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Rest in Peace Scott
- Thread starter Jenn
- Start date
The Swegian
Nitro Member
I was at a couple graduation parties yesterday and got home about 7:30. At about the time I was going on to nhra.com, I got a text message from Paul Rogers with the terrible news. This is just so sad. Still staring at my computer screen in disbelief.
RIP Scott.
RIP Scott.
Von Halen
Nitro Member
Can't you just hear Scott saying that!
A much needed smile on a somber weekend for drag racing fans.
My heart goes out to Scott's family, as well as the entire Kalitta Racing organization.
Godspeed Scott. R.I.P. thoughts and prayers go out to the family and team.
bing
Nitro Member
The Australian drag racing community is grieving this tragic loss. To see Scott come over here and run the quickest pass on Australian soil is something that will be remembered by all that was there.
My thoughts are with the Kalitta family, the Kalitta team and the drag racing community.
rest in peace
There is a story on :: Western Sydney International Dragway :: that you guys should have a read of.
My thoughts are with the Kalitta family, the Kalitta team and the drag racing community.
rest in peace
There is a story on :: Western Sydney International Dragway :: that you guys should have a read of.
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paoldtimer
Nitro Member
Scott may be in a better place than we but it's those left behind to carry on who will suffer most. My prayers and condolences to all those left behind and to those who will strap themselves back into a car even after losing one of their friends.
Godspeed Scott
Godspeed Scott
Tim5636sc
Nitro Member
I too got the message from Paul Miller yesterday, and when I saw the message I instantly went back to a simular message I got From Eric Howell, in early March this year. That message was sent to me from Bakersfield, California and the March Meet, (also on a Saturday afternoon). Just as in March, my 1st thoughs were with the condition of the driver involved in the accident. With John Shoemaker, it was personal. He was a man whom I grew up admiring for his amazing kindness, and heart felt love for this country.
While I anxiously waited for news on Scott's condition from Englishtown, I decided to plug in my headphones and listen to the playlist on my myspace page to "Relax". As a strange and eery coincidence, my 35 song playlist which is a random shuffle setup, started with "BROTHERS IN ARMS", by Dire Straits. It was right about then when the tears started to fall. This was the same song that I chose to use for the video I did for those who have fallen on the track. It was also at that time, I started to remember the last interaction I had w/ Scotter. It was in Vegas this year, and I was walking the pits towards Jack's trailer. Scott was out there packing his chutes, and tripped over his own feet and dropped the freshly packed chute.... He was Cussin' and swearing at his Shoes for making him fall! I couldn't help but start to laugh at him! So, I walked over, and said, "You need a hand Scooter?" he looked up, and had that cocky smile and said, "ALL I CAN GET!" So, I held the pilot chute for him as he repacked the chute. When he was done, He hit me in the shoulder and said, "Thx...you workin this race?" I said, "YEAH, ON A CASE OF BEER!" He replied, "Well, I'll see ya in a few!"
I was never a great friend of Scott's, he knew me as the funny dude who worked the starting line, and I knew him as Ronald McDonald, (because of those DHL Colors he wore)
But, Scott always gave me the time of day, and usually started the conversation when we spoke. He was truly a class act.
It was after thinking about that memory that the song changed, "LET IT BE" by the Beatles. That's when I had the sinking feeling that we had lost a truly cool cat and good guy! About that time, I jumped to the Mater, to find what I could. I looked on the Scott Kalitta Thread, and there was a great message from Karl.."CHAT ROOM FOLKS"! When I jumped in, the CHAT ROOM WAS PACKED!!! Everyone Waiting for something, some info on his condition. Once word came that he had passed, we all found our own ways of dealing with his passing. I chatted a bit with my Friend Jenn Jaramillo, then My Phone rang, and it was my Friend John Rogers. Over the night, we talked for damn near 5 hours. About Scott, Blaine, Eric, Darrell, Shelly, and others. But, also about how to mix Vodka and Rockstar, and everything else in between. Thx Jenn and Johnny!
Connie, Jim O., Suzie, Chris Wilt, and everyone else in the Kalitta Motorsports camp, my heart is with you all. Your lives and all of our lives have been enriched by Scott's existance. He will live forever in our memories and our SOUL!
