San Francisco Region - SCCA 
In Memory Of Derek Israel

Derek's Candle

On Sunday, September 14, 1997, Derek succumbed to injuries sustained during his race at the PCRRC event at Sears Point Raceway.

Derek passed away at the track, causing the remainder of the event to be canceled while county officials investigated the accident.

Derek was an ITC and GT-4 driver, and former NASPORT West GT-4 category champion. Both in Datsun 510's, of course.

Our condolences and sympathies to Derek's surviving family. We have all lost a good friend.

More information will be posted as it is received.

Services will be held on Tuesday, September 16 at 1:30. The location is
Beth Jacob Congregation
3778 Park Blvd.
Oakland, CA
(510) 482-1147

Directions: from I-580 (towards Hayward/Stockton), take the Park Blvd. offramp. Turn left, which will take you under the freeway. Continue for two traffic lights (the first light has a Shell station). At the second light, the road curves sharply right--this is Park Blvd. Take Park Blvd. and go about another block. The chapel is a tent-shaped building on the right.

All his friends are invited to attend.

09/17/97

The simple, yet emotional, services were held yesterday. The Rabbi did a very nice job of sharing his memories with the gathered friends and family, including filling in some of the background of Derek's life for those of us who did not know him as well as others. Derek's soul-brother and two brothers spoke, sharing a few personal, intimate details with us. His younger brother also sang "The Rose" for us, as a tribute and exemplifying Derek's life.

The Israel family will continue to receive Derek's friends for the rest of the week. Additional prayer sessions will also continue at the temple. Please call Beth Jacob Congregation for details.

09/22/97

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with all of you and acknowledge the tribute to Derek that NASPORT orchestrated at Buttonwillow this past weekend.

Prior to the start of the NASPORT race at Buttonwillow yesterday John Teaby and Derek's crew chief Dennis made two laps of Buttonwillow in Derek's GT-4 #41 Datsun 510. While they proceeded around the course the corner workers waved all flags in true F1 fashion. As john drove around the track Greg Clark, another NASPORT GT-4 competitor, said a few words over the PA in memory of Derek and his time with us. All involved did a great job in making this happen.

At the NASPORT banquet, the gathered were reminded that Derek had won last years GT-4 championship in NASPORT. NASPORT has perpetual trophies for their champions and at the end of the year, when the perpetuals are returned, the victor gets a keeper trophy. NASPORT officials announced that Derek's keeper trophy and photos of him accepting the award will be forwarded to his family.

With so much having been said last week, I wanted to share this as well.

I first met Derek in July, 1994 when he went through Driver's School at Thunderhill. It was my second weekend as a flagger, and Derek sought me out, introduced himself, and gave me some flagging tips, as he could tell I was a newbie flagger.

Although he continued to flag for a while after getting his license, I never worked with him on a corner. But at most events, we usually met as I cruised the paddock at lunch and at the social afterwards. He'd update me on the status of his car, his sessions and his championship hunt. Granted, we weren't bosom buddies, but he was one of my earliest SCCA family/friends. We shared that friendship for over three years as we both played together with our SCCA family. For that, I am a richer person.

Derek, I miss you; we all miss you. You may have passed from this existence, but you'll continue to live in your friends' memories.

Derek and our son, Eric, were friends at the SCCA. Our son Eric was the previous owner and driver of Derek's Datsun 510 GT-4. We enjoyed many hours of racing with all its thrills and frustrations and we know that Derek had the same love of the sport.

I was shocked to read the report of the accident in the Syracuse, N.Y. newspaper while travelling this morning. We extend our deepest condolences to Derek's family. We understand the disbelief and grief, since we also lost our son Eric 2 years ago to a drunken teenage driver. Our hearts and prayers go out to your family.

Sincerely,

I didn't know Derek personally, but being with SFRSCCA this first season you can't help but be touched. I'm very glad to be a part of this extended family and I'm sorry for our loss. I will try to be at his service on Tuesday, but if I'm unable to be there physically, I will be there spiritually. Love and Prayers to his family and all of us,

I didn't know Derek personally, but, as a corner worker and racer, I have watched him race over the past few years. The SCCA family shares the loss. Having lost my son in an auto accident, I can also understand the grief felt by his parents. My deepest sympathies to his family.

