It's been a fast two years since we lost John LeVan - a close friend and mentor of mine.
It's been a fast two years since we lost John LeVan - a close friend and mentor of mine.
sure enough!
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved
body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy $^!+...what a ride!"
>
Ditto, Tom. He gave me a chance to write for him, even when I had no prior experience. The guy was bold.
I got to attend a couple races with John and the EMPA dinner in 2002. He got me setup with credentials at Lincoln Speedway and a couple other area tracks. The coverage I was providing got me started down the road to photography.
He has some great stories!
"If you don't do it this year, you'll be another year older when you do"
http://www.pbase.com/davidm2
http://www.jacksracephotos.net/
I agree with the above and would add that it'll soon be six years since Lenny Calinoff left us. I miss both of those guys.
I saw his son on some show about racing in the Charlotte areaOriginally Posted by DannyB
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it but it's true they say
He's the master of going faster. -George Harrison
Last I heard, he was a spotter for Matt Kenseth...and was also a stand up comic.
RIP John & Lenny
RacerRich
Good judgement comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgement.
John asked me if he could have the mic to address the folks at the last ARDC Banquet that I MC'd. He really appreciated it and I was priviledged to be able to do it for him as he passed shortly thereafter. He was a great friend to ARDC and to me for the all too brief time that I knew him.
91 -- Buddy Lazier -- Delta Faucet Hemelgarn Racing -- Reynard/Ford
I still have that photo of him holding the Mic in my 'puter. Plus one from when he was quite younger and another that was taken at Richmond with a great group of people that were Open Wheel website folks, along with "Jigger" Sirois. And one with John, Dino Oberto and me that was taken at an EMPA Convention.
That photo of the Open Wheel group from Richmond, could you post it or send me a copy. If it's the one I'm thinking of I'm in that photo too. Quite a number of those people are no longer with us.
David, I dug up the article that I wrote about the Richmond get together. OWR attendees included John LeVan, Danny Burton, Tom Avenengo, Jim Nise, Cathy Havenec and myself. Other guests were there and they included Jigger and Ron Lauer (Sidebite), wives, husband and friends of the OWR people. Racing included Silver Crown and IRL races. I have the picture that Tom mentions but I haven't located it yet. I wouldn't know how to post it but I could email it to ya if Tom doesn't put it on here. I know there were more than one year that a group got together, including one that Lenny attended but this was my only time to Richmond for racing. Really regret not being at the one Lenny was at since I never got to meet him in person.
I would add that Cathy also passed away some years back all too soon.She and her husband Darren were good people.
I think it was the first year get together. There was a photo taken under the stands. Another person from that get together that is no longer with us in Mike Szlosek aka MikeSfromVA. This was the year when they also ran the modifieds.
DavidM - I sent you a PM asking you to e-mail me and I'll send you the photo.
Guess what, guys? I really messed up - BIG TIME! In a way, I'm surprised that mdkiel didn't see where my big error is/was. It was shortly after that ARDC Banquet when John left us. The ARDC Banquet was probably after the 18th of November, or close to it. The CORRECT date for the passing of John LeVan is DECEMBER 18, 2008. Not only did i mess up on here, I also messed up in my weekly column, and ALSO, believe it or not, in the short Obituary I wrote up! That's what happens when one doesn't pay attention. I had put the date of his passing on my big desk calendar on the November and December pages. Talk about feeling like a complete idiot!
Hey you remembered him that's what is important! Non of the rest of us caught it.
That's right!
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