I wasn't going to post until Dave had a chance but now that word is out I would like to tell you about my fifteen year friendship with Lionel.
We met over Tires. Yes, F*cking Tires. Mickey Thompson 30X9X18 Landspeed Tires to be precise.
From there our bond was formed. Hundreds of lunch's, many hundred hours of Him helping my sorry Acura trying to campaign a underfunded LS car, working on my car, truck, trailer, shop, you name it, Lionel was at my beck and call.
He wouldn't let me pay him so I had to hide money in his truck or jacket pocket.
When I became the first racer to arrive at Speedweek with both my racecar trailer and my tow vehicle on the end of a hook, Lionel helped pull the truck motor, hauled my Acura into SaltLakeCity to pick up a new truck motor and stayed with me for two days out on the Salt AFTER EVERYONE ELSE WAS GONE.
What a sight, Lionel, me, my entire pit still set up and nothing in any direction but white salt.
Then without bitching one time, he followed me home to Vancouver before He drove the last 25 miles to his house.
For this he would take no money, all he got was a lousy thank you plaque that I had Slim whittle out.
Lionel was a man of few words... in fact almost NO words but I don't think anyone who ever met him could possibly have anything bad to say about him.
My heart is broken, and it has been an honor to be his friend. I only wish I had been a better one to him.
My sincere condolences to his family and especially to Dave MacDonald who was Lionels brother from a different mother.
Bob Drury
p.s. I bought ALL the lunch's so that I could sleep at night......