A sad day for us all

[Dave Burchfield]

I have just heard Fred Thompson do a segement on what PLN meant to him in his career. News this morning is that he died overnight after losing the fight with cancer. This leaves me very sad today.

RIP PLN

[nsuracer]

I just saw the same broadcast at the barbershop. It has really ruined my day. Don't know if there is an afterlife, but for his sake I hope so. He certainly deserves it.

[RacerBill]

Paul was a great competitor, a real gentleman, and a wonderful example of how life should be led.

Safe journey, Paul.

[Mike Spencer]

I feel honored to have just been in the same pit as Paul, most recently during the 2001 Runoffs at Mid-Ohio. I don't know who said it, but I heartily agree. He was a racer who occasionally made movies.

Paul, we will miss you!!!

[bonespec]

In an way, I'm not sadden, I'm glad he's at peace know, no longer in pain.

Last month he took a car out for a bit at Limerock......a celebration of LIFE.

I could just see him....."Hell with the docs, I'm gonna do this once last time if it is the last time I get to. So what if I die doing it, I'll be happy. Now strap my ass in and lets have some fun!"

PLN, a TRUE HERO!

[lateapex911]

I was glad to see the GT1 guys do a "missing man formation" at the start of the GT 1 race at LRP yesterday.

He touched So many lives, all for the better, yet was a rascal and a practical joker bar none.

If Hollywood could produce just ONE guy like Newman every ten years, the world would be a better place.

[raffaelli]

Classy move by the GT guys at LRP. The open pole parade lap was a great thing to see. Plus it was the tightest formation I have ever seen from rolling cars.

A few tears in the tower when the news came in. Soon after there was lots of laughfter as stories about him started to come out from the people which new him at the track.

I heard he refused to continue the chemo after the first treatment. Brave man.

[Bill Miller]

If Hollywood could produce just ONE guy like Newman every ten years, the world would be a better place.

So true Jake, so true.

My first introduction to PLN was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It's still one of my all-time favorite movies. My best friend in HS and I knew the movie inside and out. We saw it countless times, and could do pretty much any scene from memory.

A truly one of a kind man, he will be missed by many and replaced by no one.

Godspeed Butch!

[RedMisted]

Definitely a sad day. :( I feel his passing especially so because I'm also a big hockey fan, and he made the sport's all-time cult classic, "Slap Shot" in 1977. (In fact, it's been said that his character, Reg Dunlop, probably represented PLN as he really was more than any other character he ever played.)

I'm thinking of having vinyl decals made with "PLN" backed by a pair of crossed checkers. These will be for anyone who wants one, to be made available at the upcoming OVR regional races at MidOhio.

Just look for car number 91 (red Mustang) up on the hill. That's where the stickers will be.

RIP PLN.

[RacerBill]

Definitely a sad day. :( I feel his passing especially so because I'm also a big hockey fan, and he made the sport's all-time cult classic, "Slap Shot" in 1977. (In fact, it's been said that his character, Reg Dunlop, probably represented PLN as he really was more than any other character he ever played.)

I'm thinking of having vinyl decals made with "PLN" backed by a pair of crossed checkers. These will be for anyone who wants one, to be made available at the upcoming OVR regional races at MidOhio.

Just look for car number 91 (red Mustang) up on the hill. That's where the stickers will be.

RIP PLN.

We'll see you there for sure.

[jimbbski]

Growing up you see movie stars on the "big" screen and they seem bigger then life. It's funny but PL was not a big man. I ran into him a few times at Road America back in the 80's when he was able to still stroll through the paddock without being mobbed. The first time was funny. I was just walking around taking pictures in the paddock. It was a hot sunny day so I found a seat in the shade near the "old" pagoda timming & scoring building at Road America. I was sitting there watching the people go by. Since it was a hot day the girls & women were dressed for the weather and I was looking!
Now some mature guy walks up and stops right in front of me blocking my view. Some people walk up to him and they are now talking. A few more people gather and now I can't see anything! I stand up and wow it's Paul Newman. HE's a short sucker but he looks big on the movie screen! And he was a big man in all the ways you can be if not in stature. RIP

[roadracer]

I've worked in F1 and various levels of the sport and had the opportunity to see many, many celebrities and notable names appear in the paddock. Most celebrities are hanging out to be seen and photographed as part of a groupie atmosphere. Most of them know nothing about the sport. Paul was always there for the sport and kept a low profile.

In my entire life, I have never sought out, or beckoned the attention from a celebrity in public. Except for one time. I will always remember the CART race at Laguna Seca in '97. Mr. Newman was walking towards us in the paddock. The only thing I could think of saying at the spur of the moment was, "Shaking it up here boss".

The look and grin he shot back to me was priceless and I will remember it as one of my favorite moments in racing. Cool Hand Luke was one of my childhood favorite movies.

The man was a class act and I am so glad that he was able to lap privately at Lime Rock in his final leg of life doing something he loved doing. It is fitting.

Mr. Newman, thank you for everything you brought to this world. I think I'll be watching Cool Hand Luke later this week and pitching back a cold one for you.

God speed,

Don