Click here to open the photo gallery of Joe & Lois in a new window.
Click here for photos of the July 11 Memorial service & Rod Run held in Simi Valley, California.
If you have a photo you’d like to share of Joe & Lois or of your July 11 rod run from another part of the country, send it to rememberjoemayall@gmail.com and we’ll add it to the photo gallery.
Remembering Joe Mayall 
11 comments
June 2, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Dennis Parks
Although I only met Joe once or twice in person, I know that street rods and editing StreetScene was a passion with him. Joe, you will be missed. My condolences to Louis and the rest of the family.
June 3, 2009 at 8:26 am
Wayne Kerlin
Joe and I both grew up (and became car nuts) in Idaho Falls, Id. I was playing with old cars there from around 1957 to 1962, at 18 years old I left after enlisting in the Air Force. Joe and his group were about 5 years older than I, to us they were the “old kool guys” with the really neat cars, so we didn’t actually socialize that much.
We met up again in 2008 at the Nats in Loiusville, my good friend Jerry Johnson who worked with joe for years at Street Scene introduced me to Joe. We talked a little about the old Idaho Falls days and I told him I was one of the young kids so he probably wouldn’t remember me, he said weren’t you in the Coachmen Car Club and drove a dark blue 46 ford coupe. I was amazed.
To illustrate the kind of guy Joe was, I called him about four months ago and asked him if he would consider taking a couple of pictures and some measurements of the rear lower hood catches on his 33. They were missing from my 33 and the mounting holes had been welded up (they’re not available repro.) I figured I could make some up form his info. Joe said no problem, he would “fix me up”. About a week later a small box came in the mail, inside were two very skillfully hand crafted hood catches and a diagram of exactly where they should mount.
I called Joe and thanked him profusely and asked what I owed him, his reply was you just paid me by your thank you.
We have suffered the loss of a great Street Rodder and true gentleman.
Bye Joe, I hope you and Lois are cruizin together again.
June 3, 2009 at 11:02 am
JIM AND JACKIE LINTON
I too will always remember both Joe and Lois. As a much younger street rodder I was at the NSRA Western Nationals and was informed that my ’32 had been picked for the Lois Mayall Award. Since this car was built at home in my garage with the help of my friends it was a real honor to hear this news. Then as an NSRA State Inspector and later as the Division Inspector, I got to know Joe much better. He was a good friend and a even greater Street Rodder. I do not believe Joe met a stranger, EVER. He may have met someone that he DID NOT know, but that did not make them a stranger to him. If you were into cars you were Joe’s friend. Our thoughts are with Louie and the rest of Joe’s family. He will be missed by many.
June 3, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Stan & Ginny Baukus
Where do we begin?
We met Joe & Lois about 14 years ago. Joe & Lois were Friday night cruising friends of our daughter & son -in law We became instant friends with them & before long our daughter said we stole their friends away.
They ( our daughter & son-in law ) never had to worry Joe & Lois were their friends forever.
It was a long distance friendship for us as we lived on the East Coast & they on the West Coast but every time we came to the West Coast to visit the family we picked up with them as if we lived down the street.
When Joe knew we were coming to visit he made sure Stan brought all his latest build photos to share with the Rodding Buddies.
Our most recent memory of Joe was our visit to the Grand Canyon. He & Lois were scheduled to share the experience with us & our family. Joe hesitated about going without Lois (the love of his life) but fortunately for us he changed his mind.
Joe spent much of his time enjoying the beauty of the Canyon & taking many photos.
We had plans to contiune on to Bryce & Zion Canyons & asked Joe to join us.
Being the thoughtful & compassionate guy he was he thought he was interferring. Anyway he decided to join us .
The drive gave us many hours in the car together to share what we didn’t know about each other.
Lots of Memories.
We remember Joe saying ” I am so glad I joined you & learned all those chapters of your life together”
We did not plan on attending the NSRA East this year but when we heard Joe was coming we called him to confirm. He told us he was & after the event he , Louie & a friend were going to Washington D.C
He also said he was looking forward to visiting a close friend in Vegas this weekend.
“I’ve never been happier ” were his parting words.See you in York.
The shock , the sadness & the loss is undescribable but we do know Joe has been reunited with the love of his life Lois.
Our hearts are withn Monica & her family , Louie and all his friends that loved him as much as we did.
