Dick Scopinich Passing

[Dave Young 94-N]

It is with deep sadness I report the passing of Dick Scopinich. Dick passed away at his home with his loved ones Sunday December 10, 2006 after a short illness.
"Dickie" was born in Freeport Long Island to a boat building family and later migrated to the east end of Long Island (East Quogue) where he kept with the family tradition. He was always part of the boat racing family competing in the stock and alky divisions gaining championship status throughout the 60's and 70's. I was fortunate enough to have him tuck me under his wing in the mid 60's and bring me into the fold of the greatest extended family anyone could experience. After racing became too demanding he remained active in all types of boating activities including classic boat and car restorations, cruising the Caribbean, sailing and R/C boat building.
"His humor, creative artistry and spirit of generosity will be sorely missed."

God speed Dickie - See ya in the first turn!

Arrangements are as follows:

Visitation- Thursday 12-14-06
Follett & Werner Funeral Home 2:00-4:00 PM & 7:00-9:00 PM
60 Mill Road
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 (631-288-1231)

Funeral Services: Friday 12-15-06
Saint Marks Church 11:00 AM
Main Street and Potunk Lane
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978

Memorial donationsin Dickie's memory may be made to:

East End Hospice
P.O. Box 1948
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978

NYU Cancer Research Center
160 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016

[Dave Young 94-N]

Any Story?

Any of you older guys have a story you can share?
Thanks,
Dave

[ChrisH]

One of the best!

Dave,

I will take a shot at this but I don’t consider myself one of the “older” guys. I’m very sorry to hear of the loss of Dickie.

When I was ten years old my dad bought me my first 125ccH (MOH in those days). After we got the boat Dickie came to the house and painted my boat number and name on the boat. He also lettered my helmet. As a ten year old I had never seen anyone paint anything freehand like that and was totally amazed. From that point on he was definitely one of my heroes.

I also remember about that time when he purchased a 500ccH from Tim Butts. This thing was fast and immaculate as was everthing of Dickie’s. Growing up I remember him racing in the Northeast against guys like John Yale, George Andrews, Mike Schmidt, Bobby Rusnak, Joe Tomania and doing very well. It seems like yesterday. Hard to believe he is gone.

One other thing I remember was that in 1973 my dad purchased a Ford Mustang Convertible. After my dad passed away in 01’ I inherited the car and spent about 3 years restoring it. When I went up to Long Island for Bobby Hooghkirk’s funeral I saw Dickie. I probably hadn’t seen him in about 20 or 25 years since we had left Long Island and told him about the car. You see Dickie had a white 72’ Mustang Convertible that he drove around in the day. A couple months later I e-mailed him pictures of dad’s restored car. He thought it was really neat and enjoyed the pictures.

The Eastern Outboard Racing Club on Long Island has probably produced some of the greatest racers in the country and does to this day. Dickie was definitely at the top of the list. The club has been around a long time and its roots are fortunately or unfortunately starting to reproduce on “Lake Paradise”. With another great one on its way I’m sure we are going to hold our own when the “race is on”!

My condolences to Jeanie and the rest of the family.

Sincerely,

Chris Hellsten

[csh2z]

Condolences to the Scopinich family. I remember Dickie pretty well too. He was a true gentleman, a great competitor, and a good person. He was one of those guys that put the Pro in the Pro category. I have many fond memories of that era with all those guys from Long Island, memories that last a lifetime. Rest in Peace, Dick. John Runne & family

[Bob Rusnak]

Dick Scopinich

Any of you older guys have a story you can share?
Thanks,
Dave

Dick, thanks for all the help and support for all those years, You will me missed deeply, God Bless You.

Bob, Kathy, Lorraine and Don Rusnak

[Roy Conklin]

Dickie Scopinich

As a past member of EORC in the 50's & 60"s,I remember Dickie very well. Dickie always had time to help you out, regardless of how busy he was at work.
One evning I went out to his shop, Dickie was going to help me repair my DSR. HE was up on a flybridge of a boat painting it with a brush. The painted brush finish looked better then a spray job. I asked him, How do you do that? He said, " Oh you just slop it on " Yeah right!!! The man had incredible talent.

