RIP Randy Barnett

My mentor died. Randy Barnett was the motor sports editor at the European Stars & Stripes, a civilian-produced newspaper for the American Military Community. I wrote to Randy Barnett in 1980, requesting press credentials to cover major motorcycle events in Europe. It worked. Randy took me under his wing and for that I am forever grateful.

Randy sent me a stack of S&S letterhead, a press card, and instructions on how to get press credentials for any event I chose to cover. In return, he asked only that I supply him with a carbon of stories (we still wrote on typewriters in those days) that I was marketing to motorcycle magazines in the states, and an interview with an American motorcyclist who lived in Munich and raced on the German local circuit. I still owe him that story. :-)

Randy and I split motorsports coverage with him taking the cars and me the bikes. My job in military intelligence required reporting skills but I didn't know diddly about "news writing." With Randy's patient tutoring, I learned fast. He was a huge fan of Mario Andretti. This Racing Roundup column is about Andretti. My story is about Mike Guerra. But, my hero was Brad Lackey.

My first submission to a magazine was a story about Brad Lackey. I couldn't believe that Motorcyclist bought my very first effort at getting published. Things really took off from there. Randy introduced me to several important media contacts, editorial and advertising. He was very highly regarded by everyone in the motorsports community. Mentioning his name was all it took to get me through some tightly guarded doors.

We eventually became close friends. After I returned to the states, we maintained contact for several years. I lost touch with him in the early '90s. Just last week I found a contact point and asked for help. I received an email from his son-in-law who is working at the European Sports Desk of the Stars & Stripes. Randy died last January of complications from a fall in his home. He had suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years. I regret very much having let so much time slip by without looking for my bud. Thanks, Randy. Those were some fun times.

l8r