Tom's Candle
Tom's Candle
February 6, 1999
Long time SCCA member and Pit Marshall Assistant Chief Tom Crusoe passed away February 3 after suffering a stroke over the weekend.
Tom was well-known among the competitors and workers alike. Most recently, Tom lead classes in fire safety at the club's annual Fire School, both in the classroom and at the burn on the hill. The hands-on portion of Fire School is an opportunity to practice using a fire extinguisher on a large fire and is a favorite event among workers.
Tom's guidance and leadership will very much be missed.
Condolences can be sent to Tom's wife and son at mcrusoe@aol.com. This is a particularly difficult time for the family as his wife lost her brother the same week. You can also share your thoughts and stories about Tom by sending them to the SFR WebTeam at webteam@sfrscca.com .
His son has also set up a memorial web page at: http://comp-regfolks.com/crusoe/ .
There will be a memorial on March 28th at Sears Point Raceway.
February 9, 1999
I only knew Tom for about 3 years since I've been with the SCCA, but during that time I came to look forward to speaking with him every race weekend. It was only the weekend before last that we talked during fire school. He asked for my e-mail so we could keep in touch. He was a truly generous man with a great sense of humor. I will miss him very much. The lord has taken him far too soon.
John Matthews
ITX #8.
February 10, 1999
My favorite story about Tom...during one of my races last year I received a mechanical black flag. After pulling up to the black flag station, where Tom was that weekend, I asked him why I got called in and he said "you were dropping oil on the track". Curious about where it might be coming from I got out of my car and pulled the hood off. We both looked around for a while and determined that there was a small puddle, scratch that, small drop of oil on the track. We both looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and he said "It's British, its supposed to leak". Off I went...
Brian Carter
#85 HP Sprite
February 15, 1999
We all lost a great friend and a very professional SCCA worker(official)on February the 3rd.
His name was Tom Crusoe.
I was very much looking forward to being co-chief of Pit Fire this year with him.
We had a pretty good deal going. I had what I thought was the most professional, organized, experienced, and the friendliest individual I could ever work with.
Well, things didn't work out that way. We lost him suddenly.
Tom was retired from General Motors after 35 years. He would travel world wide while working for them and attend all the F-1 races he could.
He started working for the SCCA back almost 30 years ago for the Detroit Region. When he and his lovely wife Maryann moved to California in 1991 he came to work with us here at the SFR. Quickly we learned what a professional he was and how lucky we were to have him work on our crew.
He lived for his family and all the friends he made from racing.
We will all miss him. No question about it.
Good bye Tom.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped out these past few days. What a great family we have!
Pat Phillips
Pit Fire
February 15, 1999
It's with a heavy heart that I find myself trying to find the words to say goodbye to Tom.
Since Tom came to join us from the Detroit region a few years back, I've come to know him as a friend. Definitely somebody I always looked forward to seeing at the track. No matter how badly the weekend was going, I could always look forward to a warm smile and words of encouragement from Tom at the evening social. There was always a special twinkle in Tom's eye when we talked about racing that confirmed just how much he loved the people and the sport of racing. I'll miss that more than I can put into words.
I fear that this season will seem a little emptier without Tom there to share it's ups and down with.
Eric Christensen
F500 #8
February 15, 1999
I don't know where to start because Tom was my first worker friend in SCCA. It all started at Driver's School at ThunderHill.
Of course it was raining, and it was miserable. I'm tooling around, and it's our first session that allowed some passing, and I'm in the lead of a group of about 5 cars going into Turn 3. I'm handling it the way my instuctor told me to, and as I start to make the turn the guy in the back of the pack is completing his bonsai pass of five cars. We make contact (which has become the norm for me), and I get shoved into the mud. I figure my racing career is over before it's started.
When we get back in, and after I have been de-briefed by the Chief Instructor (first words at the top of his lungs: "Get out of the car!"), Tom comes over and tells me that he saw the whole thing, and that he had gone to the Chief Instructor and told him that I was definitely not at fault. He had traipsed through a foot of mud to make sure that my instructor knew what had happened. That was the beginning of the friendship.
Every weekend after that, I went and sat with the pit fire crew at the beer, and the photo is so appropriate for my memories of Tom. We would sit and shoot the breeze, and Tom set the tone for the Pit Fire crew. Tom would tell stories of his many experiences across the country, and he would especially enjoy talking about the 24 hours at Nelson Ledges and some of the entries that would come, like the guys that showed up with two drivers and almost no spares. Tom's rendition of these events made me want to participate even more.
When in Willows, I would usually run into Tom at the Blue Gum, and he always mentioned that the it was the only place he ever ate when there. When it closed, we all noted that Tom started to lose some weight ...
