Grass Lake report

[Mark 72@E]

Godspeed John Loomer

A couple of years ago a man had a heart attack in the middle of a Sunday service at my church. Although I wasn't at that particular service friends say they thought the victim left this world before the ambulance crew rushed him out the sanctuary doors.

The following Sunday our Pastor, talking to many who were in attendance at this tragic event and to a few who were still traumatized by it to some degree, said "I cannot think of a better place to be called home, to be surrounded by friends, family, and fellow believers."

I never met John Loomer and I don't know his religious beliefs. But the fact that he chose to come back to racing after a 22 year absence means a lot of folks at Grass Lake, and many more of his extended "family" here on Hydroracer understood and "believed" all the reasons why he chose to race again. For me there was a 29 year gap between races so I'd like to think John and I had some things in common.

Godspeed John Loomer. You've finished the race.

[hydroracer25]

I'm not sure how many people from today's racing really knew John. I remember John's name as I grew up at the races in the late 70s / early 80s. It was a surprise to meet him at our MHRA club work party a few years ago as he showed up to help without many of our knowledge. Since John's return he has been very helpful to the club putting in hours not only at the work party, but at Constantine this past year doing multiple sets of patrol boat duty. John was also very helpful to me this past year lending me an adapter plate to copy for a modified engine.

On Hydroracer (as Greybeard), John was always very positive and optimistic. I know he recently retired from Ford Motor Company and looked forward to having more time to be involved with boat racing again and enjoying retirement.

Boatracing has lost a true gentleman and I hope his family can find some peace in knowing that he had many friends in the racing community.

Our condolences,

Mark and Heather Miskerik
Gary and Carol Miskerik

[MGallagher]

Our condolences to the Loomer Family and may God Bless John.

Matt, Rachel, and Jackson Gallagher

[473M]

Team Racecraft would like to send there condolences and prayers to John's family.

[Brett L. Pruett]

I'll miss John

I haven't known John long enough, met him at one of the races last season, gave him a hand getting some stuff out of his truck. We chatted awhile & I found out that he lived nearby and he had seen my son & me putting time on our race boats out in the channel. I saw him again at the M.H.R.A. work party and chatted a while. What a great guy, he has a lucky family.

I'm very sad to say that I didn't see him at Constantine, Top O', or Grass Lake. Its like being stretched too thin, and you don't know what you've missed until it's been taken away from us.

Our condolences to the Loomer family. I will miss John, as will many many others.
From my point of view, the world, & our community has lost a great contributer.

Brett and Deonna Pruett
Samantha, Brett, & Christopher

[Racing Fan]

"Godspeed John Loomer. You've finished the race." Mark Ritchie

Mark--I don't think anyone could have said it any better. John passed away doing what he loved and our hearts and prayers go out to his family. May God Bless You John and may He keep you racing!

[14-H]

John Loomer Family

Thank you for sharing John with us. Those who knew him respected him very much. This has caused us all to cherish every day and to realize just how important our boatracing family is.

May God in his mercy take John to paradise. Ed Hearn, SO Chairman.

[Gootz 142M]

John Loomer

I knew John from racing back in the early 70's. I brought a photo to show John at Grass Lake. It was from the Bay City Marathon in 1974. John had loaned me his boat so I could race ASR there. It is the same boat in his HR avatar. John was pitting with my daughter Heather and I this weekend at Grass Lake and we helped him with his boat. He truely enjoyed the two heats of racing Saturday even joking between heats back and forth with John Broge.

John will be deeply missed by his racing family. Race In Peace John.

Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to John's Wife Dori, His children and family.

The Gutierrez Family.

[jeff55v]

John Loomer

I had only just met John Loomer. Yet my brief contact with him will leave a lasting impression on me. Please let me share two memories that will always stand out in my mind.

