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RIP MacNutt

136K views 431 replies 137 participants last post by  talonracer 
#1 ·
Hello everyone,

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but our favourite bull headed scotsman, Gerry MacNutt, died in a freak accident this past weekend. I'dve posted something sooner, but I literally just found out when my mother phoned me from Salt Spring asking if I knew a guy named MacNutt.

Apparently he was photographing a motorcycle drag race (as he often talked about doing) and one of the bikes flew out of control and struck him.

Here is the story on the local Salt Spring newspaper:

<blockquote>
A high-powered motorcycle flew out of control and claimed the life of 50-year-old islander Gerry MacNutt while he was photographing a sand-drag race in Lake Cowichan on Sunday.
“He was a photographer and he liked to get the picture,” said MacNutt’s friend Marve Brimacombe, who witnessed the incident. MacNutt was standing on the edge of a 100-metre sand track near the finish line and taking pictures of the race when a rider lost control of his motorcycle, Brimacombe said. “The bike was veering and instead of jumping one way, he jumped the wrong way.”

According to a press release from the Lake Cowichan RCMP, MacNutt received immediate medical attention from first-aid attendants for numerous injuries after emergency services were called to Meades Creek Sand Drag Track at 12:38 p.m., but he succumbed at the scene. Both MacNutt and the motorcycle rider were members of Brimacombe’s Mental Racing Team that participated in the sport of sand-drag racing with 350 horsepower-plus, nitro-methane fuelled Harley Davidson motorcycles. “Gerry loved being around the nitro bikes and the filming of everything,” Brimacombe said.

read more here: http://gulfislands.net/news.asp?ID=1603
</blockquote>

I really don't know what to say. I didn't always agree with the guy, but I got along with him pretty well. I'm just kind of in shock.

I hereby invite everyone to raise a glass for Gerry MacNutt; 1956 - 2006. RIP.
 
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#3 ·
Oh deal Lord... :(

Our friend Gerry.... :-(

I'm at a loss for words right now and in shock. My thoughts go out to his friends and family.

I will miss not having him around on ehMac.ca. He would push buttons, and get on people's nerves... but in a way that would always make me laugh and he would always be friendly.

Oh man.

I'll always remember the phrase..."Trust me."

Never mind politics... he did seem like a guy you *could* trust.

I will miss you buddy. :-( :-(
 
#4 ·
i'll buy a bottle of lagavulin and raise a glass or two to ya Gerry
perhaps some of us could share a story or two about macnutt in an informal sort of ehmac wake

he onced emailed me about his water and promised to send me a case at nor charge

sure enough a week or so later the water arrived as promised
 
#6 ·
Wow...




I almost didn't look at this thread thinking it would be another slap-fest...





I've had some great debates with MacNutt, particularly during election runs...
I hope he enjoyed them as much as I did. I too, rarely agreed with him, but I
did not question his integrety. This a loss to this community.

I hope this becomes a poinient thread and a copy is forwarded to his family.
The most amazing thing I took away from my fathers funeral was the scope of how far his influence went, illustrated by how far people came to be at the service. MacNutt's family should know how far his presence was felt....


Just_A_Mac_Guy
Brampton, Ontario
 
#7 ·
I'll try to make it to the memorial when i find out about it. If I do, I'll give everyone's regards to the family. I'll probably call them in the next few days either way.

I'm still just in a state of shock. I mean, really, I just don't know what to say.
 
#8 ·
PosterBoy said:
I'll try to make it to the memorial when i find out about it. If I do, I'll give everyone's regards to the family. I'll probably call them in the next few days either way.

I'm still just in a state of shock. I mean, really, I just don't know what to say.
please do

life is short
we should cherish all the moments
what about a tartan motif for ehmac in macnutt's honour?
 
#10 ·
MACSPECTRUM said:
i'll buy a bottle of lagavulin and raise a glass or two to ya Gerry
perhaps some of us could share a story or two about macnutt in an informal sort of ehmac wake

he onced emailed me about his water and promised to send me a case at nor charge

sure enough a week or so later the water arrived as promised
Gerry was very enthusiastic about racing, and would sometimes email me to talk about "Mental Racing." He would send me a video he made of the event... sent down the video on his dime.

He also sent me on his dime, a long sleeved Mental Racing shirt which I affectionately wore... especially when I would go out Mountain Biking. A very cool black shirt with flames down the sleeves. I wore it until it had rips and tears all over it from my mishaps into trees.

--

I remember when I did the move to the new software over a year ago and some people were having problems logging in. I must of gotten 20 emails from Macnutt with his frustrations of not being able to log in. But not nasty emails... they were peppered with humour.

Here's one he sent:

From: gwmacnutt@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Ehmac bugs
Date: January 28, 2005 1:06:50 AM EST (CA)
To: ehmax@ehmac.ca

It's the way I feel. Honest. This is the best place
and has the most interesting people I've never met!
(actually, I've met Stewart Wood and Brenda. I almost
met Lotus.But that's about it.)

Update time. I just tried to log in. Same old same
old. It accepted my log in and welcomed me, until I
tried to post. Then it insisted that I "must log in to
perform this function". Which I did. Again. Then I got
the vBulletin telling me that I must log in....and on
and on and on...

Say, you don't suppose that this software is SO
sophisticated that it actually has good taste...and
wants to weed out **** disturbers in order to maintain
decorum?

If so, I'm sunk. ;)

Gerry.
:) Notice the time too. Macnutt was always posting and emailing at these crazy hours.
 
#11 ·
Rest In Peace Ya Wily Old Scot

I hate to make a sudden reappearance under such horrible circumstances but here I am.