You are gone but not forgotten.
We love you & we miss you.
June 3, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Kevin Svarda
I was sad to hear about the loss of Joe when I saw it today online at Hotrodhotline. I had just spoke with Joe about 2 weeks ago when I called him at his office in CA. We spoke about meeting each other again this year in Louisville at the Nationals. I called him so that he could see my father’s 32 Studebaker Rockne that was finally being completed after 13 years of my father’s passing away. The car had won at the very first Nats in Peoria nearly 40 years ago. Joe knew my father, Buz Svarda, and reminded me that he had taken several pictures of this car many, many years ago and was excited to see it again. I was really looking forward to meeting Joe once again and sharing stories with him of this car and talking of the old days and when he knew my father.
He went out of his way to talk to me on the phone and was more than willing to set a time to meet with me in Louisville. I too, will be sad to not be able to see him this summer. My father always spoke very highly of Joe. He will not be forgotten.
June 4, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Michael Barnes
Having lived in Simi Valley since 1982 and been involved in street rodding there since 1983 Joe Mayall was in and out of my life many times from 1983 until 1990. I would see and talk to Joe and cruise nights and local rod runs and NSRA Appreciation days. I remember when our car club ( Roam’in Relics) had our 10th anniversary Joe and Jerry Johnson took time to come out and take all of the pictures for a “Year Book” which I still have. That’s who he was. If it had anything do with street rods he was there. From the Friday night cruise to the major Nationals event he treated them all the same.
As someone else said Joe never forgot anybody. As many people as he has met in his long and disguished career he would always say Hi to me and ask how my roadster was and did I ever get it licensed in California. When I would say “Not yet” he would offer advice and listen to what I had to say. He was fine human being and a friend to all.
My last memory of Joe Mayall was 2 weeks ago when I spotted him driving his beautiful 33′ Roadster down LA Ave. On a beautiful day in Simi Valley. That is how I will remember him, driving down an endless highway with a sweet warm wind in his hair. GODSPEED Joe Mayall the streetrod world and indeed the world as a whole is a little emptier today.
June 18, 2009 at 8:43 am
Ed Justice Jr.
I’m very sorry to find out about Joe’s passing. A real great guy and a good friend to all in the Hot Rod world. I always enjoyed seeing him at the different events. He was a good friend to all of us at Justice Brothers.
He will be missed. God Speed Joe.
June 18, 2009 at 10:20 am
Jim Wood
I met Joe many times at NSRA events and had several event picks during my many years of street rodding. I ‘am a Charter Member of NSRA and remember when we were both young. Lois actually picked me as “Neet to Know” in her once upon a time article she wrote in Street Scene Magazine, it was a real honor I will never forget. Street Rodding will miss them. I know their son will follow in the shadows and make them proud.
Jim Wood
Osceola In./Bonita Springs Fl.
June 19, 2009 at 6:26 am
Ken Traweek
I just read of Joe’s passing. Though I never had the privilege of meeting Joe or Lois in person, I felt like I knew them personally. Their editorials were never skipped…I read every word. The streetrod world is at a great loss!!! They will be missed, but never be forgotten. My deepest sympathy and my prayers are with the family. I lost my Dad, October 31st, last year. He and his Dad were my inspiring forces into these great old cars. I have a ’28 Ford Coupe and Dad’s 1939 Ford Pickup I’m building in their memory. GOD’s Speed Joe/Lois…Ken Traweek Denison,TX.
June 24, 2009 at 11:06 am
Ivan Delman
I got into street rods at a much later stage in my life than most. I had a lot to learn.
Being a resident of Simi Valley, I joined the Roamin’ Relics and started learning about my hobby.
What I remember most about Joe was his patience in answering questions about my new hobby. No matter how busy whether at his office or at a show, he always made time to help me learn. The amazing thing was despite the thousands of friends and acquaintances he has made over the years, he always remembered my name.
My memory of Joe Mayall is that of a class act that was not an act.
Goodbye Gentleman Joe. You will be remembered.
Ivan Delman, Grants Pass, OR
July 8, 2009 at 1:21 am
Chuck
Joe was a one of a kind guy, busy yet had time to say a few words to everyone, Louisville NATS will not be the same, but I know he will be there on the grounds. God Bless the Mayall family. Kind Regards