Community Cares - RacingWest


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Nov 22, 2008

Gary Jacob passed away Monday evening, in Tulare, California.

Gary has meant so much to racing all over the West. I do not know how many articles he wrote each week but I would be surprised if he did not have carpel tunnel syndrome. He knew so much about every small town track...he was amazing. If you've raced at a track on the West Coast in the past 20 years, Gary probably knew your name and your accomplishements. His knowledge was unequalled. God Speed Gary! --Dennis Daniel

About Gary Jacob by Gary Jacob

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Bob Gardner, Cajon Speedway Track Publicist
I'm not sure that Gary Jacob ever made it to Cajon Speedway. As far as I know, Gary and my paths only crossed once. That was back in 1980 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA. But as someone who has covered races for a long time, I I don't know how he found so much time to travel and write about west coast auto racing. But he knew everyone and everything. I remember one press release I wrote about Cajon where Gary found a mistake. He mentioned the error in his column. But he was right and I was wrong. Everyone who is involved in west coast auto racing owes a large debt of gratitude to Gary Jacob. RIP Gary. You will never be replaced.
Nadine Strauss - Lakeport Speedway
Nancy and Eva, I Can't express my feelings of deep loss.... Gary was very special to me. I will miss him more than anyone can know. Please keep in touch. Nadine Strauss
Janet Larson
With each memory Gary gave in his articles let our hearts be reminded that nothing can ever take away the beauty he gave us in each article he wrote. He will always remain a part of us forever. Nancy, please let me know if there is anything we can do or help with. I wanted to let you know that your brother meant so much to all of us, especially me. I’m going to miss the weekly communications we had, faxing him the race results, color (notes) of the race (as he would put it), and especially looking for his articles each week. I am so glad we were able to show how much we appreciated him back in 2003. It was such a small piece of what he deserved. To think he wrote over a 1,000 articles per year, travel over 60,000 miles per year, spent hours & hours writing articles for all of us. WOW, what an amazing guy. Please let us know when his service will be. You can email me on Kyle’s website. Gary will truly be missed. Janet Larson
#22r ~ Emalee Ramirez ~ Outlaw Kart Racer
Gary we are gonna miss you so much. i loved reading your articles each week whether they were about a race we ran or just about a race at antioch or even in other states. you were a true racing fan and a big supporter of west coast racing. We will miss you. Thank you for everything and GODSPEED. Emalee Ramirez
Brian Southers #80 Outlaw kart Driver
I enjoyed reading the articles that you wrote for all of us everyweek. You will be missed by all of us. Thank you for everything!!! -Brian
Nancy Jacob
Hi, this is Gary's sister. I want to thank all of you for the wonderful things that you have written about my brother. It has brought great comfort to my Mother and myself knowing that all of his hard work and dedication was appreciated. I was very proud to be his sister.
Dave Byrd Racing
Our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. He was a great ,dedicated and imformative guy. He will be sorely missed. GODSPEED
Gary Geving
Although we never met Gary we appreciated all of his fabulous write ups. He always wrote the articles about us when we raced sprint cars for 14 years. Then when we retired from sprint cars our daughter started racing outlaw karts. He always wrote nice things how she was becoming a great driver, and how she was a star. We always looked for Gary's articles because we knew they would be possitive and enjoyable to read. Our prayers go out to Gary's family and the racing community. REST IN PEACE.
randy houston
Gary was a great person, a true racing fan. I can remember running out to the mailbox looking for Racing Wheels paper scanning for the articles by Gary Jacob just to find out what happened in the past weeks of racing. As racers, if we could all just be a little like Gary racing would be a better sport. You will be missed.
Rick Van Buytene / INLAWRACING
An Incredible shock! I can not begin to say how much Gary will be missed and by how many friends and fans. I was always amazed how Gary could follow so much racing in so little time. It was like he was in 10 places at once. Gary, this Checker Flag is for you! You will be greatly missed!
Debbie Clark - IMAGE ON TRAK
Sorry to hear about Gary Jacob. A great contributor to the sport of racing and RacingWest.com. His stories and recaps will truly be missed.
Dennis Daniel
