Amici,
It seems that Lanky has gotten a lot of well-deserved coverage lately
(see also the Oct-Nov VTR magazine) but Jimmy hasn't been "in the lime
light". In an effort to generate more interest in sponsoring an "ad"
memorializing them in Levy's next book, I asked Kas to give me a write
up about Jimmy. Here's Kas' note:
Mike Cook is doing a very good memorial article of Jimmy for the VTR
magazine and it will probably bet better than anything I can give you as
it will all be repeats. But try this on:
James Anthony Coan came to me in the middle of 1965 as a brash,
aggressive young guy who said he wanted to work at a challenging job. I
gave him the opportunity with a 18" wide broom. Broom
engineering lasted a couple weeks and then it was obvious he really had
some interest in what we were doing and the complication of running a
department that was working all over the country with a minimum of
assistance from the mother factory.
With his basic mechanical knowledge gained working at a dealership, Jim
put his head into helping build a series of cars for the 1966 Sebring 12
hour event. This was his first test of showing devotion to his job. The
hours spent in that effort were quite incredible. From this rather harsh
test of abilities, I then heaped work on him. Jimmy responded at the top
of the page every time.
It was not the effort as a mechanic that I found and later treasured,
but the devotion to his job and interest in learning everything he could
about every aspect of working in a technical arena with close inspection
all the time from outside sources. Jim's response to more and more
detailed assignments gave the answers that I wanted and were needed to
further the competition departments goals of assisting private owners.
When I resigned from British Leyland it was a great pleasure to
recommend Jimmy Coan as my replacement. Jimmy was my loyal and very
good friend. Our friendship and trust continued long after our Triumph
days and through the very last hours of his life.
In case you haven't seen the artwork, here's the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92513095@N03/8408581917/
I need pledges by 11 FEB for this to happen, and we're still well short
of critical mass. If you're thinking about participating, pls send me a
note with a $ amount that I can add to the (very short) list of pledges.
tnx
jim
--
Jim Hassall
Blacksburg VA
'63 TR4 in autox preparation
99% finished, 90% to go
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