Sad News - Gary Martz

M

mazdamedic

New member
Today the Production racing community lost a competitor and I lost my best friend - Gary Martz.
Gary and I raced identical RX7s for several years in ITA before he went to EP. I asked Gary if he
wanted to take my ITA car to Driver's School. I created a monster!These were the most fun years of my life.
I worked corners with Gary in the Lake Erie Communications group for many years including the glory years at
Mid-O, the Columbus GP and countless days at Nelson Ledges. We had so much fun.
He served his country in Vietnam. Norm Fox and Sam Halkias are his buddies too and I know they are hurting.
He was a tough competitor and fought cancer equally hard. He was given only months to live and was with us
for over a year. Think of the friends you have through racing and give them a hug.
 
The past couple of years were tough on Gary. Back in 2013 just days before the runoffs at Road America Gary had to have emergency open heart surgery. He fought through it and was recovering in early 2014 and entered the Mid Ohio Majors but his back was hurting so bad he withdrew from the event. He went to Indy with me for the 2014 SVRA Brickyard and while in pain he toughed out the weekend. Once we got home it was discovered he had Stage 4 Lung Cancer, and as Mathew stated above, they thought he had just a few weeks to live. Well Gary proved them wrong. He maintained a great positive attitude and fought back, even making a race with me at Mid Ohio last fall. He was in and out of Hospitals and re-hab centers for the past year, but he did make it to the Mid Ohio Majors this year and again went to the SVRA Indy event with me in June. We had plans to get his E/P RX-7 back on track this month, and I just talked to him yesterday about setting up a date at Mid Ohio. But this morning I heard from his wife Tanya that Gary passed away at 9:30 AM, and I lost my best Friend. While I am sadden with his passing, I am grateful that he has no more pain. I know he is in a better place, and I'm confident he'll be saving me a space when my time comes. Eternal Memory! Rest in peace my Friend, I will see you again.
 
Sad news indeed.

I too spoke with Gary at the MidO Major. He was weak but he was positive he was getting his strength and stamina back and would be back on track before long. It was good to see if then especially after such hard times.

You will be missed. Rest in peace Gary.
.
 
Gary was old school....he drove, he flagged, he instructed......he even ran the NEO newsletter. He was one crusty dude but was a softy at heart. I'll miss him a bunch.

We'll hoist a cold one for him at Daytona.

Dayle
 
Sorry to hear this Big Sam, I know you two were close.
I'm Glad I got to spend some time with him the last couple of years!
Rest in peace Gary, you will be missed down here!
 
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