Saying Goodbye to Tim Considine

Readers of RacingJunk might not know Tim Considine personally, but his life has been part of racing fans’ journeys for many years. Considine died on Thursday at the age of 81 in the Los Angeles area. Cause of death was not revealed but he left quickly and without pain, his family said.

Tim Considine was born to be in Hollywood, the son of a film producer, John Considine of “Boys Town” fame and part of a family of theater owners, the Pantages family. He entered the family business early as an actor, playing Spin in “Spin and Marty,” Frank Hardy in “The Hardy Boys” while working on The Mickey Mouse Club, and as the eldest of “My Three Sons,” Mike Douglas.

Always a photographer, he was known for his cover art on Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” album, and for his historic photography of the stellar football – soccer – player, Pele.

Tim Considine’s true love was automobiles and motorsports and he was able to produce articles about the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, using his own photography. That led him to become a researcher of Americans who have raced overseas, whether in open- or closed-wheel international competition.

Tim’s book “American Grand Prix Racing” told the story of every American who ever competed in Formula One – there are 141 – and was written as he began his 28-year odyssey to research and tell the stories of every American who’s raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He was midway through the writing of that group of books and had published the first three tomes of “Twice Around the Clock – The Yanks at Le Mans” that covers the years from 1923 through 1979. It’s the history of hundreds of American drivers and the American cars that participated in this race. The second trilogy of tomes was in process and, perhaps even more difficult to edit to manageable size due to the author’s personal history at the French track at those times beyond the timeline of the first three editions.

Because his life included both entertainment and sport entertainment, Tim Considine made friends and had relationships with people throughout both the Hollywood and in racing worlds that included Indianapolis, Daytona/Sebring, Long Beach and, of course Le Mans. While professionally known during his adult life for both writing and photography, Tim Considine will always be remembered for the fulness of his compassion and kindness towards everyone he met.

Tim Considine was born on the final day of the year in 1940, and thus celebrated his birthday the first of each year with a party at his Los Angeles-area home. It was there that some of the most unique and valuable vehicles would come to be admired as they were arranged on the street in front of his house, surrounded by racers, actors, industry members and friends who were friends because, well, Tim and his wife Willett were wonderful. One friend called Tim “one of the great oaks of our industry.” It was an apt description.

New Year’s Day will never be the same. Tim Considine is survived by wife Willett, son Christopher, his wife Cherie, along with their two sons, Ethan and Tyler, Tim’s brother John and sister Erin. And a giant community of friends. Proud to be one of them.