By Bob Barney
News just in that Paul Newman has died. Newman, who career started as an actor (and one of the best of the best) but wanted also to be known as a serious racer (which he was)has died. Everyone from RaceRap and The Plain Truth send our thoughts and prayers for the life of this great man. I personally didn’t hold to his liberal views, but he was an honest liberal who sincerely believed in his message and a true great American. He started the Hole in the Wall Camp for sick children (which Victory Junction Camp is patterned after), the camp serves 13,000 children every year, free of charge, He also started Newman’s Own salad organic products where every single dime raised went to charity. As of early 2006, the franchise has resulted in excess of 200 million in donations. He co-wrote a memoir about the subject with Hotchner, Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good. Among other awards, Newman co-sponsors the PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award, a 25,000 reward designed to recognize those who protect the first amendment as it applies to the written word.Paul_Newman
Paul was 83 years old. He starred in some of the all time greatest films like Butch Cassidy, Exodus (1960), The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963), Harper (1966), Hombre (1967), Cool Hand Luke (1967), The Towering Inferno (1974), Slap Shot (1977) and The Verdict (1982). He teamed with fellow actor Robert Redford and director George Roy Hill for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973).
He appeared with his wife, Joanne Woodward, in the feature films The Long, Hot Summer (1958), Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys!, (1958), From the Terrace (1960), Paris Blues (1961), A New Kind of Love (1963), Winning (1969)WHICH IN MY OPINION WAS THE BEST RACING MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!!!, WUSA (1970), The Drowning Pool (1975), Harry & Son (1984) and Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990). They also both starred in the HBO miniseries Empire Falls, but did not have any scenes together.
Newman was also the voice of "Doc Hudson" for the movie CARS. One of my favorite cartoons.
Newman’s first professional event was in 1972, in Thompson, Connecticut. He ran the 24 hours of Le Mans once in 1979 and finished second in a Porsche 935 of Dick Barbour.
From the mid-’70s to the early ’90s, he drove for the Bob Sharp Racing team, racing mainly Nissans. He became heavily associated with the brand during the ’80s, even appearing in commercials for them. At the age of 70, he became the oldest driver to be part of a winning team in a major sanctioned race, the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995. Newman told an Associated Press journalist in March 2005 that he’ll "probably race for another year".
Newman co-founded Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing with Carl Haas, a Champ Car team, in 1983. He is also a partner in the Atlantic Championship team Newman Wachs Racing. The 1996 racing season was chronicled in the IMAX film Super Speedway, which Newman narrates. His team Newman/Haas/Lanigan announced a partnership with Robert Yates Racing of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, but that partnership collapsed when Yates announced his retirement from racing in September 2007.
He was married to actress Joanne Woodward. His only son died many years ago.
Paul Newman, May God Bless you!
Please go to www.racerap.com to post any messages for Paul.