Last winter I asked for help in relaying a boat from Northern Michigan to my area. That's how I met John, he stepped up to help me out. We had only known each other through the internet. Yet, he went far out of his way to help get the boat closer to me. Several times I offered to pay John for his time and trouble (not to mention gas money). John declined money from me. He told me: "Boat racers do things like this for one another. Sometime you can do a favor for me, or do a favor for someone else, and someday it'll circle back around to me." I'll always remember his generosity.

It was the first day of the Top O' race. I was nearly frantic as I was trying to put my boat and motor together in time race. John walked up to the boat and said to me. "I'm the guy who picked up the boat for you". I immediately stopped what I was doing. I gave John a handshake and a genuine thank you for his help. As I began working again, John looked over my boat and riggings. He asked me: "So... how much testing time have you got on her?" I was afraid someone would ask that. I replied with an ashamed, but hearty, "NONE!" I'll never forget how John's head Jerked up from the boat to look me in the eye. He said nothing to me, but the look of suprise he gave me was priceless. If his reaction could speak, I think it would have said, "Well.. been nice knowing you..."


Mr. Loomer was certainly "one of the good guys".
God rest your soul John.

[Tim Sidor]

John Loomer
I have known John when he raced back in the 1970's and had many good times talking to him as we had our boat club meetings at my parents house. John was a gentleman and was always willing to lend a hand when someone was in need, it just was 5 minutes before my race at Grass Lake and John came up to me and asked if I had a hacksaw and could use my vice to cut off a bolt for his kickout bracket. Of course I said you are welcome to use it but I have to get ready to race, so as I went to race , John was cutting away at his bolt and i went to race only to find out what had occurred with John. I wish we could have spent more time talking as it was his first race back and I know he was looking forward to enjoying his Retirement and racing with his friends .

May you have peace my friend and i thank you for sharing your friendship within our family.

Tim & Vicki Sidor
Dick Sidor

[KG4]

Can we take up a collection for the family.If everybody thinks it a good idea we can appoint one person that lives close by the family in charge of recieving the collection.Like i said i only met him once when he came to my house to pick up my runabout to help deilever it down state.After talking with him for five minutes i could tell he was one of the good ones.We talked for an hour or so from everything from how to turn a runabout to me losing my job.He has gone to race in a far better place.May the water be smooth for you up their my friend.

[csh12M]

John Loomer

I met John two years ago when he called me and introduced himself. He was looking forward to returning to racing. We had several conversations about potential classes and equipment on the phone. He then showed up at some of our Michigan Hydroplane functions and was beginning to become very active worker within our club. John helped inspect at Constantine this year. After the race I went and thanked him for all the help and work that he did. He told me how much he enjoyed being back at the boat races and that he was really looking forward to Grass Lake.

While I did not know John very long, it was obvious that he loved boat racing and was dedicated to giving back to the sport. I know he was looking forward to retiring from work and attending more races and becoming more active in our club.

I will miss John Loomer, he was my friend.

May God grant Johns family the strength to get through this time. I will pray for them, to celebrate Johns life and remember the positive memories they shared.

Dean Sutherland

[mike ross]

LOOMER JOHN R
September 11, 2007

Age 62. Suddenly on September 8, 2007. Beloved husband of 37 years to Delores. Loving dad of Aaron (Christine) Loomer and Kathryn (William) Burleson. Dearest son of Mary Jane Peters. Brother to Susan (David) Lindsay, Conway (Carrie) Peters and Sally (Joel) Nowak. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral Service Thursday 12:00 p.m. at The Trenton Chapel-Martenson Family of Funeral Homes, 3200 West Rd., Trenton. Visitation Wednesday 3-9 p.m. Interment Michigan Memorial Park Cemetery. www.martenson.com

Here is the funeral info: I started a new thread and Dan should post it soon so everyone knows what is going on. Mike

[csh12M]

Mike and Dan,

Didn't see this infomation until after I started a new thread as well.

Thanks for getting the information out there!

[gckphoto]

Photos from Grass Lake 07

Dori Loomer is looking for pictures of her late husband racing at Grass Lake. Does anybody know if and who the photographer was there?

Garrett C Kline
Kline's Photography