Thinking of Lanier on his birthday.  Some of the best days of my life were spent within arms reach of Lanier.  Because of him, I have great stories to tell for the rest of my life. I miss you.

Bob helped me out after someone working for him screwed up my Holley.  Bob made it right, and oh that person NO longer worked for Bob.  I added a picture because believe it or not he did work on Fords  !
God bless the family, he was a great man and went way to soon 

He helped me when I needed it so many times, I can't count them all.   I learned a lot just hanging out with him.   I miss him.  

Thanks for all the help and support. Definitely going to miss this little spot, always walked by as a youngster looking at all them big motors in the window hoping I could get a motor built there one day. I did as an adult. My daughter loved it from the first time she stoped by with me. Lanier treated her with nothing but respect.  
My condolences to you and your family. 

Simply too many Great times back in the 80's. We miss you my Friend!
Kelly Young and family

I HAD lainier in 1987 change out a ring and pinion on my 1957 Chevy straight axle tilt front-end.  HE WAS A REALLY COOL GUY About it ! !  He told me to bring the car in the next morning.. And had it done the next day..  He only charged me  $200 to do the ring and pinion . GREAT AND FAST service  !  MR. Lanier always made me laugh. He was really cool ! IN 1992 I ran into him at Bandimeres . HE WAS RACING THAT DAY and adjusting his valves. He had burgers  going on the grill and offered me one.. I will miss him ALOT ! !  R.I.P.  Lanier.       Mike Burke 

A million years (1970) ago we raced, at night, on Garden of the Gods Rd, in front of what was Hewlitt-Packard. Raced his black'55 many times. I don't recall who actually came out on top but my "small block" Olds got as good as it gave. RIP Lanier.

Lanier was my Colorado Father ..... we met as I was a Performance Product sales person for Fast Time Automotive out of Plano Texas. We fostered an amazing relationship and he welcomed me like a son into His and Sweetness's (Katherine's)  family with out hesitation. it was a rather at times automotive vulgar relationship (All of the people in the industry know what I speak of :-)  ), however i became extremely involved like a son to a father with Lanier.  Ii spent time with him & Sweetness in the mid 90's... in fact they went to GO Race down in Pueblo that weekend and allow me to hang out in their house (Like tier own Mid -20 year old son) as I had to catch a flight back to Austin the next morning. As that weekend the World Lost Princess Diana but out relationship was family-esk. I lost a bit of "in touch" as i got married and began my own family.  I can still hear his words of Wisdom ....this Larger than Life Man Towering over me ... Finger in my Chest ....Dad to Son .... kinda of thing ..... "Britt stay true to your heart but stretch yourself and  go for all the doors that open for you cause risk is just the beginning it is what you do with it when you step into the door. "  I love you Lanier and i cannot wait to see you at the gates of Heaven   Yelling @ Me  ..."Hey Back Spitter (Joke between Lanier & I )  what have you been waiting for ....Get in Here.... I need you @ the Counter while i run the Dyno! "   Lanier I Love You & I will miss you until we meet again.  Sweetness you are and have been this man's ROCK and Savior and I love you! 

Britt from Austin 

While I was in high school watching Lanier back up as I ran my 355 to 8000 RPM to show him that it would go past eight because he said it was a horrible combination! Of course he was right and what an idiot I was free revving anything like that lucky…. I didn’t blow it up front of him! Maybe that’s why he was backing up🏁Mark Baldwin

Pa Bear and with Little Bear(Henry Payne) on his lap in the race car.  Henry wanted to sit in the car with Pa Bear and I asked Kathy and she talked to Pa Bear and he agreed.  Little Henry thought it was great to sit in the race car with his Pa Bear.  He was a gentle giant when he wanted to be and Henry loved watching him race.

When my daughter Jessica raced high school probably 2010 I remember Lanier  explaining his Lenco shifter, and staging the old 55 during a RMSC event, he enjoyed sharing his passion.  

