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OldSchool - Posted: Jun 17, 2006 - 07:52 PM Post subject: Dave Lawrence It is with overwhelming sorrow that I pass this message that Dave Lawrence passed away last night. Dave has been a huge part of Delaware Speedway for many years. There are very few, if any, teams in the Street Stock division that have not been positively affect by Dave's presence on and off the track. This is a huge loss to eveyone that has ever known Dave. My sincere condolences go to Dave's wife, Heather, and boys Chris and Jordan. Delaware will not be the same without Dave. SS3 - Posted: Jun 17, 2006 - 09:12 PM Post subject: Dave Lawrence Our entire family was devastated to hear the news of Dave's passing. Dave touched the lives of so many people, he can never be replaced. It will never be the same at Delaware again, it can't be. Our condolences go out to Heather, Kris, Jordan and the B.T. Racing Team, they have lost a wonderful husband, father, and friend. The Perkins Racing Team (and Family) Shadowracer - Posted: Jun 17, 2006 - 10:03 PM Post subject: I don't know what to say. I drive Jordan to school every morning on my bus. That's devastating. I lost my Dad when he was 42, so I know the family's in for a rough ride. My heart goes out to them. I never knew Dave personally...just his kids...but I know he was a gentleman's driver who helped a helluva lot of people. Cascarjr52 - Jun 17, 2006 - 10:05 PM Post subject: Dave Lawrence Two memories to share of Dave Lawrence. One was on sponsor day with the #3 street stock. I was invited out to take a turn with others to try out driving a full size racecar. Late in the afternoon after I got my chance to drive the #3, everyone was packing up. As Dave was taking the #28 back to his trailer he drove past me on pit lane, stopped and asked if I wanted to take his car for a spin. I was really surprised he asked me to, as the #28 is a FAST machine! I nervously accepted, but really didn’t want to wreck a championship winning car! Dave wasn’t concerned in the slightest. He said to take as many laps as I wanted then to pull it up to the trailer. Always easy going. I didn’t fit in this car as nicely as I did the Perkins’ car. As I made my second cautious lap around Delaware the car died going down the front straight. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong, I thought I’d really broken it! I coasted the vehicle down to the pit entrance in turn 1 where it finally came to a stop. Members of Dave’s crew came over and we tried several times to re-fire it, but it wouldn’t start. Then one of them said, “Check the fuel!”. When they popped the lid off the fuel cell it was bone dry! Dave thought it was pretty funny how freaked out I was about the engine stalling. Sometimes I think he might have been pulling a bit of a practical joke on me! Either way, the act of generosity will never be forgotten. ---- The other story has to do with the last time I talked to Dave. It was just this most recent Wednesday, at the Junior Racing League at Delaware which both of his boys participate in. While waiting in the tech line with his boys I was talking with him about the Friday night handicapping system used to line the cars up. I joked that “Anything that puts the #28 up front should be a good one!” he said, “nope.” So I asked him why. His answer is one I will never forget, and the last meaningful thing Dave said to me. “Starting from the back is more fun. It’s a challenge.” Later in the evening Dave watched as his son Jordan took his second career heat race win, and battled to earn his first Feature victory. Here’s a photo of the win. Dave was really proud. It's probably how I'll remember him - as a kind, generous, proud father. Dave will be missed. The racing will go on, but the tracks lights on Fridays just might not seem to shine as brightly for a while... We'll never forget him. ----- 
CanadianRacingOnline - Posted: Jun 17, 2006 - 10:13 PM Post subject: I never knew Dave but we are all part of this big extended racing family. From All of us at CanadianRacingOnline.com our condolences go out to Lawrence family. Shadowracer - Jun 17, 2006 - 11:22 PM Post subject: I never had any personal dealings with Dave...so I'm just gonna ramble a bit, as long time fans are wont to do whenever they get together. As I've said elsewhere, I had both his boys on my school bus in the mornings, until Kris graduated gr 8 last year. (I've been out the last couple months because of my own heart trouble, so I haven't seen the boys much lately...other than the usual "Hi how ya doing?" at the track on Friday nights.) Jordan used to give me the lowdown once in a while about who's been having what done on their car, and it seems that half the Street Stocks out there have had work done in the Lawrence shop. In fact, I think there's a good chunk of cars in the Friday night SS feature fields that are ex-Lawrence cars. Dave struck me as a gentleman driver. There was a short lived tradition started last year, I think it was between him, Dan Monoghan and Ray Morneau. If one of them won, the other guy pushed them around to the winner's circle. That was kinda fun. Maybe someone a little closer can explain that little better than me. If I remember correctly, Dave won the first heat race he ever