Remembering Ernie McAfee

I’m writing this column during the waning days of 2006. Fifty years is traditionally a significant anniversary. What I remember most about 1956 was that we lost Ernie McAfee during the last race held on the Del Monte Properties at Pebble Beach.

Ernie was a dear friend and a wonderful man. Our fifties-era sports car racing crowd was much the poorer for his passing. Whenever I got involved in any sort of sports car-related activity, I would call Ernie for help and he never failed me. A couple of times I got roped into chairing a concours. Each time I asked Ernie to judge. For political reasons I sometimes had to have other judges who were not particularly car knowledgeable. Ernie was always so very kind and courteous, leading them through the process and keeping them from making stupid mistakes.