John Crouse RIP
04-19-2010 | 05:11 PM
#21
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 9
From: Viareggio-Italy
John has been and will remain the lighthouse for the history of the sport.
I had the honor and fortune to know him in Viareggio in 1984 and was a helpful and very kind person.
His articles tell us that sport and its Searace is still a key work for history and an inexhaustible source of data.
Now I hope that Charlie will bring to completion the publication of the second book of John that he had mentioned some time ago and which we then knew nothing.
We understand why.
Now John is reunited to have a drink with his friends Sam,Don,Dick,Jim......
I had the honor and fortune to know him in Viareggio in 1984 and was a helpful and very kind person.
His articles tell us that sport and its Searace is still a key work for history and an inexhaustible source of data.
Now I hope that Charlie will bring to completion the publication of the second book of John that he had mentioned some time ago and which we then knew nothing.
We understand why.
Now John is reunited to have a drink with his friends Sam,Don,Dick,Jim......
Last edited by Black Tornado; 04-20-2010 at 07:40 AM.
04-21-2010 | 06:10 PM
#22
Gold Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
From: Miami Florida
John Crouse RIP
I was saddened when I was informed of the passing of John. I first met John 1972 at Don’s office on 188th Street. Throughout the years John was always a good friend and a great Journalist and will be deeply missed. When John first published his famous SEARACE “A history of offshore Powerboat Racing”, He sent me a signed copy. A dear friend, Doctor West King (navigator on the first Apache Squadron) borrowed my book and never returned it. In a conversation with John I told him about the never returned book. Within a week John sent me another signed copy with a note for Doctor King.
04-22-2010 | 04:53 AM
#23
Charter Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,637
Likes: 54
From: Ocean City, MD
What a legacy....
RIP my good friend!!!!! Another very influentul legend gone. I knew John from my early days as a factory offshore racer out of Lake X 1965. John used to antagonize the best of the best, from Carl Kiekhaefer, Red Crise, and Don Aronow, he could always figure some competitive angle from the owners and racers. John was of the few who made a point of recognizing the throttlemen, crew chiefs etc. and most importantly he recognized the actual rigs and who rigged them the best and worst.
I will personally be beholding to John for recording official stats for the drivers and races competed in from the beginning to the mid 80`s he was a passionate historian, and one man you needed to keep on your side, otherwise you would feel the wrath of the mighty pen.
What more can be said, it is a mjor loss to the history of offshore powerboat racing, and I see no one else to step into his shoes to continue the incredible history of Offhsore powerboat racing. It still amazes me that Offshore powerboat racing is one of the few incredible motor sports with very little or no history, the shame is that at one point in our history we had one of the highest mortality rates of any motorsport in existence, and those people who lost their lives have little or no recognition, and are quickly forgotten. John was one who could relate, and tried in vane to a point to promote the history of the sport. He certanly didn`t get rich from the proceeds of the Searace book the only true historical account available today, and those books are in very short supply, and many of the new guys today don`t even know or care, but the day will come when they are older and have risked there lives in the offshore sport and there relatives and loved ones will have no history. We desperatly need a John Crouse, he is missed, and is now in great company, he can antagonize all he wants. RIP
I will personally be beholding to John for recording official stats for the drivers and races competed in from the beginning to the mid 80`s he was a passionate historian, and one man you needed to keep on your side, otherwise you would feel the wrath of the mighty pen.
What more can be said, it is a mjor loss to the history of offshore powerboat racing, and I see no one else to step into his shoes to continue the incredible history of Offhsore powerboat racing. It still amazes me that Offshore powerboat racing is one of the few incredible motor sports with very little or no history, the shame is that at one point in our history we had one of the highest mortality rates of any motorsport in existence, and those people who lost their lives have little or no recognition, and are quickly forgotten. John was one who could relate, and tried in vane to a point to promote the history of the sport. He certanly didn`t get rich from the proceeds of the Searace book the only true historical account available today, and those books are in very short supply, and many of the new guys today don`t even know or care, but the day will come when they are older and have risked there lives in the offshore sport and there relatives and loved ones will have no history. We desperatly need a John Crouse, he is missed, and is now in great company, he can antagonize all he wants. RIP
__________________
Thanks, Barry
Driver - High's Fuel Your Journey Cigarette Racing Team #598
Thanks, Barry
Driver - High's Fuel Your Journey Cigarette Racing Team #598
04-24-2010 | 01:04 AM
#24
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 495
From: Cleveland, OH / Pewaukee, WI
This is very sad to hear. I never met John but, I do appreciate the work and what he brang to the sport. I was just flipping through my old archives of PowerBoat that I dug out of my parents basement last week and was excited to see his comentary in them. I never realized he was a contibuting writer in the magazine... I am excited to read some of the old copies. I guess now I will read them in a different light....
RIP
RIP
04-24-2010 | 08:13 AM
#25
skrap
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach, NJ
Here is a picture of John from the cover of Searace that he autographed to me a few years ago. It's very nice to read all the posts about the people in our sport who have passed on. There are still a lot of us around and I would encourage everyone to reach out to our friends in offshore racing from years gone by and re-connect with them. I have and I can't tell you how much fun it has been getting togther with them again. The clock is runing on all of us, make every day count.
John
John
04-25-2010 | 06:19 PM
#26
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Recently acquired copies of John's book "Searace"
Hello I am a new member and avid offshore enthusiast just wanted to say RIP John Crouse.
Last edited by catcayrace; 04-25-2010 at 06:26 PM. Reason: posted in wrong forum sorry
10-22-2010 | 01:40 AM
#27
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
John was a unique and talented person. In a sense, he worked for me for about six years -- I was the editor at Powerboat Magazine and he was one of my columnists I had to ride herd over on a monthly basis. Back then, there were no computers -- John mailed in his typewritten column (always on legal size paper) to me each month. I'd read it and then send it over to Bob Nordskog (owner/publisher of Powerboat) to review and approve. More often than not, the column would come back to me with endless red margin notes and lots of crossed out paragraphs. My next step was to call John and tell him what was being edited. That conversation would normally prompt John to quit on the spot (I think he quit the magazine about thirty times while I was editor). A couple of days later I'd call him back, try my best to compromise on some of the content and kiss and make-up. An outstanding journalist -- I'm just sorry none of you got to read the unedited John Crouse columns -- they were priceless.
10-22-2010 | 11:35 AM
#30
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 127
From: Pasadena, MD
I remember when some director called me about the pictures I had on my site ( he was doing a movie on Don or some other classic racers). I pointed him to SeaRace. Saw a clip of the movie some time later and it was like flipping through the pages of the book.
RIP John. You will be missed.
RIP John. You will be missed.
