Tom Putnam
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:53 pm
I just saw this during an Internet search. Tom Putnam was a great guy, a draglist.com advertiser, and the man who introduced both Jason and Emily to Junior Dragster racing in a fun and safe way. RIP, Tom. You were a special man. bp
Thomas A. Putnam
Dragster Builder
Thomas A. Putnam, 63, a well-known builder of drag racers and founder of the Junior Dragster School, died of cancer Dec. 10 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis.
Mr. Putnam, through his company, Putnam Race Cars, built cars, custom parts and youngsters into highly skilled components of the local racing scene. A lifelong racing fan, he started building and driving race cars in the 1960s at the old 75-80 Dragway in Frederick and the Aquasco track in Prince George's County. Demand for his cars and components led him to stop racing and turn to supplying.
He formed the Junior Dragster School in 1997, introducing hundreds of youngsters to the sport at the Capitol Raceway and Maryland International Raceway. He soon became the region's major builder of eighth-mile racers, building cars with a narrow wheelbase and the first rack-and-pinion steering in the class. He sold the school a few months ago, after he became ill.
A native Washingtonian, Mr. Putnam attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
Since 1997, he had worked for the mechanical contracting firm W.E. Bowers Inc. as an air-conditioning specialist. He had previously owned a heating and air-conditioning business, Air systems Inc., in Bowie. In the late 1970s, he was a custom home builder, and in the 1980s, he owned the P.G. Speed and Custom Shoppe in Bowie.
Survivors include his companion, Meg Droegmeyer of Bowie; their daughters, Kathy Gole and Tracy Martin, both of Alexandria; a brother, Robert Putnam of Annapolis; a sister, Sheri Putnam of Fallsington, Pa.; and a grandson.
Thomas A. Putnam
Dragster Builder
Thomas A. Putnam, 63, a well-known builder of drag racers and founder of the Junior Dragster School, died of cancer Dec. 10 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis.
Mr. Putnam, through his company, Putnam Race Cars, built cars, custom parts and youngsters into highly skilled components of the local racing scene. A lifelong racing fan, he started building and driving race cars in the 1960s at the old 75-80 Dragway in Frederick and the Aquasco track in Prince George's County. Demand for his cars and components led him to stop racing and turn to supplying.
He formed the Junior Dragster School in 1997, introducing hundreds of youngsters to the sport at the Capitol Raceway and Maryland International Raceway. He soon became the region's major builder of eighth-mile racers, building cars with a narrow wheelbase and the first rack-and-pinion steering in the class. He sold the school a few months ago, after he became ill.
A native Washingtonian, Mr. Putnam attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
Since 1997, he had worked for the mechanical contracting firm W.E. Bowers Inc. as an air-conditioning specialist. He had previously owned a heating and air-conditioning business, Air systems Inc., in Bowie. In the late 1970s, he was a custom home builder, and in the 1980s, he owned the P.G. Speed and Custom Shoppe in Bowie.
Survivors include his companion, Meg Droegmeyer of Bowie; their daughters, Kathy Gole and Tracy Martin, both of Alexandria; a brother, Robert Putnam of Annapolis; a sister, Sheri Putnam of Fallsington, Pa.; and a grandson.
sorry B.P.