ran. The car was a Nova, number 28, but it was black and silver in a style reminiscent of Buddy Baker's Grey Ghost from the 80s. I remember thinking that he looked pretty damned dominant for a new guy. This would've been in the late 80s-early 90s sometime. Might've been around the same time when Whitlock was running street stock. (I'm right now looking thru some street stock pics I took in 89 but I'm not seeing him.) He did run a Late Model program for a little while...but it didn't last. I think he had some kind of alliance with George Wall...the only real memory I have of the late model was as a show car up at the top of the hill. I've always rooted for Dave. Partly because I liked his style...easy, not too flamboyant or crazy, and not the type to race dirty. The racing is a family thing for them, as most know. Jordan, Kris and the rest of their bunch sit within spitting distance from where I do on Friday nights, and I always see them there. The fact that he made sure the boys had the chance to race and be a part of it makes Dave Lawrence OK with me. Its a sad, sad day when someone is snatched away this early in life. One cannot fathom the horror and the sorrow this family is going through right now. I pray for them to get through this. Matty_46 - Posted: Jun 18, 2006 - 01:59 AM Post subject: In the two short years Ive been following the weekly program at Delaware Ive always thought Dave was a very respectful and talented driver. Although Id never met Dave in person, I can say that things wont be the same without him. All the best to the Lawrence family in this trying time. SS3 - Jun 18, 2006 - 04:09 PM Post subject: How I'll remember Dave Lawrence... Growing up around the track, Dave Lawrence was a name I knew. I knew his reputation as a great racecar driver. What I didn't know, was that he was an even better person off the track. I learned that very quickly when I entered the Street Stock class three years ago. Right from the get-go, Dave went out of his way to make the transition to the full-size racecar as smooth as possible. He was, and will continue to be, instrumental in my development as a racecar driver. Dave had a huge amount of knowledge and experience, and an even bigger heart. Dave's first instinct was always to help, and he helped what seems like just about everybody in the racing community, myself included, on many, many occasions. Dave was a great person, father, husband, friend, and driver. He earned the friendship and respect of everyone he touched. He was a positive influence on me, both through his sharing of knowledge and experience, as well as just being a person I could watch on any given Friday night to see how a great driver behaved and carried himself. He was a mentor and role model. I have nothing but extremely fond memories of Dave Lawrence, and I'd like to share a few of those with his friends and family. One of the greatest things about Dave, was that he'd personally experienced all of the ups and downs in racing. There wasn't anything that could happen he hadn't already been through, and his experience was invaluable to me. I remember when I started my first Feature Race ever in the Street Stock class. I had visions of glory that were crushed when I piled the car up hard into the inside wall coming out of turn two. Man, was I ever disappointed. I doubted myself; I was in way over my head. Maybe it was a sign that I wasn't cut out for this racing business. Nothing anyone said seemed to help, until I talked to Dave. He came up and asked me what happened. I tried to re-create the crash with my hands and words, and he listened intently. When I finished, he said to me, "You had to hit your first wall sometime. We've all done it. I did it my first year too. What's important is that you learn from it." He then proceeded to tell me what I did wrong, and how to prevent it in the future. Just hearing someone as talented as Dave sympathize with me, and say that he'd done it himself, a track champion, really helped. I took that instruction to heart, and haven't made the same mistake again. Dave also wasn't the type of guy to figure something out that worked on the track, and keep it secret. He liked to share information with others, and help people improve. We couldn't all be as good as him, but he wanted us to compete. I still remember a time during my first year when he noticed something about my racing line in practice. Afterwards, he took me over to the entrance to turn three, and asked me how I entered the corner, both with my hands and the brakes. I told him, and he then told me how he did it, and suggested I try it. The great thing about Dave was that he never tried to force feed you anything, he just liked to offer helpful advice. If you took it, great, if not, that was great too. In this case, he told me to "Try it. See what you think. If you like it, use it. If not, just throw it away and do what you are comfortable with." So, I did, and darn if it wasn't much more comfortable, and quicker! After my rookie season, our race team was in negotiations with Dave about purchasing a new racecar from him. I was out at the BT Racing shop one day, looking at the new car, talking about my rookie season, how it went, etc., and he gave me a simple compliment that I will never forget. He simply