Just heard that a dear friend, Kirk Wright of Scottsdale, Arizona has passed. Kirk was always on the cutting edge building a 6 cylinder Model T Engine or high powered racing engines. Kirk could often be seen driving his old skinning truck or heard telling a tall (but true) story about building a catapult to launch stray cats out of his back yard and across the street into his neighbors yard. Kirk was a fine friend and will be missed by all who knew him, including the cats.

Sorry to hear that, Kirk was an interesting guy to say the least. I met him a couple times at the auctions in Scottsdale.

Kirk designed and/or manufactured several accessory parts, still listed in Lang's and Snyder's catalogs, and possibly catalogs. I wonder if he was still making the parts, or if he contracted the manufacturing outside? Sorry to hear of his passing.

Thats a real shame.
I have spoken to Kirk before on the telephone - which even today is still a reasonable feat. I dont normally ring to talk to people in the US (mainly because email and the internet are free) but i was told Kirk didnt go in for such things.
I have some pictures here and some technical 'sketches' of how to put disc brakes on a Model T that Kirk sent me. That was several years ago - we have moved a bit since then and finally settled. I asked the guy who put me in touch with Kirk to find his details again as i had lost his. That was about 3 weeks ago and i am still awaiting a response. Now i possibly know why.
Sorry for the loss of your friend Glen.

That Skinning Truck was something. Kirk was on my list of people I wanted to meet someday. He put me on to my first set of disc brakes.

I got to meet Kirk on the last Arizona Shoot out tour. Seen him race his Skinning Truck against Dave Parker & humble Howard. Howard ended up winning the event. Dave Parker's rusty/battered up pick up (TJ Offy) came very close to winning. What a "Sleeper" that T pick up is. After the tour, on the way home I stopped over at Kirk's home and ended up buying a repro. aluminum 4 valve RAJO head. Amoung his many treasures was a very original, early race car with a dual over head cam T engine. The only thing T looking on the engine was the block. At the time he was working on putting an Offy crankshaft in a T block. He had welded in additional main bearing webs. Kirk was a very clever guy....sad to hear of his death.
Les

Hey Everyone, I was informed by another friend about this post. I was lucky enough to meet Kirk and write a story about his Skinny truck and the hemi headed Model T four bangers he was building.

Here's the URL for the story: http://www.myrideisme.com/Blog/model-ts-and-typewriters/

He had so much energy and so much to say I really wanted to go back and cover the uphill race car he was building and to talk more about drag racing at Beeline raceway. He was like a walking hot rod history book!

God speed Kirk! It was my pleasure.

I thought Kirk resembled Clint Eastwood. Sad to hear. My prayers go out to his loved ones.

This is a very sad day.
We met Kirk at 2006 T-Party. Of all the people that we have meet on tours he is the one person that we had stayed in touch with over the past few years. We would call in hopes that he would be going to a tour that we were heading to. We missed him dearly last year at the Centennial. He was very talented with everything that he did and had the most wonderful sense of humor. I've got pictures of some of his more recent endeavors on top of my desk, along with a copy of a speeding ticket that he got for going WAY TOO FAST in his truck in February 2007. I've also got a copy of his book, about him buying his first T and then finding it again years later - and that is "The Truck".
Rest In Peace dear friend, thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

-Kathy

I like the "OAL" on his oil cap. Talented and creative guy.

Never met the guy but it's obvious he was quite a character from the looks of that T pickup.
Shame he's gone.

A very sad day. Kirk was one of the finest of designers/machinists/and mechanics. Most of all, he was always a joy to be around. And, he always had fun at whatever he did. A big loss. He will be missed by all who knew him.