Tragically this wonderful, positive and authoritative historian and valued, long time TNF member has died whilst in the Dominican Republic.
A go fund me is being set up by his daughter to help get his widow Jean back home.
https://www.gofundme...cf share-flow-1
For those not familiar with Tom, his motorsport experience was extensive:
https://www.daltonwa...gory-s/1959.htm
RIP to a valued contributor and a good man. It would also help if people could spread the word to help Jean.
Tom Schultz (RA Historian)
Started by
Richard Jenkins
, Apr 02 2023 12:57
15 replies to this topic
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#2
E1pix
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- 23,473 posts
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 14:01
Oh, this is terrible news to awake with...
#3
Ray Bell
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- 80,302 posts
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 14:57
Tom did a presentation about the creation and history of Road America at the IMRRC in 2012...
His close association with Elkhart Lake's fabulous circuit is why he posted as 'RA Historian'. On that day in 2012 he was good enough to let me intrude on his time to present the F5000 Thunder book, while prior to and after the presentation we all enjoyed his company.
Sadly, I'm getting all too used to hearing one after the other of the people I met on that trip have had their personal chequered flags, it's rather dispiriting. RIP Tom.
#4
Dave Ware
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- 998 posts
- Joined: March 00
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 15:34
Damn, I always enjoyed and paid special attention to his posts. He was one of perhaps a half-dozen whose opinions and knowledge were somehow more special to me.
My condolences to the family in this sad time.
My condolences to the family in this sad time.
#5
JacnGille
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 15:42
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
#6
Tim Murray
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- 24,612 posts
- Joined: May 02
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 16:42
I’m very sorry to read this news. Tom was a well-respected contributor here over many years. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
#7
Allen Brown
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- 5,540 posts
- Joined: December 00
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 16:53
Oh this is terrible. Tom was a great guy and a huge fount of knowledge about motor racing in the midwest. He was THE Road America historian of course, but his knowledge went much wider. He was also very generous with his amazing photo archive.
Please do consider helping Jean with the costs.
https://www.gofundme...s-medical-bills
#8
GMiranda
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- 1,181 posts
- Joined: April 13
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Posted 02 April 2023 - 18:58
R.I.P.
I saw the news today on Facebook, but I didn't know he was RA Historian.
#10
B Squared
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- 7,352 posts
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Posted 03 April 2023 - 11:10
This saddens me greatly; Tom was another friend I met through Michael Argetsinger and I shall miss him. He was always at the Dresang's year-end Christmas party at their race shop and although our timing meant we didn't see each other in December, we talked at length shortly after New Year and I'm so glad we did.
This has been one tough week - a 20-plus year friend was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer: another 30-year friend living the good life in Naples, Florida died from a heart attack at 62 and now Tom.... RIP my friends and get well to Greg.
The years that Michael was around were some of the best of my life, it's sad to see others having time catch up to them too.
Tom, Michael, Paul Powell and Paul Medici at Michael's home, around 10-12 years ago
At Watkins Glen and the IMRRC as mentioned by Ray above in 2012. Bill Green (Watkins historian), Michael, Don Capps, Ray and Tom
#11
10kDA
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- 1,002 posts
- Joined: July 09
Member
Posted 03 April 2023 - 12:17
Sorry to hear this sad news. R.I.P. Tom.
#12
racinggeek
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- 733 posts
- Joined: June 11
Member
Posted 03 April 2023 - 18:54
Ah jeez, very sad news. Chatted with him numerous times at RA in the media center and when we crossed paths in the paddock. Generally friendly and willing to spend a few minutes with a fellow racing and racing history enthusiast. He definitely will be missed, greatly. RIP
#13
DCapps
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- 885 posts
- Joined: August 16
Member
Posted 04 April 2023 - 15:16
This saddens me greatly; Tom was another friend I met through Michael Argetsinger and I shall miss him. He was always at the Dresang's year-end Christmas party at their race shop and although our timing meant we didn't see each other in December, we talked at length shortly after New Year and I'm so glad we did.
This has been one tough week - a 20-plus year friend was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer: another 30-year friend living the good life in Naples, Florida died from a heart attack at 62 and now Tom.... RIP my friends and get well to Greg.
The years that Michael was around were some of the best of my life, it's sad to see others having time catch up to them too.
At Watkins Glen and the IMRRC as mentioned by Ray above in 2012. Bill Green (Watkins historian), Michael, Don Capps, Ray and Tom
As much as I loved to ruffle Tom's feathers at times, I genuinely liked Tom and had a number of great exchanges with him over the years.
He was very helpful on more than a few occasions when I was puzzling a few things out, especially regarding Mister Braeuser in particular and Road America in general.
Tom was part of the incredible Brain Trust that developed and prospered here and then shared their knowledge with many others, opening more than a few doors as a result.
I can't help but look at this photograph and sigh...
Farewell, Tom. I will certainly miss you and then of you every time I look at one of your nooks on the bookshelf.