I too first met Derek at Driver's School at Thunderhill. A very nice and likeable guy. At social he asked Randy and I how he looked on course. A true driver. My next encounter with Derek was at Sears Point and I was communicator at turn 2. Derek had a little incident in the apex and left most of his front spoiler behind in many, many pieces. At the end of his session, Derek came up to the spectator fence and asked if he could get his spoiler back. I held up the 15 odd pieces of what was left and yelled across the course, "GARBAGE". I was sure he could never put it back together. Derek then yelled back, "TAPE." Sure enough, next time out his spoiler was made out of a few bits fiberglass and lots of tape. A true racer.

As a member of the SCCA family we mourn our loss. Our thoughts and prayers to Derek's family.

I guess that Derek went through Driver's School while I was the Region's Regional Executive. I met Derek shortly after that when he bent my ear for a refund at a race weekend when he got only a couple of laps of practice time. After that I talked to him a number of times and he impressed me as an impatient young man, always cheerful but always wanting to move ahead -- to get to the next step before he completed the last one. Derek seemed to exemplify the expression; "God grant me patience, and I want it right now!!"

Derek seemed to believe in himself and it was so very obvious he loved every aspect of racing. He later came to me seeking approval to get his National Competition License sooner than would be the normal case. I checked on his school and racing abilities as expressed by other drivers and his instructors and found that they had a high regard for his abilities. I granted the upgrade and found him then entering NASPORT, at a race where I was their Series Chief Steward. He gave us no problems and seemed to be in glory over his participation.

So, while I didn't know Derek well I can say that he seemed to be in a hurry to wring all he could out of life. I hope he liked it all. I liked him and wish him well on his new journey.

Derek was driving the car that was my brother's. My brother was Eric Maiellaro, another SCCA driver, before he was killed by a drunk driver just over two years ago. My father saw in the paper about Derek and my mother called to tell me this morning. It sent chills through me. It brought back the memories of devastation that our family went through when Eric was killed. Our thoughts and prayers go to Derek's family. Small consolation though it is, he went doing something he loved. Eric was going up the mountain on his motorcycle to watch the sunset when he was killed. It is a small comfort to know that he too was doing something he loved. I am so sorry for your loss.

Gino and I did not know Derek personally, but as others have said, SFR Region of SCCA is very much a family and we feel like we have lost someone close to us. He may not have been known to our minds, but our souls are great friends.

Our love goes out to his family, and to his crew member/friends who were there with all of us. This has been devastating for us...we can only imagine their pain and wish there was something we could do to help ease it.

Derek died doing what he obviously loved to do, small consolation amidst so much hurt.

Love

Derek's Family:

So sorry to hear about your loss. It's times like these in life that make us want to scream "Why?!". No, I did not know Derek personally--but that doesn't lessen the impact when the racing community as a whole loses one of its own. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Derek, I raced amongst you and John in the Enduro. I too have had all my time in a 510. I know the feeling of life at speed. I would rather that you were here today; you will be in my thoughts tomorrow. I will not stop racing, because without the acknowledgement of risk, there is no benefit. This (Club Racing) is not a blood sport, but at speed we are all at the margin and acknowledge the risk. I do not know you well but my heart and soul knows where you are.

We will meet again.

Love,

I have been racking my brain since the accident for the right thing to say as I am not a wordsmith. I have come up with the following.

I knew Derek as a flagger, region competitor and NASPORT competitor. He was so full of enthusiasm and love for racing and the people involved with it. Derek, like most drivers, strived to come home a winner.

While we have lost a friend and family member, Derek will live on in our hearts. As several before me have said, it doesn't make the sting any less but, Derek left this life doing something he loved. Know in your hearts that Derek has taken his place amongst the Guardian Angels and is watching over us all.

Derek, we will meet again my friend but for now may you rest in peace.