I decided that driving just wasn't enough, so I decided to work as well. I tried various crews: Equipment (nice chairs, lousy hours, and I hated brooms), Timing & Scoring (wonderful accomodations), but my favorite was and is Pit Fire. When I first worked for that crew, Tom made sure to give me some written materials so I would know what I was doing. That was Tom; a great sense of humor, but always making sure that the people on the crew had what they needed to be competent and feel comfortable.
Tom was always trying to help. I remember when I put my new motor in the car, and it seemed to be running pretty well. Tom came up to me at the beer and told me that it was sounding kind of sick, and that my old motor seemed better. I'm thinking "Gee thanks Tom." Two sessions later, you can guess what happened. Tom, as always, was right.
I got a call from my wife, and she told me that Pat Phillips had called, and said that somebody I knew had passed away. I had this terrible feeling because I just knew it was Tom. Sadly, I was right.
I will miss Tom more than I can put into words, but I know that he would want us to remember the fun we had and not dwell on the bad. Every beer I attend from now on will be a little empty because Tom won't be there, but he will be in spirit. I'll never forget him.
Tony Boskovich
AS #1
February 16, 1999
Tom brought me back into the racing world. It was only about a year or so ago when he found out that his neighbor and his neighbors wife had some sort of connection with racing. Tom invited us to come to NASCAR. The reason for this invite was because he was kind and understanding. Tom spoke to me about this "Pit Marshall Crew" he was so fond of. I became interested. I was so excited to see how the crew worked together and how close they all were; thats when I came aboard and became a member of the SCCA but also an acting participant to the Pit Marshalls.
Before I got to know alot of you Tom was always willing to give me a hand with any auto problems I might have been having. That was the first time I knew that this guy really was pretty cool. We talked alot as neighbors do. We asscoiated with each other during holidays ( the best had been both July 4th's that last two years). Tom was a wonderful, considerate, entertaining, and a person who understands.
I wish that I had more time to spend with him. I had alot to learn from him in order to make myself a better Marshall. I will miss him dearly.
He was a mentor of mine.
Rest well.
Richard Samson
Pit Marshall (crew)
February 18, 1999
What can be said when God decides to bring a very close and dear friend home to Heaven without "warning"?
THE CHECKERED FLAG WAS GIVEN TO TOM BEFORE HE OR ANY OF US KNEW IT WAS "THE LAST LAP."
Tom and his lovely wife Maryann came from the same state that I did. We met many years later not knowing each other before when they moved to California. We had the same love of cars and racing. We became very good friends during the short time we knew each other, about eight years. We shared the joys and trials of normal living away from the track also, be it business or family matters.
Tom's life, all be it short, was extremely full. He has a very loving, very strong wife, two loving sons and two grandchildren.
He was in the Air Force, in Iceland for his term of service, and now I understand why he never complained about the weather conditions we have had at the track.
Tom was my sounding board and many times, my voice of reasoning on matters of racing and personal life. He was like an older brother (not much older) to me, and I would listen and learn from him.
He was always ready to lend a hand. Tom was ready to help at a moments notice and could calm people down when things were pretty extreme.
We named him "Thunder Chief," because he worked every race SCCA has had at Thunder Hill. He loved the track, the track loved him.
The Pit Lane will be called "TOM'S PIT LANE" from now on. His presence will be felt from now on.
I only wish I wasn't away on business when Tom became ill. The ironic thing was I was in the state of Michigan, where Tom and I both came from when I received word.
I thank God for the time I had to be a small part of Tom's life, he made a major impact on mine.
I also thank God for letting me know all of the other great people we with the SFR have lost way too soon recently.
Mike Topp
Pit Fire
February 18, 1999
A Poem: THE RACERS FRIEND
With complete capacity
he knew the rules and
followed them with tenacity.
He was the ultimate Volunteer
who was happy with a few worker bucks
and a couple of cups of beer.
A real good friend to one and
all in that category he stood real tall.
From our lives he has been cut,
but if we don't do our job he'll kick our butts.
We love you Tom......
Written by his brother-in-law and a great friend,
Bud Witt
February 19, 1999
A Better Day With Tom
It was a crazy morning at the grid line (entry to the Pits) and Tom was still trying to get the set ups done.
The first event was a large field of formula "V-ees" A very popular "starter" formula car, hence the number of entries. I was up for my first race of the year at Thunder fresh off the week before at Sears Point. We were late getting started and Tom looked at me and asked me to send the cars out for their first practice/qualify run that morning.
