Tragedy has hit the Jameson and Socquet Great Race families as three-year veteran Howard (Ben) Jameson and his brother Scott Socquet have been killed in a helicopter crash outside of Las Vegas. Howard is the youngest son of Jesse and Linda Jameson, Great Racers from New Fairfield, Connecticut. Scott is Linda’s oldest son.

Scott was a professional pilot and routinely flew clients on cross country trips. He was the pilot of the helicopter and Howard was the only passenger. They were on a leisure trip flying near Red Rock Canyon just west of Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon when the crash occurred.

The Socquets and the Jamesons joined the Great Race in 2017 as a family adventure. They had so much fun they expanded to two teams – the 1952 Fabulous Hudson Hornet (car #79) and the 1966 Dodge Coronet FBI car (car #53). For the 2020 Great Race Jesse has purchased a 1956 Chrysler 300B to make a tribute of the NASCAR champion sponsored by Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboards for a third family team.

“Howard and I had dinner recently in Chattanooga where he has been working for the family’s company, Vibranalysis, to repair the Chickamauga Locks on the Tennessee River,” Great Race director Jeff Stumb said. “He was so excited about the new car for the 2020 Great Race and about his upcoming wedding.”

“The Jameson and Socquet families are still kind of new to the Great Race, but they quickly became fixtures on the event because they have so much fun on the race and are so friendly,” Stumb said. “And Linda has become a huge supporter of the X-Cup scholarship program. I just hurt for Linda, Jesse, Neil, Bill and the entire family.”

We will provide updates as more details become available.