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September 11, 2001
Our region mourns the loss of two of our most active members in the tragic terrorist actions on September 11th. Linda Gronlund and Joseph DeLuca were traveling to San Francisco on United Airlines flight 93 when it was hijacked and subsequently crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing all on board.
Linda was our region's Flag Marshal. She had joined the Sports Car Club of America in June of 1980 while living in Sag Harbor, New York. She quickly became active in SCCA activities at the Bridgehampton Road Race Circuit near her hometown and at other tracks all over the northeast. Linda earned a law degree and worked for several automotive companies over the years. She was on a business trip to the west coast for her employer, BMW North America, when she was killed. Linda and Joe planned to travel and sightsee in northern California after Linda's business purpose had been accomplished.
Active members in SCCA know what these two wonderful individuals knew: SCCA membership brings a friendship, a camaraderie, which borders on being family. The Northern New Jersey Region has lost two very special members of our family. The entire SCCA organization feels this loss.
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"Yo!!!"
October. 1, 1968 - April 21, 2005 Remembering Vinny Vinny Blancuzzi died on April 21st at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Dover. He was 36. Vinny joined the SCCA in October of 1991. He was a member of the Berkeley Heights Rescue Squad and was already a big fan of automobile racing. His interest in auto racing had been sparked by his father at an early age. Years later, when he came to Lime Rock as a young man, he must have liked what he saw because he quickly became one of us and was embraced by our SCCA family. In short order Vinny earned his Flagging and Communications license as well as his Emergency Services license. Regardless of the region conducting the event, it was a virtual certainty that Vinny would be there working a corner or doing his thing at the track’s medical station. Vinny was a quiet guy. He was quiet about himself. Vinny was very quiet about himself. He was always most interested in the person with whom he was speaking. Vinny was more interested in you. Remembering back, it seems that whenever you greeted Vinny, his typical response was, “Hey! How’re you doing?” or “Hey! What’s happening?” He never said, “Can you do this for me?” More often it was, “Can you help me with this?” Or, hearing that something needed doing, he would simply go and do it. He wouldn’t look to be thanked. Often, not knowing that Vinny had already taken care of things, when you went to do a task, you discovered that it had already been done. But as serious as working corners is, Vinny also had time for a lighter side. A water balloon fight at a gathering of SCCA folks or the silliness of squirting Redi-Whip all over in the cab of the Region’s van – well, each of these was possible with Vinny. He loved to have fun. He was awarded the honor of NESCCA Worker of the Year in 2002 – affirmation of the high regard which the Flagging & Communications community as well as the entire SCCA NorthEast Division held for his abilities and his dedication. In 2004, when he became ill, he was examined at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the city. He had to endure over a month of daily radiation treatments at Sloan-Kettering. Showing their love for him, his friends rose to the occasion and made themselves available to drive him to Manhattan and back to Berkeley Heights each day. He not only loved the SCCA and the sport, but he also found his love in the SCCA. Robin & Vinny. Vinny & Robin. If you saw one, then you also saw the other. They attended our Region’s meetings together. At our Annual Dinner or at the Region’s Worker Party each January, they were there together. On the first Friday of the month labeling the newsletter at Robin’s – Vinny was always there. Vinny loved kids. And kids loved Vinny. Jessica and Rachel and Kenneth all loved him. All the tykes in our SCCA family loved Vinny because he would take the time to play and kid around with them. Vinny is survived by his folks Diane and Vincent Sr., by his love Robin, by his two brothers Jeffrey and Stephen, and by his SCCA family of friends. “Yo!”
RICHARD G. “SCOTTY” WRIGHT Scotty Wright, the oldest actively participating member of the Northern New Jersey Region of the Sports Car Club of America, died on Friday, November 18th at Leisure Park Assisted Living in Lakewood, New Jersey. Scotty joined NNJR in March of 1965. He was an automotive mechanic for Motion Systems Corp., Eatontown, for many years before retiring. He was also the former owner and operator of Scotty & Curtis Car Service Garage, Short Hills, years ago. He was a member of Christiadelphian Church, Westfield. He lived in Maplewood before moving to Brick more than 10 years ago. Born in Leven, Scotland, on January 17, 1921, Scotty served in His Majesty’s Royal Navy during World War II. He was predeceased by his wife, Vivian Decker Wright, in 1996. He leaves his constant daily companion, June Zeitler of Brick, NJ, and a nephew in Scotland. Scotty was most recently the holder of a Senior Steward’s license with the SCCA. He could always be counted on to participate as a Steward of the Meeting at race events at Lime Rock and Pocono. He was a shrewd judge of right and wrong when sitting in a First Court at the races and had a keen sense of fairness in meting out penalty. For the 2005 season he participated at only one event. A work related injury kept him from participating for most of the season. In September he was admitted to Ocean Medical Center in Brick, NJ. Scotty would have been recognized for his forty years of service to the SCCA at Northern New Jersey Region’s Annual Dinner scheduled for December 3rd. Instead, his service pin was placed on his lapel at the funeral home. Burial was at the Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery in Cold Spring, Cape May County, New Jersey.
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/19/05 RICHARD G. WRIGHT, 84, of BRICK, died Friday, Nov. 18, He was an automotive mechanic for Motion Systems Corp., Eatontown, for many years before retiring. He was a World War II British Navy veteran. He was a member of the Sports Car Club of America, Northern New Jersey Region. He was also the former owner and operator of Scotty & Curtis Car Service Garage, Short Hills, years ago. He was a member of Christiadelphian Church, Westfield. Born in Leven, Scotland, he lived in Maplewood before moving to Brick more than 10 years ago. He was predeceased by his wife, Vivian Decker Wright, in 1996. There are no known survivors. Viewing hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, with a funeral service at 8 p.m., at the Weatherhead Young Funeral Home, 885 Mantoloking Road, Brick. Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Monday in Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery, Cold Spring.
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Last updated: Friday February 29, 2008 11:15:02 |
Board Secretary. Previously, and at various times over the years,
Joe had been a Trustee, Assistant Regional Executive, Regional Executive, and
newsletter editor. Initially a rallyist, Joe later was also an active
participant in Solo II and road racing. He enjoyed driving his Morgan and
was the current president of the local Morgan club 
in New Jersey. Joe was the
creator of "