said "I think you're a heckuva driver." Hearing that from anybody would be flattering, but from Dave Lawrence, it carried some extra weight. Dave was that type of person. Always making people smile. He had a contagious laugh, and he could tell a fantastic story! I'll miss his racing stories. He was friends with so many people, but when he talked to you, he made it feel like you were special, you were a good friend of his. I always appreciated that. I have another good memory when I was talking to Dave after a feature race. I finished one position ahead of him that race, but he was definitely quicker, and all over my rear bumper. On one lap, he got a real good run on the outside, I drifted up the track a bit coming off the corner, and pinched him a bit, not giving him enough room to carry his momemtum down the straight. I felt real bad, I knew he was quicker, and I wasn't trying to block. I figured he was probably really ticked off, so when he came up to me after the race I immediately apologized, and asked if I'd given him enough room. He laughed, gave me a playful slap in the shoulder, and said "Nope, but this is racing. You're not supposed to." I've discussed it with Darrell Lake on numerous occasions, and we both agree that the sight of Dave's #28 machine in the rear-view mirror was hands down the most intimidating of all the cars. Dave was a clean racer, and we both knew he'd never wreck us or do any damage, but seeing him close in on our rear bumpers was just down right scary. He had so much experience, you just knew he would work your bumper with all the tricks he knew, looking for an opening. One of his favourite things to do was pull up behind you, then settle into your blindspot, so you knew he was there, but you couldn't see him. Man, was that ever un-nerving! He'd sit in that spot until you would slip up, miss an entry into the corner, slide up, and off he'd go underneath, often with a quick wave of his right hand as he went by. Man I hated it when he did that, but I couldn't help buy smile as he waved on the way by. Then tucking in behind him, and watching him work his way through traffic, inside, outside, was amazing. The car was Dave's pencil, the track, his canvas. It was fun to watch him drive. So many good memories, Dave was always so good to me. One day I was out at the BT Racing shop, picking up a part, and I took him aside to really say thanks for everything he'd done for me over the years. I finished by saying I was really greatful, and he stopped me and said "I know, I can tell. You just go out there and win and I'll be happy". The thing about it, was that as competitive as he was, what Dave said was probably true. He loved to help people, and then see them do well as a result. A truly selfless man. Knowing this about Dave made me thrilled to hear that his son Jordy won his first career Feature Race in the JRL on Wednesday night because I knew how happy and proud Dave would be. My heart goes out to Heather, Kris, Jordy, Vic, Little, the BT Racing Team, as well as the rest of his family, friends, and the entire racing community. We've lost a great one. I'll never forget Dave Lawrence. I'm so glad I got the chance to meet him. To me, he and his BT Racing family were what racing at Delaware Speedway was all about. He will be missed. Thanks Dave! Andrew Perkins SS3  SS3 - Posted: Jun 18, 2006 - 07:19 PM Post subject: Dave Lawrence Visitation and Funeral Arrangements The Lawrence Family would like everyone to know that they are appreciative of all your thoughts and prayers. Friends may visit at the McFarlane & Roberts Funeral Home (2240 Wharncliffe Road South, Lambeth) on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held a the Funeral Home on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Philip Newman officiating. There will be a private Family interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. If you would like to make a donation the family asks that they be made to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, 620 Colborne Street, Suite 301, London, Ontario N6B-3R9. You can also donate online at: http://www.braintumour.ca/braintumour.nsf/eng/DonateNow streetstocker33 - Posted: Jun 18, 2006 - 07:59 PM Post subject: do you know if the family wants a small mostly family funeral? Myself and Angela would like to go, he's the reason that Angela's car made it onto the track this year. SS3 - Posted: Jun 18, 2006 - 08:53 PM Post subject: do you know if the family wants a small mostly family funeral? Myself and Angela would like to go, he's the reason that Angela's car made it onto the track this year. Jamie, I think that Heather knows that this can't be a small funeral, Dave just touched too many lives. I am going to let the funeral home know however, since I am not sure that they have a lot of parking available. Dougrusty2 - Jun 18, 2006 - 11:26 PM Post subject: first off,my deepest sympathy to heather,kris,joe and the entire bt racing team. I have never met a more fun,caring and helpfull man in my life!!! on the track he was the most competitive and off the track he was the most fun!! my wife hated when myself,dan and ray went down to london to pick pick something up at dave`s,because she knew it would be an all day and night trip!!!dave and vic made it so much fun that I