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It is a shame to lose such a great man.
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My condolensces to his family, sad day indeed. I never met the man but know he is a legend.
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http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/42877.html
Here is a story from a local paper in the Fresno area. Jay |
Hello guys.
Sorry to be posting here so infrequently and today for such sad news. With Dick in mind I should make an effort to connect to more people with an open hand and a smile every time. At the direction of Dick Smith's Brother-in-law, who is making arrangements for the family, I am posting this invitation for friends and admirers of Dick Smith. Dick and his stepson Kyle will be memorialized at a funeral service to be held at 10:00 am on Thursday April 26th, 2007 at Peoples Church in Fresno California. Peoples Church 7172 North Cedar Avenue Fresno, CA 93722 All are welcome. Dave Smith Factory Five Racing |
I am proud that I had the chance to meet Dick. He also signed the dash of my car. Where ever I drive, people ask who is Dick Smith and what does 198 mean? Thus all over the country I have tried to explain what kind of guy Dick was. A racers racer and a gentle considerate gentleman!
We'll miss him! http://rbutton.com/images/dsmith_dash_plate.jpg |
i am still so saddened by this, and it just keeps coming into my mind.
posting here to keep it 'ttt'. many people may not have had a chance to see this during the week, and will want to see this over the weekend. /s/ kristen |
Billy Andrews of HRE fame and Dick Smith talking trash about Cobras at SAAC31....
http://www.cobranet.com/coppermine/a...s/IMG_2011.JPG The Gentleman Racer himself, signing our club banner at the Shelby Convention.... http://www.cobranet.com/coppermine/a...s/IMG_2018.JPG Club Cranky sends our condolences to all his family and friends. |
I'm stunned. I can't add much to what has already been said, but the moment I met Dick, he made me feel as though we were old friends. I was incredibly fortunate to spend a couple of hours with him in a bar following a COCOA event at Willow Springs. He was about to marry Heather & was deliriously happy. The conversation was as easy and natural as if I were talking to my brother. I don't know that I've ever met anyone whom I liked so much so quickly.
What a huge hole in our hearts. Devastating loss. |
I'm new to the cobra scene but seeing his car at the FFR Showroom and in their video he WAS the real deal.
My thoughts and best wishes to his family Gary BDR |
ttt ........RON
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this is a link to my Tulsa thread from last June. Nah, you don't have to read it again if you don't wanna, but i so enjoyed just now re-reading the adventure of wearing Dick's pants. :)
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/texas-cobra-club/70342-terrific-trip-tulsa.html I know most of you guys that knew Dick knew him so much better than I, so I cannot fathom your loss, but this is hitting so hard! Not just anybody walks up to a girl at a dragstrip and offers her his pants. :CRY: there was an instant connection. yes, started with the love of Cobras, but something else was there with his love of people. (me, in a funny way, you know what i mean) I am so sad!! :( gosh if i could make it happen i would fly out there Thursday. ya'll just don't know..... :( I feel for you boys. :( really, i do. would anybody be kind enough to get me a program from the service and send it to me?? Is that crass?? I would like to make a tribute page to Dick in my scrapbook. (yes, the one he signed at tulsa) respectfully, Kristen at Tulsa, last June- http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...m/DSC01378.JPG K- the model! http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...m/DSC01374.JPG |
It is Sad and Tragic to see not just Dick Smith but his 16 year old Step son Die as well. the Boy sounded full of life and Dick probably had a lot to do with that. I never knew either of them, but have always admired Dick and never read a bad word about him. he definitely led an interesting life and I admire him for it. I cannot imagine the grief that many are suffering right now over this. My thoughts and Prayers are with all who knew him.
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Dick was by far the best driver I've ever seen in a Cobra. I saw him drive at the Monterey Historic races about five years ago. He didn't make the qualifying grid on Friday, so they put him dead last in his group - a group that included some of the fastest Shelby's and drivers in vintage racing - like Derek Bell, John Morton & Phil Gallant.
Before his engine grenaded late in the race in turn 11 (taking him & a half dozen others into the gravel as his block drained it's contents on the track,) he had worked his way into 3rd place and was threatening the leaders. It was one of the most remarkable exhibitions of driving skill I have ever seen. I talked to him later and asked him how he made up so much ground on the field. He said that at the top of the corkscrew (blind crest of the back straight) when everyone else was nursing their cars to set up for the drop, he flat-out attacked it and eventually passed the majority of the other cars as a result. The thought of taking the corkscrew flat-out made my knees weak. Skill, courage and that mystical element that defines the great ones. He was the kind of guy you figured would live forever, and I guess as long as there are people like me who will never forget how he changed their lives, in some measure, I guess he will. http://lnk.nu/cobracountry.com/e8u.jpg |
Dick,sadly, joins Cobra legends Dave MacDonald ,Ken Miles and Jerry Titus.He will,definetly, be missed.
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I never met the man, but his Cobra exploits are legend. He is and will always be part of the Cobra legend and mystic.
Life is short, enjoy each day to the fullest. Truly sad. My condolences to his family. |
Reading all your messages really brings back the horrible shock of Dick's death. I don't race, but I just surfed on this site looking for any updates on the accident. I've known Dick for over 30 years. Those who said he was a gentleman, are absolutely right. He was a jack of all trades, from racing, to the bail bonds, to (where I met him) dog shows.
I knew him when I was a teenager, and in the summers, he flew his daughter and I back and forth between their house, and my house. I was fortunate enough to ride in that beautiful Cobra also. What a rush! Dick was a class act, and even though I haven't talked to him in years, the loss is greatly felt. Terry |
For those of you who are local or are driving in, Morgan (RedCX1) posted some info about where those driving Cobras will meet, etc. at the CVCC Forum: Dick Smith Funeral
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Make sure you visit Dan's links above. FFR members have organized a nationwide tribute to Dick Smith for this Saturday Night. Gentlemen, start your engines...
Join us in a “Moment of Thunder” Tribute to Racing Legend Dick Smith Saturday April 28, 2007 @ 6:30 PM PST. Let the word pass that at 6:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, this Saturday night, April 28, 2007, we will all be firing up our engines and sending up a fitting message to the heavens… Thanks Dick for the memories, We love you, and Godspeed dear friend. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...k/Dsc00774.jpg |
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