James Glenn Babb, beloved friend and colleague left this world suddenly on 4/17/22. He was 21 years old. We miss him dearly and offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

James enjoyed life to the fullest, pursuing his passions and bringing people together along the way. He was also a Nissan 350Z owner and we were fortunate to have him working with us at Z Car Garage. Here are a few thoughts from the team at ZCG remembering James:

From Nick Filip,

“Young James was a character cut from a very special cloth. I’ll never forget when his first day at the shop started when Rob didn’t call him back quickly enough and he showed up to find out why. He brought passion and dedication with him in every endeavor that I was lucky enough to see. From developing and drifting his Z, to helping at the shop, to music, to paintball, James was entirely stoked, and that stoke was infectious. He will be sorely missed by everyone who was lucky enough to spend time with him and see the light he brought to any situation”

From Joshua Corwin,

“Young James personifies the idiom, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The first time I met James, I didn’t pay him much attention. But during his short time working at Z car Garage, through his hard work, commitment, eagerness to learn, and critical thinking, this purple haired, pierced and tattooed young adult impressed me everyday. Not only was his work ethic top notch, but his attitude, charisma, and passion was remarkable. He is missed not only as an amazing shop helper, but as a unique and exceptional human being.”

From Rob Fuller,

“James was only with us for a short time and left a lasting impression with Z Car Garage. He was bright, ambitious, funny, rad and had an incredible work ethic. I could not believe how hard he worked, taking pride in everything he did. He loved loading cars on/off the dyno and sometimes driving them on the dyno. He helped Gary organize our stockroom and got along really well with everyone. We understood when he had to leave so he could focus on school…we missed him everyday and wished we could give him another shot at working with us. “Young James” as we called him at the shop: a brilliant soul that left this world too soon. We told his Mom and brother that we are here if they need anything on the Z.”

 

As Rob recalled, one of our fondest memories of James was how excited he was to have his 350Z dyno tuned at the shop. He was ecstatic about loading his own Z on to the dyno and running it through the gears.

I will never forget meeting James by chance on Skyline, Christmas Eve of 2020. He was so kind, introducing me to his friends and crew. He even gave me a demo of drifting in his beloved 350Z that we helped him set up at ZCG. He was so jazzed! My Datsun alongside James’ Z:

In the video below you can see James piloting his Z on the Z Car Garage dyno, and that unforgettable drift session we had:

On May 17, Z Car Garage attended a celebration of James’ life in Los Gatos, Ca. There was an incredible outpouring of love from friends and family at the event. James’ Z was driven and displayed by his brother, Mason. Guests laid flowers over the Z, in remembrance of James:

Our hearts go out to his mother Jane and brother Mason, his family and all friends lucky to have been blessed by James’ presence. James truly embodied the words Mr. K said best, “Love cars. Love people. Love life.”

Thank you for being a part of our lives James, we know you are somewhere Enjoying the Ride! More photos in the gallery courtesy of Stella and friends. Stay tuned for a Memorial Drive in honor of James with a date announced soon.