The man who built a small shop in his garage in Coloma into one of the largest and most successful automotive aftermarket enterprises in America and the world renowned premier supplier of performance parts and accessories for racers, hot rodders, truck and off-road enthusiasts, has died. George Lane, founder of Lane Automotive in Watervliet, was 83 at the time of his death today, Tuesday, January 26th, 2021.
Here is the message from the crew at Lane Automotive:
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Lane.
Born and raised in Southwest Michigan, it is where George met his lifelong wife and partner, Janet, and they settled to raise their two sons, Doug and David.
From humble beginnings to building an automotive powerhouse, George, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, and racer, was a true pioneer. He had an unparalleled passion for cars, racing, and really anything with an engine! To feed this passion, George would make frequent trips to the Detroit area to purchase performance parts for himself and friends. This ultimately led to his first startup, a part-time speed shop operated out of his garage.
As this venture began to flourish, George started selling these parts to local racers and hot rod enthusiasts. His business grew quickly, and in 1964 Lane Automotive was formed. Not long after, in 1970, George launched Lane’s wholesale division, Motor State Distributing. This division brought performance and racing parts from manufacturers across the country to locally owned speed shops and retailers throughout the Midwest.
Over its 57 years in business, Lane Automotive has grown into a multi-generational business which has had the privilege to be led by George, his children, and most recently, his grandchildren. Under George’s leadership, fueled by his unwavering love for the industry, his company has grown into a well-recognized and highly respected brand, serving performance automotive enthusiasts around the world.
Regardless of the company’s growth, however, George remained heavily involved in the race and hot rod scenes, and could often be found at local tracks on race day. He helped to support local tracks and racers, as well as to standardize many safety and certification practices across various sanctioning bodies. For this, George was honored with his induction into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Even after he formally retired, George continued to be actively involved with the company. He was a fixture at the annual Lane Automotive Car Show, and a regular at Cars and Coffee events where he could often be found swapping stories with customers he had known for decades. He lived life and built his company around a core set of values that are still at the epicenter of Lane Automotive culture: Accountability, Innovation, Integrity, Passion, and Respect. These values are forever central to our business, its employees, and the service we provide to our valued suppliers and customers.
George Lane both shaped and left an indelible mark on the automotive aftermarket, his family, and those he met throughout his full life. He will be greatly missed, but we are honored to carry his legacy forward for generations to come.
A small and private family funeral will be held in the coming days, and a celebration of George’s life is being scheduled for later this year. Please keep the Lane family in your thoughts and prayers.
The following is Mr. Lane’s obituary as provided by Duffield-Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma:
George Lee Lane, 83, of Watervliet passed away Jan. 26, 2021, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, after a brief illness.
George was born on Aug. 17, 1937, in Hagar Township to George Fred Lane and Josie Lee (Wadley) Lane. He was a lifelong resident of southwest Michigan and graduated in 1955 from Benton Harbor High School. His first job was during those high school years at the City Service gas station in Hagar Township.
In 1960, George married Janet Mueller of Benton Harbor, and began their new life together in Riverside, Mich. They soon were blessed with two sons: Douglas and David.
George worked for several years in the literature department at Whirlpool, doing technical illustrations, before taking a job at Heathkit, developing product literature. During this time, George’s love of cars and racing grew from a hobby into a fledgling side business. In 1964, he launched Lane Automotive, which he grew from a part-time venture in his small garage to become one of the world’s leading distributors of automotive performance and racing parts, and a cornerstone of the southwest Michigan business community. As a pioneer in the automotive aftermarket, George played a critical role in shaping the industry into what it is today.
A regular fixture at local racetracks, car shows, and other automotive events, George was a vibrant part of the local community, and remained active in Lane Automotive even after his semi-retirement. He looked forward to the annual car show, Cars and Coffee, and other company events where he could often be found sharing stories with customers and car fans of all ages. As a business owner, George earned the respect of his employees, his suppliers, and his competitors, with business relationships spanning decades and many of his employees building life-long careers at Lane Automotive.
George was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet Lane; his sons: Douglas (Kimberlee) Lane, and David Lane; his grandchildren: Darren, Dustin, and Karianne; and his sister, Dorothy (Lane) Condoluci.
A small and private family funeral will be held in the coming days, and a celebration of George’s life is being scheduled for later this year.
Donations in memory of George may be made to the local food pantries or the charity of your choice.
