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Ok, final goodbye, this is the poem that I read yesterday for John Smith
A lot asked me to post it (Tim Falce, Delta etc )... so here it is
Dear John……What can I say about you
Where do I begin John Smith?
People here have heard lots of stories
Some of em true and some of em myth
But how do I begin to explain
And where should I start
How do I tell you how I feel
And how you passing has broken my heart
I could start with your kindness
And the principles you kept
Like if I went to leave the table
Up to your feet you leapt
Opening doors and when we walked along the road
To the outside of the pavement you went
Yes one thing that could be said about you
Is that you were without doubt a true gent
I could talk about your stories
And my god there were a few
but the one that always comes to mind
Involves a certain driver and you
I refer of course to Mr Jackie Oliver
Not really your number one fan
When you summoned him to race control
He said, “Do you people know who I am?”
“Jackie” you said now don’t be mad
This will only take a second or two
He said, “I only let my friends call me Jackie
So Its Mr Oliver to you!
The thing that’s funny about that
And I swear this is true what I tell
Is that you dined out on that story so many times John Smith
But I know Jackie Oliver did as well
For years latter when I met the chairman and co
Of the Freshingham Oily Rags Club (that’s FORC)
They told me how he told them that same story
When they invited him to give a talk
I could talk about what you did for me personally
And the sacrifice you made
Your clerking career and your reputation in Motorsport
On the line for me you laid
But once again it was your principles
And you stood by what you believed
And I (as well as others) cannot thank you enough
For what we ALL achieved
I could mention Donington Grande Passion
You tearing out your hair
As we waited for the track licence to be issued
With only hours to spare
Masters Racing Club went from strength to strength then
And a lot of that was down to you
Cause the drivers loved that you were “their Clerk”
And you always knew what to do
You clerked all around this country
Too many circuits to name
But for Masters’ you and I clerked all round Europe
France Belgium Portugal and Spain
You were not only an International Clerk
But MSA Steward as well
And I remember you talking about kids Karting
And meeting several parents from hell
But you took it all in your stride
And not a fuss you’d make
And we knew how to get round you in race control
We’d just ply you with plenty of cake
There was one race control however
For your career too far off your path
I refer to Le Mans of course
And Race Control at Circuit De La Sarthe
You said to me once down there
That though you loved to go
It was like looking at someone else’s party
From outside their front room window
I made a promise to you that year
And it was a big one to be fair
Cause I point up to race control
And said “one day … John Smith….I will take you in there!”
When I think of Race control I can remember
Standing outside Silverstone “Ivory Tower”
And you saying to me you should read a thread on TenTenths
Its about an alternative six hour
Yes 360 became my vision, but that race was very much your dream
And I remember standing on the grid that day with you and only 8
And you still grinning like a cat with the cream
And not many know this next bit John
What I’m about to say
It was a conversation just between us
Towards the end of that very long day
Yes we’d just finished dinner all of us
And I used to smoke back then
So you and I both went outside for a quick crafty cig
And all of a sudden that’s when
We both turned to each other
And as it was choreographed
Said “I dunno about you but that’s the best ten grand I’ve ever spent
And just looked at each other and laughed
Again you delivered what you promised though
You could hold your head up high
No one could say you didn’t give it a go
And that we didn’t try
And I’d prefer to remember good times like that
Than the nightmare at the Nurburgring
Yes my quick actions and speed saved your life
But those medics their praises I’ll always sing
I hated leaving you out there after
But for work I had to go to New York
But I made sure I phoned you every day
And every day we’d talk
And when they said that you could come home
I was out there in a flash to bring you back
And then it was down to Carol and I and others
To try and get your life back on track
We tried to change your way of life
But you kinda said, “you must be joking”
And even after that life changing stroke
You still continued smoking
Yes you battled on still stubborn
And very much set in your ways
No one was going to tell you what to do
Especially now in your later days
I took you back to Le Mans one last time
But it was really a trip too far
For you was not a mobile then as you once was
So we spent most of it just listening in the car
But I kept my promise, to you John Smith
I made a call to a friend we both knew
And I did take you up to that race control
I DID make your dream come true
I could go on for so long
But this congregation is probably getting weary
And as you can see the more I talk about you
The more I’m getting teary
So John .....
I’ve got to go now
But I will leave you with “our” special quote
And if people want to know its meaning
They’ll have to buy the book I’ve just wrote
Thank you for being part of my life
And helping me become who I become
It was one hell of a ride my love
And a far cry from the rising sun!
GOD BLESS YOU JOHN SMITH
xxx
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