I just got some very sad news. Dick Knudson passed away on September 1st.
Dr. Knudson was a founder of the New England M.G.-T Register, an avid MG enthusiast, and author of dozens of books on MG, including
"MG - Record-Breakers from Abingdon".
In 2013, Dick asked me to speak at the Kimber Festival in Bennington, Vermont. I put together a presentation on MG's history in land speed racing, along with my project, and it included many excerpts from this build diary about the Milwaukee Midget.
A very interesting fellow, after teaching English at Oneonta State University, he retired after 30 years, but then was ordained as an Anglican Priest. The thought of the Vicar pulling up to the church, with the top down, in an MG TC just brings a broad smile to my face.
Earlier this year, he was inducted into the British Sports Car Hall of Fame with Bob Tullius, Donald Healey, Cecil Kimber, John Sprinzel, Peter Egan and Stirling Moss.
On my wall is a certificate of appreciation I received for my presentation, and Dick signed it with green ink. It was a tradition that Cecil Kimber started - using green ink.
I'm still amazed by the quality of people I've encountered these last 10 years of doing something as out-and-out goofy as putting an MG on the salt. Racers, builders, writers, engineers, both on and off these forums, enthusiasts across the country and overseas. Dr. Knudson was a Bonneville enthusiast as well as an MG guy, smart as a whip, and had a genuinely keen sense of humor, tied to a sense of mission toward MG that verged on evangelism.
Other than permission to use his photographs in my presentation in Bennington, the only thing I asked of Dick was that he be certain the caterer provided "Old Speckled Hen". He delivered, and tonight, I lift a glass to him.
Thank you, Dr. Knudson. You were a light that even Lord Lucas couldn't extinguish.