Richard Messersmith R.I.P.

[Tom Kirkham]

Richard was the rare tenacious individual who knew what he wanted, demanded your best, yet was always very fair and reasonable. He ended many phone conversations with “Tom, can I send you any money?” This past spring we had Richard at our shop prepping and updating his car before our open track day. He would drive his 289 FIA Roadster to and from the hotel with his un-muffled side pipes blaring. He was always grinning from ear to ear when he pulled up in the car. He was a treasure trove of knowledge on how the cars were originally built and raced. Richard was also a very good mechanic. He could and did wrench on his own cars and bikes. I will never forget being able to run up on the banking with him in Fontana at SAAC 38.
Richard told me many times, “Tom what more could I ask for? I have a lovely wife, and I have had a lot of fun. If I die tomorrow, I have no complaints.”

We will miss you.