Richard Messersmith, CSX3018

1985 CCX · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-2013, 02:50 PM

Richard and family

Thoughts, prayers and best wishes to you all. Richard is strong! I am sure he will be in everyone's prayers. It is typical for the induced coma to be std procedure with this type of injury. Probably will be that way for a bit........ Best way to heal.

PatBuckley · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2013, 03:58 PM

Back in the early 70's when I was racing SCCA Nationals we used to pit next to a man named Messersmith who raced an AP Cobra and at other times an AP Corvette-

We occasionally would help each other out.

Is this the the same man?

computerworks · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2013, 03:59 PM

Pat... where was this?

Richard was based out of Chicago and did SCCA in the Midwest region.

Raced the Cobra for a few years, and a Corvette at Blackhawk Farms c. 1970

Tom Kirkham · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatBuckley

Back in the early 70's when I was racing SCCA Nationals we used to pit next to a man named Messersmith who raced an AP Cobra and at other times an AP Corvette-

We occasionally would help each other out.

Is this the the same man?

Pat here is a picture of Richard racing his Corvette at Black Hawk Raceway.

gsharapa · #5 (**permalink**) 07-30-2013, 09:10 PM

Here are a few of Richard in the Cobras..

jmimac351 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-30-2013, 10:40 PM

I forget exactly how it came about but one day I happened to be in contact with Richard. He has a Kirkham 289 car and I wanted to see it. I had no idea who he was, and he had no idea who I was - it didn't matter. Soon enough, Richard had invited me over to his home here in Orlando. I spent hours there and he proceeded to share all kinds of cool pictures and stories. We looked at the Kirkham and F40 and some other cool cars. I saw his bikes, more than one Ducati as I recall with special paint jobs that he was so proud of. I have pictures of that stuff but that's not what I remember so well. He and his wife were so nice to me and treated me like I was a friend who came to visit. He seemed like a tough little man. I really hope Richard gets better soon.

cobrajeff · #7 (**permalink**) 07-31-2013, 06:53 AM

I met Richard thru clubcobra - I saw his Kirkham FIA at a car show last year in Orlando, but could not find him anywhere around his car.
I recognized his name from posts on CC about CSX3018. I finally got to meet up with him at SAAC 38 in California. I really enjoyed his
stories about buying his Cobra and hanging around at Shelby American in the sixties. My sincere wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

Richard got plenty of track time at SAAC 38 - I'm sure he had a very good time

Jeff

gsharapa · #8 (**permalink**) 07-31-2013, 09:55 AM

I think back to 2005 when he bought the Kirkham FIA from me and how cool he was then. I had it for sale for a short time and he called me to discuss buying it and we talk Cobras. He started telling me his history with Cobras and I have the first edition of the Registry so looked him up and there he was. I think he was pricing a new Kirkham FIA at the time and mine was a bit cheaper (original leaf spring supension in the front) but we were a few thousand off a deal. He called a few more times over the next few weeks and then I took the car off the market as decide I was going to keep it and put a high compression weber carb motor in it. Over the next couple months he call me a few times a week and finally convinced me to sell the car to him. Him and his wife came to Dallas for several days when they bought it and the test drive with him was like being at Leguna Sega through the turns. After the purchase him and wife cruised around Dallas a few days and then had it shipped to Florida. They were extremely nice people like Jeff stated! I talked to Richard now then but hadn't heard from him in the last couple years so hope he mends quickely and get's back to what he loves to do. Maybe he should stick with the cars for the future however......

ACademic · #9 (**permalink**) 08-09-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsharapa

Never met the man but traded IM's with him once. The fact that he raced an original 427 S/C back in the day gets my total respect. Prayers to Richard and his family on this loss.

computerworks · #10 (**permalink**) 08-09-2013, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACademic

The fact that he raced an original 427 S/C back in the day gets my total respect. .

...a habit that never was broken.

We spent a great weekend with him out at SAAC-38 last month, and watched with enjoyment as he thrashed his Kirkham FIA on the track at AutoClub Speedway.