Paul Newman Dead at 83

For those of you who have childhood memoirs appear at the site of a 1950’s automobile, will admit to wearing a polyester pant suit once or protested the Viet Nam conflict, the news of Paul Newman’s death brings great sadness. He was as much a part of our lives as Tom Cruise is to a younger generation.

Paul Newman got it right and was the kind of role model we could really use today. On screen he was a tough guy without being violent, and a sex symbol without explicit sex scenes. He was just you’re average guy who could be or do anything if you just tried.

Off screen Paul Newman engaged in humanitarian and political issues without telling people what to think, he just made people think. He has been labeled a true philanthropist for his social responsibility and charitable donations which have totaled more than $200 million over the last 25 years, and did it with great humility.

Paul Newman entered our lives through the silver screen, but his daughter Melissa, speaking outside the family home in Connecticut, asked the world to remember her father for his extensive charity work rather than his film career. As car enthusiasts, we have one more thing to remember the man by – his love of cars.

When it was rumored last June that Paul Newman may be battling cancer, we did an article highlighting his racing career and included a link to a video of the Annual Ontario Motor Speedway’s Celebrity Pro Am Race for Charity narrated by Newman. We would like to share that with you again in our remembrance of a great man.

Paul Newman the Race Car Driver and Enthusiast