Lyle has finished his final race

[BellCobraIV]

At around 4:00 this afternoon Lyle crossed in front of the Home Pylon his last time.
Lyle had pretty much lived his life the way he wanted and still held many National records he had set with both the Bearcat and some TWA 727s, Lyle is a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, Still held the Time to Climb record to 10,000’ from a standing start, and his most prized record the 3KM speed at 528.329 MPH.
Lyle passed quietly this afternoon, surrounded by his family. In the past couple of days I have talked with many of the members of The original crew that have called as they got the news. The conversations all reflected one additional dimension of this man, he got where he got by his almost blind determination to win, and because of that charisma he brought to the mix, people followed him. Lyle is now gone from us, his stamp on the sport that he loved is indelible. Lyle started out with big dreams and realized them.
Now we are going to grieve a bit with our loss. Thank you all for the prayers for Lyle.

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Blue Skies, Tailwinds and a singing bear forever Lyle. A true legend of air racing and aviation.

[MMPerk]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Blue skies...thank you for seeing a great racer in that wreck that you found so long ago. So many have so much to learn from you and your story, thank you Lyle for giving so much of your life to 'Racing for the Gold'.

LP

[BuckyD]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Thanks very much John for the word on Lyle's departure to The Great Airport in The Sky. Bet he's now the fastest angel way up there. Sincere condolences to you & the family.

Blue Skies & Tailwinds Forever- LYLE SHELTON - "FLY FAST!"

Don "Bucky" Dawson

[sierra fox]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Blue Skies Lyle.....prayers up for you John!

[catalinadave]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

John, My heart goes out to you, your family and the entire Rare Bear team and all those who got the chance to meet and talk with your father. To me it will always be "Lyle Shelton's Rare Bear"

Fair winds and following seas Lyle.

Dave

I hope there's a place way up in the sky,
Where pilots can go on the day that they die.
A place where a guy can buy a cold beer
For a friend or comrade, whose memory is dear.

A place no doctor or lawyer can tread,
Nor the FAA would 'ere be caught dead.
Just a quaint little place, dark, full of smoke,
Where patrons sing loud, and love a good joke.

The kind of place a lady could go ,
And feel safe and protected by the men she would know.
There must be this place where old pilots go,
When their flying is finished, and their airspeed gets low.

Where the whiskey is old and the women are young,
Where songs about flying and dying are sung.
Where you see all the fellows who'd flown here before,
Who would call out your name as you came through the door.

Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,
And relate to others, "He was a good lad."
And then through the mist, you'd spot this old guy,
You hadn't seen in years, though he taught you to fly.

He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear,
And say, "Welcome home son, I'm pleased that you're here.
For this is the place where true flyers come,
When their journey is over and their war has been won.

Here they feel safe and "at home"
From pundits, the bureaucrats, the management clones.
Where all hours are happy, enjoying a cold one,
Maybe deal from a deck,

This is heaven, my son.....you've passed your last check!"

- Captain E. Hamilton Lee

[Hauler Driver]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Blue Skies Lyle!

Thank you for everything that you did that made air racing special to me.

My best to you and the family John.

Don

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Free to be the bird he was born as, Lyle Shelton spreads his wings and flies away.

[Hauler Driver]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Free to be the bird he was born as, Lyle Shelton spreads his wings and flies away.

Amen!

[catalinadave]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

John, My heart goes out to you, your family and the entire Rare Bear team and all those who got the chance to meet and talk with your father. To me it will always be "Lyle Shelton's Rare Bear"

Fair winds and following seas Lyle.

Dave

I hope there's a place way up in the sky,
Where pilots can go on the day that they die.
A place where a guy can buy a cold beer
For a friend or comrade, whose memory is dear.

A place no doctor or lawyer can tread,
Nor the FAA would 'ere be caught dead.
Just a quaint little place, dark, full of smoke,
Where patrons sing loud, and love a good joke.

The kind of place a lady could go ,
And feel safe and protected by the men she would know.
There must be this place where old pilots go,
When their flying is finished, and their airspeed gets low.

Where the whiskey is old and the women are young,
Where songs about flying and dying are sung.
Where you see all the fellows who'd flown here before,
Who would call out your name as you came through the door.

Who would buy you a drink, if your thirst should be bad,
And relate to others, "He was a good lad."
And then through the mist, you'd spot this old guy,
You hadn't seen in years, though he taught you to fly.

He'd nod his old head, and grin ear to ear,
And say, "Welcome home son, I'm pleased that you're here.
For this is the place where true flyers come,
When their journey is over and their war has been won.

Here they feel safe and "at home"
From pundits, the bureaucrats, the management clones.
Where all hours are happy, enjoying a cold one,
Maybe deal from a deck,

This is heaven, my son.....you've passed your last check!"

- Captain E. Hamilton Lee

[Cloudchaser427]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Bye Lyle, I will miss you. I'm so sorry John, but I'll bet he's already trying to figure out how to make his new wings go faster & turn left. He will probably start up a new angel racing series.

John, we'll talk next week.

Solo ( Cloudchaser427)

[3dWrightBrother]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Blue skies Lyle, Fly Fast !
Russ

[BEARCLAW777]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

i am just so shocked i don't know the right words

but the bear will always fly in his memory

[squirlee77]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Lyle has gone from us and that is sad. To not hear his stories, and feel the heat of determination when he wants more from he loves best....going for the best speed!

His journey to a better life was fast, but gave God time to get his supersonic wings built for the faster angel in heaven.

John, My heart of deep condolences goes out to you and Joyce and the family. This is a deep loss, and he will be always remembered and missed!

Please let me help any way possible, if only for a freindly smile or an ear to yak at.

Blue skies, tail wind and plenty of fluffy clouds to ski dance with.

Fly fast Lyle!
With much sadness
Shirlee

[Victor Archer]

Re: Lyle has finished his final race

Blue Skies, Tailwinds and pylons forever. Thoughts and prayers to Lyle and family. A true visionary and a man that changed the sport we all love so much.