This is a very difficult post to write…. A close friend of mine, Kent Rafferty, passed away last Tuesday 6/30/09. I don’t know exactly where to begin……
Some information and examples of what he meant to all of us can also be found here:
http://www.racepa.com/content/index.php?topic=6940.0
Kent was a close friend, but he was also my first role model and mentor in motorsports. When I started autocrossing in 1999, Kent and Karen Rafferty were the top two local autocrossers around, and they were my idols. Kent could get into any car and drive it amazingly fast. Whether he was driving his 93 turbo Supra or their 96 Corvette Gran Sport, he usually had fast-time-of-the-day. He was also very nationally competitive in Solo II, and in fact was the first Street Modified National Champion in 2000, along with the ProSolo class and overall Challenge National title that year.
His influence on all of us was far beyond just his success inside the cones though – his attitude and sportsmanship were legendary. He was never cocky, arrogant, condescending, or a braggart. He would usually go out and set FTD for an event, but you would never once hear him say anything or brag about it. He was also the most determined competitor I’ve ever seen. But he was also the first to give advice and encouragement, even if it meant that he could be hurting his chances for a win. In short, he was what every single one of us strived to be like – fast, confident, friendly, a true competitor and sportsman and one of the nicest people I’ve ever had to pleasure of meeting.
I also shared time with Kent on the track at lapping days and HPDE’s, at BeaveRun, Nelson Ledges and Mid-Ohio. Just as he was on the autocross course, on the track he was fast, safe, consistent and fun to run with. I always wished he had gone road racing, he would have been very good at it. I moved away from Pittsburgh in 2004, but always kept in close touch with Kent. Whenever I was back in town for any reason, we tried to get together, but those opportunities became less and less over the past two years…. Which is one of my deepest regrets.
Rest in peace Kent, it was an honor and a privilege to have known you as a friend, Godspeed……….
