by Dan Nitzel

Steve Crumrine, 41 of Grand Island passed away on August 5^th, 2002 at the University Medical Center in Omaha. Steve was one of NOHVA charter and founding members. I first met Steve in 1979.

Steve was a ardent supporter of NOHVA. He served on the Board of Directors for at least eight years and was once very active with the moto-cross, drag races and tractor pulls at TBQ Raceway on Oly Ripp’s land north of Gibbon from 1988 thru 1992. Steve also served as treasurer for a number of years and advertized in our newsletter under Crumrine Racing for a number of years. We both shared the same dream of helping find and develop places for families and kids to ride ATVs and dirtbikes at and hopefully keep them out of trouble.

Steve was the person who is responsible for getting me involved in riding ATVs. Steve liked three wheelers, but I had problems negotiating them, often hitting an immovable object and injuring myself. One day, Steve told me about this new four-wheeled ATV, a Yamaha Moto-4. I purchased it new in 1986 and was instantly hooked. Within a month I purchased one of the first Warriors in the nation. It was not long before I moved onto a my first Banshee later that year.

Steve really, really enjoyed drag racing. He personally knew many of the big top fuelers by first name including Big Daddy Don Garlets and he often traveled to various national drag races across the country. There was ALWAYS a tape of drag races on in his huge eight car garage. At the time of his death, he owned all kinds of toys including at least three 3-wheelers and he owned a rail dragster and had a NHRA license to race with it. Before the rail dragster, he raced an alcohol fueled Yamaha tri-Z. I was at Kearney Dragway when he first raced it, exceeding 120 mph in the quarter mile. Most of the other drag racers thought he was crazy, I just thought he wanted to go fast and have fun, something both he and I both shared.

His friendship, urging and support helped kept me involved in being active with this organization. Steve and I were heavy duty partyiers and thrill seekers. We shared the good times, the bad times and had the same friends. While the operation of NOHVA and my age moved me away from the party scene, Steve stayed with it a bit too long and it eventually caught up with him. He passed away at only 41 years of age. I never expected him to pass away this soon. Many times myself and others tried to get him to change his ways, but he was a stubborn man who was a super nice guy as well. He was one of my best friends, allies and confidants. He had a big heart and treated his friends like family. I wish I could have spent more time with him before he left us and I will miss him immensely.

He was survived by his daughter and son-in-law Courtney and Steve Meyer or Grand Island; one son Tyler Crumrine of Grand Island; his parents and one brother. Good luck Steve, in your next journey, and thanks for the ride.

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This page was updated on Wednesday, January 19, 2005