In a message dated 8/24/2005 8:56:06 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
2weldons@earthlink.net writes:
>
> I didn't know John Beckett and was only vaguely aware of him before last
> Sunday. When I heard of his accident at the Salt Talks and listened to
> Scott
> Guthrie speak of him I felt the sorrow at losing a fellow racer that we all
> feel in the face of such a tragedy. In the last few days I've reflected
> some
> on what John meant to all land speed racers, not just the East Coast folks.
> Forgive me if in my ignorance I miss some important facts or someone else's
> important contribution.
>
>
>
> John left a legacy that is incredibly important to all LSR types, especially
> us westerners. He was a major driver behind the development of the East
> Coast
> timing Association and the Maxton Monster Mile. He helped prove through his
> efforts that it is indeed possible to establish and sustain a new land speed
> racing venue in the USA without a half century of tradition to support it.
>
>
>
> We El Mirage and Bonneville racers have been spoiled in some sense. We've
> always had these places and have this feeling of permanence about them.
> Sure
> we're affected by the Bonneville salt mining, unpredictable weather and the
> encroachment of civilization on El Mirage. But the events run on schedule
> almost every year. It's not until you talk to some of the SCTA/BNI leaders
> that you realize that it takes only a bad turn of public opinion, politics
> or
> "progress" to leave us with nowhere to run. Then what do we do?
>
>
>
> John Beckett's work proved to us that it is indeed possible to start up and
> build a successful LSR operation from a "green field".
>
>
>
> Thanks, John. We all owe you.....
>
>
>
> Ed Weldon
Well stated, Ed.........................Ardun Doug King
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