06-07-2005, 01:00 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Edgewood, WA
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Alfa Romeo in local news...
Ouch!!!
I was watching the news a couple days ago and they were reporting on a nasty accident in the Seattle area. They had the car in question under a tarp at the scene but showed footage of the accident from a couple angles...first angle I was thinking...those wheels look familiar...second angle was the rear...and there it was...the Alfa Romeo emblem on the trunk!
So...it was a red Alfa Romeo Milano...I hope this wasn't one of our members? Whoever it was I hope they are okay! 
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[I]Adrian Nelsen[/I]
NWARC
-[COLOR=Red]1972 2000 GTV[/COLOR]
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06-07-2005, 08:03 PM
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Location: Granolaville, Washington
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The Loss Of A Friend;
Well, for two days now, I have had serious reservations about posting this. Just today I decided that the best way to honor our friend Eric would be for me to post here and tell all of you what an amazing guy this was! I arrived here to see this thread started and well, Carpe Diem.
I was in the lane to the right - immediately next to Eric when he left us at 5:24PM on this past Saturday afternoon. I was following him to his house (he wanted to change after an honest day's work), before we headed out for dinner, he passed me on the outside lane to get ahead and lead the way and lost control with a head-on result.
Eric from all of us, this is my tribute to what made you great!
A fairly recent convert to all things Alfa, I don't even know if Eric was ever registered here, or on the gtv6.com...? At the same time, he was a passionate individual who quickly snuck into the hearts of many here who knew him via the Northwest Chapter, interaction with Group 2 customers and attending track days.
Any way, Eric had made the leap from driving whatever car was available and cheap, to driving whatever Alfa was available and cheap. Eric had proven his steel at Group 2 Inc in Magnolia the past 14 months of his tenure with Joe English and the boys down there and he started to actually do a great deal of work to the "new" red car he recently acquired... (He had recently purchased a Blue Silver model from me, which I had actually just bought back from him to be my donor for the 3.7 litre track car, when he found a red Gold in better shape to be his daily driver.
Eric loved the thing and took great pride in it. He was a fantastic tech. who worked efficiently and he had actually taken-on Fred's "Cry Baby" as his "personal" in-house pet-project - lugging the car to track events and performing all upkeep personally. Eric took great pride in his work. Just Saturday afternoon when Joe had called an "all-hands on-deck" to do some shop-cleaning, tool-stowing and parts-sorting, Eric exclaimed HOW MUCH he LOVES working at G2, liked the people he worked with and enjoyed the customers here immensely! He loved his move out here from the East Coast!
Here is the heart-basher. Eric was a good friend. No wait; he was a GREAT friend. He had committed several hours of his personal (off-the-clock time) to helping Jes and I on the two 3.7s for what he called his contribution to good relations (and in his typical bantering style) "a sure ride in the damn thing when we get them running..."
This was the thing; he had THE MOST AMAZING SENSE OF HUMOR and this is where he will be missed the most! Always quick with a joke; I will miss you bud! We'll have fun together again someday in that great big apex in the sky.
Good Bye EC!
John van Rensburg
AKA Alfa John!
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Full-Race 3.7 Litre 24v Milano; Street/Track 3.0 Litre 24v Milano Verde; 2.0 TS '73 GTV; 6-speed 3.45 litre 24v Street 164 LS/Super; '06 Scion XB - Runs! 
Last edited by junglejustice; 06-08-2005 at 12:40 AM.
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06-07-2005, 09:04 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Southern California
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I'm still in disbelief when I think that Eric is no longer with us. Though, you will always be with us in our hearts! I knew Eric from our 3.7 projects, where he was always helpful, a great resource, without any hesitation to lend a hand. What a great guy! You will be missed.
Life is fragile, lets cherish it!
Jes
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87 Milano Verde - daily driver - Juliet
87 Milano 3.0 Motronic - budget race car - Roxanne
87 Milano 3.7 24v - race car
(Repeating what I suggest or do is at your own risk - be critical)
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06-08-2005, 01:14 PM
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Location: Edgewood, WA
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Wow...a sad event to be sure...thank you for the information and my condolences... 
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[I]Adrian Nelsen[/I]
NWARC
-[COLOR=Red]1972 2000 GTV[/COLOR]
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06-09-2005, 12:22 AM
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Location: Granolaville, Washington
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Now, THIS was Eric!
