January FOTM: Honoring a Racer - Gary K.

[OmniFocus]

Gary was the one guy that made sure the R/R/Ax forum never got too serious. I hope we can strive to continue that tradition, though it'll be tough.

[seanmc]

^ A lovely job of trailbraked tire-roasting backing-it-in happy good times, Lorin. The old man would scream with joy.

[OrangeSVTguy]

never met him but a sad loss for all of his loved ones and friends and the focus community.

[airforcefocus]

RIP Gary.

[Ray]

Gary - if you can read this - i'll think of you first time i spin at lime rock.


dont have any pics on the server of the SVT, but here is the old one (since mr ataru said "in your focus" i cant put the xr)

[Spatakula]

RIP Mr. K

-spatakula

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by demonfire

Gary - if you can read this - i'll think of you first time i spin at lime rock.


dont have any pics on the server of the SVT, but here is the old one (since mr ataru said "in your focus" i cant put the xr)

Hell dude, I don't care if you post a pic of you in the XR.

[ZX3autoxtasy]

RIP Gary.

[foo_gurl_zx3]

RIP Gary, I wish I had gotten the chance to meet you. .

[BadIdea]

Some vids from VIR.

Here you see Gary following turbo Tom. Towards the end there is Gary with Sean attached to his bumper.
http://tech9.us/focaljet/FallFlingVIR04250k.wmv 7Mb


Big vid of some corners.
http://tech9.us/focaljet/FallFling.wmv 195Mb

[Wreckerboy]

Great thread! I have no photos of Gary and I on track, unless Hal managed to get some of him chasing me at LRP the year before last, but I do have a letter Gary asked me to write for him after he had just purchased Squirt and was looking to get back on track. One of the first, if not the first, days on track was to be a FATT at Summit. Gary had no current race license at the time, and asked me to write a reference letter to the folks at Summit to help him get in. The text below is from the first version of that letter -

Robert Myles
XXXXXX
XXXXXXX
Baldwin, NY


Summit Point Raceway Associates, Inc.
Don Barrack
Post Office Box 190
Summit Point, WV 25446
304-725-8444

Mr. Barrack,

I am writing on behalf of Gary Kole, who would like to attend your upcoming Seat Time event on September 27th in his mildly prepared (upgraded brakes, tires, and suspension) Ford Focus SVT.

Are you out of your ****ing minds?

I have known and raced with Gary for many years in various EMRA race and time trial events, including several at your facility. Gary’s driving is indicative of the deep rooted problems he has, and I would not hesitate to share the track with him again in the future, provided, of course, that he was securely strapped to the ground at the apex of turn ten.

I first met Gary when I was serving as Chief Steward for an EMRA event at Bridgehampton, about six months after the track was turned into a golf course. In that capacity I have had to have him forcibly removed from the grounds on more than one occasion. I am not sure what the outcome of the legal issues surrounding the incident with the Cub Scout troop were, but since he is not in jail, either he bought his way out using the trust fund again, or the charges are still pending. Gary has always driven with his head crammed up his ass, and not over it. In the time I have known Gary he has primarily driven a stolen ITB/ST3 Volvo, which he has also driven in various Volvo Historic Series events, at least until the restraining orders started.

My racing experience is extensive, as I currently am the ward champion of various Playstation™ racing games. I have held both EMRA and SCCA competition licenses, was a former nationally licensed corner worker with the SCCA, and have been hunted by the CIA for the things I know. I currently crew for R & L Racing, a team pretending to compete in the Trans-Am series. I have screwed up as Chief Steward for many EMRA events, including several at your facility. Sorry. I have also have worked as the nefarious “Wreckerboy” during the EMRA night enduro held every November at Summit Point for the last ten thousand years. (Sorry about the truck, but you needed a new one anyway. Besides, not too much of the building was damaged in the fire afterwards.) I can proudly say that I have been banned from flagging at every station on your track. I have served as an instructor with EMRA and Car Guys when they were desperate enough, and have been banned from such fine tracks as Road Atlanta, Kershaw (Carolina Motorsports Park), Summit, Pocono, Bridgehampton, Line Rock, and Watkins Glen.

If you have any questions, kindly go **** yourselves.



Robert Myles

rdm/idi

[bri]

That’s Fantastic, I’m sure they where more then happy to have him on track or have him committed, ether one is appropriate.

[seanmc]

Jeebus, Rob - thanks for posting that. I'd forgotten about it...

[MichaelXi]

Thanks for the Grin, Rob.
In the face of the sadness, that letter almost sounded as if Gary had written it himself, and I had to laugh.
Much appreciated.

[Ducman69]

[covert1]

A tribute to the man, and an additional thank you to "catmostfeared" who, I believe, snapped this picture of me:

[GapBoyPCS]

Cheers Gary. Wish I also had a chance to meet you as well. Hope you can see how you've impacted all of us on FocalJet.

[tophe7d]

He was definitely some one I would've liked to talk shop with...

[Primaris]

RIP Gary and my condolences to his family and loved ones.

.

[Penguini66]

From the first track event I ever went to and when I met Gary. And probably one of the best memories I have in recent memory. The 2003 Fall Fling at VIR:

A Focus "Ghetto" is not a ghetto without Gary:






All of us:





Me, Egz and Bri getting ready to go out on track:


And finally, me by myself:



***All photos copyright "Hal". I think these have all been posted before so all should be ok(If not, let me know).***

[MichaelXi]

Eric,
Those top 2 pics are from '04... The rest are all '03.
GREAT times on Both occasions.

[Penguini66]

Originally Posted by MichaelXi

Eric,
Those top 2 pics are from '04... The rest are all '03.
GREAT times on Both occasions.

Yep, you're right. I almost forgot I went down in '04 and took some pictures and didn't even get out on track.

[ZedX31485]

RIP

I remember reading some of his posts way back when. Seems like one helluva guy.

RIP, Sir

[mysvtftoy]

Originally Posted by Penguini66

Wasn't there a group picture taken of your motley crew in the pits at one of these event? I thought it was an end of season Enduro. As I recall, Gary could not drive due to his back problems, so some of you other guys drove his car. I'm thinking Hal took that picture too. I was hunting for it, but could not find it. If one of you know what I'm talking about, could you post it? No cars, but a nice group shot of the right coast racing mafia.