David W. Lape

David W. Lape

September 7, 2022

David W. Lape of Canajoharie, NY passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side at their home.

After a victory against Lyme Meningitis and Gillian Barre he relearned to read, write, and walk just in time to walk his daughter Jessica down the aisle. Unfortunately, the next battle against cancer was lost.

David was born in Amsterdam, New York on January 13, 1947 to Carmita (Donlon) and Warren Lape.

A lifelong resident of Canajoharie, David quickly became immersed in the dirt racing scene thanks to the committed race fans he found in both his father and grandfather and the mentorship and tutelage of local car owner and mechanical master Bob Whitbeck.

After dominating the go-kart circuits during his formative years, David started his career as a modified driver in 1964. It was a career that wouldn’t just span the time; it would define it. For 50-years, Lape became one of the most popular and recognizable individuals across the northeast. No place was this more apparent than at his home track, the famed Fonda Speedway, where he garnered 99 career feature victories and seven modified track championships.

Nine years after his retirement at the end of the season in 2013, David is still third on the all-time win list at the historic Montgomery County oval.

Aside from being a driver, David was also a master fabricator. Taking a page from the history book of childhood mentor Bob Whitbeck, Lape started Champ Car Fabrications in 1983. The racecars he built and designed became wildly successful; so much so that at one point there were 23 of his cars in the pit area at Fonda Speedway on a Saturday night.

Yet for all of his exploits as a driver, a fabricator, a mentor and a promoter, David was an even more fantastic husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and competitor. A venerable analog man in a digital world, David was someone that you could lean on in times of need; he wouldn’t hold your hand yet in turn, he would never let you fall. That combination of toughness and compassion was rare to say the least.

David is survived by his loving wife Jackie, daughters Jessica (Peter) Schwab and Stephanie (Ian) Crowe, grandchildren Nigel (Brianne) Skottke, Cameron Skottke and Kaetlyn Crowe, and his great grandchildren Kaylee Skottke and Jaymes Skottke. He is predeceased by his parents Carmita (Donlon) and Warren Lape and his loving sister, Mary Jane Trout.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fonda Speedway Museum Memorial Fund in memory of David Lape. Donations can be sent to 622 Blaine Road, Canajoharie, NY 13317

Visitation will be held at the Riley Mortuary, Inc., 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010 Sunday, September 11, 2022 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.

Interment at the convenience of the family will take place at Mapletown Cemetery, Blaine Rd. Canajoharie, NY.

To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.rileymortuaryinc.com