Gary E. Hoskins

Gary Hoskins was born in Birmingham, AL to parents Fred and Vernie “Peggy” Hoskins. He grew up in the Norwood community and attended Phillips High School. In 1961, he joined the Army and served active duty at Fort Eustis, Virginia as a Helicopter Technician. He was honorably discharged in 1968.

Gary’s love and passion was always centered around an automobile. As a boy, he raced soap box cars with his brother, and so began his racing career. In the 60’s & 70’s, he was a part of the legendary Alabama racing community. He raced at at his home track, BIR, as well as various short tracks that were well known all around the southeast at the time. Leading into the 80’s, he started building racing engines for other drivers, establishing his business, Performance Unlimited, and was referred to as “The Engine Doctor”. In 2011, he was inducted in the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame, featured at Talladega Superspeedway, where he was a longtime member. He served as President of the organization from 2014 thru 2016, then again from 2020 thru 2022. The racing organization, his co-members and friends were very near and dear to his heart.

He was a natural born teacher, which led him to spend many years of his life teaching and consulting. In the late 60’s, he taught auto mechanics at Fultondale High School. After his racing and engine building days, he became a consultant for General Motors, which took him to various countries all around the world. His life was spent doing what he loved and he shared his expertise with anyone that wanted to learn.

Gary is preceded in death by his Grandson Myles Whidden, Great Grandson Mason Kennamer and sister Kay Vasser.

He is survived by his children, Lisa Hoskins, Lori Giardina, Nanci Siddle (Mark), Dana Tidwell (Brad) and Candi Borkent (Rob); grandchildren, Dustin, Brandon, Matthew, Michael, Monroe, Marshall, Kameron, Hannah, Hunter, Hayden, Jacob, Tea', Lucas, Gus, Sammy and Luke; 11 great-grandchildren; siblings, Fred Hoskins (Anita), Cynthia Lichtefeld (Jim); as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Mr. Hoskins will be held on Thursday, May 8th, 2025 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Ridout's Gardendale Chapel followed by a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, AL at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society or American Diabetes Association.