I saddend to see the news that Larry Ofria passed away a week ago. I met Mr. Ofria at his shop Valley Head Service around 2017 to see about rebuilding a SBC 350. I lived in the valley and being retired I looking for something to do so I bought a 1970 Corvette to rebuild. Looking through yelp.com I stumbled upon Valley Head Service.
Now I've never touched a car before but I was always enamored with speed, burning rubber and a lot of noise Lol ! Well with my appointment set I looked forward to my visit, when I walked into the shop a couple of men were working and I asked for Larry and they pointed to the rear so as I walked to the back this older man was walking gingerly towards me and I asked if he was Larry and I introduced myself only for him to reply, Oh I can't meet today he to go to the doctors, I stopped looked him straight in the eyes and said , are you kidding me I just spent and hour getting here ! LOL ! He kinda grinned and said come on into my office. He says what ya got ? I said a 1970 Corvette and he quickly called me an a**hole, I was stunned and we both broke out in laughter. We sat for a bit talking about engines and The Rock Store on Mullholland which I frequented on my motorcycle and meeting Jay Leno there who Larry said he knew well, adding all 3 of us should go up there one day, lets try and do that he said I'm like that would be nuts, lol. Anyway he proceeded to walk me through the shop to a room of engines with to me glistened and roared also showing me his work bench. Out of there he showed me a rail dragster (a young lady he said drove it very well ) and next to it, his 57' Chevy he built-up and drove I was in awe. He said come on I'll show you my Camaro because it had a 400 block in it that he felt would be a good choice for me. On the way I met his wife Kim ( very nice lady) in the office and another young man who had just flown in from South Korea I believe (nice guy) unfortunately Larry forgot his keys as we got to the Camaro but....
Walking back into the shop Larry said well I given you some things to think about (boy did he, my head was spinning with information) I agreed and said I'd see him again, which I did.
Let me just end with this, Larry Ofria didn't have to meet with me but he did and I must say it felt like I had known Larry for a long time. I will forever remember my time spent with him, he was a kind and good man.
My condolences to all the Ofria family.
Brian F. McGrath