Sad motorsport farewell for actor-turned-racer
Legendary petrolhead Paul Newman took his GT1 Corvette out for a few laps earlier this month as he said goodbye to one of his greatest loves. The actor and former driver is terminally ill with lung cancer and is believed to have just weeks to live. Lime Rock Park race track in Connecticut was close for two hours so that Newman, aged 83, could take his race car out for the last time. His friends, family and race team mechanics were in attendance for Newman’s final race.
It is a sad story, but it is great that he has had a final blast at something which has undoubtedly given him a great deal of pleasure over the years. Our thoughts are, of course, with Newman and his family. There is a picture of him behind the wheel after the jump…
[SpeedTV, Photos: photography.robertondrovic.com]
Car Porn: Audi R8 to hit GT3 races
Nascar WAGs: Samantha Sarcinella
19 responses so far
1 RSO34 // Aug 26, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I have no problem with my copyrighted photos being used on this site as long as photo credit is given as required by my site.
Here is a link to the original gallery from which these photos were taken: http://photography.robertondrovic.com/gallery/681636_Y6PQ6/1/29541400_KhsCT
2 ben j // Aug 27, 2008 at 12:08 am
David Hobbes was talking about him during the GP on Sunday. He said that had Newman pursued racing full time instead of acting, he would’ve been championship material.
3 The Fine Art of Eccentricity · Okay, you light it and I’ll hit it with this bat. *BOOM!* AUGH! // Aug 30, 2008 at 6:45 am
[…] Paul Newman, terminally ill with lung cancer, decides he’s not going to die lying down. He’d prefer to be sitting up (driving 200mph, of course!). […]
4 Fr3d // Aug 30, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Mr Newman drove the car at a blistering 20 MPH for one hour in the far left lane with is left blinker on.
5 Mchriss // Aug 30, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Yes RSO34, it is all about you. Lighten up, Francis.
Mr. Newman is truly an amazing person. This world will be diminished sonn. Thoughts and prayers
6 jay // Aug 30, 2008 at 6:32 pm
okay, this is sad, BUT what about everyone else dying from lung cancer that doesn’t have millions of dollars to go out in style???? Don’t we care about them? My guess is that Paul Newman will barely feel his passing while those without health insurance or good doctors will know each and every pain associated with its death.
7 Keith // Aug 30, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Hey Jay
Read the philanthropy section then suck my dick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Newman
8 DKNY // Aug 31, 2008 at 2:38 am
Keith - HAH HAH HAH awesome! Jay, my friend was the director of Hole in the Wall Camp - Newman did more for cancer sufferers than modern science. Don’t spew your verbal diarrhea without doing some homework. Loser.
9 stocklx // Aug 31, 2008 at 5:40 am
jay, your time will come, maybe sooner than later. Mr. Newman will be sorely missed in all fields and by all who knew him.
10 Dirty Harry’s Place… » Paul Newman Takes A Final Spin // Aug 31, 2008 at 3:45 pm
[…] about bittersweet… Legendary petrolhead Paul Newman took his GT1 Corvette out for a few laps earlier this […]
11 JR // Aug 31, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Jay,
What about those others dying from lung cancer? Well, like Mr. Newman, they too will die. Stop sniveling about health insurance & good doctors. This story is about a man that lived his life to the fullest. He earned each and every dime and through very generous efforts with his “Newmans Own” food line, has provided millions to those not able to afford food let alone insurance.
12 Joel Witherspoon // Aug 31, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Ah, this sucks. I hope the guy finishes his bucket list
13 Steve lhotsky // Aug 31, 2008 at 11:13 pm
FN Awesome. Paul u r an inspiration to those who want to live on their own terms. TY for Butch & Sundance & the Sting Bns pts for Hud & the Color of Money. Godspeed my friend.
14 Michael // Sep 1, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Jay,
What we have here is a failure to communicate! Do us all a favor and self-decapitate. Mr. Newman displays benevolence and philanthropy unseen by society! Ride on, Cool Hand Luke!
15 JDB // Sep 2, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Yeah Jay, Newman is an American icon and you’re the asshole out there ready to tear everyone down. Think about everything he has given to us over the years and then go back and read your contribution. A petty, ill-informed comment about someone. You are not fit to wipe his ass. Stay classy jackoff.
16 Lindsey // Sep 2, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I have an awesome memory of Mr. Newman on either Leno or Letterman,I can;t remember for certain. Any how he was discussing his new line of dog food. Upon prompt from the host he actually ate a bit of the dog food to show his support of the product of which he also deemed all natural.
I find this memory amussing because Mr. Newman no matter how famous always had a humble demenor. He cracked me up! He never took himself too seriously. He truly was a people person. He gave and he gave, creatively and finacially. He deserves to go out in style. He earned it!
17 Jetstream1 // Sep 2, 2008 at 10:51 pm
“Here’s how you do it, kid.”
Doc Hudson will live on!
18 john // Sep 11, 2008 at 12:52 am
the dates on the pictures are from 2005!
19 Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Paul Newman Takes A Final Spin // Sep 22, 2008 at 9:55 pm
[…] about bittersweet… Legendary petrolhead Paul Newman took his GT1 Corvette out for a few laps earlier this month […]