Richard Messersmith R.I.P.

[Rickd]

Wow - that is sad news. I had the privilege to be invited to his home in Fort Lauderdale in Las Olas a couple of years ago - he wanted to show me his beloved 289 Kirkham - that he bought used and put an aluminum Dart 302 into. He was truly a "car guy" and his home was packed with boxes of cobra parts. His 3 car garage had a Ferrari 'daily driver' in it and an older Ferrari under cover. Never even mentioned those as we walked through the garage in search of a mason jar - to top off with Chardonnay - at 10:00 am on Saturday. He was just packing up to move to Orlando so they could be closer to a hospital for the cancer treatments his wife was undergoing at that time.

A real nice guy - who raced cobras back in the day - and lived what we all read and dream about. I am really saddened by the news. He had come across some post I had made on Club Cobra and pm'd me saying "you're in Miami ? - c'mon up and let's talk cobras". And we did! His car was no trailer queen. He went to the weekly car shows in Fort Lauderdale and sat around talking motors and cobras, and having a few beers. Thanks Richard !! May God be with you my friend.