665 The Candyman
Wayne King
December 1, 2010
The loss of Roger really hits hard. I first met Roger when he was a driver. He had a Turquois and white 48 Fiat with a Chrysler. I was standing there as a 16 year old kid. Roger was all by himself. He asked me to give him a push to start the motor. I was thrilled to be part of Drag Racing. Little did I know that someday I would get to drive his cars. Little did I know that day that Rogers Dragster would become one of the toughest in the country.
The friendship lasted for for over 56 years.
I will miss him dearly. Roger is now with Chuck Holloway and Ernie Jameson gathering parts to build a new car for the Drag Strip in the sky. Bernie Mather is working on a new set of trick heads. Irv Guinn and Marvin Miller are lining up the sponsors.
My heart goes out to LeeAnn and Juanita and James.
Rest in Peace my friend you were one of the BEST.
Wayne and Peggy King
Dale Jones
December 1, 2010
To a man who was my first and best friend in racing and who was my mentor and buddy thru 20 years of the greatest years of drag racing. Shirley you now have your Roger back, I miss you both. Huey....aka Dale Jones
December 1, 2010
It was a pleasure watching Roger working on his car and was just as much fun lining up next to him on the starting line.
Ken Noblett AKA: Jake
December 1, 2010
My thoughts go out to the Coburn Family. I've known Roger sinse the early days. He and Shirley we're wonderful friends back in the day. We will all miss Roger very much. Arlene Williams Bowser
Steve Gibbs
December 1, 2010
The word "legendary" gets used much too easily in drag racing parlance...but it most assuredly applies to Roger Coburn and The Ridge Route Terrors. Competitors hated to see them coming, yet now it's so hard to see them (Marvin and Roger) go. Losing a friend like Roger is painful us all, but our hearts go out especially to daughter LeeAnn and family, and James Warren and his family. May we all hang on to the good memories of the good times. Vaya con Dios mi Amigo.
Jess Sturgeon
December 1, 2010
Our condolences to the Coburn family. Roger was a great friend and racer.We will all miss him. The Sturgeon family
Stacey Alexander-Knight
November 30, 2010
LeeAnn and Family,
I am very sorry to hear about your Dad. You and your Family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Jimmy Jameson
November 30, 2010
Like my brother Tim said, Roger will surley be missed. I learned a lot from Roger and my Dad about building engines. RIP, and God Bless
November 30, 2010
My Heart reaches out to the family,only meeting roger once way back in 1979 with my step father billy hawk.Thanks to Mr coburn for putting up with a 12 year old making me feel like I was important.
Timothy Jameson
November 30, 2010
My prayers are with Roger and his family and the race family. He was a great man and one I had looked up to as a second father along with my dad Ernie. I have alot of racing memories over the years growing up. He'll be truly missed and thanks for the memories Roger. love you, Tim Jameson
November 30, 2010
Our hearts go out to Roger's family and race family, It is people like Roger that created such great racing and a future for drag racing. He will be deeply missed.I'm sure he is already bench racing with some of the greatest racers who have already left us. Thank you Roger
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