Our condolences to everyone in the family....he served the IRL fan community well.
Our condolences to everyone in the family....he served the IRL fan community well.
Miles, meet Dick Ralstin. You guys are going to be roomates for a while.
Wow. Not what I expected. Prayers to all involved.
"We won a few races here and there, but the magic died the day Helmet melted." - Doc Austin on slotcar champion Michael Shannon
Tragic news. Life is so often unpredictable.
Wow! Totally unexpected news! I first had the opportunity to know Miles when I first started writing for Lenny Calinoff's Open Wheel Racing.com and I happened to mention going down Rt 209 her in Pa, on my way to Nazareth, and referring to that piece of road as the "Ho Chi Min Trail". Miles also knew that piece of road by the same name. Eventually, we did get to meet, in the diner, here in Port Jervis, NY, one day, while he and his wife, daughter and grand daughter were passing though. RIP, Miles!
I wish with all my heart that this didn't have to be the occasion for my first post here.
I am a race fan from New Zealand and have been posting at Miles Nelson's site for nearly four years now. I first came across Miles the very day I discovered the existence of Track Forum and his informed, well-reasoned posts grabbed my attention. When he set up his own site I was one of the first to sign up, starting an Internet friendship that has meant a lot to me.
Miles' passion for his sport was matched by his knowledge and, as so many have already acknowledged here, when he wrote something you knew it was well worth reading. His wicked sense of humour and his excellent reminiscences of years gone by (now there was a book I would have loved to read) will be sadly missed.
Miles, I had been looking forward to meeting you - perhaps spending time with you at your much loved Indy or standing on the Salt Flats at Bonneville watching a 300mph pass - sadly it's not to be ... not in this life anyway.
Godspeed my friend.
I am sorry to hear of Mack's passing, I enjoyed his posts and reading about his zest for life. I wish now more than ever I could have made it down to Camp and Brew this year, just to be able to have met the man.
My condolences to his family and to those here who knew him.
These treasures that shared their love of racing with us are passing away, and sadly, the void gets bigger...
Rest in Peace
"My favorite time of the day at the Speedway during the month of May was just after dusk, after the track had closed down for day, I used to go out and sit on the pit wall and just listen and think"~ Dick Ralstin
. This has been a really, really sad week. RIP Miles.
Like slim, I met Miles before there was a TrackForum.
I loved talking to him about his days running Modifieds and listening to the stories he could tell about carousing with some of the legendary drivers and owners from the 60's.
Miles sat with us last year, and I saw him (actually, I literally ran into him) at IMS Saturday afternoon, never thinking it would be the last time I saw him.
Miles was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
He will be missed.
I guess about now he's doing some bench racing with his old buddies, a smile on his face.
RIP, old friend. From now on whenever I sip some of "the clear stuff", I'll think of you and Mason's Garage!
"Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less" - R.E.Lee
Wow. I'm very sad.
Miles has been a great friend and supporter of Camp and Brew, and I'm sitting here looking at the generous check that he made out for Brian's Wish just a few days ago.
I just went through our C&B picture archive and have made a tribute gallery that has all the pictures of Miles I could find (at least the ones that would qualify as "work safe")
RIP, race fan, and good friend.
C&B picture gallery of Miles.
PS--If anyone in the family would like high res versions of any of these, please let me know which ones.
Miles Nelson lived like the young at heart.
He most surely had a zest for life.
This hurts bad. We spoke on the phone from time to time and met over in Vegas when we could. What a fun person to be around.
"You have not converted a man because you have silenced him."
-John Morley
Holy Crap.
I'm floored.
Rest in Peace, Miles.
Godspeed.
Never forget 'Mackie' was here.
Rest in Peace, Miles Nelson
Never forget, 'Mackie' was here.
45 Below: Miles sure thought highly of you.
Thanks for sharing the photos, Glenn.....
Never crossed my mind as I watched that game of catch that Miles would be leaving us so soon.
Makes you think.
Here's also a little video from a few years ago with Miles in it.
oh my god
i just was speaking to Miles a few days ago at the Speedway
So saddened to hear this
WTF?
I met Miles for the first time at C&B this year, night before the race.
He said it was an honor to meet me, and he asked me about myself and told me he liked my work.
We talked about warbirds and cameras and women. I told him I knew a little about two of the three.
He said, "That ain't so bad. Me too! But, we're willing to be shown about the third, right?"
He was being shown repeatedly that night!
Go easy, bro.
