[DeTomaso] Keith Verges

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/15/16 8 02 12, detomaso at server.detomasolist.com 
writes:


For those who were not aware, Keith Verges passed away early this week. He 
was truly a wonderful person who will be missed. 

>>>I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear this, and very surprised.

>I bought his Pantera from him several years ago, which he drove on the One 
Lap to second place. The car was featured in an issue of POCA Profiles. He 
loved the DeTomaso marque.

>>>Even after he sold his car, quite some time ago, he continued to be 
passionate about Panteras.   He had a small but exquisite car collection 
including a Ferrari F-40, but he was always 'one of us' at heart.   I believe he 
was a lurker on this forum right until the end, either that or he viewed the 
archives.   But once or twice a year he would reach out to me privately about 
one thing or another he had seen there, just an extraordinarily friendly 
guy.

He had a bright yellow late-model Corvette when I last visited him, 
probably going on 15 years ago now.   It was equipped with a Vortech supercharger, 
and had about eleventy billion horsepower, but was otherwise completely 
stock in appearance.   It was frighteningly fast.   His license plate was 
DEWALT, and when I asked him what it meant, he said, “It's my bright yellow power 
tool!”   Clearly he was a guy with a great sense of humor.

He was very enamored of his Vipers, and I believe he had several of them 
and was probably well-known in Viper circles.


>Keith was a great driver, had a keen engineering mind and was a cool cat 
all around.   He co-owned APEX Driving Academy with former Pantera owner John 
Holmes. Keith tirelessly helped others and gave of himself. 

>>>I was at a track day at Texas World Speedway (the track we used for the 
POCA Fun Rally in Houston) many years ago, and Keith had his 
first-generation Spec Miata racer there.   He kindly offered me a ride.   I had no idea 
what I was in for.

To put it mildly, he was an EXTRAORDINARY driver, and I'm not quite sure 
how he was able to zip up his trousers, if you get my drift.   I remember one 
particular lap where he was hounding a late-model Porsche 911.   We came 
onto the front straight and the Porsche naturally pulled well and far away from 
us.   I looked ahead and as the car neared the end of the banked portion, 
the brake lights came on as he started slowing for the turn, the car then 
made the bumpy transition to the flat portion of the track and turned in.

Keith arrived at the same spot and didn't lift--in fact he UPSHIFTED there, 
pounded through the bump at full throttle practically all the way to the 
apex of the corner, then pounded the brakes and flung the car towards the 
apex.   We railed around, and by the next corner, he was right back on the 
Porsche's bumper.   He had made up about 20 carlengths in no time flat, and the 
Porsche wasn't hanging about, as I could see it slithering and sliding at the 
limits of adhesion in front of us.   The Porsche driver courteously slowed 
and waved Keith by, and we just blitzed ahead.   Within three corners the 
Porsche was literally no longer in sight behind us.

Keith's passion for speed took many forms.   One of the very first 'country 
club' tracks was the Motorsports Ranch on the outskirts of Texas.   Keith 
was an early investor and part-owner of the facility, and when they built 
luxury garages/condos there, he got one for himself.   He had a variety of 
track cars, including a rather improbable 1990s Indycar powered by a small-block 
Chevy V-8, which required a crew to run as it had no onboard starter.

>I don't have many facts other than it was probably a heart attack or 
stroke. He was in his mid 50's and in very good health. 

>>>That's a great understatment.   He was in super-duper health, the type 
of guy who competed in triathlons and marathons if I'm not mistaken.   He 
needed to keep fit to keep his edge behind the wheel and he took it very 
seriously.   That's why his death is so shocking to me.

He was a lawyer, a partner in the firm of Figari & Davenport (I have no 
idea why I remember that particular detail).   I confess I didn't know him 
nearly as well as I would have liked, and thus I don't know what kind of law he 
practiced, and whether or not it was overly stressful.   


>Anyone who knew him would agree that the world is a poorer place without 
Keith Verges.

>>>Old-timers in Texas, and on this forum, will remember him fondly.   For 
the rest of you, suffice it to say that your life would have been greatly 
enriched by getting to know him….

