SSTCamaro
04-10-2007, 04:11 AM
I received word a couple of weeks ago, that not only shocked me, but left a void in my racing spirit. Our local Hot Rod competitor Steve Lord has decided to hang up his helmet and call it a career.
I haven't know Steve for more than 5 years, but in that time he has always been a genuine person, not just racer, and he was and still is always willing to lend a hand when possible. Steve will continue to attend some of our Hot Rod races, he is still sponsoring a couple and were trying to put a package together from his company, JLM Office Innovators, for the series champion. Steve is known by many and he will deeply be missed by many, but no one more than me. 3 years ago Steve called me and posed a question that I will never forget, "I have a wedding to attend, do you want to drive my car in Hot Rod?". Now, at the time I only had a footbrake car, but definately jumped at the opportunity. Wednesday test session rolled around and we had an issue....I didn't quite fit properly in the car....well, we fixed that and I was given the order to drive it like it was mine...10.12 (almost as quick as Steve's personal best) seconds later at over 131mph I was beside myself (10.79 @ 121 was my previous best). Now he hands me the keys and says "good luck on Saturday". Now here I am, in someone elses car, he's not there (and probably pounding every drink he could find at the wedding), but he didn't call once, which meant a lot. Anyway, I proceeded to luckily snag the #1 spot at 10.902 and went to the semi's. We were all happy, however I quickly realized why he did what he did....he knew I wanted to step up my car and he wanted to give me a chance....thank you Steve....from that moment a friendship was formed that is inpenetrable.
I will miss the jokes, the laughter and the fun we had on racedays....the bad t-brake stories, the Wednesday phone calls saying "I just took the motor out because, well....I dunno, but it will be ready by Friday"....
Thanks Steve for being the person you are, supporting the Hot Rod Series from Day #1 ( most don't know the involvement he has had in the series) and for also helping sink the hook even further in for 10.90 racing (I guess I have you to blame now! :) )
Steve is looking to spend more time with his family, wife Paula, son's Michael and Alex and I'll tell ya, I commend him for that!! I wish more of us had the willpower to walk away for the right reasons!! Instead we buy Junior Dragsters.
If you know anyone looking for an excellent, well built Hot Rod/Super Street/Top Eliminator car, please don't hesitate to call Steve....he is looking to deal and has tons of spare parts that go with the car!!
I haven't know Steve for more than 5 years, but in that time he has always been a genuine person, not just racer, and he was and still is always willing to lend a hand when possible. Steve will continue to attend some of our Hot Rod races, he is still sponsoring a couple and were trying to put a package together from his company, JLM Office Innovators, for the series champion. Steve is known by many and he will deeply be missed by many, but no one more than me. 3 years ago Steve called me and posed a question that I will never forget, "I have a wedding to attend, do you want to drive my car in Hot Rod?". Now, at the time I only had a footbrake car, but definately jumped at the opportunity. Wednesday test session rolled around and we had an issue....I didn't quite fit properly in the car....well, we fixed that and I was given the order to drive it like it was mine...10.12 (almost as quick as Steve's personal best) seconds later at over 131mph I was beside myself (10.79 @ 121 was my previous best). Now he hands me the keys and says "good luck on Saturday". Now here I am, in someone elses car, he's not there (and probably pounding every drink he could find at the wedding), but he didn't call once, which meant a lot. Anyway, I proceeded to luckily snag the #1 spot at 10.902 and went to the semi's. We were all happy, however I quickly realized why he did what he did....he knew I wanted to step up my car and he wanted to give me a chance....thank you Steve....from that moment a friendship was formed that is inpenetrable.
I will miss the jokes, the laughter and the fun we had on racedays....the bad t-brake stories, the Wednesday phone calls saying "I just took the motor out because, well....I dunno, but it will be ready by Friday"....
Thanks Steve for being the person you are, supporting the Hot Rod Series from Day #1 ( most don't know the involvement he has had in the series) and for also helping sink the hook even further in for 10.90 racing (I guess I have you to blame now! :) )
Steve is looking to spend more time with his family, wife Paula, son's Michael and Alex and I'll tell ya, I commend him for that!! I wish more of us had the willpower to walk away for the right reasons!! Instead we buy Junior Dragsters.
If you know anyone looking for an excellent, well built Hot Rod/Super Street/Top Eliminator car, please don't hesitate to call Steve....he is looking to deal and has tons of spare parts that go with the car!!