Larry Watson was not only one of my biggest heroes, he had undeniably given me the most inspiration when it came to custom cars.
Over the years, I've had the fortune of not just meeting, but befriending a number of hot rod and custom legends. Unlike your typical celebrity, the majority of whom I have no desire whatsoever to be associated with, the icons of our hobby have got to be some of the most interesting people in the world without a doubt. To me, they're my true heroes and my inspiration to do what I do.
Ed Roth was someone I greatly admired-I can't say that I totally understood him, which didn't really matter (could anyone?), but just as it is with Robert Williams, he was the type of person whose early lifestyle I so idolized. I will always cherish getting to know both Ed and Robert and being able to consider them as friends, not just business acquaintances.
Larry Watson was not only one of my biggest heroes, he had undeniably given me the most inspiration when it came to custom cars. But there was much more than having such admiration for his amazing talent. For whatever reasons, we developed a certain bond, which could very likely have been due to our mutual respect for one another. If I had to guess, though, I'd say it had a lot to do with each of us being overly detail-oriented, understanding, and having an eye for what looked right ... and what didn't.
It was back when I started my career as a magazine editor that I first met Larry. At the time, he had a little shop in Norco-but by then, his days with a spray gun were fading ... his story to me was that if he couldn't use lacquer, he wasn't going to use anything at all. But like a true sports legend, such as Michael Jordan, Watson threw in the towel while he was still a champ. I may never have had the chance to witness Larry in action, but I sure as hell got to know the man, as he was quite the story teller -and let me tell you, he loved to tell stories.
I'm truly going to miss Larry, but deep in my heart, I know he's already scalloped and candy-coated his maker's throne! RIP my friend.