Buzz Pritz (in the middle) with Formula USA’s Doug Gonda (left) and Thom Simpson (right) at the WERA Banquet in 1989. (Larry Lawrence photo)
I was saddened to learn Buzz Pritz passed away earlier this week of a heart attack. He was 67.
Buzz (his real name was Clement and he entered races as C.E., but everyone just called him by his nickname) was a road racer and at one time a part owner of WERA. He was part of a group of racers who helped save WERA when it was in financial trouble in the mid-1980s. His ex-wife, Evelyne Clarke, assumed control of WERA and eventually bought out Pritz’ portion of the business.
Buzz was a colorful character. When he wasn’t racing he was selling t-shirts and joking around with his fellow racers. I got to know Buzz pretty well during that time. My brother and I went up and spent a weekend hanging with him in Chicago in the early ‘90s and he showed us a great time. He was loud, sometimes obnoxious and he had that famous Chicago accent, but underneath his over-the-top persona, Buzz was a man who cared deeply about motorcycle racing and the riders who raced.
Buzz Pritz racing in front of Scott Zampach at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in 1987. (Greg Sickmeier Collection)
I once saw him comfort a downed rider who was badly injured until medical attention got to him. He handled it like a pro. He calmed the rider telling him help was on the way and then joked to him about how fast he’d been going before he crashed. As the rider was loaded onto the ambulance, I noticed the rider was still grasping Buzz’ hand as Buzz continued to reassure him that he’d be alright.
As a racer Buzz was never the fastest guy on the track, but he did it all. He ran long endurances races, did WERA sprints and even raced AMA Superbike events on occasion. He mentored a lot of other racers along the way helping to run WERA rider schools. He got his stepson Brian Lantz into racing. Lantz went on to become a WERA National Champion.
I hadn’t seen Buzz in years. Every time I drove through Chicago I thought about looking him up, but always seemed to be in too much of a hurry. I wish now that I’d taken the time. Buzz was one of those people you meet in life who always left you with a smile on your face.
Rider Files 
Very well written article. Your feelings very explicit.
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Thats the Buzz I knew too! Sad day.
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Buzz was a hoot! He always said hi to my siblings and I at the races. Somehow on Chicago radio, my dad was part of a folk music show, and he caught the name and asked me about it.
Another one of the colorful characters that were part of my racing life has gone on. Godspeed Buzz!
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I raced with Buzz for a few endurance races and against him on 500 singles for quite a few years. You have summed him up nicely. RIP
Ken
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Thanks Larry.
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Godspeed Buzz…
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always considered Buzz a friend . we’d set up next to each other at WERA events . I’d sew leathers and he’d sell T shirts ( we sold shirts for him at events he couldn’t make). In the evenings we’d share pizza and popcorn and lots of stories . we raced clubman together in the 80’s. you’ll be missed.
Godspeed Buzz . your friends B Bill and Darethea
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Sorry to hear this. Buzz was always the guy cutting up at the track, and I remember him running that Honda Ascot single of his and riding like a man possessed. RIP BP!
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I remember Buzz well. Good guy. R.I.P.
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Thanks Larry. You’ve shown again how important your site is to the community that lived the days you photographed. Buzz was always a great, charming face to see at events. One of the special characters who defined those days.
peter
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You will be missed Buzz
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I stayed at Buzz’s house one night in between travels racing. I felt like I was staying at one of my crazy Uncles house! He was a neat guy and really cared about the sport. Well written story Larry. Godspeed Buzz.
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Buzz and I had many great races together back in the old WERA days when Peter & Patty Frank were running it. I remember when we were both running CB750F bikes in the stock class and if we’d come out on the straight side by side, I’d pull him like I had an extra 20 hp. I didn’t but I only weighed maybe 130 lbs in my leathers to his 200 lbs. We laughed many a time together back in those days.
So sorry to see you go my friend. God’s speed.
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Really sad to hear of this. I’d only seen Buzz a few times in the past 15 years, but echo everyone’s sentiments. He was always good for a laugh, was fast at times, and had a huge heart. He was kind enough to let me race his bikes occassionally, and even let us use his van to get to the GNF one year. Definitely a unique individual.
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Sorry to learn of Buzz’s death. He was just like you described him, lots of fun and very friendly. I hadn’t seen him since I left the mid-west, but remember him well. Heart disease is way too common and very sneaky. You can have it and not know it. Be sure to get your periodic medical check ups.
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Godspeed my friend. I can only keep shaking my head, smiling, as I remember some of the great times we had throughout the years. You will be sorely missed. Fly high you Buzzard you
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Larry thank you so much for this great tribute if It were not for Buzz having been in my life I would have missed out on being in this wonderful community we call WERA & the sport of motorcycle Roadracing. Even though we ended our marriage we never ended caring about each other & I will miss knowing he is not with us any longer! Godspeed Buzz!
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Buzz and I will always be connected like Frick and Frack or Pete and Repete. I was fortunate to have him as a friend. We took quite a number of Fall motorcycle trips together. Traveling with him always enriched me immensely. I was able to provide some support for him on some personal issues during the last weeks of his life. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to help him. Buzz, you will be missed. RIP
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Jay,
Good to hear from you. I’m glad Buzz had a friend like you around to help him when he needed it.
Larry
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Larry, you captured Buzz’s larger-than-life personality very well in your article. It is also so good to hear from people who were touched by his life. Many of the people we raced with and, as Evelyne mentioned, were part of the community we chose to spend time with. Great cherished memories!
It is also interesting to me how we inherently know we are eternal beings (Ecc. 3:11). Just look at how many references people made to Buzz’s ‘beyond’ (R.I.P., Godspeed…) We should allow his transition to capture or attention because humans have a 100% death rate. Buzz would tell you right now, in his louder than normal voice, eternity IS for real (Romans 14:10-12). There is only one way to beat death (John14:6). There is security in Christ!
Thanks Larry for keeping the memories alive!
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BUZZ!!!! What can you say “HE DID IT HIS WAY”. I lost touch with Buzz and like a mission I was determined to contact him. When I did catch up with him things were in a downward spirial. We played phone tag and tried to contact each other. A week wnet by, then I received the news he had pass.
Buzz and I had a great friendship and he will be missed but not forgotten. I miss my WERA Family, please keep intouch by Facebook or email.
Gregg bloodworth
Former GM Road Atlanta
gregg@dss-usa.com
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Larry,
I know we have never met but thank you for this wonderful article about Buzz. He was trully a one of a kind and he will be missed.
Ericka
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Ericka, Thanks much. Buzz was a friend and someone with whom I shared a lot of common interests. He was well liked in the racing community. Hopefully we’ll get to give him a proper send off someday. Thanks, Larry
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So sorry to hear of the loss of such a larger than life character. Buzz and evelyne lived a few blocks from me all the years I raced, Kevin Fardoux, John Thomas and myself used to hang out in his garage when we were up and coming squids, Buzz was quick to put me in my place at times which was needed to be done at times.We both shared some of the loud attributes some might consider obnoxious. Buzz and evelyne really helped me out my first couple of seasons in WERA. I never forgot about either of them! I really love what you do here Larry, not all of lifes memories are fun, but all the memories your site brings to me are the ones i charish till I join Buzz on the other side……GODSPEED
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Buzz and I were roommates in college, with Charlie Barrett. We had some wild parties! Kind guy that really cared about his friends. He’d stop by here in Nebraska sometimes on his way across on I-80. Had lost contact with him a few years ago. Sorry to hear the news. He was a nice guy.
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