The "shoe" has stepped into history

cambria · 12-29-2009, 10:10 AM

"Harry" "The Shoe" ---What has been taken from us.Few people are able to say they were as well liked ,if not loved as "The Shoe".
Always a smile,a laugh,willing to help and teach,gracious in victory and defeat ,what better qualities can a man have.Towering above most in the pitt party every night,but one of the first to be crusing the pitts in the morning to greet us all for a day of racing.
A gentle giant who will never be forgotten and will constantly be missed.I can see the "Shoe" decals now on all the race cars.Farewell old friend we can all only hope to be half the person you were.To all of us you will always be in the winners circle ,we will miss the big white train pulling in and you and Tracey in the front seat with warm and friendly smiles.

Casey Miles · 12-29-2009, 10:30 AM

Cambria couldn't say it any better, I second that what you posted about "The Shoe". He will be missed as a competitor and a friend. Rest in peace Jim.
Casey Miles
248H

joe176 · 12-29-2009, 10:39 AM

Amen....couldn't have said it better..what a great guy..RIP Shoe.

sc1153 · 12-29-2009, 10:44 AM

The outpour of calls, Checks, letters, E-Mails, posts, and Text messages in the past week are astounding. The sticker that was designed to remember "THE SHOE" is going to be sent to all that is able to make a contribution to this support fund.

Send donations to: Tracey Harrington
C/O Tom DePascale
Waynes Auto Body
1938 Highway 35 North
South Amboy, NJ 08879

cambria · 12-29-2009, 10:49 AM

Paula DJ Raiser and I are going to have a fund raiser at our restaurant the 17th of January starting at noon.Where can we get the stickers? We can sell those and combine that with an auction and other fund raising activities.All are invited food and soft drinks are on Paula and me.We are at 10325 main street Clarence NY.

sc1153 · 12-29-2009, 10:55 AM

Call my Father "Tommy De" he is organizing with Jeff Strickland (designed and printed stickers) to have them prepared and distributed to all. He said he will send them to you, his info is as follows:

Thomas DePascale
C/O Wayne's Auto Body
1938 Highway 35 north
South Amboy, NJ 08879
(732) 239-6490 cell
Wsst1311@aol.com

cambria · 12-29-2009, 02:49 PM

We are soliciting items to auction off for the Shoe Benefit on the 17th.

pauldilcher · 12-29-2009, 02:58 PM

Paul , we have some . God bless Harry !

Duane Eiskant · 12-29-2009, 03:49 PM

To Tommy De, Jeff Strickland, Paul and Paula Cambtia, and I am probably leaving others out. You talk about the measure of a man, well Jim was the barometer that we all use to measure ourselfs against. You guys and gals working to keep the man alive in our hearts, it can also be said, that are a part of the greatest family in the world. The Racing Family that we all are apart of morn the loss of one more great friend, but this family will continue and hopefully be better than before. As for me, through tearing eyes I raise my glass in a toast to one of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and being able to call him Friend. God bless Tracy, and know that you have a family that aches along with you.
Duane E Eiskant
one of those ex-techmen

jdfpam · 12-29-2009, 10:53 PM

We are very sorry to hear about this. We didn't know Jim near as well as some on here, only have been around him for the past 4 years at IHRA races. Jim always seemed to be a fun guy, and was kind in victory and defeat.
Here is a quick version of a story of his competitive drive as a racer. A few years back maybe 05 or 06, my Dad was leading division 1 IHRA points in stock going into the final points available race of the year at Jackson, SC. Jim was in second place and they both could improve at the double Pro-Am. Jim ended up going to the semi's in the first race, my Dad lost 2nd round, so Jim went into 1st place with only Sunday's race left. My Dad decided to leave Sunday morning and not enter the last race, assuring the division title to Jim. On the way out that morning, Jim stopped us and asked what we were doing. My Dad told him that we were leaving because we had a 14 hour drive ahead and a business to open Monday morning. Jim tried his best to talk us into staying, wanting to beat him on the track, just as he did on Saturday. I think that story shows his spirit. My Dad honestly just felt that Jim was a great driver and out of respect to him he decided to pack it up and head home. I always respected Jim for that day, trying to talk his competition into staying and coming after him on the track.
The man has a great list of on track accomplishments, sad to see him pass. His wife will be in our prayers.

Jeff Day and family

12-29-2009, 10:10 AM	#1
cambria Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo Posts: 235 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The "shoe" has stepped into history "Harry" "The Shoe" ---What has been taken from us.Few people are able to say they were as well liked ,if not loved as "The Shoe". Always a smile,a laugh,willing to help and teach,gracious in victory and defeat ,what better qualities can a man have.Towering above most in the pitt party every night,but one of the first to be crusing the pitts in the morning to greet us all for a day of racing. A gentle giant who will never be forgotten and will constantly be missed.I can see the "Shoe" decals now on all the race cars.Farewell old friend we can all only hope to be half the person you were.To all of us you will always be in the winners circle ,we will miss the big white train pulling in and you and Tracey in the front seat with warm and friendly smiles. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0 Last edited by cambria; 12-29-2009 at 11:54 AM.

