[MEDIA]
Ran across the news this morning on Instagram but its not being widely reported on relevant racing news sites. Quite a life he led. BHW Image Unavailable, Please Login
He raced up here and I had a brief conversation with him. He was quite friendly, humble and engaging. Because I was familiar with the Paul legacy, I didn’t know what to expect but he was as nice as Bob Varsha person to person. Sad to hear of his passing.
I saw him race the 935 on a few occasions when he was 20 or 21. He threw it around like a go-kart, a real natural talent.
lead story on Racer.com https://racer.com/2020/12/30/sports-car-and-indycar-racer-john-paul-jr-dies-at-60/
He was such a nice, unassuming guy. He was wandering around the dirt paddock at PBIR/Moroso during one of our club track days...this was when his career was winding down. I had the car (a ‘73 2.7RS Carrera) up on the trailer, ready to go home. He looked at the car a bit longingly, struck up a conversation, and I thought, what the hell, there’s enough light for a few more laps. I’ll never forget that ride. As sorry as I am that he has died, he was suffering terribly and so I hope he has found the peace he deserves. At the same time I’m very happy to see that Bob Varsha is apparently doing well.
Can’t say I knew him but certainly met him a number of times. And, yes, always a nice guy. I remember at night practice at Sebring in 1983, he had shunted Preston Henn’s 935 Moby Dick which had just won at Daytona. Damage to the car wasn’t too serious but the crew had a thrash to get it ready for Friday practice. When they brought he car back to the paddock, I hung around and was taking a few pics. The crew went to work and John was there helping them when co-drivers Derek Bell and Michael Andretti had long since left the track for the night. I didn’t realize it but I was standing next to John's (then) wife and a young child. They were talking a bit and I questioned her why he was still there and she said, “He damaged the car, so he will be here helping until the car is done”. Last time I saw him, he was one of our driver instructors at the first FOC track event at Homestead in 2001. BHW
A post I made on another board..... Not in so many words, but that's what I said in post #20.... An example, to wit, excerpted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P...(racing_driver) "Paul was lured into the drug trade at the age of 15, just to be with his father.[15][16] His first legal troubles were on January 10, 1979, he and another accomplice were caught by customs agents loading equipment onto a pickup truck on the bank of a canal in the Louisiana bayous after dark. Following questioning, when one of them smelled cannabis on their clothing, his father was apprehended on his 42-foot boat named Lady Royale, where customs discovered on board residue of marijuana and $10,000. A rented truck was discovered nearby, which contained 1,565 pounds (710 kg) of marijuana.[17] In court, all three pleaded guilty to marijuana possession charges, where each was placed on three years' probation and fined $32,500. Paul's racing career was interrupted in May 1986, when he was sentenced to five years in prison, for his involvement in a drug trafficking ring with his father and subsequent refusal to testify against him. He was sent to a minimum security prison in Alabama. He served a total of 30 months, being released in October 1988." "At the beginning of 1983 Paul Sr. shot federal witness Stephen Caron, who would testify about Paul's illegal activities. After finishing second in the Grand Prix of Miami in a JLP Racing Lola, the team would be dismantled following his father's disappearance." "Paul Sr. was finally indicted, tried, and convicted, in 1985." I don't wish negative things on anyone, but, I do believe there is a balance. I have no sympathy for the Pauls and the like, especially when they scar the source of my passion. . edit: I found some more; yup, they were lovely representatives of the sport...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P...(racing_driver)
Robin Miller has an excellent article on JPJ's open wheel career and what could have been. When he was indicted, he was about to move into a very competitive ride with Shierson's Domino's Pizza team which brought Al Unser, Jr. and Arie Luyendyk careers to the front. There's no doubt, JPJ was fast and a true talent who could make a mediocre team winners. https://racer.com/2021/01/04/miller-jpj-should-have-been-an-open-wheel-great/ BHW
I wonder if his father is aware of his son's passing? My understanding his is on a boat in the south east Asia sea. I do believe he is still a fugitive.