[Fot] In Memory of Uncle Jack...

[BillDentin at aol.com]

Amici...

You should'a been there.  It was nice.

Last Saturday night, a very informal memorial was held out on TURN ONE at 
GRATTAN RACEWAY.  It was made up mostly of Group Two (vintage production 
based racers), but a lot of others came as well.  It started slowly as Tony 
Drews, his daughter Tori, Bob Wismer, Shirley and I started the long walk down 
the front straight to corner one.  But one by one the group kept getting 
bigger and bigger.  People came.  They paid their respects, and then left.  At 
times the number, standing in a circle at any one time numbered 35 or 40 
strong.  In honor of Uncle Jack's other loves, many were smoking good cigars, 
and there were several bottles of single malted Scotch being past around the 
circle.  It was good stuff too.  You know...the stuff they keep back up there 
by the mirror.  Not that junk down on the rail.  We took turns telling 
tales about Uncle Jack.  Lots of racer, and mechanical stuff, but also lots of 
deep personal things about Jack's multifaceted personality.  Dry eyes became 
scarce when Tony spoke of his days in the garage and at the track with Dad.  
When Tori talked about her grandpa, and his loving ways, it was very 
emotional.  What a guy!  We were all privileged to know him.  Those Scotch bottles 
were soon empty, and we left them standing in the gravel in the bank where 
Jack's gorgeous TR4 ended up last August.  Still thinking about Jack, we all 
then made the long trek back to our race paddocks.  We finished with a 
traditional Beady Eye Wine and Cheese party in Garage #8.  The good Scotch was 
gone, but there was plenty fine wine, good Wisconsin cheese, and some tasty 
stuff someone brought up from the southern edge of Kentucky.  It came in 
unmarked mason jars.  One jar tasted like apple pie, another like cherry, and 
one like lemonade...but all three kicked like a mule.

Like I said...you should'a been there.  It was nice...good for the soul. 

Bill Dentinger

PS  We walked away from the memorial smarter too.  Tony Drews and I both 
agree, that if you are going to hold any kind of function out in the kitty 
litter...be sure you don't wear flip flops or sandals.  Walking in the kitty 
litter is like walking in 12" of quick sand (only with BIG kernels).  That 
space between you feet and the flip flops sure fills up fast.  Pictures are 
scarce, but I did get several.  I'll try to post them, but may need some help.  
I don't always get along with my vintage (kerosene powered) computer.