Mike
-------------- next part --------------
   In a message dated 9/15/16 8 02 12, detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   writes:
   For those who were not aware, Keith Verges passed away early this week.
   He was truly a wonderful person who will be missed.
   >>>I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear this, and very surprised.
   >I bought his Pantera from him several years ago, which he drove on the
   One Lap to second place. The car was featured in an issue of POCA
   Profiles. He loved the DeTomaso marque.
   >>>Even after he sold his car, quite some time ago, he continued to be
   passionate about Panteras.  He had a small but exquisite car collection
   including a Ferrari F-40, but he was always 'one of us' at heart.  I
   believe he was a lurker on this forum right until the end, either that
   or he viewed the archives.  But once or twice a year he would reach out
   to me privately about one thing or another he had seen there, just an
   extraordinarily friendly guy.
   He had a bright yellow late-model Corvette when I last visited him,
   probably going on 15 years ago now.  It was equipped with a Vortech
   supercharger, and had about eleventy billion horsepower, but was
   otherwise completely stock in appearance.  It was frighteningly fast.
   His license plate was DEWALT, and when I asked him what it meant, he
   said, aIt's my bright yellow power tool!a  Clearly he was a guy with a
   great sense of humor.
   He was very enamored of his Vipers, and I believe he had several of
   them and was probably well-known in Viper circles.
   >Keith was a great driver, had a keen engineering mind and was a cool
   cat all around.  He co-owned APEX Driving Academy with former Pantera
   owner John Holmes. Keith tirelessly helped others and gave of himself.
   >>>I was at a track day at Texas World Speedway (the track we used for
   the POCA Fun Rally in Houston) many years ago, and Keith had his
   first-generation Spec Miata racer there.  He kindly offered me a ride.
   I had no idea what I was in for.
   To put it mildly, he was an EXTRAORDINARY driver, and I'm not quite
   sure how he was able to zip up his trousers, if you get my drift.  I
   remember one particular lap where he was hounding a late-model Porsche
   911.  We came onto the front straight and the Porsche naturally pulled
   well and far away from us.  I looked ahead and as the car neared the
   end of the banked portion, the brake lights came on as he started
   slowing for the turn, the car then made the bumpy transition to the
   flat portion of the track and turned in.
   Keith arrived at the same spot and didn't lift--in fact he UPSHIFTED
   there, pounded through the bump at full throttle practically all the
   way to the apex of the corner, then pounded the brakes and flung the
   car towards the apex.  We railed around, and by the next corner, he was
   right back on the Porsche's bumper.  He had made up about 20 carlengths
   in no time flat, and the Porsche wasn't hanging about, as I could see
   it slithering and sliding at the limits of adhesion in front of us.
   The Porsche driver courteously slowed and waved Keith by, and we just
   blitzed ahead.  Within three corners the Porsche was literally no
   longer in sight behind us.
   Keith's passion for speed took many forms.  One of the very first
   'country club' tracks was the Motorsports Ranch on the outskirts of
   Texas.  Keith was an early investor and part-owner of the facility, and
   when they built luxury garages/condos there, he got one for himself.
   He had a variety of track cars, including a rather improbable 1990s
   Indycar powered by a small-block Chevy V-8, which required a crew to
   run as it had no onboard starter.
   >I don't have many facts other than it was probably a heart attack or
   stroke. He was in his mid 50's and in very good health.
   >>>That's a great understatment.  He was in super-duper health, the
   type of guy who competed in triathlons and marathons if I'm not
   mistaken.  He needed to keep fit to keep his edge behind the wheel and
   he took it very seriously.  That's why his death is so shocking to me.
   He was a lawyer, a partner in the firm of Figari & Davenport (I have no
   idea why I remember that particular detail).  I confess I didn't know
   him nearly as well as I would have liked, and thus I don't know what
   kind of law he practiced, and whether or not it was overly stressful.
   >Anyone who knew him would agree that the world is a poorer place
   without Keith Verges.
   >>>Old-timers in Texas, and on this forum, will remember him fondly.
   For the rest of you, suffice it to say that your life would have been
   greatly enriched by getting to know hima|.
   Mike