Steve Castelli Jr.

1940 - 2023

Steve Castelli Jr.
June 8, 1940 - September 6, 2023
"Steve Castelli was a genuine full speed ahead Renaissance Man"

He was one of those guys that could get more done in a weekend then most of us could do in a week. Cars and machines were a big part of Steve's life. He built his first car in high school, a 1941 Chevy with spiderweb hubcaps. He loved that car so much that when he married the love of his life, Glenda Karns, in 1961, he hid the car down the street at a cops house so his friends couldn't decorate it. Glenda and Steve met at Petaluma High in 1958 at a school dance. Steve and his slick San Francisco blue suede shoes swept the Iowa farm girl Glenda off her feet and they spent the next 61 years together.

Steve's passion was racing. In 1966, at 26, he opened Castelli's Speed Shop in Petaluma and raced circle track stock cars in Ukiah and Lakeport on the weekends. Winning the stock car championship in 1969 and 1970 with his yellow #3, 55 Chevy.

It was in 1970 when Steve told his racing friends that he had purchased the old Jeffries Auto Wreckers in Windsor and he was going to quit racing and retire by the time he was 40. This was an old promise he had made to his father before he died.

Castelli's Auto Wreckers went from 5 acres to 15 acres with an American, Foreign and Muscle Car Yard, specializing in high performance cars. Steve fulfilled his promise to his Dad and retired in 1980 with a big auction. Collecting became another career for Steve and Glenda as they bought and sold antiques. Steve was hired to supply cars for a movie called, Hot Rod in the early 80's starring Robert Culp. Steve fell in love with the 41 Willys that was the star of the movie. At the end of the filming he purchased 3 cars from the movie and assembled his new drag racer he called, Hot Rod Willys.

Hot Rod Willys raced over 25 years, from a 14 second bracket racer and into the World's Fastest Street Rod, going 188 mph in the quarter mile at 7.50 seconds. He won the Goodguys Vintage Drag Racing A-Gas Championship in 1995, 1996 and 2005. Steve and Glenda traveled across the country racing on the weekends and antiquing during the week. They loved these memories with A-Gas friends.

To say Steve was a collector is an understatement. Starting at a young age he took good care of his own toy trucks and we still have them in his collection today. Steve especially loved the hunt!

Steve and Glenda had such a partnership in their home and work lives that it is hard to mention one without the other. They opened up a furniture store in 1981 called Warehouse Oak & Brass in Santa Rosa, selling reproduction oak furniture. Steve and Glenda built a ranch estate in Healdsburg to display all of their collections in 1983. Soon after they planted a vineyard, added a garden and a park for events. The Castelli Ranch became a show place and they held annual New Year's Day Party's for over 30 years with over 400 friends. Steve was always your tour guide and Glenda made her Lucky Black Eyed Pea Soup. The band was playing and the wine was flowing, it was not an event to be missed.

Steve loved to build things. While building the family home, he built vacation homes in Bodega Harbor, Incline Village Lake Tahoe and a mountain retreat in Healdsburg. Steve helped Glenda start the Windsor Certified Farmers Market in 2001. He built a wood race track for zucchini car races for the kids. He custom built a 6' aluminum pie pan for the Market to win the 2005 Guinness Book's Biggest Pumpkin Pie at 420 lbs. Steve and Glenda spent several years volunteering in the community and on non-profit Boards. They could always be counted on to donate Tour Dinners to local service group auctions.

Steve Castelli was taken from us earlier than we expected. Many of you may wonder why you haven't seen Steve at the Swap Meets and the Flea Markets he loved to attend. He loved hunting for cars and he loved talking about them with all of you.

Steve Castelli is cherished by his wife, Glenda, his daughters, Tina and Sheri, his sons-in-law, Rob and Vic, his grandchildren, Luke, Spencer, Sarah and Stephanie, his great-granddaughter, Elise.

Celebration of Life on Steve's Birthday, June 8th, 2024 with a car parade and show for Steve, so get your hot rod ready. Visit www.hotrodwillys.com and share a story on his Guest Book Page.