The SCCA’s New England Region has lost a cornerstone member. Theodore “Ted” Goddard passed away July 22 not long after his 80th birthday. Ted joined SCCA in May of 1957 and from that point on was a very involved Club member.
Of his many accomplishments, one stands as a record. He was the sole Rallymaster for the Covered Bridge RoadRally for 50 years. This year’s USRRC will include the Covered Bridge 50th run.
He was the track manager at Bryar Motorsport Park in New Hampshire. When that track was sold, later to become New Hampshire International Speedway, Ted stayed on as manager and always looked out for the SCCA side of things to make sure the road course stayed in SCCA specs so the Region could continue to race at the venue. He taught more than one generation how to make their programs grow and how to get sponsorship.
Ted was always promoting SCCA wherever he went and could always be counted on to help, mentor and teach. He held many positions in NER over the years: Regional Executive, Director, Treasurer, Divisional Road Rally Steward, Club archivist and many more too numerous to count. He was also on the National Hall of Fame selection committee for a number of years.
Ted was on the Rally Board in later years when his interest shifted to Rally. His accomplishments were many. He helped create the Maine Forest ProRally, which continues to run to this day as the New England Forest Rally. He won the Robert Ridges award, the SCCA’s highest Road Rally award. He also helped put on the very first NER RallyCross event.
Some knew him as the tough track manager at the race track; some knew him as the guy with a truck full of pylons who was setting up the solo course. Others knew him as the organizer of Covered Bridge, and yet others knew him as the stage rally guy who organized the events. Those who got to really know Ted knew of his deep love of all things motorsports. They also got to know the man behind the “gruff” exterior. He was a devoted uncle to his niece, Sandra. He was a loyal friend to those who knew him best. He was the best of the best in all respects.
Ted did so much organizing over the years in every aspect of NER activities. He supported the Club in ways that were often in the background. He touched so many lives that there is no way to count those he helped. NER will miss his stories and tales of SCCA in the good ol’ days.
And every dirt road with grass down the middle will always be a “Ted Goddard divided highway.”
