Highlights of the Life & Times of "Big Juan" John Tiedemann - provided by Jim Newhall

John was born in Coronado 19 February 1948, and resided with his parents and brother at 848 San Luis Rey in Coronado.  John’s Grandfather worked for many years at the Hotel del Coronado, starting as an upholsterer in 1912, working his way up to General Manager, and was featured in the Ernest R. Tiedemann Hall of Fame on the hotel’s lower level. 

John’s Father (John) also worked as a purchasing agent and Assistant Manager at the Hotel del, while his Mother (Chick) always provided a great home to hang out at for John and his school mates.  John attended grades K-12 at Coronado Elementary, Junior High and High Schools, graduating in 1966.  He was a member of the local Army National Guard unit in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Along with his Dad, John worked at the Kona Kai Club on Shelter Island, later at Balboa Datsun, and then at a foreign car repair & fabrication shop in Coronado known as Vulcan Engineering. 

He also worked at, and later owned, Taylor Van Conversions.  Taylor Vans later morphed into Rack-It, a successful business in Clairemont Mesa dealing in automotive racks and accessories.  John was a long-time property owner and lived in Coronado his entire life.  He had a lifelong interest in cars and motorcycles, was a top student in the Auto Shop class, and represented CHS at regional high school engine troubleshooting competition in Riverside.  He built, maintained and drove off-road race vehicles along with his son Nick, and John was a member of the Enduro Racing Team pit crew starting in the mid-1990s, participating in numerous off-road races in the U.S. and in Mexico.  John leaves a Son Nick (Erica) of Santee, and a Brother Jay (Duffy) of Chula Vista who manages the Rack-It business.