Acting legend (and Race Car Driver) Paul Newman dies at 83 ...
"WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money" — and as an activist, race car driver and popcorn impresario — has died. He was 83.
Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. He was surrounded by his family and close friends...
In the 1970s, Newman, admittedly bored with acting, became fascinated with auto racing, a sport he studied when he starred in the 1972 film, "Winning." After turning professional in 1977, Newman and his driving team made strong showings in several major races, including fifth place in Daytona in 1977 and second place in the Le Mans in 1979.
"Racing is the best way I know to get away from all the rubbish of Hollywood," he told People magazine in 1979."
*Thanks to the AP and MSNBC.com for the above excerpts -
September 27, 2008 @ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26913988/
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Rest In Peace, Paul ~ You drove a Great Race!
I met Paul & Joanne at the Nelson Ledges Road Racing Course,
in Garrettsville, Ohio, in the 70's when he was racing in the the SCCA
sports car series as a amateur / semi-pro. He raced at Nelson Ledges
many times, and was the kindest, friendliest, most helpful person I'd ever
met. He helped with publicity for the Track and the races, and NEVER
acted like the big-time *Star* that he was. In fact, he was just tickled
pink if no one ever mentioned the movies and acting while he was at
the track! He camped in a (rather fancy) Motor Home right there in the
infield with us "common folk" who ran and worked on the track as a
hobby. He was a truly GREAT PERSON; who I'm glad to have met and
got to know - even if ever so briefly.
We're gonna *MISS YA*, Paul!!
/s/Phred
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Originally Posted by gini
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