I have enjoyed watching Lanier race since the 1980's at Bandimere.
I was honored to get Lanier's insight on my car and received some helpful performance tips.
Truly a very great guy, Thank you.

Will never forget the day I was at work at the track and was having a conflict with management and he told me not to listen to anyone but him cuz he was the man.

Really miss all his little jokes

I managed Super Shops in 1990-91. I moved to the springs and hardly knew anybody. I met Lanier and he invited me
to his speed shop on the nights he stayed late to dyno engines. I learned so much just watching, listening to this legend. Ever since then I would see Lanier at the track and say hi. I appreciate everything Lanier. You’re a legend my friend. Godspeed. 

Henry was a great person and very helpful to the drag racing community. During RMRW I had some problems and called him he said come down and he would help me out and get me back on the road. And it was close to his closing time. He will never be forgotten.

He is missed so much. I feel like I lost a very dear friend.  I'm really going to miss his stories. (It's not a dog). He always had time to stop at the gate and check on me and just talk. He even helped when I needed it.  

I alwaysed love going into the shop.  Saying hi to grumpus 😊.  I'd get a look and a "hi honey how are you today"   along with a huge smile.  Being a woman racer he would tell me how proud of he was of me, and how much guts I had for being on a bike.

Papa Bear has been a important part  of my life since I was little. I have so many wonderful memories I would not even know where to start. What can you say about a man like Lanier? He had a Hugh heart, was a gentle soul ,with a bad temper,🥰 Ornery, and loving. I loved hearing you say “oh no it’s trouble” every time you seen me and me owning it because it was true.  What I love is I have a whole lifetime of memories and my husband has a whole lifetime of his own memories from going up every night with Gerald to work on the engine at the shop, to hanging out at the racetrack, and having Christmas dinners. A piece of our heart went with you Bear. Until we meet again
Love always, your Trouble 

I truly miss my mentor and friend everyday. I will continue his teaching of life and racing in my everyday journey.

I have so many memories of my Pa Bear I could fill a book. I have known Pa Bear my whole life part of who I am today is cause of him. I grew up in the shop, on the tracks,  and have learned many life lessons and other things from Pa Bear. No matter what he has always been a big part of my life and a big protector of me even threatened my husband. Even as he was in the hospital when I had procedure at that moment he did even care about him he just wanted to know I was ok and asking about me. I love my Pa Bear and know he will always be with us. I can see him now as I type this with the “whatever” and after saying so have to bob his head like Christian and of course a bah with it. I love you Pa Bear

Dear Shortness,

Ralph and I had such a good time visiting with you and Lanier when we were in Colorado Springs several years ago.  I have had more fun telling people about and showing pictures of his "jet propelled" car and telling my friends about him being a genius with all things mechanical.  He will be greatly missed.

Love,
BJ and Ralph Barnes

Lanier was a long time friend. He referred to me as that damn biker since the days of the eighth mile drag strip in Colorado Springs. When I owned Hare Repair, he did most of the machine work on  the heads that  needed  valve work. He was a great person.

So glad I got to see Lanier during my last trip to Colorado Springs. We went to the shop to surprise him. He at first didn’t recognize me until I started talking. Then he knew immediately, “That’s one of my cousins from Mississippi “ before wrapping me in a big bear hug. Considering I’m 5’3” tall and weigh 103 lbs. it was a BIG bear hug.  Enjoyed that visit so much. He was a gentle giant and will be greatly missed.

Godspeed my friend, teacher and mentor, you lived an honorable life.

lanier thank you for everything you did for me over the years you were a very good friend and im glad you were there to witness the best discharge of a fire extinguisher ever   kent nelson queen creek az

For the past several years every Thursday I would have lunch at Lanier's Speed Shop.  We would order a pizza for pickup and then Lanier would tell stories while we ate.  One Thursday Lanier decided to put his inflatable Grinch in his store window between the four blown motors he had on display.  We probably spent 30 minutes moving the engines around so that the Grinch would fit between them.  Lanier you will be missed!

