RIP Acapelo

[YTAK_Racing]

My sincere condolences to his friends and family.


Jon Wuytack

[YTAK_Racing]

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[BRG]

My condolences to the family and friends.

Brian Baker

[motomadness]

Thanks all.  I will pass on your well wishes.  I'll also ask where you can send cards for those of you whom have asked.

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I've been dreading this, but it has to be done.

Acapelo was my friend.  I'm really going to miss him.  I realize that people want to know what happened to him, but this is the best that I can offer.  Sometimes people make bad decisions.  Bad decisions can get you killed.  Out of respect for my friend, I don't feel comfortable saying more than that.
Acapelo was a familiar face in the black motorcycle scene on the South Side of Chicago.  Everyone knew him, and he was well liked.  Although he didn't have the desire to compete personally, Acapelo loved motorcycle road racing and wanted to see talented riders of color get a chance to participate in our sport.  
To that end, Acapelo started a race team.  It was the only all-black team in the Midwest.  If you never got a chance to see Team Acapelo in action, then you really missed something.  There has never been a happier, friendlier group of people in the CCS.  No one on the team had been involved in racing before, but for what they lacked in experience, Team Acapelo made up double with enthusiasm.  The high point of the team's season was when Ike won a Middleweight race at Blackhawk.  This was quite an accomplishment for a first-year rider from a first-year team.
When I think of Acapelo, I remember his notebook.  The man never went anywhere without it, and he would always be jotting things down as you talked to him.  At first, I found this very unnerving.  It was a lot like being interrogated by the FBI or something.  Finally, Acapelo explained that he was so new to racing that he felt it was important to write down any new piece of information that he heard.  That's how intent the man was on seeing his team succeed.
Team Acapelo was a spirited bunch.  They may not have invented the traditional Saturday night at the track party, but they seemed dead-set on perfecting it.  It's amazing how the right group of people can take a radio, a charcoal grill, and a cooler of beer, and make so many memorable evenings.  Everyone at the track knew that you hadn't made the rounds until you stopped by Team Acapelo.
Acapelo himself was not big on the partying side of racing.  In the evening, he would sit off to the side, smoking a cigar and smiling as he watched his team enjoy themselves.  It reminded me of a father watching his children play.  Occasionally, I would sit with him in the evening.  Acapelo was a very smart man, and you could learn a lot from talking to him.  Now that he's gone, I wish I'd been keeping my own notebook of the things that he told me.
Wherever Acapelo is now, I hope he's surrounded by bikes and the people who race them.  The man will be missed
K3  

[SliderPhoto]

I'm so sorry to read the news. My condolences to his family.


Ike asked me to post this photo.

The photo was taken by Sean Wyatt at MAM when Ike got his first wood.

[TiffineyIngram]

Condolences and deepest sympathy from your friends at CCS.  Acapelo will be deeply missed.

[motomadness]

Acapelo's wife has told me it's okay to send your well wishes to the following address:

Mrs. Patrice Wright
2559 Flossmoor Rd, Suite 200A
Flossmoor, Illinois 60422

Thanks agains for all of the kind words.  

K3, that was an excellent posting.  Thanks man.

[r1owner]

I never met him, but from your description, it sounds like he personified a racers spirit.

My prayers are with him and his family tonight.

[Chef]

Dear Acapelo,

Thanks for the Best Time of My Life   :'(  ;D  :-/  :)  :'(  :)

Ike

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http://ccsracing.com/points/midwest/0923%20BHF%20Track%20Pts.htm
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Thanks K-3, CCS, * ALL * my new friends, Track officials, Cornerworkers, ...That one cleaning guy at bhf :) (he's an original ;D ) , * ALL * the Racers with on-track experiences !!!, the remaining of the racing comunity (Weggie/Jack@SliderSuperPictureGaragePlace :D, Rick/crew/LCR, S_D@VRS, BRG, Andy/Dunlop, Traxxion) S.A.M., You Board Members (another Apology for good measure against any offenses), Mike Cacherre and Larry@Tech REALY helped me get turn-4 BHF Rite !!!, mike put me in a good rythm "no one is gonna pass you" (after bus stop), larry said "THERES A LINE THRU THERE, GET ON IT, AND GO." (i was notchy). Tez Stewart and Reese Golladay (Old School)
                Dwight, Lonnette and Red...
   K3, Acapelo wanted to race, he didnt want to risk injury. He didnt want to see anyone injured .....   2Fingers ...  8)

[harley03]

There are no words, just pain and sorrow....There are a lot of things I don't know about life, but I do know that GOD doesn't make mistakes! Everything happens for a reason, and I Know that I was Blessed to have known this MAN.

Peace be with you Acapelo.

Love your Friend Ellie

[Grill_Queen]

My condolences go out to the family.
Thanks Acapelo and you will certainly be missed.