11-02-2011
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Skippy Instructor
Entry Speed Demon / Advanced Member (100+ Posts)
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 229
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Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Mark was a special guy, and will be greatly missed. He hadn't been around the SBRS paddocks for a while, but I thought some of you old timers might remember him and want to know about his passing. Sad day.
Pete
For Immediate Release: October 31, 2011
Contact: David Russell, (407) 671-0909
Automatic Racing Mourns Loss of Driver Mark Hillestad ORLANDO, Fla.—Automatic Racing is sad to announce that team driver Mark Hillestad died on Saturday, October 29, while racing at Virginia International Raceway. Hillestad, 57, has been a staple of Automatic Racing for the past four years and will be remembered for his jovial personality and passion for racing.
Hillestad joined Steve Phillips and Rob Ecklin to drive the No. 91 Automatic Racing BMW M3 in Saturday’s Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-Hour Enduro at VIR. During the second hour of the race, Hillestad had just moved the car into second place. Shortly thereafter, he drove off the track and came to a stop in the grass after succumbing to an apparent heart attack.
“This is a huge loss for the team and the GRAND-AM community,” says Automatic Racing team manager David Russell. “Team camaraderie was great and Mark was at the center of it. Mark was a true team player and a friend to all of us at Automatic. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s family, friends and co-workers as they deal with this tragic loss.”
Hillestad was a well-liked figure in the GRAND-AM paddock. Over the past several years, he concentrated on the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series where he and co-driver Barry Waddell earned a number of top-ten finishes. Hillestad was also a multi-time veteran of the Rolex Series 24 Hours at Daytona. In addition, Hillestad raced competitively with the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Series for more than a decade. He found a lot of success there and forged many lasting friendships.
Automatic Racing extends its condolences to Hillestad’s wife Teri and his daughter Juliana.
Funeral arrangements for Hillestad will take place at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home at 174 North Lyman Street in Wadsworth, Ohio. Calling hours will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 3. The funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 4.
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Peter
"Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of a race car about either its pitch or roll axis." ~ Carroll Smith
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11-02-2011
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administrationistperson
Carbon Fiber Keyboard (3,000+ Posts)
TJR Forums Contributor / Supporter
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 5,546
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
How sad, too young!! Mark's Grand-Am CV
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"Think very carefully, because if you ever start, you will never be able to leave it alone" Sir Donald Campbell, CBE
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11-02-2011
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Grand Master
Carbon Fiber Keyboard (3,000+ Posts)
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: location, location
Posts: 5,399
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Terrible loss... Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
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You draw 'em a picture and they eat the crayons... (Duck Waddle commenting on the creative ways some people interpret driving instruction.)
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11-02-2011
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Testing Mid-Corner Speed / Advanced Member (500+ Posts)
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LA, CA
Age: 53
Posts: 563
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
I was close behind him when this incident happened.
He was rolling backwards from oak tree through the prior kink and I was wondering why he was rolling backwards down the track.
I am really sorry.
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11-03-2011
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Testing Mid-Corner Speed / Advanced Member (500+ Posts)
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 985
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
It is never a good time when you lose someone you care about...At least he was doing what he loved instead of sitting back and watching life's dreams pass by.....
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11-03-2011
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Winning Races / Advanced Member (250+ Posts)
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South Florida
Posts: 281
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Very sad indeed..I knew him a little bit and would see him at Grand Am events when he was driving with Barry Waddell. He was a very nice, down to earth guy. My thoughts are with his family.
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"Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of a race car about either its pitch or roll axis. "
Carroll Smith
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11-03-2011
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G-force junkie
Speed Through Zen / Advanced Member (2,000+ Posts)
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Changes weekly
Posts: 2,183
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Yes, very sad, and too young.
Interesting story, Greg. Kinda scary. glad no one else got collected.
In the big picture, I gotta agree with Chris...going out the way he did, in a race car, doing what he loved...if it's your time, there are lots worse ways.
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"All things are ready if our minds be so." -- Henry V
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11-03-2011
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Moving Chicane / Regular Member (<5 Posts)
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: denver
Posts: 4
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Mark was a Florida Series Skippy racer in the 90's. At dinner the night before he passed he was still telling stories form back then....
Hug your kids once a day!
Godspeed my friend!
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11-03-2011
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Sweetlips
Maximizing Exit Speed / Advanced Member (10+ Posts)
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sheffield, Ma
Age: 78
Posts: 10
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Mark was Really Passionate about Racing - He, like too many of our Skip Barber Family this year, is gone too soon. He was a Great Guy & we'll see him again...
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11-03-2011
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Entry Speed Demon / Advanced Member (100+ Posts)
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 241
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Re: Loss of old Skip Barber friend at VIR
Very sorry to hear this. I didn't know Mark well, but remember him from his Florida series days, and he was definitely a good guy. My condolences to his family.
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