24 Heures du Mans | 18:30:00
In the Year of Our Lord 2009 I began watching motorsport on a lark. Reading a variety of articles via the Wikipedia had interested me in the "Triple Crown of Motorsport"—the 24 Heures du Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix, & the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race—arguably the three most iconic & difficult challenges in all of automobile racing. From the first time I watched Monaco & Le Mans, I was hooked. But I never had a child's view of motor racing. I knew it was perilous, I knew that brave men had been killed in their scores in the pursuit of victory, the pursuit of glory. I knew it was only a matter of time, of watching enough races, 'til I watched a race in which a man perished. To-day, that day has come. The crash mentioned in our first Le Mans post (22:28:00) resulted in the death of Allan Simonsen, driver of the № 95 Aston Martin Vantage (G.T.E. Am.): requiescat in pace-link. The Aston Martins have continued to run, in both G.T.E. Pro. & G.T.E. Am., in accordance with the expressed wishes of Mr. Simonsen's family. I knew this day would come, yet I hoped—I sincerely, fervently hoped—that it would not. More on this as the great race continues, & for long afterward.

May the Lord Almighty have mercy on His servant Allan Simonsen, & comfort the bereft family amidst their grief.