How sad we all should be. I am so thankful that Gary ever existed. He devoted so much of his life to covering the sport so many of us love. Gary has always been the single "man" with the pulse of West Coast racing. Last year, I learned that Gary was consulted by Eric Jacobsen on who he thought was a driver on the West Coast that was deserving of a chance to drive a Dirt Late Model. Jacobsen was told of Kellen Chadwick by Jacob. Jacobsen, who was busy pursuing the World Of Outlaws Late Model Circuit all across the country contacted Chadwick and hooked him up with a car, only needing a motor. Chadwick took the ride and has won several races, proving that Gary truly has had his pulse on the racing scene on the West Coast. Gary has meant so much to racing all over the West. I do not know how many articles he wrote each week but I would be surprised if he did not have carpel tunnel syndrome. He knew so much about every small town track...he was amazing. If you've raced at a track on the West Coast in the past 20 years, Gary probably knew your name and your accomplishements. His knowledge was unequalled. God Speed Gary!
Mike Duerr
West Coast racing has lost a great man who really enjoyed the sport and wrote what he saw, not biased by politics or favoritism. Gary, you will be missed by all who knew you. I don't know of anyone that could take your place and take on as much as you did.
The Larson Family, MAJ1K Motorsports
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Gary Jacob. Gary was the man who knew everything about grass roots racing. Or, if he didn’t know for sure, he would find out for you. We met Gary when my son started racing outlaw karts in 1999. Ron Rodda (another writer: From the Grandstand) told Gary to check out this kid and let him know how he did. From that day on, we’ve been friends thru email and at the track. Gary was a person who dedicated himself to be at the races, write articles all week long, and also work 40 hours a week. On December 20, 2003, races fans, promoters and acquaintances recognized Gary for all of his hard work and dedication at the Red Bluff Winter Indoor kart races. Please check out www.kylelarsonracing.com and read the speech that was given to Gary (the information in the speech was gathered directly from questions asked of Gary). There are also pictures of the occasion you can view. Needless to say, Gary was stunned and overwhelmed by the support. Gary was the only person to write articles covering the outlaw sprint karts. We will miss you Gary, you played a big role in a lot of racers lives. Rest in Peace, my friend. The Larsons MAJ1K Motorsports www.kylelarsonracing.com
#11 ~ Tyler Reddick - Outlaw Kart Racer
Gary, Thank you for all your wonderfull stories. Racing will miss your efforts, reporting, kind words about the drivers and being one of racings greatest fans. We'll miss you but you've moved on to a better place. May you rest in peace and be able to see all the races without having to travel now. Tyler Reddick
Matthew Sullivan
You were, are and always will be a great credit to West coast short track racing. You will be dearly missed in so many ways.
John Ulvila
Gary was the the professor of west coast racing. If it was happening, he would be there. I knew that I was at an important race if Gary was there. He always wrote great articles and commentary and was a great person. He will be missed.
Eddie Alves
Gary, To an incredible man who dedicated his life to auto racing. One of the nicest “fans” you will ever meet in the grandstands or in the pits. One who went out of his way to stop by and say hello and have a conversation with you. To a man who had wonderful story’s that everyone was interested in. Gary never asked for anything and was so polite. I’m very grateful that I had the pleasure of knowing him through the racing community. Thank you for everything you have done for me and the entire racing community. Gary you will be missed! Eddie Alves SRL
Peter W. Moss
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Gary Jacob. He was a giant of a man in the West Coast racing community and he loved racing! He was generous and I will always appreciate the encouragement he gave me. He saw one of my articles on the net and sent an email saying he thought I was "very good." You could have knocked me over with a feather! I jumped around the house hollering as if I'd won the lottery! I couldn't believe that the great Gary Jacob had read one of my first major articles and he liked it! We emailed back and forth after that and he gave me suggestions and feedback that I will always treasure. I always looked forward to seeing Gary at the big Open shows here in NorCal and it won't seem right without him this year! Thank you RacinGaryJ!
Steele #61 Mod Team
RIP Gary. We will miss you terribly.
Spencer Gate
God Speed my friend you will be missed.
jt
Gary, you will be missed. I will always treasure our friendship.