just hated to leave!!!!!! last march dave called us on a tuesday and said "I`m going to bristol and I`ll pick you up on the way.well dan and I got off work and we went and that was by far the best time of my life!!! we have raced delaware since 1998 and I think we have been fairly competitive since the start,then we got hooked up with dave and bt racing.since then we have won the last 2 championships,why because dave never had any secrets,if he found something that worked,he would come over and let you know what he was running,all he wanted was a good race!!!! DAVE,I WILL MISS YOU AND ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU,YOU WERE A GREAT FRIEND!!!!!!!!!! RANDY MORNEAU AND THE MORNEAU RACING TEAM D.Perkins - Jun 19, 2006 - 07:23 AM Post subject: What do we do with the black ju jubes? Somehow, during my son Andrew's first season of Street Stock racing we got in the habit of bringing a tub of ju jubes to the track. We thought that they were some sort of good luck charm I guess. Dave always checked in with us, to see how things were, and to grab the black ju jubes. We said that no one liked the black ones, Dave said "good, that means there will be more for me". It became a running joke, and we always left the black ju jubes for Dave. Once I took a whole tub of 'leftovers' to Dave's trailer. Well, what the heck are we going to do with the black ju jubes now? Will we ever be able to look at them and not think of Dave? No. And that's a good thing. Doug Perkins Dar Tim Meg and Kyle - Jun 19, 2006 - 10:21 AM Post subject: Remembering a wonderful man Dave Lawrence Where do I start? Our thoughts of Dave are kind, loving and of course that crazy sense of humour that everyone loved!! In my mind I can hear his funny laugh and that smirk of his! Whenever we seen Dave he was always with his boys and Heather, his family was first and then his racing which all blended together! Always a kind man and was always there for his fellow racers and friends,and did his best at whatever came his way! Many times seeing him and my brother Duane together, and the wonderful "brother" relationship they had together, look out when those two were together, you never knew what was going to happen next!! Be proud of the man Dave was and keep all those great memorys alive!! We will miss you Dave! Our thoughts and prayers are with his family! racewoman - Posted: Jun 19, 2006 - 01:59 PM Post subject: As Evan says it. We are an extented family and at times like this we do stick together. Our prayers go out to the Lawrence family and friends. T What lies before us & what lies behind us are tiny compared to what lies within us. Allan Mc Gee - Jun 19, 2006 - 02:21 PM Post subject: Hi i am one of the best fans ever i cheered for dave evry race i even talked to him on the 16th of june on the friday night he was as always cheerful and happy i will truly miss dave and will always remeber the champion he was and the caring guy that he was thank you dave for the memories Allan Mc Gee The Wrights - Jun 19, 2006 - 02:33 PM Post subject: We first met Dave about 20 years ago when we started racing in the Street Stock division. After Friday night racing at Delaware, we often went on to Cayuga for their races. Relaxing there around tents, motorhomes, and campfires, we all engaged in johning and horseplay. Our daughters were toddlers at the time and Dave would be camping with friends. When the girls got irritating, he would pick them up and put them in the trash can. This remains a favourite memory for the girls. At a race at Michigan, we aquired a banner from Kenny Shrader's team which we proudly displayed on our motorhome. It disappeared one Saturday at Cayuga and it took the whole weekend before Dave claimed responsibility and returned it. Throughout the ensuing years, Dave has remained a constant at the track. His goodwill and friendliness will be missed. SS3 - Jun 19, 2006 - 02:56 PM Post subject: What were you doing in 1992? 
Photo courtesy of Gary @ Promotions One in Sarnia. Thanks Gary. Anonymous - Jun 19, 2006 - 06:41 PM Post subject: I had seen Dave race at Delaware and Cayuga before, but a couple of years ago I was surprised to see him at Sauble Speedway on a Wednesday night for their special Dash for Cash. It may have been his only appearance ever, but he put on a show in the Thunder Car / Pro Stock feature, where he passed Todd Davenport on the last lap and won by about a car length. Davenport and Dan Wright are tough to beat at Sauble and he drove quite a race that night on a much smaller track than he was used to. The Sterritt Family - Jun 19, 2006 - 07:15 PM Post subject: We first met Dave when my dad (Len sterritt) first started racing about 4 years ago. our first memory of Dave is when he hit my dad in practice and he was nice enough to come over and applogize to my dad for hitting him. Our deepest thoughts and memory go out to the Lawrence family. The Sterritt Family Leslie - Jun 19, 2006 - 08:02 PM Post subject: I first meet Dave the day I was born. Dave was a very close friend of my dad Duane. Dave has been a big part of my life. I will always remember Dave for his wonder sence of humour and always being able to put a smile on my face. Dave was a wonderful race car driver and he will be remembered as champion driver. My favourite