Well summer is winding down. I can tell
because we haven't run the air conditioner for the last couple of weeks.
A couple of weeks ago we held our annual Concourse. This was at the beautiful
Codman House in Concord, MA. For those of you that weren't able to attend
the event was sponsored by Dicks Autobody and Bentley Books. A representative
from Bentley Books had a table set up with a sample of the automotive books
they print. Historically they have been a very big distributor of Volkswagen
Repair books. I was able to talk to the gentleman manning the table and
found out that he was able to get many ideas from our members for new titles,
all Porsche related. In fact it is their plan to increase the number of
Porsche related books in their inventory. Steve Centorino did a wonderful
job of running the event and keeping things under control. Steve, who has
chaired this event for the last three years, is stepping down as Concours
chairman this year. I would like to extend a grateful thank you for the
hard work he has done running this event.
By the time you read this we would have
held the last Autocross and are on the eve of the Rumble. Unfortunately
Tobey and I will not be able to attend the event this year. It is too bad
because it is a very fun day and we haven't missed any since it's creation.
I hear Bill Seymour has some new ideas on how to twist this already twisted
autocross.
Our last event for the driving season
is the Drivers Ed event at Mosport in Canada. Our track committee has done
a fabulous job battling daunting tasks in managing this years Drivers Ed
schedule. Each event this year has run in the typical precise way
we members have come to expect. If it weren't for the super-human efforts
of the track committee we never would have had as much fun as we did. Thank
You!
Lastly, I would like to share something
with you that was shared with me after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
A very close friend of Tobey's, who was also very close friends with Mark
Bingham, sent this to us. If you can remember Mark Bingham was one of the
passengers who thwarted the attempts of the hijackers to crash United Airlines
Flight 93 into the White House.
My Hero
One of the best friends of my life, Mark
Bingham, died in the crash in Pennsylvania. He is a hero. You have probably
seen the interview with his mom, Alice Hogland on many channels.
Mark managed to call his mom on the airphone
to say he loved her. As you'll learn through the media, it is clear that
he then joined other passengers on the flight in what is obviously one
of the most heroic actions through this horrible event. Knowing they were
likely to die, they attacked the hijackers. Apparently, they thwarted the
plan to destroy yet another of America's precious symbols.
Upon learning of Mark's death and the
call he made to his mother, all of us who knew Mark immediately came to
the same conclusion: he tried to stop the hijacking. As I was talking to
the friend who relayed the horrible news, I had a vision of Mark. He was
charging the front of the plane. With no fear, no hesitation and pure selflessness,
he pummeled the terrorists. I know this in the depths of my soul.
Mark saved my life several years ago when
he, his partner, and I were held up at gunpoint by two would-be muggers.
He threw himself in front of Paul and me, disarmed the gun-wielder, and
beat both men until they fled. He has always been my hero.
A huge man in both stature and soul, it
is unthinkable to all who he touched that we have lost him. But, we are
left with the most wonderful of memories, and the pride of being close
to one of our country's newest and brightest heroes.
Mark Bingham was my friend. Remember his
name.
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