Thu, 23 Oct 2003, 06:13 PM My Special Thanksgiving

By Norm Froscher

As I look out at the cooling landscape and the leaves beginning to turn with the obvious changing of the seasons, I pause to think of friends and loved ones no longer with us and those current whose warmth and friendship we cherish today, in racing, in this occupation of mine and other endeavors.

I said this month is a special Thanksgiving for me. Yes, it is. Three years ago this month I had open heart surgery to replace a faulty aortic valve. Oh, it had passed the Marine Corps physical as a very young man and it had put up with my shenanigans through the years, but my cardiologist said it was time for it to be replaced, because he saw a red warning light.

"With a new valve, you're looking at 15, maybe 20 or more years (make that 20,000 miles or more)"

So, I thank God for that blessing, that I might continue on.

This month is also the one in which I try to take time to remember a couple of friends who've passed on as well as those still with us.

Oh, I can't begin to mention them all here, because this is only one column, not a book.

***

Since it is October, however, I must mention late friend Jim Murray, partly because the fifth anniversary of the Jim Murray Memorial Golf Classic comes up out there in California on Oct. 26 and 27.

We've written in this space before about columnist Murray and how before the internet this writer and I suspect many, many more would hurry to the library to fetch his latest columns in the Los Angeles Times and read over them like they were a Hemingway short story.

Murray didn't write that much about motor racing, but long-time friend Steve Earwood recalls that one of his achievements as a young PR person was to get Murray to do a column on Shirley Muldowney.

Murray on auto racing:

"I'd never drive anything you had to climb in through the windows to start up."

An example of his sometimes cutting wit. You get the idea.

Murray's gracious widow, Linda McCoy-Murray has started the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation, which helps to provide scholarships to deserving journalism students. That's what the golf tournament, of which Arnold Palmer is the Honorary Chairman, benefits.

And guess what? A student right here in Gainesville, at the University of Florida, Jill Martin, is a Murray Scholar.

How very appropriate.

Just days ago, this correspondent was inducted (or "indicted', as late friend and coach Bill Peterson would say), into the Grand Guard here at the University of Florida. That's an indication that 50 years have passed -- all of them writing -- since I picked up that diploma. Haven't met Jill as yet, but certainly look forward to it, along with visiting with Linda, perhaps at Speed Weeks.

***

Ah, yes, it's my time to be giving some special thanks.

As I said, I wouldn't dare try to signal out an individuals, but thanks to the Good Lord for this free country in which we live, and for the opportunities to pursue our interests, whether it be racing, writing, promotion or whatever.

Thank you, and here's a violation of that previously mentioned vow, but I would be remiss if not...

Giving thanks to Pastor Ken and Racers For Christ, who have provided guidance, hope and guidelines for many, many folks in the racing community. I mentioned them both in my earlier Fro's 50 Years of Writing column, but here's another salute on this wonderful day.

Happy October, everyone.

And let's go racing.