Steward B.

Long time racer and PCA CR steward, Axel Shield, died late yesterday afternoon. Axel had been diagnosed with stage 4 esophegal cancer in December and the cancer did not respond well to treatment, instead metastisizing to the brain this spring.

Axel loved racing and the PCA Club Racing program was a big part of his life for the last 20 years. I know I'll miss him.

Bruce Boeder

tlarocque

R.I.P. and sorry for your loss. Not someone I knew but, as of late, cancer is afflicting many family and friends. Difficult disease.

MJR911

R.I.P. Axel. That man could do more with less behind the wheel of a 911SC than anyone I've ever seen. A true wheelman.

Veloce Raptor

RIP

Larry Herman

I met Axel in the late 70's when autocrossing was at it's zenith in the Phila area. He was one of the guys who convinced me to get a Porsche and start doing track events. Spent many yearss together doing that until he moved onto Skip Barber & Formula Fords. Then we re-connected when he started running in PCA club races. His enthusiasm for racing was unmatched and he will be sorely missed.


One funny story - At an RTR Watkins Glen DE before the bus stop was built I went FLYING into turn 5 with Axel right behind me. My Carrera started a slow rotation as I had stayed on the brakes just a bit too long and by mid-point of the turn I was pretty much perpendicular to the direction of travel. Fighting the slide, I thought "****, where's Axel?". Looking out my passenger window I caught a glimpse of him...sideways just like me!! We both recovered and when we got back to the pits he had the biggest grin on his face. That was interesting he said, and when I appologised for messing him up he replied that it was his own doing. He said that he figured if I could go that deep, so could he!!

Steward B.

at a Road America club race in about 1998 there was a ton of passing under yellow, including passing under yellow while cars were being pulled out of the gravel traps. The driving got so wild that the Road America EV crew, who are legendairly brave and willing to pull cars out of gravel with only a local yellow, refused to pull any more cars without a full course yellow.
Axel was the steward and called an unscheduled drivers meeting. He stood on the picnick tables next to the St John's food booth and yelled at the drivers "You call yourselves racers? You aren't racers! You are a bunch of babies!"
As he was yelling the veins were standing out on his neck to the extent that many in the crowd thought he was going to have a stroke on the spot.
The passing under yellow abated.
He didn't have the stroke.
A good guy who will be missed.

gums

Always remember to tell the people you appreciate while they're here.
I lost my wife to breast cancer 5 years ago.
Axel sounds like one of us. RIP

Larry Herman

Frank, he was one of the originals.

Mike in Chi

So very sad. May he rest in peace.

Larry, a great story, and what a wonderful way to remember a friend who's gone.

gums

And if you guys were Auto-Xing in the Phila area in the late 70's, then I was there too!
Or at least early 80's.

uscarrera

RIP thanks for all he gave to the racer community
Rich

Steve113

RIP my friend
I raced with Axel in the late 80's early 90's in Skip Barber Formula Dodge's he was a true gentleman and a great driver. I remember when I was starting out back then I could always go to him for advice. We had some great races. Very sorry to hear this news.

mcongleton

RIP Axel, you will be missed

Mark

ZAPmobile

When Club Racing 1st started Alex was a great help to me in getting the Road America Club Race organize. He was one of the good guys

Carrera51

RIP Axel. Some of my fondest memories of club racing were a few great scraps I had with Axel at Summit Point in 2002 and 2003 at Summit Point. He raced hard, never drove silly and was a nice man.