New Year’s Day, San Gabriel Mountain Drive
Celebrating Memories of a Special Friend Story by Rick Ditri Photos by Randall Fishwick
O
18
DE R
n the morning of December 16, I received the tragic news that our friend Ted Lighthizer had unexpectedly passed. I immediately put out the word to my circle of friends who knew and loved Ted. Their response was an overwhelming outpouring of sadness, shock, and love. Several of us felt we needed to do something to honor our lost friend, something car related that would bring us all together to say our final goodbyes. After much discussion it was decided that we would all gather and do a group drive. One of those contacted was Wayne Bartlett. Wayne was one of Ted’s best friends and he in turn relayed our plans to Ted’s partner Doreen Pankow. Doreen quickly got in touch with me saying she was interested in joining our group along with some of Ted’s PCA/ SBR friends. We chose New Year’s Day for the tribute and to drive some of Ted’s favorite roads. Ironically, the route I’d mapped out was the exact same route Ted had chosen for his own New Year’s drive this year.
AUSPUFF
March/April 2021
We agreed to meet on New Year’s morning at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a small cafe on Foothill Blvd. Twenty people in all, observing COVID protocol, arrived on this brisk morning to show their respects to Ted and be with Doreen. It was bittersweet to see Doreen show up with Ted’s famous black and yellow Mini Cooper S to drive on our group run. After everyone had the chance to pass along their condolences to Doreen, the group headed out in single file to circumnavigate the mountain roads. Our final destination was a one-hour drive to Newcomb’s Ranch roadhouse on Angeles Crest Highway.
