Vance Swifts Dec 14-2020 passing

[cartel]

well it comes as a great shock to me that Vance Swifts passed away this morning.. Ive known Vance since the mid 80s . I met Andy because i worked for Vance- and my first racecar was through there when i worked for Cando racing.
While i only worked for Vance for 2 years I learned a lot from both him and his Dad. His dad was a funny old guy who would take your hand next to a running car and he would grab the coil high tension lead and laugh his ass off as you started to jerk away.. The high voltage didnt affect him at all.. i believe way back he was hit by lightning..or thats what i remember.. i only had it done to me once but i watched him do it to many people and it was so funny to watch.
Definitely the only "old person" i learned from when i was in my 20s. I went through many 510s back then and Vance and I did a Lot of business together - im pretty sure between us we parted out 50-100 510s , plus many 240s that today would all have been restored.

when Westwood existed we rented the track and thats where i got my driver training done- by him- at one point i remember going over deers leap and asking when we gonna start braking for the hairpin- and he started laughing at me- i kept looking at his foot and looking at the end of the track and squirming.. and he kept laughing.. i dont even remember if we made that corner but i did learn how far you can go before you brake..

He had just bought a house on acreage close to me this year and was busy preparing for the move from Surrey, and was quickly learning how much work it is on a farm.
its pretty sureal - i noticed the last call i made on sunday was to him.. and only a few people who i went to school with ive known longer- but none of them were at my wedding and vance was..

RIP my friend--

[bertvorgon]

I just heard myself...wow! I was present when the 510 wars went on between Specialty, Cando Racing, Davenport, and other shops. Great rivalry, I have known Vance for a long time, last saw him when he and his son were at Sonoma.

Another good person gone this year...Holy Cow! Gary Watson ran a Corvette at Solo, he too will be missed.

[cartel]

Riverside California 1987 . Pretty sure Paul Newman was at that race. i saw him at a few races we were at .
First time I ever saw GTP and GTP lites in person..

Westwood May 1987 driver training.. 4 of us split the track rental and got our Novice license-- Dave Gillis -Vance- me- Chris Hahlen and Mark Ellis.

Westwood Formula Atlantic weekend with Andy on pole 1988.. Vance in the Zebra rx7

for whatever reason i cant delete the original pics loaded from my fone and when i tried to reload it kept them- i tried deleting but they come back once i post a new pic>?

[bigjim5551212]

It was a big shock to hear about Vance. I was talking to him on Saturday and drove past his place on Sunday. He had just got a new car, well, new to him. A BMW i3 with range extender. He was quite impressed.

I knew Vance since about 1983. The first time I met him, we went to eat and were leaving his shop in Tilbury. He had forgot something at the shop and did a hand brake turn in the middle of River Rd.

So many stories. He built my second and third race cars. I didnt pay very much. Race in Peace

[bertvorgon]

I have a funny story about Vance. It was during one of the BIG weekends at Westwood, both the Players Challenge and I think one of the bigger DRC weekends.

Quite the contingent had come out from the East to race. During the practices and then qualifying, there was some BAD driving going on, taking out some of our local drivers. IE...it takes no driver skill to spin somebody out.

Then came the final drivers meeting....Vance, very calmly, after it was asked if there was any concerns or questions, jumped up onto the crate to get some height, in his perpetual cowboy boots, Said....."If you spin me out...I will not be mad...BUT....I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU ON THE NEXT LAP!!!!", then calmly walked away.

Vance always looked a bit rough, so the Easterners GOT the message very clearly.

That one picture of Andy at the head is sure a good picture of the who's who in the local race scene at the time. I see Tracey's 510 and Mark Bennie's rotary 510 in there, as is the TEKAM Mazda.