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RIP Scott Kalitta

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by lono, Jun 21, 2008.

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  1. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    I don't know how these guys do it.
    One of the best stories I did (quality, not subject matter) was after Blaine Johnson died. His brother/crew chief/owner watched Blaine die. And then he hired another driver and kept the team going. Alan Johnson was incredibly upfront about the whole ordeal.
    I did a story on the Kalitta's, too. Good people. Is Connie still driving?
    RIP.
     
    Moderator1, Jun 22, 2008
    #49
  2. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    No, I don't think he has in years; Doug and Scott carried the ball...
     
    slappy4428, Jun 22, 2008
    #50
  3. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    Connie retired again. He's busy managing the team and the family's cargo airline — which owns or leases an assload of cargo-model 747s — and charter service (his son Doug runs the day-to-day ops), which owns or leases an assload of Learjets and similar craft, along with some 727s and a DC-9. Not bad considering he started it with one Cessna.
     
    2muchcoffeeman, Jun 22, 2008
    #51
  4. Big Circus

    Big Circus Well-Known Member

    I'm far from an NHRA fan...I covered it twice when it came through near my old shop. The first year I did it, one of the winners was Eric Medlen, and I remember being struck by how friendly and happy he was. Even though I never even paid attention to NHRA, I remember it being like a punch in the stomach when I found out he had died. He and two local prep athletes are still the only people I've ever covered that died young...I've talked to Doug Kalitta, but not Scott. The year after Medlen died, I did a piece with his teammate Robert Hight that talked about bouncing back from something so horrible. I can't imagine what the Kalittas are going through right now. Just awful.
     
    Big Circus, Jun 22, 2008
    #52
  5. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    NHRA people are, for the most part, far and away the best group I've ever dealt with professionally - from the people in the organization down to the drivers. I remember an accident in qualifying when they were in town once and the media guy sprinting - yes, sprinting - down the track to get details for a quick report to the media. The report was updated several times during the day. A far cry from their NASCAR brethren. When Jerry Nadeau had his career-ending wreck here, the silence was deafening. One NASCAR big wig who has a clue had to pull me aside and tell me he couldn't say anything officially but to be ready. Fortunately, Nadeau survived but we at least knew it was very serious.
     
    Moderator1, Jun 22, 2008
    #53
  6. goalmouth

    goalmouth Well-Known Member

    Kalitta's freight airline filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
     
    goalmouth, Jun 22, 2008
    #54
  7. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    Things like airplanes breaking in half will do that.
    http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/25/boeing-747-breaks-in-half-during-takeoff-in-brussels/
     
    slappy4428, Jun 22, 2008
    #55
  8. Sxysprtswrtr

    Sxysprtswrtr Active Member

    And to the family and friends who can see it over and over on youtube. Jesus.

    From NHRA racer Doug Herbert losing his two sons to Scott Kalitta losing his life ... so horribly tragic.
     
    Sxysprtswrtr, Jun 22, 2008
    #56
  9. Hank_Scorpio

    Hank_Scorpio Active Member

    Just to clarify, Doug is Scott's cousin, so he couldn't be Connie's son.
     
    Hank_Scorpio, Jun 22, 2008
    #57
  10. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    Too right. :-[
     
    2muchcoffeeman, Jun 22, 2008
    #58
  11. TopOfTheCircle

    TopOfTheCircle Member

    I withdraw my previous statement ... after seeing the crash and fireball - HOLY KRONK!!!!!!!
     
    TopOfTheCircle, Jun 23, 2008
    #59
  12. lono

    lono Active Member


    Per Jones's amazing story, Kalitta Air is one of the companies flying home the bodies of dead soldiers from the war.
     
    lono, Jun 24, 2008
    #60
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