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Chicos Candle |
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Chicos Candle |
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Derry O'Donovan writes us.......
It is with great sadness that I report the passing, this past Thursday, of my friend, and friend of many here in SFR, "Chico" Breschini. He passed away of cancer at a hospice near San Luis Obispo. I believe Chico was at least 75 years of age and was truly a racer's racer.
Chico was an old drag racer from the 1960's and I raced him four times for top eliminator which was for $500 dollars each time, that was big money in the 1960's .
We raced at Half Moon Bay and Freemont.
Being that he is gone I could say that I beat Chico and got the money.
The truth is Chico beat me all four times.
-- James Fineren
Chico kept me in racing when I wanted to quit 12 years ago.
If it wasn't for him I would never had the success I've had in racing and in life, I would never travelled the country like I have, I would never have met so many wonderful people and I never would had as nearly much fun as I have had.
Chico was uniquely original. I hope everyone had half as much fun as he did. He spent his last few weeks with his son.
I spoke to him often, he was in no pain when he took the checkered flag.
I miss him dearly.
-- Jeff Jorgenson, F500
Most people in SFR knew Chico
as a fierce competitor in F500, but I first saw Chico race at Half Moon
Bay Drag Strip in 1964. He was sufficiently successful that he earned
the nickname "Cheatin' Chico" and was never at the track without his
large German Shepherd that he kept conveniently tied up to his racecar
to ensure that no-one got close enough for a good look.
After he quit Drag Racing, Chico headed for the kind of racing that
Drag racing used to be, Road racing. He enjoyed the camaraderie and
warmth of the SCCA crowd and applied the tricks that he learned over
his Drag Racing career, to his new passion. He and long-time friend and
Drag Race competitor, Don Clar, made the transition at a bout the same
time and never looked back. They rought their Drag Race tinkering and
fabricating abilities to Road racing and always enjoyed sharing their
knowledge with anyone who needed it.
Although his illness slowed him down in his last couple of years, Chco
could always be found turning wrenches on Don Clar's or Jeff
Jorgenson's car, or helping his other competitors. He was the smartest
mouth in racing and always had a smile and sly wisecrack for anyone who
crossed his path. I might have zinged Chico ONCE when he was left
speechless, and I am very proud that I was able to do it. I know that
Chico would not countenance any teary-eyed eulogies, so let's remember
him as the character and true racer that he was. I'll drink a toast to
him tonight and regale my friends with "Chico Stories."
-- Derry O'Donovan, Formula Mazda
To me Chico was the Yoda of auto racing. I used to joke with him about that. He was small, old, somewhat grumpy and very wise. If you listened to him you could learn a lot. Although not formally trained as an engineer, he had superb mechanical intuition and ingenuity. He was proud of his Italian heritage and enjoyed his Peroni beer. Chico was a unique character and fun to be around. It's just not the same without him. Rev on, Chico.
-- Kurt Jechel
I am very distraught at learning about the death of Chico "Pete" Breschini. We graduated Hi School together built model T Ford engines together and I have a school picture of Pete at age 12. He had his mother, father, sister and uncle Joe, now all deceased. One of his first experiences at drag racing was in 1949 at the Kindon strip in Lodi in my 1949 new Chevy. Really a good man and friend to remember.
-- Charles Storni
Email The Web Team if you would like to post a memory of Chico on this webpage. Unfortunately, we have no family contact information to pass them along privately.