While I anxiously waited for news on Scott's condition from Englishtown, I decided to plug in my headphones and listen to the playlist on my myspace page to "Relax". As a strange and eery coincidence, my 35 song playlist which is a random shuffle setup, started with "BROTHERS IN ARMS", by Dire Straits. It was right about then when the tears started to fall. This was the same song that I chose to use for the video I did for those who have fallen on the track. It was also at that time, I started to remember the last interaction I had w/ Scotter. It was in Vegas this year, and I was walking the pits towards Jack's trailer. Scott was out there packing his chutes, and tripped over his own feet and dropped the freshly packed chute.... He was Cussin' and swearing at his Shoes for making him fall! I couldn't help but start to laugh at him! So, I walked over, and said, "You need a hand Scooter?" he looked up, and had that cocky smile and said, "ALL I CAN GET!" So, I held the pilot chute for him as he repacked the chute. When he was done, He hit me in the shoulder and said, "Thx...you workin this race?" I said, "YEAH, ON A CASE OF BEER!" He replied, "Well, I'll see ya in a few!"
I was never a great friend of Scott's, he knew me as the funny dude who worked the starting line, and I knew him as Ronald McDonald, (because of those DHL Colors he wore) But, Scott always gave me the time of day, and usually started the conversation when we spoke. He was truly a class act. It was after thinking about that memory that the song changed, "LET IT BE" by the Beatles. That's when I had the sinking feeling that we had lost a truly cool cat and good guy! About that time, I jumped to the Mater, to find what I could. I looked on the Scott Kalitta Thread, and there was a great message from Karl.."CHAT ROOM FOLKS"! When I jumped in, the CHAT ROOM WAS PACKED!!! Everyone Waiting for something, some info on his condition. Once word came that he had passed, we all found our own ways of dealing with his passing. I chatted a bit with my Friend Jenn Jaramillo, then My Phone rang, and it was my Friend John Rogers. Over the night, we talked for damn near 5 hours. About Scott, Blaine, Eric, Darrell, Shelly, and others. But, also about how to mix Vodka and Rockstar, and everything else in between. Thx Jenn and Johnny!
Connie, Jim O., Suzie, Chris Wilt, and everyone else in the Kalitta Motorsports camp, my heart is with you all. Your lives and all of our lives have been enriched by Scott's existance. He will live forever in our memories and our SOUL!
Paul
Nitro Member
As a long time Kalitta team fan I remember seeing pictures of Scott in National Dragster as a young man with a shop rag hanging out of his back pocket trying to look like his old man.
I got a chance to chat with Scott at a race once and was impressed with how open he was, answering a question he probably got asked a thousand times without making it seem like an imposition.
Scott over the last year or two wrote some really entertaining stories about watching his dad race and carouse in the good old and wild days of funny car racing. He was a good writer and story teller and I was hoping he would do a whole book about those golden days of drag racing.
Prayers for the Kalitta family to help them through this tremendous loss.
Drag racing has lost one of its best and brightest.
Paul Titchener
I got a chance to chat with Scott at a race once and was impressed with how open he was, answering a question he probably got asked a thousand times without making it seem like an imposition.
Scott over the last year or two wrote some really entertaining stories about watching his dad race and carouse in the good old and wild days of funny car racing. He was a good writer and story teller and I was hoping he would do a whole book about those golden days of drag racing.
Prayers for the Kalitta family to help them through this tremendous loss.
Drag racing has lost one of its best and brightest.
Paul Titchener
"Hollywood"
Nitro Member
A loss, any loss is difficult to come to terms with and to comprehend. THIS loss has been hard for many, myself included. Scott was my age, we shared the same zeal for life, love of friends and family and passion for driving. And ... Scott was one of two signatures on my upgrade Fuel license in 1990.
I would like to share a story of Scott that immediately came to mind .. and that in a time of sorrow, made me smile and laugh as I reflected on my friend.
I did not know Scott very well in 1990, but my crewchief Ronnie Swearingen did. After making my upgrade runs in Ennis I needed one additional signature on my license. We were at AFT in LA and so was the Kalitta crew. Ron asked Scott to watch the video in our lounge and sign my license. As he exited the lounge, Scott looked and me and said something to the effect of "I signed it" .... I thanked him and we went our separate directions.
Sunday night after the pictures were taken and the champagne sprayed, Ronnie and I were in the lounge relaxing while the crew loaded the car so we could go celebrate. The door to the lounge opens .. and there is Scott ... no wait, uh oh ... it looks like "Eddie Kalitti" is paying a visit. Beverage in hand, he looks at Ronnie and I, looks at the Wally sitting on the table and states "Do you know how damn long it took me to win one of those? I knew I shouldn't have signed that license!" With that he turned around and opened the door ... while "Eddie" walked on out ... Scott turned around. flashed a HUGE smile and said "Congratulations"
I knew right then, that I had a friend for life ...
Each of us will choose to mourn and celebrate Scott's life in our own way. Me? I am going to the bar tonight and drink through the sorrow, until only the wonderful memories of my friend remain.
And ... I am going to buy one and set it on the bar for "Eddie" ...