Dickie and Jim Gohery had a race team named Happy Valley Race
Team. Dickie and Jim built a low rider race trailor, the first one I had ever seen. The engines were stored in drawers that slid out of the sides of the trailor. It held three boats, its highest point was 6 1/2 feet with the boats on. I bought that trailor from Dickie. When I picked up the trailor, Dickie had painted a beautiful roll of carpet, rolling opening with the name Rug Runner Race Team on it.

Rest in Peace Dickie

[A/B Speedliner]

Many Memory's

Being a member of EORC from the late 50's to the early 80's I remember Dickie very well. We had many a race against each other, we was always a fine competitor. He used a larger engine in the feature race than I would use, alot faster in straights but I would turn inside of him and the other larger bore guys. It made for great racing, I wish we could all go back to that time.

God's Speed Dickie, until we meet again in turn one at Mastic Beach I will be thinking of you and all the friends Alan and I have made racing the best.

David Van Weele formerly 52N now 163F

[RTM]

Dickie (Scop) Scopinich

Dickie and I were boyhood buddies long before his boatracing days. We were just kids fooling around in fast boats on Woodcleft Canal if Freeport. I remember when he pinstriped my `53 Ford in the late `50s. What an artistic talent. We attended college together at Farmindale. The last I saw Scop was at a boat race at Mastic Beach in the late `60s before I moved to Fl. Funny, he`s been on my mind lately, We`re both members of AOMCI, and I saw his name in the members register, and meant to write him.
Condolences to Toots, and the rest of the Scops.

Dick Messineo.

[RTM]

Scop

Did you know that Dickie was a male cheerleader in high school, The girls loved him. When he walked into a room, the room lit up with his infectious smile and easy laugh. He was the most likable person I ever knew, we really lost one of the good guys.

Dick Messineo

[oldracer]

Dick Scopinich

Dick was a great guy. Spent some time at his boat yard shooting the bull. Always in a happy mood. A great competitator. Always said how many red headed Italians do you see. Remember when he won the Pro Formula E hydro using an old out of the warrenty pile parts that Pete Kruszon built. Beat the west coast guys with their Merc 650s with the OMC 3 holer. He was also the main deck rider for the late Bill Fales during several national championships.

Dick, may the Good Lord take a liking to you and allow you another race on Lake Paradise. Mabe you can win a Universe Championship.

Ye Olde Desert Geezer Al Lang

[Capt_Speed]

Dickie Scopinich

I'll echo Chris's statement as well, that I'm also not one of the "older" guys here either. But I do distinctly recall alot of fun times and hearing even funnier stories about the old EORC days, of which always seemed to have Dickie's name attached to them in some way.

I particularly liked one story I recall about Dickie always carrying "something" with him when Deck-Riding in Bill Fales FRR, from Waterpistols & a collection of Flags to wave, to ingenious underway refueling methods (hence, the attached photo).

I've always liked this clipped photo of Bill & Dickie (from an article in an old Powerboat magazine about the '68 Depue Nat's). Kind of illustrates they're tenacity, determination & sometimes comedic approach to winning a race (of which they did, as the caption says).

From what I recall hearing about this event, Bill had a small fuel tank onboard and the Depue Nat's (that year) required 4 laps. So, in order to complete the four laps AND advance to the final heat, Dickie filled & carried a one gallon Purex Bottle of mixed-fuel onboard. He would pour its contents into the tank (while underway) after the third lap.
If you look real closely, you can see him fiddling around with the fuel tank behind him while still facing/looking forward.

I can still sort of recall what those huge 6 cyl. Merc's & Quincy's sounded like from back then. Man, I'd love to see & hear one of them run again!!

My prayers are with Dickie & his family...

Guy Conklin