Dirt
TRIBUTE
Walt
Weney
[ 1936-2020 ]
By Jill Fazekas
manufacturing facilities.
In addition to building his company, Weney
won many races, championships and set drag
racing records from the 1950s until the early
1980s. He was also the recipient of numerous
racing industry achievement awards. In 1994,
Weney expanded S&W to its current 27,000
sq.ft. size and continued to add new equipment
and technologies, until his retirement in 2005.
Even though he “handed the keys” to the next
generation, Weney continued to lend support
from behind the scenes and attended the drag
races whenever he could. He credited much of
his success to his wife of 66 years, Vonda, their
children, talented employees, business partners
and loyal customers.
“My father committed himself to everything he
decided to do. His true passion was drag racing
and that was the driving force behind building
our family business brick-by-brick,” stated
daughter, Terri (Weney) Gdowik. “He was always
on-the-go with running S&W, traveling to the
races and managing his other commercial and
residential investment properties. Our family is
very proud of his accomplishments and grateful
for the time we were able to spend with him at
home, at work and at the races.”
Weney was preceded in death by his son,
Scott. He is survived by his wife, Vonda, his
three children; Gary, Terri and Michael. Also,
seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren,
daughters-in-law, Candi Weney, Marlene Weney
and son-in-law Mike Gdowik.
Services will be private for family members
and a celebration of Weney’s life will take place
at a later date. DI
The Weney family announced devoted
husband, father of four children,
accomplished businessman and drag
racer, Walter Weney Jr., ran out of
horsepower and passed away peacefully on May
15th, 2020.
Weney was born in Pennsylvania, during the
1930s and from an early age he was determined
to make his mark on the world. Weney was 22
years old when he teamed up with friend and
racing partner, Jim Amole, to launch S&W
Speed Shop, in 1959. They quickly became recognized
for producing state-of-the-art drag racing
chassis and components. The sport continued
to grow and so did S&W. By 1964 they were
able to move their speed shop out of Walt Sr.’s
15 ft. x 20 ft. basement garage, into the first of
three standalone S&W Race Cars & Components
28 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated.com Issue 157