JAMES CHESTER SMITH
June 12, 1934 - November 24, 2020
James Chester Smith, born June 12th, 1934, passed peacefully on November 24th, 2020.
Dad was born with a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other, and was one of the best Volkswagon mechanics of all times. He loved the VW Bug. There was nothing he couldn’t fix.
In his early years he was always a giving person, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts, and at the age of 18 helped to tear down earthquake damaged buildings in downtown Bakersfield after the Earthquake of 1952.
A few years later in 1955 he joined the United States Air Force where he spent four years up in Greenland as a Heavy Equipment mechanic as they kept plowing the ice to keep open a runway, earning a Good Conduct Medal. After Greenland, he signed up with the Air Force Reserves and spent four more years at Edwards Air Force base.
He has always loved working on engines of all types, and in 1965 started “Smith Engineering”, where he worked on Volkswagons of all types and some Porsches. We never heard of anything he couldn’t fix! Dad loved racing, and he and his brother Bruce began racing Volkswagon Bugs at the Bakersfield Speedway, where he “#99 " won many races. Later, with Bill Malm’s backing, he branched out and started racing Open Comp cars at Mesa Marin, again winning many races, and traveling around to other race tracks to race! He loved eating at the Ol’ West Café, so thank you Martine and crew for your yummy food and delightful service! So Dad, from all of your friends who are still here, we love you and look forward to seeing you race at the Big Track in Heaven! Please say hello to everyone for us!
Our deepest thanks to Hoffmann-Hospice for your love and support during this difficult time.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents Chet and Sylvia Smith, and is survived by his daughter, Christina Van Dyke and her husband Kenneth Van Dyke. His son Steven Smith, wife Kathy Smith, and their children , brother Bruce Smith (now in Heaven) and Jeanie Harvey, sister Kathy Gilmore and husband Darrell, sister Rosalie Duncan and husband Ronnie, and nieces and nephews. He loved you All.
A Celebration of Life will be held at LifePoint Church, 4101 Patton Wy, Bakersfield, on Friday, March 12th, at 11am, in our new Outdoor Venue, the ‘Backlot’.