Rip Racer

"Grieve non that I cash inward one's chips young.  
 Is it non good to top away ere life has lost its brightness?"
 -Lady Flora Hastings

Kurt Kesler shined brilliant in addition to died immature at the historic catamenia of 51, leaving behind a married adult woman in addition to 2 small-scale children.  For his trace solid unit of measurement now, goose egg volition ever last the same.  My pump goes out to them.

I knew Kurt, equally therefore many of us did, through roadracing amongst WERA.  You acquire a lot nearly a man, when you lot race against him.  Especially equally it comes downwards to the in conclusion few races of a flavour amongst a national entitle on the line.  The 2 of us were cervix in addition to cervix for the V5 entitle inward 2015, less than a handful of points between.  He wanted it badly.  So did I.  We went at it hammer in addition to tongs, neither giving an inch.  I didn't worry nearly racing closely amongst him, fifty-fifty though given the slightest chance Kurt would closed the door on you, but he ever did it gently.  I trusted him, quite often, amongst my life.  He never permit me down.  A rider, a competitor, a sportsman in addition to a gentleman to the core, off in addition to on the track.   

Kurt did non win the V5 entitle that year.  It came downwards to the in conclusion race at the Grand National Finals inward Leeds, Alabama, where I vanquish him past times i seat in addition to simply iii points.  But inward the end, Kurt won inward ways I never did.  He took to a greater extent than enjoyment in addition to gave to a greater extent than dorsum to racing than most of us ever could.  He garnered a honour in addition to admiration, a love, from his boyfriend competitors in addition to officials identical to that of Moto GP Champion Nicky Hayden (also lost besides presently this year).  If Nicky was the ambassador on a national phase for our sport of motorbike racing, therefore Kurt Kesler was the Southeast regional statesman for it.  The mere refer of his holler inward whatsoever paddock inward the South in addition to racers volition tell you lot tales of Kurt's humor, the willingness to accept novel racers nether his wing, lend parts, tools, his ain motorcycles in addition to aid without a instant thought.  Beginning racing is a daunting, overwhelming experience, if non for the man's patience in addition to guidance, many a greenhorn mightiness get got quit inward frustration.  He was a mentor, a rival, a operate model.  And a friend.

The greatness of a human being dies non amongst him, but is scattered similar tiny seeds amidst all those he touched.  We get got but to till the Blue Planet in addition to tend the put down therefore the greatness should flourish in addition to non die.  It becomes the duty of the living, of those who would remember.  Let us remember.

-Kris Larrivee

(Kurt's Hat Road Atlanta Raceway photograph inward a higher house past times Craig "Huey" Stewart) 

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