MacNutt was a bull-headed madman and I appreciated that along with his convictions. He was also a friend -- albeit an on-line one I never met in person. From one distant Scotsman to ehMacs true raving Scotsman, I hope he is at peace (and now stirring things up in the afterlife). He will be missed. :-(

As to the hours MacNutt kept, I always suspected he was either an insomniac or kept the sleep schedule of a vampire.
 
#17 ·
Goodness. :(

Cynical Critic said:
MacNutt was a bull-headed madman and I appreciated that along with his convictions.
To be truthful, after reading through quite a few of the online arguments he participated in, I always got the feeling he never took any of this seriously at all, perhaps playing the devil's advocate merely for humour's sake, or, what's more likely, for the sake of those he debated with. Seeing him on here, I always imagined this guy sitting back, writing intentionally radical statements to ehmacers, tongue firmly in cheek.

Jesus, a motorbike.

So sad.
 
#18 ·
tedj said:
Goodness. :(



To be truthful, after reading through quite a few of the online arguments he participated in, I always got the feeling he never took any of this seriously at all, perhaps playing the devil's advocate merely for humour's sake, or, what's more likely, for the sake of those he debated with. Seeing him on here, I always imagined this guy sitting back, writing intentionally radical statements to ehmacers, tongue firmly in cheek.

Jesus, a motorbike.

So sad.
No, MacNutt was genuinely a right winger. I can vouch for it because we had a few discussions via PM.

Here is one such exchange...

MacNutt said:
The rural south end of the island is still dominated by working farms. That's where I live. The most popular front bumper sticker that you will see on all of the pickup trucks around these parts reads:

"Think FAST Hippie!"

Everyone has one. And is proud of it.

Enough said.
He definately enjoyed getting a rise out of people though.
 
#20 ·
Eerily enough, I was thinking of his last joke on this thread on a walk at lunch today... thinking maybe Vancouver\Victoria\Salt Spring was "Beyond Hope".

He always seemed rather humble to me, and most definitely brought a smile.

He died doing something he very much enjoyed. I can only hope when its my time to go, that I'm doing the same... (Just have to figure out what I enjoy in life best first I guess...)

Cheers Gerry.
Thanks.
 
#21 ·
Wow, I just thought I'd check in before I went to bed and this. I couldn't believe it. I'm in shock.

When I first joined ehMac in 2004, I posted a question about video cards and Gerry was there, within an hour, firing off a PM to offer any help he could.

From: ehmax@ehmac.ca
Subject: Private Message from: macnutt - Hello from SaltSpring.
Date: February 2, 2004 11:21:37 PM PST (CA)

Welcome to ehmac! I have a G4 400 AGP Sawtooth and I recently added a second VGA monitor by buying an older ATI video card from a local Apple reseller. I just had to have dual monitors for Photoshop work. I paid about 90 bucks for the card and just over 100$ for a used professional graphics workstation monitor (21 inch CRT).

Let me know if I can be of any help. :cool:

BTW...there are about a half dozen Gulf Island residents here at ehmac. ;)

Regards,
Gerry.
Gerry and I didn't agree on much politically and sometimes he made me really mad. I think sometimes I made him really mad too. But I could tell that he was a decent guy with a good sense of humour under the right wing bravado. I always figured he'd be a fun guy to have a beer with and he had enough of a self-deprecating sense of humour that it took a lot of the sting out of some of his commentary.

It's funny that in the last half year or so he wasn't posting much, but when I would see that he had posted something, I kind of got a lift, even though I knew I would likely hate what he had to say.

It was clear that Gerry loved motorcycle racing and he died doing something he loved. I think I'll miss him. Trust me on this.

Some of us had an awful lot of fun at his expense and he didn't seem to mind all the jabs. Remember this? ...



 
#22 ·
Dear Mayor,

I propose we hereby retire Gerry MacNutt's avatar, in fond memory of a very colourful and enjoyable (if irascible) friend.

I'm deeply saddened by this loss... I always planned/hoped that I'd be able to drop in on him someday and introduce myself. Despite (because of?) our disagreements, I always enjoyed his contributions to EhMac.

Please pass on my condolences and best wishes to his family. He was truly one of a kind, and we'll miss him.
 
#23 · (Edited)
An article on the accident from Salt Spring's Driftwood newspaper:

Local photographer killed at race

... In addition to his interests in photography and motorcycles, Gerry MacNutt liked to draw and had a talent with high-tech equipment. “He didn’t have a wife or kids. He pretty much kept to himself and just ran the business when he was over here.”

But even though Gerry MacNutt lived a simple life, he made an impression on the community. “He knew a lot of people on the island. A lot of people have called.” Now Bruce MacNutt will take over the water business. “We’re going to pick up the pieces where they fell and carry on with it.” And he feels compelled to make closer connections to the rest of his family.

“This will make me want me want to touch bases with my other brother and get together and spend a day with him doing things. No matter how busy people get, it’s good to get a hold of family because they are not going to be around forever.”
Edit: oops just realized that Posterboy put this link in his original post. I was so stunned that I guess I missed it.
 
#24 ·
This is shocking. Truly shocking. Dammit, the guy had many more lively years, decades, left in him.

Words that sprang to my mind have already been posted here:

He was often difficult, but he was honest and he had a hilarious writing style. : Beej.

… a self-deprecating sense of humour … : GratuitousApplesauce.

Couldn't agree more. One of a kind.
 
#25 ·
This has really knocked me for a loop. I really grew to like the man, and I learned to not take him too seriously long time ago. His sarcasm often had me laughing out loud.
I hope he didn't suffer too much.

So long Gerry, you were quite the character, things won't be the same without you. :-(
 
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