One of the hardest things about the Great Race is you meet so many people from all over the country (and the world) but you only get to see most of them once a year on the race. And when you become friends with literally thousands of people over the years who have participated in the Great Race it is inevitable that you are going to lose some from time to time.
We have just learned that veteran racer Jonathan Auerbach passed away in December at the age of 70 after a short battle with lung cancer. In trying to fill out the field for the 2013 Great Race, we have contacted past Great Racers to remind them to enter before it is too late, and the last contact we had with Jonathan six months ago he said Save me a spot in the 2013 Great Race! He had missed the 2012 event to participate in the Trans America Run with his son Jake.
Jonathan was quite an accomplished man, as you can read in the link to the news story from Bloomberg below. But to most of us, he was just a cool car guy with cool cars.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-03/jonathan-auerbach-broker-at-capitalism-s-frontiers-dies-at-70.html
I am saddened to read of Jonathan’s passing. I was so looking forward to Jonathan and Jake returning in 2013. Jonathan was the epitome of a Great Racer…loved the challenge and the comradery of the event. He was always cheerful…from early morning to late at night. There was always a ‘high five’ at the finish line along with a robust smile indicating another day well lived!
Jonathan was one of the first Great Racers I met in 2006 while waiting to get our cars checked. His smile was infection. Jake always had a wild story to tell about his dad. I seem to remember one where they cut across someone’s yard to get back on course. Day end memories we will never forget. My deepest sympathies to Jake and his family. He will be missed.