Mike Hunt

[G B.]

Last Thursday, July 12, Mike Hunt was killed in a traffic accident while riding his motorcycle in Madison, Wisconsin. An SUV pulled out of a side street directly in front of him, and Mike had no opportunity to stop.

Mike was one of the most active NCRS members during the late seventies. His primary interest was in the 1956 and 1957 model years, but he also owned a 1966 big block coupe at one time. He was the first '56 - '57 editor for the Corvette Restorer Magazine. He also compiled and published the "Research Project: '56 - '57" that many restorers still read today.

Those of you who never knew Mike really missed a character. He had a rare combination of two attributes... humility and Corvette expertise. In addition to old Corvettes, he loved his special friend Ruth, vintage electric guitars, a particular '55 Chevy 4-door sedan (his first car), Native American culture, ice boat racing, old Playboy magazines, type-written letters, crotch rocket motorcycles, Oscar Meyer Weiniemobiles, Wagemaker aluminum boats, and of course his loyal Doberman companions. I was proud to call Mike my friend for the last 30 years. I will miss him greatly.

I would like to know who was going to make a computer file of his Research Project records so I can help them get his papers. I believe he was discussing this with an NCRS member very recently. If you are this person, please contact me so I can put you in touch with Ruth.

[Geoff C.]

Re: Mike Hunt RIP *NM*

[Dave F.]

Re: Mike Hunt

Very sad news. My condolences to his friends and family.

-Dave

[John D.]

Re: Mike Hunt

Michael Hunt sure was an asset to our hobby. He was a long time reference for our fuel injection hobby. Michael probably forgot more than any of us will ever know. What a shocker to find out that he died a tragic death.
Once in a while he would call or write me and we would talk about serial numbers and distributor tag dates. He was a big 57 FI fan and we would talk about the early units a lot.
May he rest in peace.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Mike Hunt

Sad news, Jerry.

I still have some of Mike's trademark typewritten letters in my files.

Chuck

[Tom D.]

Mike Hunt obituary

Hunt, Michael MADISON - Michael Hunt, age 68, passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2007, due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was born Paul Michael Wellnitz, in Racine on April 29, 1939, the son of Paul Michael and Connie Linda (Heintz) Wellnitz. He went by Michael Wellnitz until a family divorce in 1950. He was then adopted by his stepfather, Dale A. Hunt and changed his name to Michael Hunt. Mike graduated from Burlington High School in 1957. He joined the U.S. Air Force Security Service in 1961, was a member of the U.S.A.F.S.S.?s first Vietnamese Language Course at the National Security Agency and served two tours of duty (1963 and 1964) in Vietnam, mainly on Nui Son Tra (Monkey Mountain), near Da-Nang. Mike married Kathy Schauf on June 22, 1968, in Burlington. He received an Honors degree in Political Science and International Relations from UW-Madison in January 1972. Mike began working for the state of Wisconsin in 1973 and retired from the Department of Transportation in 1998. His interests included several exceptional canine companions, Corvettes, sea kayaks, electric guitars and ice boats. Mike was an avid hunter and fisherman until 1959 and then he quit killing critters. Mike is survived by his sister, Mari (Dan) DiVarco; niece, J.J. (Eric) Frederickson; nephew, Chad Frederickson; grand niece, Ella; special friend, Ruth Gundlach; and his beloved canine companion, Roi. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Wellnitz; mother, Connie Hunt; step father, Dale Hunt; and brothers, Daniel and Jon. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, July 16, 2007, at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Labrador Education and Rescue Network, PO Box 164, Island Lake, IL 60042. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434 www.cressfuneralservice.com

[Tom P.]

Re: Mike Hunt obituary

I almost never come over here anymore. For some reason, a little voice told me to make a visit here. I never met Mike in person, but have talked to him MANY times on the phone for the past 25+yrs. I have numerous letters from him (type written), mainly on FI subjects and I have all the Research 56-57 articles that he had put together.
It is a VERY sad day to learn of his passing. He will be missed!

[Art B.]

Re: Mike Hunt

When I bought my '57 in 1993, I contacted Mike for some of his publications of the '56 - '57 Project. He was very helpful and took the time to write me about how to restore and enjoy the car. He was a good example of a helpful NCRS member.

[James F.]

Re: Mike Hunt

Extending my sympathies. I will miss that his '56-'57 knowledge is no longer available to us. Regards,

[Mike M.]

Re: Mike Hunt

never met Mike face to face but had multiple conversations with him starting pre-NCRS creation. always helpful with the 56-7 corvette issues. RIP. mike

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Mike Hunt

I have corresponded with Mike for over 20 years, and last year after Bloomington my wife and I drove to Madison and surprised Mike at his house and took him out to dinner. He was a fine individual and personal friend. I will miss him dearly.

He never forgot my daughters birthday after she was born and always sent her a little something.

Jimmy L. Blakely Janet Blakely Margaret Blakely

[Mark S.]

Re: Mike Hunt

Jerry:

May we talk offline?

Thanks,

Mark

[G B.]

Please forgive me, Mike.

Your current 4-legged podnah, "Roi the Labra-Dane", is certainly not a Doberman.

[Mark S.]

Re: Mike Hunt

I met Mike in the early eighties to get information for my 56. I purchased his Research Reports; and from that encounter, we established a wonderful friendship. Mike had a passion for life; and a passion for the Corvette hobby. We would lament for hours on items like late 56 orange engine blocks. He would make calls and and try to find the correct information, no matter how long it took. Since we are both in Wisconsin, we would talk about the activities that we look forward to as we entered each season. If you communicated with Mike, you would probably receive a type written note (I do not think that Mike liked computers)with a cartoon, a quip, or some of Mike's other views on the world. Mike was a packrat; and he saved everything. Mike would also research information for Chevrolet's. He inherited a 55 Chevy, and he was a charter member of the Chevy World magazine. In true Mike fashion, he became disenchanted with the direction of Chevy World, because they wandered from their original charter. i now have all those magazines, with Mike's notes on Corvettes, and Wisconsin Motor Division punch cards marking pages of interest. I was anxious to open the mailings that I received from Mike. They were usually included the date and "a.d.". I recently received pictured of Zora and John Fitch. Mike had a very clear memory of the 55 to 57 years. He commented on 3-28-57 when he and a friend drove out of a Chev dealership in Burlington in a brand new 57 Chev BelAir Sport Coupe , surf green with 265ci, 3 spd with overdirive. We talked about his new passion-boats, Shooting Star, Switzer Baby Bullet, Falls Flyer and his Wagemaker Wolverine. I was looking for a used 40 hp Mercury 2-stroke outboard with the tiller/steering handle; and some little round winshields for his boat. I talked to Mike a few weeks ago; and I will really miss our talks each month. You are probably tinkering with a 57 airbox up there! God Bless!

[Bill H.]

Re: Mike Hunt

I salute the guy who nicknamed me "Sebring" Bill over 25 years ago...