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KUHN -- WERNER HUNTER The life of Werner Hunter Kuhn Born September 25, 1946 Departed this planet June 1, 2007. Born in Springfield, MA, to Werner W. Kuhn and Elizabeth Toonie Kuhn. The remaining family include his only sister, Elbertine Kuhn Miner; niece, Katy Miner; and lifetime partner, Ms. Stacie Davis. Also left behind were his family of cats: L.E., Merlin, Shadow Pie and the many more he fostered through the years. He truly loved and cared for these kitty's and they were lucky to have a Dad like Werner. Werner moved to New Mexico with his family in l955 from Springfield, MA. He graduated from Sandia High School in l964 and it my surprise many to learn of his 2 years of perfect attendance. He also was a Viet Nam Veteran serving in the U.S. Air force from l965 to l969. Werner had a love affair with motorcycles which started in his early teen years and continued for his lifetime. His paper route as a youth gave him the chance to ride his own motorcycle and earn money to fund his new relationship with his motorcycles. He quickly learned what made this "tick" and knew he could do better. This was the beginning of a lifetime of building, tuning and racing motorcycles. Those who knew Werner knew if they wanted their motorcycle to go faster, jump higher or perform better than the competition, they only needed to enlist Werner's skills . . . and then "wait a little while", and "Viola!!" a masterpiece was constructed and transformed. Few people knew that Werner was a two time National Motorcycle Champion in the Philippine's in a 1971 and 1972, an accomplishment he didn't brag about. Go Figure! After returning from the Philippines in 1973, he went to work at Bobby' J's Yamaha for 8 years. Before starting his own business. He immediately contracted with American Honda in their Road Racing R&D Division in 1980 and 1981. He was also instrumental in developing a shutter for Nisus Video, which worked at 1/10,000 a second and would reveal the strings on a tennis racket in full swing. Quite an accomplishment in that era. In the eyes of many friends Werner was a Wizard when it came to fabrication or repair. He could transform anything mechanical. Close friend Paul Franchini recalled a one of a kind titanium piston rod, about the size of a paper clip, which Werner fabricated, for his radio-controlled car. No one would have attempted such a task and "Man, was it fast!" Werner will be remembered as a true "One of a Kind" human being. He was very private in some ways, and very generous. When it came to working on your "Rig", Stacie Davis recalls, Werner said he would give his work away for Free if he could, but he had bills and obligations, just like you and me and was a man of his word when it came to obligations. He will be missed by many and will live on in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Stacie Davis, Elbertine Kuhn-Miner, and Katy Miner would love you to join us for a celebration of Warner's life at the Manzano Mesa Multi Generational Center, Friday, June 15, 2007 from 6 till 8 p.m. It is located , just west, of the corner of Southern and Eubank SE, almost at the same location of the old "Speedway Park"
        Published on: Fri June 15, 2007