FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: A legend has passed away. Duke Pennell, 86, of Daytona Beach Florida, formerly from Columbus, Ohio, died on December 2, 2007. Duke was my good friend and ONE of MY HEROES! His passion for motorcycle racing and the people involved fueled his love for the greatest sport in the world. Duke Pennell was the AMA Starter of the year from 1969 through 1973! He was a racer’s racer and his flagging style was unique as well as his impeccable custom-made starter uniforms. Duke was up at 4:00 a.m. to get ready for the raceday. At the track before 7:00 a.m. and there until the last checkered flag of the day. Back in the late 1980s, Duke purchased a tractor trailer rig. It was a 45 foot tri-axle trailer pulled by a Ford tractor. It was beautiful Ferrari red with the AMA logos and AMA/CCS logos and a large eagle! This was the first of the big rigs at the AMA races, and his style set the precedent for what was to come! He hauled equipment for both organizations and fuel and expenses were paid for out of his own pocket! That should not have happened. Duke’s lovely wife Bee Gee worked for the AMA headquarters and was a registrar at the races, too. She preceded him in death. Both Duke and Bee Gee are in the AMA Hall of Fame. What a great couple! We all could learn from being around Duke. After Bee Gee passed away, Duke moved to Daytona Beach to be close to the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway. The warm weather was good for the old racing injuries and he started motorcycle races at D.I.S. twice a year, Bike Week in the spring and the Race of Champions in the fall. In the latter years, Duke made a special friendship with Elaine Sherwwod of his neighborhood. They shared many good times together and now Elaine is without him. God bless you Elaine for taking care of Duke. Funeral Service for George “DUKE” Pennell will be on Friday December 14, 2007 at Schoedinger Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service 229 East State Street, Columbus, OH 43215 P: 614-224-6105 F: 614-224-2687 Visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Service at 1:00 p.m. Rest in Peace Duke and Bee Gee, you will always be in my heart. Roger Lyle Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days and Racing School Hagerstown, Maryland