The passing of our good friend, Steve Lanstra

[MikeKling]

I asked Steve to take me out on Lightning. Coaching me all the way through the track, and me struggling as usual, we were now exiting the light bulb. As we were tracking out left he told me, “more throttle, more throttle, pedal to the floor”. I said, “Steve she’s only got four cylinders”. He replied, “Oh that’s right, I forgot.” I smiled the whole way down the front straight.

My second story is several years later when I was completing my Jedi training to be an Instructor. We train all day Friday, then the Supreme Council (oops, I mean the Speed Council) convenes that evening to see who passed. I have a habit of arriving to the track early and did so Saturday. Steve arrived early that day as well, and made a bee-line to me. He stretched out his hand, shook mine, and said, “Did you hear?”. “No”, I replied. “Good” he added, “I wanted to be the first to congratulate you, you passed, you’re an Instructor”. He had an ear to ear grin on his face. I think both of us remembered that day at Lightning.

Steve, you will be truly missed. I never heard you utter a bad word and you always had a smile on your face. Your on track advice to me was invaluable. Rest well my friend. I’ll be smiling on that front straight thinking of you.