I would like to share a story of Scott that immediately came to mind .. and that in a time of sorrow, made me smile and laugh as I reflected on my friend.
I did not know Scott very well in 1990, but my crewchief Ronnie Swearingen did. After making my upgrade runs in Ennis I needed one additional signature on my license. We were at AFT in LA and so was the Kalitta crew. Ron asked Scott to watch the video in our lounge and sign my license. As he exited the lounge, Scott looked and me and said something to the effect of "I signed it" .... I thanked him and we went our separate directions.
Sunday night after the pictures were taken and the champagne sprayed, Ronnie and I were in the lounge relaxing while the crew loaded the car so we could go celebrate. The door to the lounge opens .. and there is Scott ... no wait, uh oh ... it looks like "Eddie Kalitti" is paying a visit. Beverage in hand, he looks at Ronnie and I, looks at the Wally sitting on the table and states "Do you know how damn long it took me to win one of those? I knew I shouldn't have signed that license!" With that he turned around and opened the door ... while "Eddie" walked on out ... Scott turned around. flashed a HUGE smile and said "Congratulations"
I knew right then, that I had a friend for life ...
Each of us will choose to mourn and celebrate Scott's life in our own way. Me? I am going to the bar tonight and drink through the sorrow, until only the wonderful memories of my friend remain.
And ... I am going to buy one and set it on the bar for "Eddie" ...
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Jess
Nitro Member
I've been without a computer since Thursday. I got a text from Jenn yesterday that said "Scott K was in a BAD wreck" My heart Stopped! I prayed really hard for Scott......When the news came in that Scott didn't make it......I prayed HARD for Kalitta Family!!! I can't even imagine the pain they are going through....I send all my love and all my prayers to his wife, his sons and his father along with the crew.......Godspeed Scott!!!!
Nitrosnoopy
Nitro Member
To all the family,friends and crew my deepest sympathies. Its a sad deal all around. Scott will alway be missed by all.
There are just no words to describe how I feel.
But I keep going back to a statement that Richard Petty made after the loss of adam , don't try to put a question mark where god has put a period.
There are just no words to describe how I feel.
But I keep going back to a statement that Richard Petty made after the loss of adam , don't try to put a question mark where god has put a period.
Being from Michigan team K has always been my home town team and one I have rooted hard for. I remeber watching and cheering for Scott as a kid when he first started driving, I loved watching them win the 2 championships. This one hurts bads
It's days like this that really make me hate the sport that I love so much.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and team
It's days like this that really make me hate the sport that I love so much.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and team
MM
Nitro Member
we were racing at Cordova for the Heritage Series race yesterday and I was walking by the Telstar FC pits on my way back to our pit area and Jerry Newman called me over and he said "hey mike Scotty Kalitta died today...." and i was just like "What?" He goes "yea it just happend" and then it was one of those moments where you just sit there and stare at each other for a couple minutes and just walk away going son of a ***** cuz there really isnt anything else to say....i walked around the pits for a little while kind of aimlessly and then made my way back to our pit area and i just kinda sat there and stared at the car for awhile......it just sucks....but one thing i will always be proud to be able to say is that I was there when Scott got his last Wally at Joliet in 05 and i will always remember that
G'ginna
Nitro Member
Yesterday, when I heard, I tried to get in. Of course we all know the server overloaded. Later I was able to get in. In the meantime I wrote, words on paper, that don't express enough, don't help.
Over the years I have watched racing, in many forms. People I have know of and heard about and grew up watching race, retire, return, race some more and "retire" again. Sometimes, you watch an accident and they die. You pray, you hope but in the end, you already know they have passed on.
The sadness you feel, you know, is nothing compared to what their family and friends feel. Yet there is still that gap, they will be missed. So you pray for their families and friends to find strength and courage. You know that no words will help, but you still try. Nothing helps.
With those you love, time passes and it still hurts, still makes you cry sometimes. You have or will learn to keep moving forward to accept the changes, but the hole in your life where they belong is still there.
My prayers for the family and friends of Scott Kalitta.
Over the years I have watched racing, in many forms. People I have know of and heard about and grew up watching race, retire, return, race some more and "retire" again. Sometimes, you watch an accident and they die. You pray, you hope but in the end, you already know they have passed on.
The sadness you feel, you know, is nothing compared to what their family and friends feel. Yet there is still that gap, they will be missed. So you pray for their families and friends to find strength and courage. You know that no words will help, but you still try. Nothing helps.
With those you love, time passes and it still hurts, still makes you cry sometimes. You have or will learn to keep moving forward to accept the changes, but the hole in your life where they belong is still there.
My prayers for the family and friends of Scott Kalitta.