HDC
#14
B Squared
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- 7,352 posts
- Joined: September 08
Member
Posted 07 April 2023 - 11:51
Sheboygan radio WHBL remembers Tom:
#15
Michael Ferner
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- 7,203 posts
- Joined: November 09
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Posted 11 April 2023 - 09:43
So sorry to read this! 
Tom was one of the good guys on this forum; he will be missed! 
#16
E1pix
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- 23,473 posts
- Joined: January 11
Member
Posted 11 April 2023 - 17:32
As posted on a US forum:
The longtime and respected racing reporter, authoritative historian, and lifetime enthusiast Tom Schultz died a week ago in the Dominican Republic, and the family is simply trying to bring him home.
Tom was the “official historian” of and for Road America, publishing a book of the track at the turn of the century, and a second biographical recounting of the career of driver Augie Pabst. He also spent almost every annual vacation working at the SCCA Runoffs to cover the events for Sports Car magazine, a work of strictly passion over profit.
A GoFundMe was in the process of being set up by his daughter Kris to cover $15,000 in medical bills accrued before returning to the US for treatment, his wife Jean there with him, but tragically Tom passed before the account posted.
The GoFundMe is now a recovery effort to cover the medical bills before the Dominican Republic will release Tom’s trip home — plus $50,000 for a scheduled medical transport that was apparently too late to cancel. While Tom was not a man without means, how many of us could cover such expenses under these terms?
It is unclear whether that transport will be used at all, but regardless, payment is being demanded.
This would be an unbearable situation for any of us. Please donate if you’re able.
https://www.gofundme...cf share-flow-1
Personal Note:
A then-fellow Milwaukee Region SCCA member, I received a letter from Tom after I published a magazine about the 1975 Runoffs, stating he wanted to cover SCCA races in future issues. I already had a writer signed on, so reluctantly declined his offer as his enthusiasm was clear and contagious, but regardless, at 15 I decided to move on to other pursuits.
I next ran across Tom eight years later when we both reported for On Track, and then read him when he covered the Runoffs. It was wonderful to see he’d pursued his passion, and his Runoffs reports were a gift to SCCA members for decades.
Some twenty years on, I was referred to Tom when he and Jerry Entin started a forum feature on a mutual Hero, asking for photos to support it. That call has had me active on that forum since, where he was an incredible fountain of history and ensuring that history stayed true. Another gift to racing.
In the last two years, I bought some images from Tom of our lost friend Eddie Miller, and of a friend’s newly-acquired Anson Super Vee we’ve tried to document. Tom was most gracious in all aspects of the process, and I raised his fee in knowing he was undercutting himself to support racing.
I wonder just how many times Tom has done that, for how many, and hope racers can now help in support of Tom’s efforts over 50 years.
RIP Buddy, and know your passions and your work were as well-placed as they were respected.
The longtime and respected racing reporter, authoritative historian, and lifetime enthusiast Tom Schultz died a week ago in the Dominican Republic, and the family is simply trying to bring him home.
Tom was the “official historian” of and for Road America, publishing a book of the track at the turn of the century, and a second biographical recounting of the career of driver Augie Pabst. He also spent almost every annual vacation working at the SCCA Runoffs to cover the events for Sports Car magazine, a work of strictly passion over profit.
A GoFundMe was in the process of being set up by his daughter Kris to cover $15,000 in medical bills accrued before returning to the US for treatment, his wife Jean there with him, but tragically Tom passed before the account posted.
The GoFundMe is now a recovery effort to cover the medical bills before the Dominican Republic will release Tom’s trip home — plus $50,000 for a scheduled medical transport that was apparently too late to cancel. While Tom was not a man without means, how many of us could cover such expenses under these terms?
It is unclear whether that transport will be used at all, but regardless, payment is being demanded.
This would be an unbearable situation for any of us. Please donate if you’re able.
https://www.gofundme...cf share-flow-1
Personal Note:
A then-fellow Milwaukee Region SCCA member, I received a letter from Tom after I published a magazine about the 1975 Runoffs, stating he wanted to cover SCCA races in future issues. I already had a writer signed on, so reluctantly declined his offer as his enthusiasm was clear and contagious, but regardless, at 15 I decided to move on to other pursuits.
I next ran across Tom eight years later when we both reported for On Track, and then read him when he covered the Runoffs. It was wonderful to see he’d pursued his passion, and his Runoffs reports were a gift to SCCA members for decades.
Some twenty years on, I was referred to Tom when he and Jerry Entin started a forum feature on a mutual Hero, asking for photos to support it. That call has had me active on that forum since, where he was an incredible fountain of history and ensuring that history stayed true. Another gift to racing.
In the last two years, I bought some images from Tom of our lost friend Eddie Miller, and of a friend’s newly-acquired Anson Super Vee we’ve tried to document. Tom was most gracious in all aspects of the process, and I raised his fee in knowing he was undercutting himself to support racing.
I wonder just how many times Tom has done that, for how many, and hope racers can now help in support of Tom’s efforts over 50 years.
RIP Buddy, and know your passions and your work were as well-placed as they were respected.
