James Winner Jr., inventor of The Club, dead at 81
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/aftermarket/" rel="tag">Aftermarket</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a></p><img width="250" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="250" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/theclub2009.jpg" alt="The Club" class="rightborder" />James Winner Jr. made a unique mark on the automotive world. He created a product which took the country by storm and ushered in a new age of aftermarket theft deterrents. And now he's gone. Mr. Winner lost his life on September 14th, 2010 during a two-car crash in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.<br />
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After having his <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/cadillac/">Cadillac</a> stolen a few decades back, Winner realized there had to be a more aggressive way of securing a vehicle than simply relying on the alarm that came with the car. He put his brain to work and came up with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/the+club">The Club</a> and sold millions of units around the world.<br />
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Winner, 81 years old, was driving his <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/lexus/">Lexus</a> when for unknown reasons he crossed the divider into oncoming traffic and hit another car. Mr. Winner, as well as the driver and passenger of the car he hit, were pronounced dead at the scene. Seat belts were reportedly worn by both drivers.<br />
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The Club sold well and Winner made some serious scratch, but he didn't keep it all for himself, becoming a prominent philanthropist in his community and donating large sums of money to hospitals and other worthwhile foundations across the country. Our condolences go out to all the families of those involved.<em> Thanks for the tip, Charlie!</em><br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Local-Developer-Dies-After-Clarion-Accident/TJ28hjZaI0yTyoBwJX6Y-w.cspx">WKBN</a> | Image: Michael McCauslin/Wikipedia]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/16/james-winner-jr-inventor-of-the-club-dead-at-81/">James Winner Jr., inventor of The Club, dead at 81</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Local-Developer-Dies-After-Clarion-Accident/TJ28hjZaI0yTyoBwJX6Y-w.cspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/16/james-winner-jr-inventor-of-the-club-dead-at-81/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19635739/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/16/james-winner-jr-inventor-of-the-club-dead-at-81/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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