Mike Feeney posted the following on the Z Clubs site yesterday

 

 

It is with deep regret and a sense of a huge loss that I have to inform you of the sudden death of ZX specialist Ken Chelton last night.

 

Many of you will know Ken for his supply of secondhand parts for all ZX models and his boundless enthusiasm for all things Z.

 

He developed ZXtra as a 280ZX specialist supply service and later branched out into the 300ZX models with ZXS.

 

He was a constant supporter of my RatZ campaign and, more recently, has been part of the pit crew for Matt Bannister's 240Z HSCC racing. He provided several well known examples of modified 280ZXs for customers, usually at the expense of never finishing his own projects!

 

As he had recently reached an official retirement age we were looking forward to seeing him grow old disgracefully in the style to which we have become accustomed - sadly not to be.

 

He will be missed and, for me at least, his departure leaves a huge gap in my Z scene participation.

 

It is too soon to provide details of any arrangements, but I will post further information as and when appropriate.

RIP Ken.

Mike phoned me early yesterday evening informing me of this and I was deeply shocked as Ken had become a dear friend over the years I had the pleasure of knowing him

 

The amount of help he gave me over the years was fantastic and a hell of a lot was for free as well

 

I remember one time when he was at Mike house and he overheard part of a phone conversation I was having with Mike regarding a big problem I was having with the 280 and it had been going on for weeks

Ken said to Mike ask me if I was in the following day and he would come over from Essex and sort it for me and said to Mike tell him no fix no fee

 

Duly Arrived the next morning (as usual no socks on, his trade mark) asked me to open the bonnet had a look I asked if he wanted any of my tools and he looked at me laughed in his gruff way grinned and went back to his car and came back with a hacksaw blade in his hand.

 

I looked at him and thought what the **** is he going to cut off my car with that

 

He started touching things with the blade shaking his head each time he touched something and after about half hour off nothing all of a sudden that great big grin come to his face altered a couple of connection around put his hacksaw blade back in his car, looked at me said its about time for another coffee, its sorted

 

I asked him how much he wanted and he just said give me £15 quid to cover the petrol

 

I looked at him knowing it was about a hour and a quarter journey each way for him and said "**** off " he replied "If thats to dear just give us a tenner then" I had to force him to take money for doing the job and to cover his time travelling to me

 

To me this guy was one of the great characters of the ZX scene and I will miss him so much

 

RIP Ken you were one of the best

That's a great shame, I met Ken a few times and he was a very nice guy.

That is sad news,i liked Ken,he was a funny old bugger! R.I.P ACTUALLY NO!! REST IN BLOODY MERRIMENT,FAGS,BOOZE & THE ODD BIT OF CAKE I KNOW YOU`RE PARTIAL TO!

Yeah, too right, growing old disgracefully, I hope he had his moneys worth.

going by the sparkle he always had in his eyes, i`d say he did