August 28, 1945 - March 6, 2002

On March 6, 2002, Tarheel Sports Car Club lost one of its dearest and most faithful family members.

John Mullis joined THSCC in 1994. From that time until his death, John was always there to offer his support to both the club and any member. As president of Jamestowne Homes, Inc.®, John was a long-time sponsor of THSCC and his assistance was instrumental in getting the THSCC Time Trial series off the ground in 1999. John enjoyed his friends greatly and opened his home often as a place for us all to gather and have fun together. We will always remember John for his warm smile, his graciousness, and his gentle and generous heart.

"Apex--John A. Mullis age 56, died suddenly and peacefully March 6, 2002, at Wake Medical Center. He was born August 28, 1945 to Thad McCoy Mullis and Virginia Broyhill Mullis Armfield. He is survived by his mother; his wife, Georgianne; two brothers, Thad McCoy Mullis, Jr. and Leon I. Mullis; one sister, Virginia Maria Mullis; two sons, John M. Mullis and T. Mack Walsh; three daughters, Jan M. Cooper, Virginia "Ginny" Mullis, and Alicia W. Toomey; and two grandchildren, Justin and Christoper Cooper.

John was the president and founder of Jamestowne Homes, Inc. and built many beautiful homes in and around the Raleigh/Durham area. He took great pride in his work and put his heart into every home he built. His work has won many Parade of Homes awards and was featured in Triangle Home Ideas. He was also a Board Member of the Home Builder's Association for Durham and Chapel Hill and served as an officer for several years.

He was an active member of Genesis United Methodist Church and loved singing in the church choir. John was also a member of the Tarheel Sports Car Club and loved racing.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2002, at the Cary Funeral Home, 3700 NW Cary Parkway.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2002, at Genesis United Methodist Church, in Cary. There will also be a burial service 4:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2002, at the Blue Ridge Cemetery, in Lenoir, N.C.

Donations may be made to:

• Habitat for Humanity of Wake County or
• Habitat for Humanity of Durham County so that John may "continue to build".
• Donations may also be made to Genesis United Methodist Church.

Arrangements by Cary Funeral Home."

THSCC has acquired a limited number of vinyl bumper stickers to display on our cars in memory of our dear friend. They are $5.00 each and proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity in John's name. If you knew John and would like one of these vinyl stickers, contact Mark Vitacco for more information.

John was a Miata lover, owning both a 1993 black supercharged and 2002 "vivid yellow". In addition to autocrossing and running track events with THSCC, in the mid-'90s, he was also a member of the Tarheel Miata Club with whom he often enjoyed caravanning his Miata on beautiful road trips. We know John was smiling on March 9, 2002, as he looked down on six top-down Miatas of THSCC and family members caravanning for him one more time from Cary to his final resting place in his hometown of Lenior.

Friend, we miss you greatly.
Rest in peace, John Mullis. We love you.

March 16, 1942 - March 8, 2013

Don Ingerslew with his FFR Cobra

On March 8, 2013, Tarheel Sports Car Club lost one of its most selfless and most friendly family members.

Don Ingerslew joined THSCC in early 2003. Don has alway been an amazing resource to the club as a heavy contributor to both the autocross and track programs. Don was always willing to help new participants and help the club setup and clean up before and after events. He never got tired of the endless questions about his beautiful Factory Five Racing Spec Cobra or the incessant drooling over said car by everyone who has seen it. Don was a very cheerful and funny man and, as secretary of THSCC, has written some of the most entertaining and witty meeting minutes.

Member quotes about Don:

• "I'll miss Don and his warm greetings and love of motorsports and good humor."
  -Rob Lupella
• "Don was truly a great man and will be missed by many. He was always one of the first to offer to lend a hand whether it be with event set up, a busted car, or whatever you needed. He helped with the autocross program in numerous ways over the years and also picked up the slack in a number of places in the track program. He was, overall, just a huge asset to the club. I'll miss seeing yellow #64 going round the track."
  -Stephen Westerfield
• "He was a truly generous and kind person."
  -Marcus McRae
• "He was always quick with a warm welcome, friendly conversation and a smile."
  -Cash Davidson
• "Don was truly one of the most genuinely good guys I've ever known. I remember the first day I met him at a THSCC meeting many years ago with his red Mustang that he had participated in the Silver State Classic in Nevada with and talking of the FF Cobra he was preparing to build at the time which became the yellow beast we all know and love. I remember thinking that this was one cool old dude who lived life well and clearly loved cars; I wanted to be like Don when I grew up. I will miss his friendly face and warm greetings and consider it a privilege to have known him. I'll miss seeing that yellow Cobra at events. I will miss his witty approach to meeting minutes that we were just getting to know. I'm saddened that I just left the state and will not be able to honor his life attending his funeral. RIP Don Ingerslew. You will not soon be forgotten."
  -Les Davis
• "Don was one of the most thoughtful and giving people we had in the club. I've seen him spend his entire day at an autocross helping a newcomer to the sport and to the club, taking him under his wing. Don didn't even think about it. It was automatic."
  -Karl Shultz

"W. Donald Ingerslew, 70, of Cary, NC died on Friday, March 8, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Mary Kathleen Ingerslew; three children, Jim, Kim, and Tracey, and 9 grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held at the Catholic community of St. Francis of Assisi, 11401 Leesville Rd. Raleigh, NC on Friday, March 15th, 2013 at 2:00pm. Interment will immediately follow in the St. Francis of Assisi Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the name of W. Donald Ingerslew to, Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Cir. Raleigh, NC 27607."

We do so miss your friendly smile and quick wit, dear friend,
and we'll do an extra lap for you.

Resource for origin of this award and information on early recipients was The Captain, Ron Spencer.

Some years ago, probably 1992 or so, at a CarGuys, Inc.® high-performance driving school at Roebling Road in Savannah, Ga., Tarheel member, Bill Wilkins, was instructing Tarheel member and novice track driver, Bill Gratton. Though Bill W. was a very good instructor, Bill G. was just a little too aggressive for his experience and overcooked turns 1 and 2. The two went off on the outside and then back across the track. The car almost came to a stop, but the sand had built up along the wheels and, at about 5 or 10 mph, over on its side it went. Both occupants were unscathed, but Bill W. exited the car with the instructor's-side door handle in hand, only adding to the bench-racing story of the incident.

The original door handle was returned to Bill G. to mend his car. However, later that same year, Ron Spencer was walking from one worker-station to another at Summit Point and saw yet another door handle on the ground. The Roebling incident immediately came to mind, along with an idea to immortalize the humorous Bill and Bill incident. Together with Queen Jean Wilkins, Bill's wife, the Golden Door Handle Award was born to "honor" the Tarheel member(s) involved in the most notorious off(s) of the year.

Recipients of the Golden Door Handle Award