It is with sadness that we note the passing of Brock Yates. Writer extraodinaire, he wrote a column for Car and Driver magazine for many years and was a prolific writer of books. He also wrote the screenplay for The Cannonball Run (1981) and co-wrote the screenplay for Smokey and the Bandit II (1980).

I had the great fortune to meet Brock Yates, and his son Brock Yates, Jr., when Garth Gullekson and I were shooting the One Lap of America in 2004 and 2005. I videotaped Garth interviewing him that I’ll have to dig up. As I recall, the sound was poor, but suddenly I’m inspired to go find it.

Rest in peace, Brock.