past time with Dave, happened recently. On June 9th after his last race. Two of my best friends and I went down to see my dad and Dave. When we got there just jokingly Dave said "You want a beer?", and handed me a 50 and I said "DO you have blue?" and he said" of cousre" and he handed me a blue. Then my dad said no you want blue light. Dave, my dad and myself laughed about that for awhile. Dave was a greta guy and he will be missed greatly. Leslie Steve - Jun 19, 2006 - 08:50 PM Post subject: I worked with Dave for about a year at Carquest and quickly learned how well liked he was by all his customers and co-workers. I always think of this saying for people who are employed in sales "People don't buy products from companies they buy there product from people" This phrase sure applies to Dave what a well loved man who I will always remember as not just a racer but an all round great guy. Debbie - Jun 19, 2006 - 09:04 PM Post subject: Dave I can't even tell you how saddened I was to hear of Dave's passing. Shock and heartbreaking are the only words that come to my mind. I first met Dave when I worked with him for several years at McKerlie Millen and then what became Carquest today. I was a parts driver and he was one of the salesmen. His laugher is what I remember most about him. I remember the first week I worked there, and I was driving the company car down Springbank I was at a red light and from behind me I felt a bump like someone lightly hit the back of my car...I looked in the rearview mirror and there was Dave in his huge beast of a car, laughing at me and waving....all I can see is his great big smile, the one he had when he thought something was hilarious. He proceeded to follow me REALLY close all the way down Springbank, while I tried not to lose it!! He was a genuine guy, you always knew where you stood with him and it was usually as a friend. I remember going to his garage with his crew for beer after the races, and laughing for hours with him and the guys. I remember going to Delaware and standing on the bleachers cheering for him as loud as I could, it was always exciting to see him race. Even though we both went on to different jobs, Dave always greeted me with a great big smile(and usually a beer), when I would make my way down to the pits, even if it had been awhile since we spoke. Dave touched people's lives in so many ways and even if he didn't know it, I wanted his boys to know. Your father was special, he always made us laugh at work, he always played practical jokes that had everyone smiling and usually chasing him around the parking lot! "Larry", I will miss you, thanks for the laughs. Debbie DUANE MANNING - Jun 19, 2006 - 09:51 PM Post subject: A BEST FRIEND I'M TOLD RARELY COMES AROUND. I CAN SAY DAVE LAWRENCE IS MY BEST FREIND.IN 1988 I MET THIS MAN AT DELAWARESPEEDWAY IN BOTH OUR ROOKIE YEARS EVEN AS A ROOKIE ONLY A FEW COULD BEAT HIM . I NOT BEING ONE OF THEM. WITH IN A COUPLE OF YEARS I JOINED HIS RACE TEAM AS A CREW MEMBER OVER THE YEARS MEETING AND GETTING TO KNOW A TON OF PEOPLE.DAVE HELPED ANYONE.IN 2001 DAVE SAID YOU WISH TO DRIVE AGAIN O YA WALLY IS RETIREING FROM RACING. AGAIN I DROVE AN EXCELLENT CAR AND FINISHED THIRD IN THE POINTS. DAVE SECOND BECAUSE OF A GOOD RACE TEAM AND GENEROUS DAVE. NOW 2006 IAM BACK TRYING AGAIN ITS HARD TO RUN WITH THAT 28 GUY. NO MATTER HOW I FINISED DAVE COULD FIND SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SAY.THAN GIVE A TON OF HIS HUMOR.RACING WAS DAVE,S THING AND HELPED ANY ONE SO HE COULD RACE THEM.MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS HOW CLOSE MY FAMILY AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BECAME. I WILL ALWAYS SEE YOUR FACE LAUGHING AND REMEMBER YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR. I COULD GO ON FOR DAYS WITH MEMORIES AND STORIES. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. WE WILL MISS YOU. LOVE DUANE, DIANE, LESLIE, LUCAS DUANE MANNING Mike - Jun 19, 2006 - 11:06 PM Post subject: I have known Dave practically his whole life. We grew up together on Forest Hill and hung around together at Ike Henry's Fina on Springbank and would go out to Delaware and cheer Ike and Dave Isen on. We used to take trips with his family on Sat. nights down to Flamboro. All this time Dave said he was gonna be a racer. I was there when he got his first laps at Delaware in an enduro car we built with his brother in law Scott. We used to do deliveries for his dad's courier business and Dave was driver 28 and thats where it all started. Through public school and high school we were never too far apart. Road hockey, roller skating, and road trips. I remember when he started dating Heather and seeing him so happy. Over the years we grew up and grew apart, but when ever I saw him it was like old home week. I was at work when I heard the sad news, and had to go sit down. You meet many people in your lives. You do not meet many who leave an impression like Dave did. I would go out to the track just to watch him race and would take the kids down to the pits to meet him. He was a true gentleman all the way. My deepest sympaties go out to all members of the Thornton and Lawrence families. As a racer Dave was one of a kind. As a man he was one of the kindest. Mike. Memories of Dave Lawrence: PAGE 2 |
