More than 50 Trucks Line Up for a Smoky Tribute to the Departed

To say Daniel “Danny” Toops was loved would be an understatement as one can determine by watching the two tribute videos below. Most people pour a few ounces of champagne onto the ground to honor their departed loved ones. Toops’ friends honored him a bit more extensively by forming a convoy of mostly souped-up diesel trucks to do one of longest burnout successions the world has ever seen.

A world-class tribute like that was fitting for someone The Madison Press called “an innovative diesel power mechanic [who] made his mark nationally.”

Toops, who owned Toops Performance in London, Ohio, passed away Nov. 28 after being involved as a passenger in a single-vehicle crash.

That crash tragically ended the life of a rising star in the diesel-power industry. Brian Rittenhouse, an employee at Toops Performance told The Madison Press the shop’s client list was rapidly expanding and Toops was becoming more recognized across the United States. Rittenhouse said one particular customer came all the way from New York for Toops’ magic touch.

Check out the videos below to see how Toops’ magic was reflected back to him by the people he knew and loved.

sources [Autoblog, The Point Pleasant Register, Ryan Lee Productions and Logan Stanforth]