Frank West, another Louisiana racer gone
 

Lafayette, LA lost another racer the day before Ronnie West. No relation to Ronnie, but Frank had the same passion for drag racing. Though he had not raced in the last few years, he and his pit crew of Mike "Big Moot" Mouton and Tony Duhon will be forever eched in my mind. His S/Comp big block injected Corvette was a regular at Division 4 races and nearby national events for many years.

I met Mr Vern Buchanan of stock eliminator fame one night in Lafayette while he was out with Frank and his wife. I thought a few other racers may have know Frank and wanted you to know of his passing.

I didn't see either Frank or Ronnie on a day to day basis, but from working at the race track I was able to see them on many weekends. Just as you knew how Ronnie felt, Frank looked at things and had a way of making you think along his lines. He was quit funny at times, maybe because I was an easy target. But he always made me feel welcome anytime I was around.

My wife and I would often see he and his wife eating at Deanos Pizza. Along with his wife Anne, Moot, Tony, Larry Durio and his wife, and Kenny Gankendorf and others. All former racers who enjoyed each others company at the eatery once every other week. Every time we would see them there, he and his wife would always ask how our family was doing and wanted to know the latest news with our little girls.

One weekend while working in Houston, Lynwood Dupuy called me over to the window. He asked me while I was walking to him, "Brownie, do you know where is the safest place at this track is?" I didn't know what he was talking about till I looked out the tower down to the return road. As I looked to see Frank walking between Moot and Tony, Lywood said, "right where Frank is". What a pit crew....!

Frank, like Ronnie, was a generous man. I don't know details, but I heard of one person, not family, getting through college because of Frank and Anne.

It is hard to imagine both men gone from our town. Even harder to imagine the losses felt by each family. I do not know the children, but I know both wives. They are special woman, both strong and extremely caring. I am sure they will be the family rock, that both Frank and Ronnie were.

So to Frank and Ronnie, you will be missed but never forgotten.........

Mark F. Brown

Re: Frank West, another Louisiana racer gone
 

Its sad....We lose more and more race fans and racers every year as we get older. Even if we do not know them personally they are still part of a great family and they will be missed.

Re: Frank West, another Louisiana racer gone
 

Well said both of you guys, and during Christmas time no less...wow. :( My heart goes out to both families, and those who had the pleasure of knowing them closely...

Re: Frank West, another Louisiana racer gone
 

Thanks Mark, for passing the news. As you know , I raced Frank many times and he was always fun to be around. I passed the word around the New Orleans area to the people who don't read this board.

Thanks again and may you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and remember those that we have lost.

Greg

ps. Slate, if you see this, past this info on to your daddy. He knew Frank.

Re: Frank West, another Louisiana racer gone
 

Mark, I just recently joined this forum and began searching for Louisiana racers. Great to find someone posting info albeit sad that it's in death. I ran bracket cars (64 Plymouth Valiant) and a short stint in Super Gas (yellow 69 Camaro, CJ Battens old SS/DA car from Michigan) back in the 80's out of Jimmy Faul's shop in Baton Rouge. Jimmy had a black 67 SS/HA Camaro and a 83 SS/GTD Firebird. I love hearing all the old names again. I can remember Durio (Panama Red), Danny Guidry, Dud Arnaud, Steve Benoit, the Virgidamo bros from the N.O. area etc etc.

Lynwood Dupuy brings back some great memories as well. I can still here him from the tower - "Chevrolet's, a pair!"

How ironic that just the other day, I was watching a video on YouTube of some old Modified Eliminator cars and I mentioned something about Danny's black D/MP Vette and lo and behold, I get a response from his younger brother.

I have been contemplating jumping back into SS and this makes it even harder to resist. Keep up the posts. I'll be tuned in. Also, if anyone has some old videos from State Capital Dragway back in the 80's, please post em.

Thanks for the info,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Donald McKenzie