Racing Godfather, Tuskegee Airman And All-Around American Hero Jim Barbour Dies At 94

[mahatmakanejeeves]

TRUE STORIES

Racing Godfather, Tuskegee Airman And All-Around American Hero Jim Barbour Dies At 94

David Obuchowski
Friday 4:00PM • Filed to: RIP

On Tuesday morning, when a familiar number came up on my phone, I just knew it. It was Pat Barbour, the wife of a friend I first wrote about in 2018, and the pitch of her voice was a few notes lower than usual.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A remarkable man Jalopnik wrote about in 2018, Jim Barbour, died on Monday at his home in Wesley Chapel, Florida. David Obuchowski came to know Jim well, and recalls his friend for our readers.

“You don’t sound good, Pat,” I said. ... “No,” she replied. Her husband, Jim, had died in his sleep. This was not unexpected. Jim had been battling cancer and was in home hospice.

James Barbour III, a Documented Original Tuskegee Airman who served in WWII, raced cars and became a high-ranking SCCA official, was a jazz and big band musician, succeeded in the computer industry and who owned hundreds of cars, from luxury vehicles to sports cars to muscle cars to antiques, was 94.

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[Enterstageleft]

1. I didn't know Jim, & wasn't aware of him

But I built & raced British sports cars for close to 20 years.

I was very active in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) from the early 60's until the mid 80's.

Great association, many of them are still my most cherished friends. It hurts to lose any of them, even if you didn't know them personally.

Many of the friends I made were veterans of the WWII or Korea.

All dead now.

RIP Jim, Colin, Dick, Fred (2), Michael, Harry, Steve,...Too many to remember.

[Submariner]

2. The death of these aged WWII Veterans NOW is an absolute insult to their sensibilities

They should not have gone through the holy hell they experienced then, to now pass on knowing there is a racist, lying, anti-veteran rapist at the helm of the nation. Those veterans deserved better, and we have failed them.

They go to their graves not knowing if we will be a Democracy or a satellite to the Russian Federation next year.

[Mopar151]

3. I met Jim at Mt. Washington

He was Chief Steward for the Hillclimb..Very personable, makes quite an impression! Amazing, on the fly management ability, with no feathers ruffled, smiles all around!