Joe Sabato, Warwick Farm crash: Tributes flow for dragracer killed in crash
A popular Sydney drag racer has been remembered as a “quietly spoken guy with a great knowledge ... and a passion for tough cars” after he died in a road crash.
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Tributes are flowing for a popular Sydney dragracer Joe Sabato who died after a fatal crash in Sydney’s southwest.
Emergency services were called to the Hume Hwy in Warwick Farm shortly before 4pm on Thursday following reports a silver Commodore ute had crashed into a power pole.
Police said the force of the impact caused the power pole to snap in half. Mr Sabato, 38, died at the scene.
A front seat passenger, a 32-year-old man, suffered fractured ribs and internal injuries, and was taken to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
There has been an outpouring of grief on social media with many in the NSW racing community paying tribute to Mr Sabato, who was the owner of auto parts store Hume Performance in Warwick Farm.
A friend who did not wish to be named said Mr Sabato was “very well known around the car scene and drag racing scene”.
“I met Joe when his business Hume Performance did a few carburettor rebuilds for me,” he said.
“Joe was a quietly spoken guy with a great knowledge of racing engines and a passion for tough cars. He never upset anyone and was always willing to help out other dragracers.
“He leaves behind a beautiful wife and daughter.”
Hume Performance also paid tribute to Mr Sabato on Facebook, saying his death was a “huge shock” to all who knew him.
“The Hume Performance family has lost someone very special. Joe was the best person, the best boss and most of all the best mate anyone could have wanted,” the store posted on Facebook.
“We here at Hume will continue with his spirit to guide us as best we can.”
A post on Killer Rides magazine’s Facebook page described Mr Sabato as “one of those guys that gave his all in everything he did”.
Western Sydney vehicle parts store Rocket Industries also posted that he will be missed by friends in the racing and performance community.
“Joe was an amazing character, drag racer, customer and former employee. Joe also provided invaluable feedback and development knowledge across a range of products for Aeroflow Performance while operating Hume Performance Pty Ltd,” it posted on Facebook.
Anyone who was travelling north on the Hume Highway at Warwick Farm on Thursday and witnessed the crash or saw a white Mercedes AMG around 4pm, or has dashcam footage, is urged to contact the NSW Police Crash Investigation Unit 02 4232 5599.