Love,

Dennis and I have known Derek Israel for 5 or 6 years, although it doesn't seem like it has really been that long, as a club member (SCCA, NASA and 510 Club), driving student, race official and race car driver. Derek first came to our attention in our role as driving instructors with NASA. when Derek showed up at Sears Point in a red 510. Derek was running the number that we usually run on our red 510, so the workers at the event were going crazy watching Derek do some pretty wacky driving, thinking it was one of us. When the event officials figured out that it wasn't either of us, we were asked as driving instructors and 510'ers to go over and give this guy some special attention. We talked to Derek and asked him to ride with us so that he could get an idea of where the line was. First Derek rode with Dennis for a session with Group 4, then Dennis asked Derek to stay in the car while I drove him around with Group 3. There must have been some differences in our driving styles, because Derek was stomping the floorboard more than anyone I can recall, especially in turn 6. Derek seemed so uncomfortable with my driving style, I asked as we were going into 10 if I should pull into the pits. "No, no," Derek replied "My buddies are in there, I'm OK." After a couple of laps Derek settled down and actually began to listen as I explained where you wanted to have the car and why. Derek became a model student after that ride. Derek was always willing to talk about what he had learned and how he could work to improve his driving technique. Derek was an avid driver and often called me, after he got his race license, on his way home from events to let me know how he had done and how the race went in general. I wrote about Derek in our 510 club newsletter, chronicling his most recent victories. I think Derek was most proud of his wins in Nasport and when he received an award at Buttonwillow as the best up and coming driver. We saw Derek Saturday and he was happy to be back driving after a recent shoulder injury had prevented him from participating in the last couple of months. Derek and I spent about an hour talking about his race strategy for Sunday and how to go faster through turn 2 and 10. Derek had promised to give me a call after the race on Sunday to let me know how he had done, as we had not planned on being there. I was shocked when Karen Bernstein called me about 3:30 on Sunday and told me what had happened. I know I'll miss Derek, his funny grin and his phone calls just to check in. He told me Saturday that he was just out to drive well and have some fun. Derek, where ever you are, I'll drive that perfect line in 2, just for you kid!

I first met Derek at driver's school in July of 94'. We were both taking our first crack at driving a race car! He came to me several times that weekend and asked for help in keeping his alternator belt on the car! (seems it would fly off any time he got up to speed!) He paid me back by arguing like Johnny Cochrane with a steward as to why we had together passed a car under a waving yellow! (Until his oral arguments I thought that I would never be given a license!) We BOTH got our licences that day and I have since witnessed how well he had been doing!

The last word I had with Derek was that he was having a great time racing with us in ITC, and looked forward to competing in the class regularly in 1998! Needless to say, I was preparing for a lot of tough racing in 1998! And finally, I was chasing Derek all day on Sunday as we arrived at turn 8; both of us fighting through major traffic after a previous yellow! It was a hell of a race--and I will very much miss racing with Derek next year!!

Derek--See you at the last checker social!

Everyone who gets into a race car knows that death is an ever-present possibility. I think that's part of why we do it. I think it was Hemminway who said that the only real sports are bull fighting, mountain climbing, and auto racing. Unless you are prepared to put your life on the line, what you're doing is just a game.

Racing is not a game. I was struck by the irony of a tee shirt someone had on at Sears Point that weekend. It said: "Remember when sex was safe and racing was dangerous?"

My co-driver and I ran an old 510 in SCCA Pro Rally in the late '70s and early 80s. We were there when New Zealanders John Wolfe and Grant Whitaker were killed on the fifth stage of Chisum Trail. It shocks you, and you don't forget. But you go on.

As a flagger/crew chief, I knew Derek only enough to put a face with a car. (I'm partial to old 510s.) And I remember the face with a smile on it most times! I wish we had had the opportunity to know him better. To his family: yes, do grieve, but not too much. He got to enjoy what many wish for all their lives. Most people don't get to live their dreams, however briefly. But Derek did.

The last time I saw Derek was as he came down ramp for this race. He had that goofy look on his face and a thumbs up for me, returning the one I was sending him. He was fun and fun to watch. He sometimes made Zanardi look like a piker with some of his "you can't do thaaaat", moves. Thanks, for the memory, Derek.

Now for the REST OF THE STORY.

I stood on the end of the wall at re-entry and watched as we all had for the previous hour, all manner of emotion creep into the rest of our day. I Remember hugging Cassini and KP and feeling a sense of loss and at the same time I noticed that, for the first time I can remember, the track was silent. In spite of all of the competitors and workers and family gathered around, you could have heard a pin drop. John Graham stepped up and told us what we knew but we didn't want to acknowledge. We lost one of our own ...yes, that's it... family, We are. I want to say that when I got into my truck and left the track I looked in the rear view mirror and said a prayer for Derek, his family and our extended family. God Bless you Derek you will be missed.

Email The Web Team to pass along your memories of Derek. We'll see that it makes its way to his family.