RIP Don Fryklund

[TPLACE31]

Just received word that Don Fryklund passed away in his sleep last night. He had not been ill and this took the family by surprise to say the least.

Like him or not, there was no denying that Don could get those big modified runabouts to the front. He was a six time National Champion and a seven time National Hi Point Champion and was instrumental in promoting Modified racing in Region One.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his brother Dave and the rest of the Fryklund family.

Steve Noury

[DiGia54D]

My condolences to the Fryklund family. One of the best DMR drivers i ever watched race.

[csh2z]

Condolences to the Fryklund family from the Runnes. RIP Don.

[Tony Tello]

My family had alot of fun with Don. He will be sorley missed. Our condolances to his family.RIP.......Entire Tello Family

[Jeff5P]

Condolences

Our deepest conjdolences to the Fryklund family. We will always have fond memories of our times with Don at Lock Haven.

Jeff and Mary Williams

[glenntren]

I am shocked. Loss for words, just to strange.
May you rest in peace.

[Dparker]

A shock felt all the way south to Texas, My condolences to the Fryklund family including Dave. Don is probably enjoying a few moon pies with Walter Beal.
Don this is for you

[Matt Dagostino]

Don- Rest in Peace

Our condolences to a native New Englander............

Matt and Val

[rabbitears2]

56-B A true competitor

The Forino family's thoughts and prayers go out to Don's family and brother Dave for their loss. Don was truly a boat racing Titan and someone who will be missed, it is a sad day. We have lost one of boat racings true treasures.
I would like to celebrate Don's life with a few thoughts.

Don was the biggest arch rival in the EMR class. In the early 80's, I started racing that class at 16 years old. My first experience with Don was a heated conversation when he flipped in front of me in Springfield and he felt I drove to close to him to avoid him. I didn't think Don liked me very much for a long time. I think he felt I was too young to race at the time. I can tell you, thanks to Don I am a much better driver having competed against him all those years.

As time went on and many rooster-tails in the face later we had some great races in region 1. He was the most competitive person I ever met and second place was no option. I remember a quote of his to this day. "I would race wheel barrels and find a way to win", competitive in anything he did.
Even though Don hadn't raced in years he still left a lasting impression on myself and boat racing.

I remember racing at Thompson(in second place) and seeing Don flip. Of course when we busted his chops on shore he said "I hit a large Snapping Turtle going into the corner and It made me flip" ! Typical Don. Lol.

Or the time Don kept us awake, in the wee hours of the night, driving back from the 1984 modified nationals
on the C.B radio telling us stories of racing days gone by. I believe this is the race where the name "Moon Pie" was coined. Someone else who knows the story can share.
The highlight of my career was when we had to run Quiet pipes at the race in Worchester and I came up with the longest and ugliest pipes known to man.
Don made fun of them when he saw them until we beat him every heat that weekend, he was speechless.

I share these thoughts because as much as a rival Don was to a lot of us, in the end he made all who raced against him better racers. There aren't many Don Fryklund's in this world. Don you will be missed as a rival and a friend. May you rest in peace in the big race course in the sky. I hope to race against you again someday my friend.

[Dave M]

Condolences

I can recall Don from my childhood. A very hard racer, and a lot of fun. Rest in Peace Don. Enjoy Lake Paradise.

[Hunter]

Don's passing doesn't compute for me. I kept thinking that any day,he was going to dust off the red DeSliva and show the new fangled DMRs how to get around the buoys. Years ago, somewhere in New England, Don watched me get towed in upside-down twice in one day, took pity on me and fixed me up to run his loaner DM. One heat and I was forever hooked on bigger, faster and noisier.

Safe journey,Don.

Hunter III

[TPLACE31]

For those of you that have inquired, there are no funeral arrangements at this time (6/24/13). You can view his obituary at

www.greelyfuneralhome.com