As some of you know I've been busy doing a restoration/rally preparation on a converted to RHD 1972 Datsun 510 for a long time friend who was diagnosed with mesothelioma (basically asbestos poisoning, which affects the respiratory system). The project car was destined to participate in the Land's End to John O'Groats reliability trial happening in the UK this December. Unfortunately Mr. Eric K. Jones succumbed to the disease this past Sunday, August 24th after a successful (17th) annual summer party given in appreciation to all the past customers of his successful British car restoration business. I feel fortunate to have been able to complete the car during his illness and present it to him in the company of 250+ friends... Eric and I spent a fair amount of time together after "the delivery" and then he held court for about two hours as friends passed through to say hi. He passed away peacfully a few hours after the last guests left in the company of his wife and a hospice nurse.
The future of the car is secure, it shall be run in various local club rallies through the remainder of 2008, driven by myself and navigated by his longtime friend and navigator Harry Ward, and possibly be sent to the UK in 2009 to be run in his honour with driver and navigator to be decided.
Please enjoy these pictures taken by our good friend Chuck Ashton, both of the build and the party.
Eric K. Jones 12/16/1942 - 08/24/2008 RIP my friend.
Build pictures:
http://crashton.smugmug.com/gallery/5155086_wZTZK#312008475_yeXFs
Summer Party pictures:
http://crashton.smugmug.com/gallery/5787457_WAjiQ#359659160_aXjnR
Really, no need to comment on individual pictures, but if you need information on donating to Mesothelioma research contact me via PM and I can tell you how to make a tax deductible donation.
Now back to your regularly scheduled RC programming...
-geoff