Mr. Henry loved my dear friend who I have loved for over 50 years. For that I will always be grateful and celebrate his years. Rest in Peace Mr. Henry...you made a difference and left the world a better place .

Lanier absolutely adored Kathryn, better known as Shorty.  Their lives have been intertwined through the decades. His love and admiration for Kathryn was palpable and endearing.  
Most knew the side of Lanier as the machinist, she is one of the few that knew the man behind the machinist. They loved and supported one another throughout their lives together.
May he always be in your heart with fond memories of his smiles, laugh, long winded stories, microwaving an already well done steak and his love for you.



I may have not know Lanier as long as everyone else did, but for being 18 I’m grateful I got as much time as possible with him. I used to see him every Friday and we’d sit and talk for over 2 hours, he’d tell me all his stories. Most notable the time he wheelie'd and told me he got in big trouble with shortness. He gave some of the best advice. Lanier has gone through it all, taught me some valuable lessons more about life than anything else. I am so grateful I got the opportunity to learn from him. One day I’ll tell a little bastard like myself my stories just like you did with me! I
Thank you Lanier.

I can fill up an entire book with memory’s since high school remembering things that happened with Lanier. 36 years he provided much happiness and laughs! We laughed, we cried and we told stories! Probably the one that stands out my mind is when he got me my 871 billet blower from the Blower Shop! He wasn’t there when I went to pick it up it was on the floor there in front of the glass display case. It had a big sign on it that said “Low Life.” I didn’t understand & I thought that meant that it was a street blower and it didn’t have very good bearings! LOL that’s when I realized he meant that I was a “Low Life” And of course he was right, ha ha! Rest in peace Lanier, you ARE  an awesome friend and a good man! Not to bad at building horse either 🏁🏁

Lanier became my friend in a single day. I had worked for his brother Derrick when I was in high school in the late 70s. I stopped in one day at Laniers Speed Shop, went into the engine building room and Lanier was working on an engine. I walked up to him and said you probably don't remember me. I worked for your brother Derrick at Central Colorado Automotive and U-Haul in the 70s. I have met your Mom,Dad brothers Gary,Perrian and your sister Margie. Lanier said no I don't remember you, he stopped what he was doing and said lets go up front and talk. We sat at the front counter and talked and laughed for well over an hour that day. From that day on when I would stop in Lanier would say with a big grin, what do you want, Trouble? Lanier built a motor for my  Camaro, I told him I want it to run real good but I don't want to tear my car up. He told me OK  I will make it run real good. I will miss you Lanier and him saying what do you want Trouble, with the big grin!! Your friend Howard Fix

Lanier was a true pioneer of motorsports.  My brother Mike and I were invited to a 'dyno' session at his shop in Colorado Springs in 1987 where we were able to talk to the genius that was Lanier Henry.  In between dyno pulls, Lanier spoke of many theories as an engine builder, emphasized the importance of combinations of parts, and listened to our very novice questions as we sat in a field of crankshafts and engine parts.  Lanier could truly make any engine combination work, was the proprietor of one of the last true machine shops in America, and always had time to talk to anyone.  

To say there will be an absence at the racetracks and gearhead gatherings would somehow miss the mark.

Godspeed.  You were truly one of a kind.

John Muhr

Best memory, sitting out in his parking lot one Saturday night. Lanier, Willy and a few others. CSPD rolled up and started writing tresspassing tickets. They asked Lanier for his ID, with a smile he handed it to them, the look on the officers face when he figured out Lanier owned the property he was trespassing on. 

Lanier was one of my  dearest friends.  He was always there for me and my family.  We will miss him very much.  The racing community  has lost a brother.  Though he tried at times to show a gruff exterior. he had a heart of gold. Godspeed my friend







Lanier was a good friend and an awesome racer my heart is broken, many years of racing with him, prayer,s to his family,may God grant him ever lasting peace, RIP, Tommy warner and family

OBITUARY

Lanier Henry

June 14, 1946 – November 30, 2021

Dove-Witt Family Mortuary

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