Michael Joseph Evegens

He had a passion for drag racing that took hold of him when he was 16 years old, and he made his mark on the world living his dream. In 1971, Michael was a part of the first Jet Dragster, Exodus, that was built at Walt Afron’s shop in Akron, Ohio. His love for the jet dragsters was ignited. He built his first, second and third in the Earthquake series of jet dragsters in Chicago. When the Jet Funny Car became an option, Michael slid into the driver’s seat for Craig Afrons, driving Hurricane; then moved over to drive Shockwave for Lee Shockley. Though the most famous of Jet Funny Cars that Michael drove was easily Roger Gustin’s Lava Machine. He enjoyed driving the Black & Decker Univolt and the WorkMat Pro for Gustin as well. With a 24-year career racing Jet Dragsters and Funny Cars, Michael logged thousands of miles on the road each year touring, racing, winning championships, and setting track records throughout the US and Canada. All of his hard work paid off and in 1993, Michael was inducted into the Jet-Pro Association Hall of Fame and the Pro-Jet Association 280 MPH Club. In October 2010 he was also inducted into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame.

Throughout the last years of his life, Michael attended classic car shows where he displayed his 1927 Ford Roadster and then his 1951 Mercury. He also cooked great meals and entertained us with his magic card tricks. He was affectionately known as “Fried Duck” to his close circle of friends.

He is survived by one sister, Karin Evans, of Cape Coral, Florida, his girlfriend of 28 years, Anne Hatchett Tyler, of Calhoun, Georgia, lifelong friends Lenore Taffel, Mike Rogers, Pat Chrisholm and Bill and Nancy Bellow, and a special young friend, Frankie Auditore.

A visitation will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, June 27, 2024, followed by a funeral at 2:00 pm, at Winkenhofer Funeral Home, Kennesaw, Georgia.