Tim Richmond , voted one of NASCARs Fifty Greatest Drivers of all time, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. on August 13, 1989. On Friday, August 13, 1999 a wreath will be placed in his honor at Providencia Park located just South of Good Samaritan on Flagler Drive. A small group of Internet race fans formulated the idea when they realized it would be too costly for all of them to gather for a formal Commemoration. So they decided to place a wreath and attach a booklet to it, resembling an Internet Message Board as it were. Much to their delight it has grown to well over 200 pages and encompasses writers from Canada, California and many of the States in-between. The wreath will be flanked by a sign which was hand painted by a Minor O. Rodeffer, from Mt. Crawford, VA. The book, which has spread into books, is begun with a prayer by Daniel J. Auppl of Minnesota and ended with a prayer by Hap Lewis of West Palm Beach. In between are poems, such as the one written by Rebecca Borelli for Filmar Racing and touching personal stories from fans who met Tim Richmond and from those who were touched by him. Don Spincken, of Amherst, NH, who spent many hours working on the project said, after reading it, I have a tear in my eye and a smile on my face. Herb Ballengee, who spent many hours at his computer said, I never expected so many responses. Amy Snodgrass of Ashland, Ohio, Tims hometown, hopes that West Palm Beach will be the inspiration to erect a permanent memorial in Ashland. Jayedda S. Marsh of Boynton Beach, FL will physically place the wreath. I know that without the readership of the Internet sites, in particular, jayski.com; speedworld.net; racecomm.com and netpitpass.com the response would never have been so swift in such a short period of time. I think the re-run of Tim Richmond stories written by the well known novelist and motorsports writer Matt McLaughlin assisted in bringing such heartwarming stories to West Palm.