I ran out to the center of the pits opposite the "ramp" and prepared to call the cars down to the track. Once the signal for all clear and "ready", I turned to the Grid starter and She began sending the cars to me. I gave the thumbs up with my left hand and signaled "Come down", with my right had and waved them ...UP pit lane toward the north end ...OPPOSITE THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO
...Counter Course. awww.... why me? Why not?
I have been a pit marshal for 15 years and I just did what I have done so many years at Sears and sent them to the north. - (as I explained to Mary his wife) Thunder goes out to the SOUTH.
Tom just stood their and smiled at me. The drivers in the front were experienced enough to realize my error and simply went out to the end of "Pit In" and did a u-turn and drove down the hot track to begin their practice and the rest of the large field, just followed their lead.
I walked over to Tom looked at him and sat on a bucket for that session just shaking my head. Tom said; "You did fine but this ain't Sears, Dave ...you should work on that" ... and he began to laugh until he had to sit next to me or he'd fall down. We were a couple of old farts having a good laugh.
One of my better days with Tom.
Dave Selvy
February 25
I just read last night about our SFR SCCA Family loss, I was quite saddened.
While driving to my job I thought about one of the things that makes our Racing Family so special; we are guaranteed at least one hug from one of our workers in our Racing Family (but, as we know, it is many more)! My thoughts went sadly to Tom, he was one of the hugs I was always guaranteed to receive and give.
I will miss his smile, his hugs, and joining him at the Pit Crew lunch table!
Tom, God Bless You and your Family, you will be missed.
Love, Alyce
Alyce Shepardson
March 1
IT WAS JUST THE OTHER DAY TOM, PAT, AND I WERE PLANNING PITLANE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NWR MAY NATIONAL AT THUNDERHILL. iT SEEMED TO ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS COVERED WITHIN A FEW E-MAILS . IT WAS ALWAYS THAT PROFESSIONAL WITH TOM. HE WAS A STICKLER FOR THE RULES, BUT KNEW HOW TO KEEP THE FUN IN THE TEAM. I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU MY FRIEND.... GOD BLESS..... AND WHERE EVER YOU ARE ...KEEP THE BOTTLES FILLED,.. AND THE PIT LANE CLEAN.....
MIKE LAWLER
NWR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHIEF PIT MARSHALL
March 6
I am deeply saddened by hearing the passing of Tom Crusoe. He always had a smile on and truly was a first class friend.
Tom and I met in 1991 during a Solo 1 event at Sears Point. Being new to racing I hadn't learned the golden rule of race weekends, if it isn't broken don't mess with it.
I did a little tweaking with the engine of my race car before the first session, got the car all buttoned up and got ready to run. I went out on my run group, and was Blacked flag after a lap or two. I came into the hot pits and pulled up to Tom's station wondering what had cause them to black flag me.
Tom asked me to pop the hood so he could take a look inside. I popped the hood and he went for a look see. He came back and said to me, " You might want to get out of the care no rush but you have a small engine fire." At this time the hot pits didn't have a fire bottle with them and somebody yelled fire and another of the Hot pit crew went scrambling for a fire bottle.
Since Tom had said don't rush and to calmly leave the car. That's what I did. I sat there, undid the belts, took off the neck doughnut, took off my helmet and gloves and proceeded to get out of the car. The fire was put out very quickly. Oil from the valve cover gasket not being properly seated ( remember the don't mess with it rule?) had dripped onto the header wrap I had on the headers and had caught fire. Not much damaged other than cooked header wrap.
Tom then made the comment to me that that was the calmest exit from a fire situation he had ever witnessed. I replied you said it was a small fire. We would laugh over the years when we saw each other about our strange beginnings. Because of his calm demeanor he brought true professionalism to the whole grid crew.
I will miss seeing his face when I come down to pregrid. But there are happy memories with Tom in them.
Victor Jeong
March 12
Having known Tom only a few years, it was a lot of cajoling that got he and Maryann down to Indianapolis Raceway Park, my home track and to try their hand in the Pits.
Tom was like a duck to water while Maryann was more into the after race actvities and manning the refreshment tent. I taught him all I knew and he became my right arm, bringing more of his friends from Detroit and expanding our crew. He never questioned taking orders from the second lady Chief in S.C.C.A., did his duty conscientiously and well and was always ready with helpful suggestions.
His good humor and ready wit will be missed. He was decisive and could take care of an emergency without mishap. He traveled the circuit with me from Waterford in MI to Grattan, Blackhawk Farms, IRP, Mid-Ohio, Road America and Road Atlanta, always giving his best.
We met the famous and the infamous and saw a lot of great racing moments.
I'll miss him.
Katie Allen
Former Chief Pit Marshall
Ft. Wayne Region
Indianapolis Raceway Park
Email The Web Team to post your memories of Tom.
We'll do our best to see that it makes its way to his family.
