Bob Ackerman
05-09-2017, 01:31 PM
I received a phone call from "Skip" last Saturday morning telling me that Jan had passed away on Friday. If you did not know Jan he was a very quiet man that built the most unruly and unlikely race car that could be imagined. It was a Chevy Malibu wagon that had undergone a major transformation into a hard core race car with a "Gi-NORMUS" Shafiroff Racing Engine that made well over 1400+ HP and gobs of Torque to match. No-one ever thought that this race car could or would go straight or fast enough to worry about being a threat. Jan proved all the naysayers wrong. Jan established himself as a true competitor and a very capable driver that could handle this behemoth of a drag race car. Jan fought many battles on the race track getting his race car to perform per his own expectations and at the same time battled his own personal battle with cancer. Jan will always be remembered by those who knew him as a gentleman, a true sportsman, competitor along with his smile, hearty handshake and man hug as he greeted you. Jan, the memories you have given all of us on and off the racetrack will always have a place in our hearts. We all cheered for you when you broke into the 7 second ET zone and will remember your smile from ear to ear in the pits forever. God Bless you and please keep all of us protected that you left behind doing the sport we all love. Hours for remembrance and funeral for Jan will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017 at 10 am at the Victory Chapel at 301 Columbia Road in Dorchester, MA 02124.