He was on staff when Import Tuner was born, shooting some of the very first covers, and though he really had no time for it, even stayed on as Editor-At-Large while he got his new fabrication shop, Nuformz, up to speed. No one will forget the first project that put him on the map: Stephan Papadakis' tube-frame Civic, the world's first front-wheel-drive vehicle to break into the single digits down a quarter-mile. Or how he crew chiefed Sam Hubinette's drift team to champions in 2004 and 2006, while building the Meguiar's Focus and Mopar Neon dragsters. The latter two Shaun drove himself while subbing for injured Pro Stock driver Darrel Alderman, even winning a few Wallys in 2004 in the process.
Shaun went all-out in everything he did. Guided by his own natural innovation, his efforts rarely took the easy route; his destinations were always a few stops farther down the line than the rest of us. I saw him as the ultimate CNC machine-he didn't need CAD/CAM blueprints, soda straw models or scribbles on a napkin. Shaun would take an idea right out of his head and execute it with a precision that could scarcely be distinguished from computer-navigated machine work. Lexus' slogan, "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection", must have been thought up by someone watching him fabricate.
At his memorial service, it was interesting to see his friends gather, based on where in Shaun's life they intersected; the magazine people and import drag racers, the drift crowd, those associated with his Mopar efforts, and his friends and family. I thought it a great honor that the reception was held at the NHRA Museum, and the NHRA has my appreciation for stepping up and opening their doors for the occasion. At the service, I noticed a conspicuous black aluminum box that I had to ask about. Shaun's friend and fellow fabricator at Nuformz, Rob Miller, explained that it was a true billet aluminum urn that the team CNC'd for Shaun, with his initials and Nuformz logo lasered into it. More than 40 hours were invested into it by the Nuformz team. I asked Rob if there was any welding involved and learned there wasn't. We shared a laugh and agreed that it was probably a good thing-Shaun would have been picky about the welds. I got the impression that Rob had already considered that.
Managing more projects-and stress-in any given week than most of us could in a year, Shaun Carlson accomplished more in his short time than most will ever dream of. Yet behind it all, his dedication to work and the people in his life kept him approachable, humble and down for a good time with friends at a moments' notice. That there was still so much more potential to be fulfilled in his craft and his personal life only deepens the tragedy. Selfishly, I want more. I want to hear about his new projects. I want to run into him at the next Formula D event and bust his chops while he's busy doing a million things; I'd even secretly been planning for him to meet my son at next season's Seattle event. I wanted to be around for all the big, grown-up changes that Shaun would make before becoming a father himself.
What makes Shaun's passing so painful, yet bearable at once, I think, was that he was one of our dearest friends. The type that saddens us deeply when they leave, but only makes us smile when we remember them.
Evan Griffey sat as Editor of Turbo & High-Tech Performance magazine from 1992-2005, and served as Editorial Director when Import Tuner was created in 1998. He worked with Shaun Carlson from 1997 until he gradually moved on to greener Nuformz pastures.