[Shotimes] OT Arnie "The Farmer" hurt

[Donald Mallinson]

I just found out that Sunday Aug 3rd, Arnie "The Farmer" 
Beswick was seriously burned in a fire in his drag Tempest 
during exhibition runs at Mid-America Raceway in Wentzville, 
MO. (former trans-am track).

He had just completed a run and the car caught fire.  He has 
serious burns.  He is at a very good hospital for burns, St. 
Johns Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.

Here is a link to the intitial story:

http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/hotnews/0308pon_beswick/

Also you can go to his own site at:

http://www.arniebeswick.com

Arnie is one of the nicest guys in drag racing, former 
multi-national record holder, one of the first if not THE 
first person to race a "funny" car, and at the age of about 
73 still does 7 second runs all the time in his exhibition 
Tempest.  His trademark is a 1/8 mile burn-out, and then he 
backs up to the line at a verified 70 MPH!  To see him punch 
through his own smoke at speed is a thrill you will never 
forget.

He spends so much time with his fans that his crew has to 
literally drag him away to get into his car.

Several years ago, he lost his farm (yes his family were 
farmers, thus his nickname) in Morrison IL to back taxes. 
He kept the home and out buildings and I talked to him at 
that time, he told me "now I can do what I REALLY want to do 
all the time...Drag race!"

A fire at his farm several years ago burned up many of his 
old race cars, but with the help of fans and friends he has 
two re-built cars that he gets to run, the 7 second car that 
just burned, and a 10 second car that my 62 Catalina got to 
race a few years ago!

Just though you might like to know.

Don Mallinson