R.I.P John Cooper Fitch.

[Blacdout96]

Today, the great John Fitch passed away at 95. I met him several times over the last few years, and if you never got the chance to meet him, I'm sorry you missed out on one of the most humble drivers I have ever met. He wanted nothing more then to be behind steering wheels and on the track, and loved photos taken of him, and signing autographs. He was known for many great things, such as being one of the first pilots ever to shoot down a jet aircraft during WWII, and invented a little safety feature we all know as the jersey barrier, which is barrels filled with sand or water, and has saved countless lives, plus many other safety innovations we still use today.

For any Corvette fans here, he also help run the Corvette SS racing program in 1957 ( although it only raced at Sebring, and quickly retired from the race....)

I'll just post a link to his wikipedia for you guys to read, but this man gave the Dos Equis interesting man a run for his money.

now you can run with Fangio, Leveigh, Hill, and other competitors from your days, and give them the famous Fitch smile :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fitch_%28racing_driver%29

[NastyEllEssWon]

never heard of him

[Featherburner]

never heard of himSure you have... you've driven on the John Fitch Way aka Rt. 29 haven't you?

[NastyEllEssWon]

Sure you have... you've driven on the John Fitch Way aka Rt. 29 haven't you?



read that wrong. Ive been on rt 29 in trenton many of times. never heard it called the John Fitch Way ever.

[unstable bob gable]

Fitch was one of the great ones. His accomplishments run much deeper than just the ones Jeff listed.

[Featherburner]

read that wrong. Ive been on rt 29 in trenton many of times. never heard it called the John Fitch Way ever.There are signs all along the road and have been for at least 25 years. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=37189454&biw=1366&bih=619&wrapid=tlif135173319710710&q=john+fitch+way+trenton+nj&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89c15992d5074c0d:0x30e25c05f6f3e4a5,John+F itch+Way,+Trenton,+NJ+08611&gl=us&sa=X&ei=38-RUOXhOKXu0gHb_4DoAw&ved=0CB0Q8gEwAA

[edpontiac91]

Going WAAAAAY back to 1963, I had bought a brand new Corvair Monza Spyder 150 hp Turbo. It was pretty hot and some of the aftermarket items I installed were from the "Sprint" options made by John Fitch. It had the Quick Ratio Steering/ a Wooden steering wheel/ Short Shifter 4-speed, a Lucas Landing Lamp for the L.S. headlamp/ Negitive Camber kit for the rear wheels and that really changed the fun factor.

[unstable bob gable]

Going WAAAAAY back to 1963, I had bought a brand new Corvair Monza Spyder 150 hp Turbo. It was pretty hot and some of the aftermarket items I installed were from the "Sprint" options made by John Fitch. It had the Quick Ratio Steering/ a Wooden steering wheel/ Short Shifter 4-speed, a Lucas Landing Lamp for the L.S. headlamp/ Negitive Camber kit for the rear wheels and that really changed the fun factor.

Now THAT is a cool story! :)

[Blacdout96]

He really believed in the Corvair, and if Nader didn't have his way, it could have been one hell of a future Porsche fighter.

[Blacdout96]

Here's a good read, and talks about teh Sprint:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/sports/autoracing/john-cooper-fitch-glamorous-racer-with-a-flair-for-danger-dies-at-95.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[WildBillyT]

He really believed in the Corvair, and if Nader didn't have his way, it could have been one hell of a future Porsche fighter.

Nader was right. I do not like him but he was.

[L695speed]

He created this.... The Fitch Phoenix.

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Chevrolet/66_Fitch_Phoenix_DV-07-AI_01.jpg

and he was a hell of a driver too.

[Blacdout96]

He created this.... The Fitch Phoenix.

http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Chevrolet/66_Fitch_Phoenix_DV-07-AI_01.jpg

and he was a hell of a driver too.

Last time I seen him, he still had it. In fact, the last time i was getting rides in cars during the stewards appreciation time at Lime Rock Park, he randomly brought it into the pits, got a girl in it, and took off onto the track....and he wasn't asked to do it! Everybody looked around confused, and asked the stewards, their response to us was," It's John." He did it quite often actually lol. Then when I got a ride in a Porsche 356 coupe, we come up the hill and there's the Phoenix sitting on the side of the track. Here, his throttle linkage broke. He fixed it, and brought it back to the pits, and had to be talked out of taking it back out!!!! He loved that track, it was his Muse.

Also that weekend, I was there when they announced to name a turn in honor of Paul Newman. At that time, Paul was soon to pass. Instanly, the crowd started to yell at Skip Barber, and asked why not name it John Fitch turn, which he knew was going to be asked, and skimmed around the answer. Look, I like Paul, and everything he did, but he didn't design, nor help build that track. John had a lot of input on how to design the track to make it as safe, and technical, and at one point and time, was named one of the most challenging tracks in the world.....yes, that small track was considered, because of how tight, and fast it was. That was Johns baby, and to deny him of that honor was disgraceful.