Mt. Morris, PA April, 2009 Twenty-Four year old Celtic Racing Team Manager Blake Kelley died Sunday, April 5th in a single car accident near his home in Mt. Morris, PA. Kelley began road racing with WERA and CCS in 2004. In 2006 Blake joined the AMA paddock working with Trackside Racer Supply as a Pirelli Tire Technician. In 2007 Kelley worked with several teams including KWS Motorsports and Celtic Racing. In 2008 and 2009 Blake worked with the Celtic Racing squad as the team manager and enjoyed several top ten and top five results. In Blake’s short time in the AMA paddock he worked with an incredible number of talented riders including Michael Barnes, Kenny Noyes, Alastair Seeley, Kurtis Roberts, John Haner, PJ Jacobson, David Loikits, David Weber, Michael Laverty and his brother Donny Kelley.
Blake recently graduated from Penn State University and had started a career with Fastenal.
Barry Gilsenan (Celtic Racing) “Blake was an integral part of my team and I am lost without him. He took care of everything for us and he was such a huge part of making Celtic Racing successful. He would call me six or seven times a day with different ideas. He was a wonderful person with an enthusiasm for the sport that exceeded my own. Beyond all the racing, he was the kind of person you just loved spending time around. He will always be a part of Celtic Racing.”
Moose Kuykendall (Trackside Racers Supply) “This is very hard to do. So many bright and likable people have left my life in the last few years. Blake had a bright future ahead of himself. Because of who and how he was. Always smiling and confident, no task was beneath him, and he always had a smile for me. This is a loss a lot of people will feel. He was growing into being a fine young man, I will always remember him, and think of his smile and the love of life he had. I was never bored in his presence, I will miss him. God Speed My friend.”
Michael Barnes (RMR Buell) “To say we’ve lost a brilliant and wonderful young man in our community is a gross understatement. My thoughts and prayers immediately are with his brother Donny, his family, and his girlfriend Stacey. Beginning with Blake’s days working for Trackside Racers Supply’s Moose, Teresa and Skip, Blake’s loyalty, support and belief in my racing efforts has been unmatched. Blake’s selflessness was clearly evident in his work ethic and dedication to his riders. Working with Blake on the Celtic Racing team was an honor that I’ll cherish for ever. I’ll miss my buddy more than words can describe but the memories will have me smiling forever. Thanks for being my friend and biggest fan! Godspeed Blake Kelley.”
Chip Spalding (Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies) “Blake’s enthusiasm and dedication to the sport of road racing was second to none. He was smart and talented and was willing to do what ever it took to get his team and rider to the front. Blake Kelley was my friend and I will miss him terribly.”
On Sunday April fifth, Danny Eslick dedicated his win in the AMA Daytona SportBike class to Blake Kelley.
Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 324 Mt. Morris Road, Mt. Morris, PA 15349. There will be additional visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., the hour of services, Thursday, April 9, in Mt. Morris Gospel Tabernacle, Assembly of God Church, with the Rev. Fred Tomlinson and the Rev. Milford Watters officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Mt. Morris.
Information is online at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.