Large Scale Central

Paul Newman

General Discussion
#1

Paul Newman says goodbye to Lime Rock

http://www.trackpedia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4485

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showpost.php?p=183665&postcount=1

From the link in thread:

“Lime Rock was closed down today Wednesday [Aug 20] or an hour and a half so Paul Newman could take a few last laps there in his GT1 Corvette and say goodbye. He was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago and is not expected to make it past September.”

I saw him race his GT1 300zx at Lime Rock in the 1980s. He is a major reason I became interested in club racing.

#2

I saw a pic of him recently, Oh my he looked aweful, sad news but he’s had a hellova great run.

#3

So many great films, but he’ll always be Luke to me.

“What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

#4

My favorite line was directed at Newman,

“Think ya used nuff dynamite there Butch?”

#5

I had not heard about the cancer. We used to race against him and his Bob Sharp Datsun at Lime Rock, Watkins Glen and Summit Point. His C Production Datsun against our B production 427 Vette. We would out qualify him but sure was sneaky fast in the corners and could out brake our heaver car. Always a good race.

Once, on the false grid with the other drivers and some crew members, he got down on his haunches and was looking up at everyone out out of the corners of his eyes. Classic Newman look and big blues. What movie was that from?

Gonna miss him.

#6

Nice that Mr. Newman had a chance for a few last laps. He’ll be missed around these parts. When he was driving for Bob Sharp I used to pass the Datsun dealership daily on my way to and from work. Occasionally his car would be on display at the dealership.

I live less than an hour from Lime Rock Park. We keep meaning to go, but as of yet I’ve never been there. Marilyn and I used to be paddock marshals at The Glen when we were a lot younger. When Jackie Stewart was racing she refused to let him into the pits because he forgot his credentials :smiley: Never did get to see Paul Newman race.

#7

I watched him race a LOT in the 1980s at LRP and The Glen. I’ve got pictures somewhere, even.

There are lots of stories about him just being a “regular guy” when he was at a race. Bringing a couple of six packs over to a campfire and bench racing with everyone. If they started talking about his other career, he’d wander off and find another fire.

LRP is a great small course. I cut my racing teeth there in 1985 at a Skip Barber school.

#8

Bob, If you ever get into looking at those pictures and find an ugly #90 yellow Vette in them… I sure would like a scan. We were too busy racing to take pictures, I guess. Looks like we were running 5th or 6th in this photo, far top left. Trois Riviers Trans Am 1980.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/sheepdog/Trois%20Riviers%201980.jpg)