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Prologue By: Sonia
Rodriguez for the newsletter in 2007
Most of you know that I’m pretty new to the club. I’ve been
a member for a year and half now. I became very active in
the club and whenever there’s an event or meeting,
inevitably there are stories told. I had heard the name of
Art Holbrook many times, when I was a new member. At the
Spring Show an Art Holbrook Award was presented. This award
is donated to the club by Art’s wife, Millie and it brings a
smile to the faces of those who knew him. I then started
asking questions about who Art Holbrook was. I heard over
and again about how he was an active member of the club and
an awesome person.
Rick Lawless describes him as an “old country gentleman. He
would help anyone.” He’s been described to me as helpful,
well respected, extremely likeable, and a genuine person;
someone who was loved by everyone who met him. I am excited
about the future of our club and fascinated by its history.
That’s why Art Holbrook is my Spotlight member this month.
He is a part of the club’s history. I am honored to be able
to Spotlight Art Holbrook.
Art is the father of Midgee Hazelrigs. Midgee and her
husband Keith have been long time members of the club. Keith
serves our club as MCA National Director. Art and his wife,
Millie were active members of the club in the 90’s and up
until he passed away in 2002. I have met Millie at several
of our shows, which she still attends with Midgee. Art owned
a 1965 coupe which is now owned by Al Lamar in our club. He
also owned a 1972 Sport Roof which is now owned by Keith and
Midgee. The fact that both cars are still in the club family
and are being shown at car shows and cruise ins to me, says
a lot about this club and the people in it. At our show this
past April (2006), both of Art's cars were parked side by
side. They were shown with pride by their new owners. Steve
says, “It’s as if his spirit is still with us.
This page is dedicated to the lasting memory of Art
Holbrook. Why? Mainly because he was an active member of
this club for a long time. But, also because he’s missed and
because he obviously made an impression on many people in
the club. In addition, because his family presents The Art
Holbrook Award and undoubtedly I will not be the only one
who wants to know…”Who is Art Holbrook?” What I have learned
about him through talking to Midgee and others in the club
is that I missed out on knowing an amazing person.
I want to thank Midgee Hazelrigs for allowing me to
Spotlight her father!
The following is an article written by then President of the
CSRA Mustang Club, Steve Prewitt for the club newsletter...
Friday, March 22, the club lost a valuable member of our
little organization and someone I considered a very good
friend. Art was 74 and to all around him in good health.
Always there to help with any project the club had going on,
we knew we could depend on him. Whether it was setting up
the show site before the arrival of cars, or tearing it down
after the show was done, he never faltered. Being an MCA
Certified Judge in Daily and Street Driven classes, he also
did his share of judging. I remember him picking up
stanchions and piling them in the truck at our last show and
wondering how, at his age, he did it. He just wasn’t one to
let us young guys out do him.
Not only was he a hard worker at helping put on a show, he
showed his cars well to boot. He and Millie traveled with
the club to many regional as well as National level shows.
From Nashville to Savannah to Charlotte to Kingsport, he was
a competitor. There were very few shows I can recall, where
they came home empty handed. And it seems we always came
home with good memories of something Art had done.
While at the Funeral Home Saturday night, the sadness seemed
to be lifted somewhat by the smiles and laughter, as we
recalled the fun memories of Art and the shows. The one that
everyone went back to was the trip to Kingsport, Tennessee
in August 1997 for their National.
Below: Keith, Art, and Millie
It was the first show for Art and Millie’s recently acquired
1965 coupe. They had done a great job of getting the car
ready, what with the new paint and interior. Only problem
was Art hadn’t been real concerned with the mechanical
aspect of things. After all the car looked great, didn’t it?
Well we met across the river in Belvedere with the car
running a little hot and burping antifreeze in the Hardee’s
parking lot. Then in Newberry the muffler dropped down just
enough to drag across railroad tracks. Then as we got on
I-26 the muffler and tail pipe turned completely loose. A
piece of wire James Aldridge found on the shoulder bound
everything up and we were off once more.
Then as we began our climb up the mountains into Asheville,
the tired little 289 decided it needed to clear its throat
by discharging a lot of carbon and a very fine oil spray,
which promptly covered Joe Randazzo’s ’93 limited edition
convertible. Then, when we arrived in Kingsport, as Art
pulled up to tech inspection and raised the hood, the lower
radiator hose blew off. With only a look that Art could give
he said “This is beginning to get disheartening”. And with
that, he finished tech inspection, started the car and drove
it up the sidewalk to the hotel door because he thought it
was the driveway. The next morning he had a new muffler and
tailpipe installed in Kingsport,
collected a 3rd place award in his first National and the
rest is history.
We’ll all miss Art’s company dearly, but know his spirit
will always be there helping us along.
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