Tragedy at Road America – SCCA Champion Thomas Thrash Killed
SCCA is reporting that Thomas Thrash Jr., age 48, of Houston, Texas, was pronounced dead late Saturday morning at St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Thrash was involved in a single-car incident Saturday at Road America during the Sports Car Club of America-sanctioned Chicago Region June Sprints event. The cause of death is under investigation.
Witnesses reported that Thrash lost control of his E Production class Mazda RX-7 before Turn Eight, with the car entering the gravel trap and coming to rest against the tire wall.
In the photo at right, Thrash (center) is flanked by Lawrence Loshak (L) and Bob Neal (R) during the 2007 EP race at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Thrash went on to win that race, and the National Championship.
Driving Sports and its sister publication MazdaSport Magazine have interviewed Thrash on a number of occasions during his storied career.
"Amateur motorsports has lost one of its finest drivers," said Jeff Zurschmeide, Editor of DrivingSports.com. "Tom Thrash was one of those guys who make covering SCCA racing a pleasure. He was one of the most ebullient and enthusiastic champions I've ever seen - a true gentleman of the sport."
A 12-year veteran driver in SCCA competition, Thrash was the 2007 SCCA National Champion in E Production and a two-time Runoffs polesitter. Thrash had qualified his car on the pole position for Saturday afternoon’s race before the incident. The photo at right shows Thrash (center) on the podium celebrating his 2007 SCCA National Championship victory with Tony Rivera (L) and Bob Neal (R).
“We are deeply saddened to have lost Tom Thrash, a great champion and individual that epitomized the spirit and competition of SCCA racing, and most importantly, a member of our SCCA family,” SCCA President and CEO Jeff Dahnert said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
The staff at Driving Sports joins the SCCA in mourning today.
| Rate Post: |
  Loading ... | Share it: |
|
|
|
|
3 Responses »
Leave a Response
Entries(RSS)
The most terrible thing that could have happened, happened this weekend. My dear friend and past fellow competitor, Tom Thrash, died this past weekend in Q2 racing his Mazda RX7 in EP. He did not complete turn 7 slamming hard into the outside wall and pedal to the metal all the way down into 8, jumping almost the entire track surface and landing in the gravel which sent his car into a roll several times before it came to rest. Flight for life was called in and CPR was peformed to try to save his life until the call to shut the helicoptor down as Tom was no longer with us. He was then taken for his last lap around Road America in the Ambulance. I found out right before our qual session and it hit me hard. We all know racing is dangerous but when its someone close, someone you just talked to, it makes it so real. I cant give much more info, but I can tell you is Tom did not "lose control" of his car. Tom always had that unbelievable talent to drive his RX7 at 11/10ths. God just decided he needed Tom to race for his team and I'm sure he'll do just as well at god's race race track as he did with ours. Tom, you will be always remembered and always missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Thrash family. SCCA lost one hell of a driver, I lost one hell of a friend and his family lost one hell of a man.
To all fellow competitors, please take your health seriously. All of our days are numbered. Racing is not EZ on the body. Please take a serious look at your conditioning, diet regime and get plenty of rest during race weekends. Sometimes we have no choice when the day comes, but we do have the choice to try to live a healthy lifestyle and get tech inspected by our doctors.
Do not let Toms death keep you from the race track, this is the last thing Tom would have wanted and is why I went out for Q1. I really wanted to dedicate my win to Tom, I was more upset about not having that opportunity than actually not winning the race.
I met Tom only once, it was under trying circumstances. It was at the '05 Run-Offs, where Tom was punted into the Turn 8 wall on the first lap. I was the first flagger to him. After a year's racing to get to this point and then have his championship bid cut short on the first lap, I expected to find a VERY irate driver.
When I got there, Tom got out of the car and gave the crowd a wave ... he said to me "Stuff Happens!".
I have often thought of Tom's demeanor and attitude that day. I always gave him a big wave when I saw him race again, always pulling for him. Tom WAS the Club Racer. RIP
Mo
Here's a link to some pics and some posts from his fellow drivers within the Production race group. Theres 5 pages already, just shows the type of man he was and how many people looked up to him.
http://prodracing.com/prodcar/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10623&start=40
R.I.P. Champ