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This is awful... sadly, my medical mind tends to work overtime... sounds like he had a disecting aortic anuerism (decreased flow to the feet, severe abd pain, clamping of the aorta in OR)... which may have been starting prior to his run.. the fact that he went into the mountainside without braking makes me think he may have briefly lost concious because of it?
Either way, a terrible event. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Can't say I've heard of him, but it's very sad to hear a racer die nonetheless. My condolences to his family and friends.
If you didn't know Rich, please take a couple of minutes to watch this:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=....illclimb&hl=en#
He is on around 1:10, and then his voice ends the last two seconds or so as the video fades to black. Watch his mannerisms and listen to his laugh. This was a fun loving, V8 stompin, race gas drinkin, southern gentleman pure-blood car guy. We'll miss you, Rich.
"Do you think you will die in bed? Then why do you go to sleep at night?"
-Tazio Nuvolari
Regards to the family. Death is the mother of all pain.
When presented with the usual nonsense about racers having a "death wish" (and yes, even after years of improvement in motor racing safety, there are still idiots that think that), I just ask them, "..why would I want to die? I'm having a better time than you are!"
This was a fun loving, V8 stompin, race gas drinkin, southern gentleman pure-blood car guy. We'll miss you, Rich.
Big +1. He'll be missed. 
Those of us who had the privlidge of knowing Rich over the years know what a great loss to the SCCA racing community this is. I have many fond memories of Rich; we worked and laughed together many times. He and I always made it a point to connect at every event. I had spoken to Rich just a few minutes before the tradegy. I will miss his always smiling face at the next event, wherever and whenever that is.
As a tribute to Rich, the records show that the first run of the day on Sunday was made by a GT-1 Camaro, about a minute and a half of silence that would normally have been filled with the ground pounding sound of a thunderous but beautiful noise. That run was followed by a tribute parade lap up the mountain by all the competitors; workers by the side of the road, hats offs, all remembering a great competitor, a hell of a driver, a really nice guy, and a friend.
Rich, you will be missed.
Sadly i never knew him anytime a great ambassador is lost its sad. Mmy condolences to his family and friends
I was going to be a corner worker at Crow Mountain but I wasn't able to in the end. It is truly sad news. My condolences to his family.
I heard rumors that this may mean the end of Crow Mountain Hillclimb which would also be lost for the racing community.
96DXCivic wrote:I heard rumors that this may mean the end of Crow Mountain Hillclimb which would also be lost for the racing community.
That would break Rich's heart if it came to pass that way.
DILYSI Dave wrote:96DXCivic wrote: I heard rumors that this may mean the end of Crow Mountain Hillclimb which would also be lost for the racing community.That would break Rich's heart if it came to pass that way.
I agree with DILYSI Dave.
I was a corner worker there and know the organizers. I haven't heard that. I've heard plans are for next year's event will happen. I hope it does, it would be a tribute. And on a selfish note, I enjoy working the event every year. Been working it since it started.
DILYSI Dave wrote:96DXCivic wrote:I heard rumors that this may mean the end of Crow Mountain Hillclimb which would also be lost for the racing community.
That would break Rich's heart if it came to pass that way.
I didn't know Rich..but I know a lot of racers (including myself).
And what DILY said is the truest statement on the thread.
96DXCivic wrote:I heard rumors that this may mean the end of Crow Mountain Hillclimb which would also be lost for the racing community.
If the Crow Mountain Hillclimb does end, it will be more the result of economic pressures than the Rich Shafer tragedy. With only 26 drivers this year, it may be hard to justify the expense and the shutting down of public roads for two days next year. Yes, Rich would be very vocal about wanting the event to continue; he would probably be the spokesman for the cause. Unfortunately, dollars speak more loudly than traditions, or tributes for that matter.
My suggestion is to leave the speculation and rumors about what happened and what may happen alone, at least for a while. Let's remember and honor Rich.
4Msfam wrote:This is awful... sadly, my medical mind tends to work overtime... sounds like he had a disecting aortic anuerism (decreased flow to the feet, severe abd pain, clamping of the aorta in OR)... which may have been starting prior to his run.. the fact that he went into the mountainside without braking makes me think he may have briefly lost concious because of it?
Either way, a terrible event. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
I don't think he lost conciousness since reports have him talking with corner workers after the crash. I wonder if he just lost the use of his legs and feet at that point in the course.
Jerry From LA wrote:4Msfam wrote:This is awful... sadly, my medical mind tends to work overtime... sounds like he had a disecting aortic anuerism (decreased flow to the feet, severe abd pain, clamping of the aorta in OR)... which may have been starting prior to his run.. the fact that he went into the mountainside without braking makes me think he may have briefly lost concious because of it?
Either way, a terrible event. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
I don't think he lost conciousness since reports have him talking with corner workers after the crash. I wonder if he just lost the use of his legs and feet at that point in the course.
He was unconcious when the first worker got there. A minute later he was concious.
Oh, I agree with Thumbs Up on the future of Crow.
96DXCivic wrote: I heard rumors that this may mean the end of Crow Mountain Hillclimb which would also be lost for the racing community.
Hmmm that's news to me. Just last week we had our monthly meeting and there was absolutely nothing mentioned about ending the Crow Mountain Hill Climb. Although certainly too early to start planning for 2010, there were some initial discussions on an appropriate tribute to our friend.
The cool thing about the Tenn Valley Region is that we're not divided into road racers, time trialers, autoxers, rallyxers, or hillclimbers. We do it all and support it all. Prior to the 2009 event, when the entry numbers were low, we unanimously voted to put on the event. Yes we might lose some money on the event, but if the membership enjoys the event, we're going to put it on.
I can assure you that our region will do everything possible to make the 2010 event happen.
Ok I am glad that the rumors I heard seem to be untrue.
I just found this forum thread and wanted to respond as well.
We attended Rich's memorial service in Jonesboro, GA. As it should be, it was a celebration of his life as a dedicated, loving family man, man of his church, business man/innovator and enthusiastic racer. It was a beautiful, uplifting service. Rich's minister spent time telling stories about his 20-plus years of knowing Rich. His message was not sad but very uplifting and humorous. It spoke a lot to Rich as a man in that there were as many non-racing friends attending his service as there were racers, filling the church to capacity.
I knew Rich for 8 years and am richly (pun intended) rewarded for the experience. Rich was strong-willed, driven to succeed and always ready for a scotch, good cigar and a funny story. For me as a race organizer, Rich was always willing to help an event in any way he could and would always share with me ways in which to make an event better. He constantly reminded me that since our Southern hill climbs were spectator events that we were there to put on a show and ways to make the "show" bigger and better.
It's great to know that we will honor Rich every year as we will present the Shafer Memorial trophy to the Southeast SCCA Division Time Trial Event of the year. Rich's car number will also be permanently reserved in his name.
We will miss sharing dinners and laughs with you, Rich. God Speed!