I thought that I would follow up with this GREAT shot that Fred Wright took of Eric up at Mission in Canada, (just the weekend before...)
Thanks for sharing this Fred!
Also, another shot I took recently! Regina would sometimes go down there to cut some of the G2 boys' hair... (That's my "peanut" down in the back ground...)
Thanks for checking in on this thread.
John van Rensburg
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Full-Race 3.7 Litre 24v Milano; Street/Track 3.0 Litre 24v Milano Verde; 2.0 TS '73 GTV; 6-speed 3.45 litre 24v Street 164 LS/Super; '06 Scion XB - Runs!
Last edited by junglejustice; 06-09-2005 at 12:28 AM.
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06-10-2005, 01:45 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Northridge, California
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This is so sad. RIP Eric.
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Anthony Rimicci | 64 Giulia Spider | 65 GTA | 68 GT Jr.
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06-10-2005, 01:49 AM
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John & Jes,
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. My condolences to you and all the other loved ones he left behind.
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06-10-2005, 09:07 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 624
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When is the rememberence at G2 scheduled?
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06-10-2005, 09:34 PM
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Trogdor The Burninator!
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Timonium, MD & St. Louis, MO
Posts: 4,265
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What a drag! It is awful to hear of a such a great young man losing his life. Is there anything that we here on the AlfaBB can do for his family?
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Cheers,
Alex Csank
Chair, Alfa Century 2010 - The AROC USA ALFA Centennial Convention
E-mail: alfaromeodriveralex@gmail.com or alfacentury2010@gmail.com
Mobile: (757) 636-9513
82 Spider Veloce (Desideria - Kathleen's)
84 GTV6 Maratona (Mona - resto project)
88 Milano Verde (Trogdor The Burninator)
"My name is Alex and I am an Alfaholic."
Alfisti are always welcome in our home!
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06-10-2005, 11:04 PM
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Location: Southern California
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Well, I have an idea I ran by JJ just now. Simon, is there any way that we can have an on-online memorial for Eric? What I had in mind is something like 1 hour silence on AlfaBB honoring Eric's all too short life. Not sure if it is possible, but how about if anyone trying access AlfaBB from 3 PM to 4 PM pacific time, Saturday, 6/11, will only see a pic of Eric and a short appropriate message? I believe this is also the time of service in Seattle.
Jes
__________________
87 Milano Verde - daily driver - Juliet
87 Milano 3.0 Motronic - budget race car - Roxanne
87 Milano 3.7 24v - race car
(Repeating what I suggest or do is at your own risk - be critical)
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06-11-2005, 11:43 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Granolaville, Washington
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Wow!
Jes, this is a fantastic idea, thanks! Guys, I don't know if this is asking too much of the board and of the rest of the folks here who did not know Eric at all.
At the same time; he served Alfa owners and took pride in his work; if this is at all possible, it would be a great gesture...
The service is at Group 2 today at 3PM Pacific for those who knew him.
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Full-Race 3.7 Litre 24v Milano; Street/Track 3.0 Litre 24v Milano Verde; 2.0 TS '73 GTV; 6-speed 3.45 litre 24v Street 164 LS/Super; '06 Scion XB - Runs!
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06-11-2005, 12:38 PM
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Join Date: May 2004
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I am truly sorry to hear about Eric. Hopefully he is now in a better place.
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06-12-2005, 01:36 PM
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Location: Portland, OR
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Eric was top notch. He'll be missed. Damn.
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'08 Ducati Sport 1000 'El Duce'
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06-13-2005, 09:43 AM
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I never Knew Eric, but reading Johns short story about the guy, fills my eyes with tears.
I am very much sorry for the lost of your freind, a good man I belive, True alfisti, and above all - a man!!
Rest in Peace alfisti freind!
Tomer David
Israel!
Last edited by gtv11636; 06-13-2005 at 09:56 AM.
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08-01-2005, 12:40 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Seattle
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John, I new Eric and had a few beers with him, my wife was his manager at the restraunt he worked at and I know Benneta very well. I gave my condolences to Joe and Chris and I did not know that you knew him so well. He will be sorrowfully missed. Sorry for the late post.
Mike
Seattle GTV6
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