Paul was a great friend and a talent in any car. When he won the Ultimate Street Car Challenge last year he had a professional collage sent to me to thank me for selling him the car. Unbelievable, as I had NOTHING to do with anything, he reworked the car with friends , but he had a sharing spirit with all he knew. I remember for years we all asked why he didn't run Pro and his answer was always that he wanted to just go out with his buddies , drive fast and hang out. With all his skill, his social occasions in life were track time, with the same attitude that many play golf or fish with their contemporaries. He finally took the step this year, and true to form he was the laid back gentleman driver of days gone by,
car loads of his cronies there to assist and cheer him on, a ragtag group from all walks of life with just one goal in mind --- racing for fun!! Mumford's Motley Crew
all possessed the same sheer joy of speed that Paul did, and he was the Mentor for many a successful club driver, track enthusiasts, Viper Days competitor. He shared his secrets, he shared his mistakes, and as a Pied Piper for track time comraderie he was a cut from a previous time. With competition to the point that drivers are looking for a tenth of a second, Paul with the guy that tried to help you find it, even when you were right behind him. He wanted you to be your best and if you pushed him or beat him ( which few ever did ) he reveled in the joy and excitement of upping his game. I remember getting criticism for hammering some curbing at Road America one year, and Paul overheard the conversation , but walked by ,not joining in the debate. He grabbed me later and smiling asked me if I knew the shortest distance between two points, and of course I responded it was obviously a straight line. Correct Pemberton, so keep hammering those berms, as most folks can't drive them and that is how to straighten out some corners. He stated he had watched me on the track, and that I needed to continue being the " Bermeister" , as I was nailing the corners at the same spots he did. I , confess, this little conversation helped me gain alot of confidence, and I egotistically stole his nickname with pride, and decided the Bermeister would kind of be a handle. I am ramblin on, but like so many others I am beyond devastation, and so many need to know that the Viper Community lost our Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki, in a manner way before his time. With a 3rd and a 1st in his only two World Challenge Series Races, the World knew a phenomenal talent was about to erupt on a well respected Pro Curcuit. Those of us that knew him well were not even surprised, we almost expected it,and we kept an underlying smirk that his competitors had no idea where the new wunderkid came from. We all knew, he was the friend, the mentor, the amatuer, who was already great to legion of Viper gearheads, and his legend will never die, as he was the David who took on the Goliaths and smote them with consomate skill that not even the experienced pros could deny. Damn, Paul, thanks for all you gave to those around you, thanks for being an ambassador to any who wanted to learn the joys of track experience, and we will all remember you as a blessing to our lives. Paul was not the Greatest, he still is the Greatest Viper driver I ever knew.
God Bless You PMUM!