Frank West, another Louisiana racer gone

[MFBrown]

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