Tim Hyatt, one of the preeminent experts in drag racing clutches and a staple of the NHRA Manufacturers Midway for decades, passed away suddenly December 20.

Hyatt first came to national attention as a member of the staff of experts at Mr. Gasket Co., in 1982, where he assisted Bob Devour’s trackside efforts to assist racers with their problems. After Devour left the company, Hyatt assumed the leadership of the effort.

Hyatt, who spent his early days working as a line mechanic at a Ford dealership and at dragstrips in his native Ohio, where he did everything from tech inspection to announcing, later moved on to work at Star Performance before founding Hyatt Racing Services with his wife, Beth, in the early 1990s.

The Hyatt Racing Services 18-wheeler was a constant and welcome site at major events as racers from all categories knew that a friendly face and a helping hand was there to come to the rescue.