Automotive engineer and turbocharging pioneer Reeves Callaway passed away today at his home in Laguna Hills, California. The founder of Callaway Cars, perhaps best known for its twin-turbo Corvettes, was 75 years old. His passing was unexpected, attributed to injuries sustained after a fall.

Born Ely Reeves Callaway III in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, but raised in Darien, Connecticut, he had what might be considered a privileged East Coast upbringing. His father, Ely Callaway, Jr., formed the namesake golf club company, famous for its “Big Bertha” driver.

But young Reeves was a driver of a different kind. He grew up racing go karts, and after graduating from Amherst college in 1970 he moved to SCCA Formula Vee racing, winning the national championship in 1973. He would later go on to become a driving instructor for Bob Bondurant’s high performance driving school.

Before he was famous for creating twin-turbo V8s, he cut his teeth on smaller engines during the “malaise days” of the mid-‘70s. His first project was a BMW 320i, followed by an intercooled aftermarket kit for the Rabbit GTI and a host of other smaller, emissions-choked European models. Eventually his twin-turbo conversion for the Alfa Romeo GTV-6 got factory approval, being available from North American Alfa dealers between 1984 and 1986.

But it was the Corvette – and eventually most of the Chevy V8 lineup – that made Callaway a household name, at least among car enthusiasts. First applied to the 5.7L C4 Vette, Callaway’s twin-turbo package elevated the sport coupe from 254 hp to just over 400, transforming it. The one-off Sledgehammer, based on a 1989 Corvette, reached 254 in official testing and had more in the holster if only the test track had been large enough.

Callaway’s more recent efforts included the last-generation Camaro as well as Chevrolet and GMC pickups. No matter what he applied his magic to, quality, reliability and legal compliance were an inherent part of every Callaway Cars project. His loss will be felt across the industry. Our thoughts are with his family and employees.