dunefreak Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Garden Grove racing enthusiast killed in dune buggy crash Robert Lowell Swenson, 81, an avid racer and respected figure in the racing community, died in a fatal crash at a popular Idaho tourist spot. By DEEPA BHARATH The Orange County Register Robert Lowell Swenson, a long-time race car driver and Orange County business owner, died in a dune buggy crash at the sand dunes west of St. Anthony in Idaho, Fremont County officials said. Swenson was 81.An avid racer, Swenson couldn't have picked a better way to say good-bye, said his long-time friend Les Phillips, president of the Buttonwillow Race Track near Bakersfield. "It's something you'd hear from anyone who is as involved in racing as Bob was," Phillips said. "You'd rather have an incident than end up in the hospital or an old people's home."Fremont dispatchers got the call Wednesday about a man who had crashed at the sand dunes at about 1 p.m., Sheriff Len Humphries said. Emergency personnel tried to resuscitate Swenson, but were unsuccessful, Humphries said. Swenson, a Garden Grove resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Humphries said Swenson’s dune buggy apparently went over the top of a sand dune, became air-borne and landed upside down after the dune buggy rolled over. Swenson was found still buckled in although the vehicle was upside down, he said. Phillips said Swenson was a well-respected and notable figure at the California Sports Car Club and the Sports Car Club of America. He raced at the club level until three years ago, Phillips said.Steve Henry, Swenson's long-time friend and business partner at PBS Engineering, said he hooked up the trailer to Swenson's motor home and sent him and his family off to Idaho on their much-anticipated vacation last week. "This was a shock, no one saw it coming," he said.Henry said Swenson was riding the dune buggy with his son, Richard, following behind him. But no one saw how the crash occurred, he said. Swenson and his brother, Paul Swenson, owned PBS Engineering in Garden Grove, where they design transmission systems. However, Swenson has been semi-retired for the last few years, Henry said. Riding dune buggies was something Swenson took over more recently and it was a father-son activity for him and Richard, Henry said."He was a great all-around guy," he said. Swenson hated memorials and funerals, so there won't be one for him, Henry said. He will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered in specific locations "where he really had a good time," he said." He went quietly, quickly and without a fuss – just as he would've liked to go," Henry said.Swenson is survived by his wife, Carol, and his sons Richard and Eric. The family is asking that no flowers be sent in keeping with Swenson's wish. E-mails may be sent to info@pbseng.com or notes may be mailed to PBS Engineering, 11602 Anabel St. Garden Grove, CA 92843. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/humphri...9092-dune-dunes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakster884 Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Another Duner passed. May peace be with the family. Shiat duning for 80+ yrs not bad. Sounds like on helluva way to go. Land upside down. Could have suffocated in the sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorgeloco Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 RIP man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
che che DD Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 WoW I have th chills... R.I.P. Fellow duner... man and at St Anthony. He couldnt have been much closer to heavin... My prayers go out to his family for sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sincity_blondie Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends. I think thats freakin awesome he was 81 and still duning. Went doing what he obviously loved. RIP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1208 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 RIP.... my prayers to the family.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE BIG E Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 (edited) Hate to see a fellow duner pass away doing some thing he loved to do. My prayers go to him and to the family Edited July 17, 2009 by THE BIG E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warrior07 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Hate to see a fellow duner pass away doing some thing he loved to do. My prayers go to him and his family :?: I could totally understand what you said ! Oh and prayers to the family ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high octane junkie Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 i met him at the SSSS last year, RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandawg Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 (edited) Garden Grove racing enthusiast killed in dune buggy crash Robert Lowell Swenson, 81, an avid racer and respected figure in the racing community, died in a fatal crash at a popular Idaho tourist spot. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/humphri...9092-dune-dunes WOW. the day before I got there. Ironic as I was going to order his companies shifter when I got home. The day I got there another guy had lawn darted his long travel and had to be flighted out too. He survived! His rail wasn't as lucky!! Trip report and pix to follow! RIP to the victim, and his family has my deepest sympathy!! Edited July 17, 2009 by SANDAWG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 That's amazing that he was still riding at 81. Too bad he passed away, but sounds like he had a great life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunefreak Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 That's amazing that he was still riding at 81. Too bad he passed away, but sounds like he had a great life. well....not really riding, but driving in a buggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draggindre Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 r.i.p. another one goes duning what he lliked to dune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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