12-29-2009, 10:30 AM	#2
Casey Miles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 705 Likes: 128 Liked 502 Times in 91 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history Cambria couldn't say it any better, I second that what you posted about "The Shoe". He will be missed as a competitor and a friend. Rest in peace Jim. Casey Miles 248H

12-29-2009, 10:39 AM	#3
joe176 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NY Posts: 601 Likes: 36 Liked 41 Times in 9 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history Amen....couldn't have said it better..what a great guy..RIP Shoe. __________________ Joe Franco SS176

12-29-2009, 10:44 AM	#4
sc1153 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Parlin, NJ Posts: 420 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history The outpour of calls, Checks, letters, E-Mails, posts, and Text messages in the past week are astounding. The sticker that was designed to remember "THE SHOE" is going to be sent to all that is able to make a contribution to this support fund. Send donations to: Tracey Harrington C/O Tom DePascale Waynes Auto Body 1938 Highway 35 North South Amboy, NJ 08879 __________________ Chris DePascale S/ST 1531 & S/C 1153....Addicted Racing Jad153@aol.com Last edited by sc1153; 12-29-2009 at 11:06 AM.

12-29-2009, 10:49 AM	#5
cambria Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo Posts: 235 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history Paula DJ Raiser and I are going to have a fund raiser at our restaurant the 17th of January starting at noon.Where can we get the stickers? We can sell those and combine that with an auction and other fund raising activities.All are invited food and soft drinks are on Paula and me.We are at 10325 main street Clarence NY. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

12-29-2009, 10:55 AM	#6
sc1153 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Parlin, NJ Posts: 420 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history Call my Father "Tommy De" he is organizing with Jeff Strickland (designed and printed stickers) to have them prepared and distributed to all. He said he will send them to you, his info is as follows: Thomas DePascale C/O Wayne's Auto Body 1938 Highway 35 north South Amboy, NJ 08879 (732) 239-6490 cell Wsst1311@aol.com __________________ Chris DePascale S/ST 1531 & S/C 1153....Addicted Racing Jad153@aol.com

12-29-2009, 02:49 PM	#7
cambria Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Buffalo Posts: 235 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history We are soliciting items to auction off for the Shoe Benefit on the 17th. __________________ BS/A,A/FIA 00 Camaro- CS/A, B/FIA 94 Camaro .2012 copo 4.0

12-29-2009, 02:58 PM	#8
pauldilcher Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 425 Likes: 1 Liked 52 Times in 9 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history Paul , we have some . God bless Harry !

12-29-2009, 03:49 PM	#9
Duane Eiskant Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history To Tommy De, Jeff Strickland, Paul and Paula Cambtia, and I am probably leaving others out. You talk about the measure of a man, well Jim was the barometer that we all use to measure ourselfs against. You guys and gals working to keep the man alive in our hearts, it can also be said, that are a part of the greatest family in the world. The Racing Family that we all are apart of morn the loss of one more great friend, but this family will continue and hopefully be better than before. As for me, through tearing eyes I raise my glass in a toast to one of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and being able to call him Friend. God bless Tracy, and know that you have a family that aches along with you. Duane E Eiskant one of those ex-techmen

12-29-2009, 10:53 PM	#10
jdfpam Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 186 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The "shoe" has stepped into history We are very sorry to hear about this. We didn't know Jim near as well as some on here, only have been around him for the past 4 years at IHRA races. Jim always seemed to be a fun guy, and was kind in victory and defeat. Here is a quick version of a story of his competitive drive as a racer. A few years back maybe 05 or 06, my Dad was leading division 1 IHRA points in stock going into the final points available race of the year at Jackson, SC. Jim was in second place and they both could improve at the double Pro-Am. Jim ended up going to the semi's in the first race, my Dad lost 2nd round, so Jim went into 1st place with only Sunday's race left. My Dad decided to leave Sunday morning and not enter the last race, assuring the division title to Jim. On the way out that morning, Jim stopped us and asked what we were doing. My Dad told him that we were leaving because we had a 14 hour drive ahead and a business to open Monday morning. Jim tried his best to talk us into staying, wanting to beat him on the track, just as he did on Saturday. I think that story shows his spirit. My Dad honestly just felt that Jim was a great driver and out of respect to him he decided to pack it up and head home. I always respected Jim for that day, trying to talk his competition into staying and coming after him on the track. The man has a great list of on track accomplishments, sad to see him pass. His wife will be in our prayers. Jeff Day and family