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T.J. Kelly


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#1 HistoricMustang

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Posted 26 August 2006 - 20:58

I realize this is a very long possibility but does anyone have a contact with T.J. Kelly of USRRC fame. It is imperative that I get in touch with T.J. or a family member. A street next to the former Augusta International Raceway has just been named for this Augusta "native".

The lastest contact I have in Florida has produced nothing.

The street dedication is just two weeks away.

As alway thanks!

Henry




Augusta - GT race 1.3.1964
USRRC-GT Augusta 1.round

Race: * 52 laps = 251,058 km AVG: 141,463 km/h

Pos. NO Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/Retired Group Practice

Classified:

1. - Ken Miles / USA Cobra Ford 52 1. GT+2.0
2. - Dave MacDonald / USA Cobra Ford 52 2. GT+2.0
3. - Ralph Noseda / USA Cobra Ford 50 3. GT+2.0
4. - Bruce Jennings / USA Porsche Carrera 49 1. GT2.0
5. - Chuck Cassell / USA Porsche Abarth 48 2. GT2.0
6. - Peter Gregg / USA Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ra 47 4. GT+2.0
7. - Jack Ryan Porsche S-90 47 3. GT2.0
8. - Art Riley Volvo P1800 47 4. GT2.0
9. - Ted Tidwell Porsche S-90 46 5. GT2.0
10. - Bill Floyd Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ra 45 5. GT+2.0
Jack Rogers
11. - T. J. Kelly Morgan 36 6. GT2.0
12. - George Parsons Austin Healey Sprite 29 7. GT2.0

Did not finish:

- Graham Shaw Cobra Ford 9

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#2 Lotus23

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Posted 26 August 2006 - 21:20

Henry, maybe the alumni office at the Medical College of Georgia can assist you. Thomas J ("T J") Kelly graduated from med school there around 1966.

#3 Cynic

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Posted 26 August 2006 - 22:16

Henry,

Not an answer to your original question, but I probably have color slides of Kelly at the ARRC at Daytona in 1967, and possibly other racing photos of him during that period.

(And Lotus 23, I own you a note -- terribly behind on such.)

David Seibert

#4 HistoricMustang

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Posted 27 August 2006 - 11:45

Am trying to contact a Dr. Thomas J. Kelly in Delray Beach, FL.

Message is on his answering machine. Keep your fingers crossed as this individual is located just 10 minutes from the last address that we had. :smoking:

Hopefully, if this is correct, he will be able to make the trip up for street dedication.

Henry

#5 Lotus23

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Posted 27 August 2006 - 20:38

TJ qualified that same faithful Morgan for the 1966 SCCA Runoffs, held that year at Riverside. That was the last occasion I had to speak with him. He got a lot of mileage out of that Morgan for a typical med student: no spare time and even less spare money. After Riverside, he returned to med school in Augusta, GA and I headed for Vietnam.

I later heard he'd become a pediatric psychiatrist. He'd be in his mid-sixties by now.

#6 HistoricMustang

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Posted 28 August 2006 - 10:09

Had a phone conversation with Mr. T.J. Kelly last evening.

He is alive and well, living in South Florida! :clap:

Henry

#7 Frank S

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Posted 28 August 2006 - 23:15

I can't verify the year or the car number, but
it is a Morgan, it is at a 'runoffs'.and
it is at Riverside (exit-ing Turn Seven-A) :

Posted Image

#8 HistoricMustang

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Posted 29 August 2006 - 00:23

Originally posted by Frank S
I can't verify the year or the car number, but
it is a Morgan, it is at a 'runoffs'.and
it is at Riverside (exit-ing Turn Seven-A) :

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Our friend Lotus23 will know when he catches up with the thread! He was there!

T.J. explained to me last evening exactly how many miles from Augusta to Riverside and back to Augusta....................it was over 6000. Two spare tires in tow and NO interstate highways!

Joel? :love:

Henry

#9 Lotus23

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Posted 29 August 2006 - 23:22

Yup, Frank, that's him. That '66 Thanksgiving weekend was unusally bleak and chilly for SoCal. Wish I'd taken some pictures at the time, but if I did they've long since disappeared.

Henry, TJ's trip out to California from Georgia wasn't quite so spartan as you describe. He and 8 or 9 others from the Southeast Division had pooled their resources and hired a big tractor/trailer auto transporter -- with driver -- to carry their racers across the U.S. and back. That was pretty "cutting edge" stuff at the time. But there wasn't room for a whole lot of spares: ISTR it was whatever he could stuff into the cockpit of the Morgan, which wasn't much.

Nowadays half the guys at the Runoffs have a tractor/trailer for just one car. Those were simpler times.

#10 HistoricMustang

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Posted 30 August 2006 - 00:11

Joel, I can hear the conversation now between lets say Carroll Shelby and the poor guy driving the cars across country to Augusta.

"OK, John here are the keys to the rig and be sure to pick me up at the airport on Tuesday".

I will get a copy of this photograph to Dr. Kelly................hopefully a personal delivery by hand.

Isn't this what this is all about?

Henry

#11 HistoricMustang

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Posted 06 September 2006 - 19:53

Dr. T.J. Kelly called last evening and he will attend the dedication of street being named in his honor!

Traveling from south Florida.

This will give us a "full house" for the four dedications!

Thanks to the TNF members! :kiss:

Henry

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#12 HistoricMustang

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Posted 28 September 2006 - 21:29

TNF is amazing.

Dr. T.J. Kelly has gone from being "lost in space" to having pictures sent to AIRPS.

In first photograph from Montgomery, Alabama (1968) the Doctor is walking away from his Morgan.

Thanks to David (fellow TNF'er)

Henry

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