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I
bring all of you in the Factory Five Family the very worst news.
Last night, Saturday, April 8, 2006, our good friend Dan Lawson was
killed during an FFR Challenge Series race at Buttonwillow Raceway
in Bakersfield, California.
Dan was the National Director of the Series for FFR and NASA. I
spoke to Jerry Kunzman, who runs NASA, immediately after the
accident and released information to the internet forums telling
everyone that Dan was gone.
I
was up all night trying to put into words my feelings. I am at a
complete loss. Dan was a good friend, a good man and he was loved
by everyone he met. Dan had been involved in competitive racing
since the 1970’s and he was the quintessential racer. He was the
racers' racer.
My entire company and the entire FFR community is in shock and
filled with grief. We will never be able to recover fully from this
loss, and at this time I cannot even think of the future and what we
must do collectively to go on.
There are no platitudes to make us feel better. There are no words
that can change this horrible reality. I read the posts that
friends have left on
the discussion forum
and they say it better
than I ever could. The outpouring of love is a reflection of the
man himself.
We love you Dan. With all of our collective hearts we send out our
fondest goodbyes… we will never forget you.
As the days unfold here there will be more details that we can
share. Out of respect for his family and their wishes, we will
patiently await details of the memorial arrangements, and release
them as they feel appropriate.
I
have sent our two best engineers to the track and they should be
there this morning (Sunday) to be with the racers, to carefully and
respectfully examine the wreck and assist NASA with a full crash
investigation. Most importantly, Dave and Jim from FFR are there to
say goodbye on all of our behalf, at the place where Dan was killed
Our company will not conduct any business tomorrow (Monday) out of
respect for Dan and his family. The days ahead are going to be
difficult. We are already committed to finding an appropriate way
to memorialize our friend Dan, but will subordinate all our wishes
to the wishes of Dan’s family and loved ones, with whom we stand
together in abject grief.
My heart is so broken. I know that I speak on behalf of everyone at
Factory Five, when I say, Godspeed my friend. May Christ welcome
you to the warm and loving embrace of His kingdom.
We have all been fortunate to have known you, we are all the better
for having the brief time with you. We will all miss you so very
much.
David Smith |