It was an honor to meet you.
...a puerile junior-high zit-laden bloviating bozo loser blogger using third-rate scatological pseudo-humor talking loud and saying nothing.
Bless you, Glenn!!
Have a very blessed day!
Thanks for the kind words.Originally Posted by JBaiza
I am saddened by this. Passed by him in the staircase at the Media center at Indy, and said hello. The last conversation that I had with him was at St. Pete, in the pits. He was taking pictures, and we talked about Homestead and St. Pete. That was the last conversation.
"Racer's Eulogy" that I wrote:
You can rest now - you have taken your final checkered flag. You fought hard during the race of life, and you showed courtesy and respect for others during the race. You have earned your final resting place. Rest now, in honored glory.
To all his family and friends - I am sorry for your loss.
I am completly blown away. Miles was so unique and had become a dear friend of mine. I can not find the words to express my sorrow. Miles was one of the very best fellows I had the opportunity to ever be around.
Not a great day. First I find out that a friend's dad has passed on and now Tommy A. told me about Miles.
We met at Richmond a few years back. I sat with him in the press box and was his "spotter". I knew that I'd better be paying strict attention and giving Miles accurate observations. And later he thanked me for what little I'd done.
I was hoping to see him again and maybe tease him about that PT Cruiser he had at the Richmond campground.
That'll have to wait. RIP, sir. You will be missed.
Danny Burton
http://www.hoseheads.com/dannyb.html
Wanna know what's wrong with NASCAR? They've gone from Junior Johnson to Jimmie Johnson.
Wanna know what's wrong with IndyCar? It's gone from dirt ovals to street races.
Rest easy Miles.
Say Hi to Dad for me.
My thoughts are with the family!!
NOOOOOOO !
What a shock. Another of the true treasures of Track Forum, and racing in general, gone. Its got to be a heck of a party going on up there.
So long Mackie...you'll be missed.
This is Michael. I guess Dad signed in here once from my home computer and it saved his logon info. Thanks SO much to everyone for all your great memories and condolences. I have shared your posts with my brother and sisters. You can't begin to know how much it helps.
It's always been about the Indy 500!
I realize I have the right to remain silent, but don't have the ability or enough common sense to do so.:rolleyes:
I felt it important to get to C+B on Saturday if for no other reason than to meet Mackie, and now he's gone. I thought very highly of his posting, which was the only way I knew him. It sounds as if his TF persona was a good indication of the man, and the hole he leaves here while significant will surely pale beside the hole he leaves in real life.
Godspeed Miles.
... Since all men live in darkness, who believes something is not a test of whether it is true or false. I have spent years trying to get people to ask simple questions: What is the evidence, and what does it mean?
-Bill James
What a horrible shock! One of the main reasons I hated missing Camp N Brew this year was I wanted to see Miles. He and Tindyman always walked over to my house on 25th Street to say "hello" on race weekend and sometimes parked there to go to Camp N Brew. He didn't know I'd moved right after the 500 last year.
Rest in peace, my Racer Friend. You had the respect of all of us and a love of life that we should all emmulate. I know how much you loved Little Mackie and my condolences to her, Mike and all of the family and friends.
I am so happy your last days were spent at the 500 with your friends. I don't think you'd have asked for a better way to go.
Another reminder that nothing is promised but the moment we have......sure puts my recent "problems" in perspective.
Rest well, my friend.
It really IS all good!
Our best to you, Michael. I'll be praying for you all over these next few weeks.
For all who are interested, here is Miles' last TF post.
"If TF members were given solid gold cars, some would complain about the color." - stnkypete
I am totally stunned. We were just PMing a week or so ago about meeting up next week while I am out in Vegas for work. First I come home from Indy on Monday to find out my dog lost her battle with cancer Sunday night, now this. This week has sucked.
Godspeed Miles.
Is it May yet ?
Miles and I got to be friends through the Speedway, TF, and of course, his trips to Vegas. Whenever he'd get down this way, we'd grab a beer and benchrace. We had a number of mutual friends, and a number of people we mutually decided we could do without.
He always spoke highly of his kids, and of course, his pride and joy, Mackie.
Miles was a complete gentleman in every sense of the word, and was a great example of how to enjoy life to the fullest while maintaining a sense of class and dignity.
Godspeed, Miles. You've got a lot of people far more qualified than I to benchrace with now. Tell Heywood I said hey.
Last edited by Fueler; 05-28-2008 at 10:42 PM.
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