David E. Davis, Jr., Hero, Died Last Week

David E. Davis, Jr. photo on AutomobileMag.com

David E. Davis, Jr. died March 27, 2011 at age 80 after a battle with bladder cancer. Davis was an automotive hero. A little over 25 years ago I met Davis through the pages of his newly minted Automobile Magazine. His writing and editing were brilliant and funny and unlike anything else out there. The magazine was devoted, of course, to the love of cars but also to the great places, events and friends that cars enable us to visit. Davis worked at Motor Trend in the 50's then as editor of Car & Driver through the 60's & 70's. Davis was good friends with racing legends like Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and Phil Hill and he made them our friends too.

I kept the inaugural issue of Automobile for decades and am sad that I can't find it today upon hearing of our loss of Davis--Frank