James was the 4th Child of Alexander & Helen, there only Son. He Loved Speed, he was a avid Quarter Mile Drag Racer., He unfortunately died Drag racing at Detroit Dragway. He was 27 yrs old. He loved his black Corvette, He was engaged at the time of his death to his long time love Lisa VanDame.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OBITUARY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JAMES A. KARASH..ST.CLAIR SHORES- James A.Karash, 27, of St.Clair Shores died Saturday in Brownstown Township. Mr.Karash was a machinist for eight years with Langes Special Machining.He recently joined his Fathers at the Karash Welding and Steel Co. in Mount Clemens.He is survived by his parents, Helen and Alexander of Harrison Township; and sisters, Pamela Bolton of Clinton Township, Sandra Harten of Harrison Township and Deborah Graziani of Grosse Pointe Woods.A funeral services will be held at 10am Wednesday at Wujek-Calcaterra Funeral Home, 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights, with Rev. Pasqquale LoGrasso of St.Louis Catholic Church, Mount Clemens, officiating. Burial will be in Cadillac Memorial Gardens East, Clinton Township.Visitation will be from 2 to 9 pm., today and 1 to 9 pm. Tuesday at funeral home, with a rosary recited at 7 pm.
LOCAL RACE DRIVER IS KILLED IN CRASH
8-20-1988
By:MITCH HOTTS
Macomb Daily Staff Writer
A 10-year hobby ended in tragedy this weekend for St.Clair Shores man who died during a stock-car race in whicj speeds exceeded 138 mph, police said Sunday.
SOURCE: MACOMB DAILY ... Monday , August 22, 1988
James Karash , 27, died Saturday night after he lost control of his 1986 Dodge Daytona and crashed during a race at the Detroit Dragway in Brownstown Township, according to township police.
Karash grew up in Harrison Township and purchased a house in St.Clair Shores two years ago, relatives said.He developed an interest in car racing while attending L'Ance Creuse High School, said his mother, Helen Karash.
"He's been into car racing since he was 17 and we had tried to get him to give it up, it is a losing game.You have to buy new parts for the car and everthing.It's an expensive hobby ," she said.
Karash's hobby turner to horror Saturday in the midst of a Quarter mile race in which speeds topped 138mph, according to Bownstown Township police.
Authorities received a videotape of the race and the accident from track officials and are still investigating the incident, said police Sgt.Edwin Neal.
"It appears the victim lost control of the car while racing in the left lane and the car rolled over several times," Neal said."The rescue crew was there within seconds and they found him hanging upside down belted in the car with a five point safety harness."
No one else was injured in the crash, Neal said
Police said their investigation of the matter should be closed this week.No one answered the phone at the race track Sunday.
Mrs.Karash said her son began working as a machinist as soon as he graduated from high school. He recently went into business with his father, Alexander, with the Karash Welding and Steel Company in Mount Clemens.
In addition to his parents, James Karash is survived by three sisters.
"He was the youngest of our children," Mrs. Karash said Sunday night. "This is such a tragedy i still can't believe it. He and his friends were into racing .
he just has the racing bug."
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 am. Wednesday in Wujek-Calcaterra funeral Home in Sterling Heights. Visitors will be received from 2-9 pm. today and 1 to 9 pm. Tuesday in the funeral home.( grandma note: Paper day is 8-22-88)
SOURCE: MACOMB DAILY , Saturday April 15, 1989