The rally community suffers a grave loss. Matthew Marker.

[IanS]

It pains me greatly to make this post.

Yesterday, April 30th 2011, during day one of the Olympus Performance Rally, the No. 65 Subaru Impreza piloted by Matt Marker, and Co-Driven by Chris Gordon left a rally stage at high speed. The car apparently struck a tree near the drivers roofline. Emergency services were dispatched but nothing could be done. Mr Marker is reported to have passed away at the scene. Co-Driver Chris Gordon survived with only minor injuries. Chris is known as CTGordon here on Nico. I have met and talked to Matt, and Chris is a very close friend of mine. Matt was a great driver, and an all around nice guy. He will surely be missed.

My heart and mind go out to the Marker family in these very difficult times.

This serves as a very painful reminder as to how dangerous not only rally, but all motorsports can be.

Be safe out there.

Rally-America publication

[PapaSmurf2k3]

RIP Matt

[audtatious]

Holy crap

Condolences to family and friends.

[Speedy7_7]

I talked to Chris on the Phone today and he is a little shaken up. He has some bruised or maybe broken ribs (he wouldn't let them take him to the hospital) but otherwise he is in perfect health. He told me about the crash, he said he didn't expect Matt to be hurt when the car came to a stop, but it hit the tree just right. He estimates they were doing about 80 or so and they went off the road into a gorge. They hit the trees about 40 feet up. The first tree is what did the damage, Matt just never woke up. Chris told me; "The only sadness is that Matt is gone, He went out doing what he loved."

Its a sad day for all of us here. Matt was one of the nicest guys you could talk to. He had a girlfriend and is survived by his parents.

[IanS]

Jalopnik picked up the story.

http://jalopnik.com/#!5797504/rememberi ... mpus-rally

A video shot the stage before the accident.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA0Pm4ca7eQ[/youtube]

[skydragoness]

Chris told me; "The only sadness is that Matt is gone, He went out doing what he loved."

I feel as though that's a good way to go out. My condolences to you two and to his family.

[nissangirl74]

RIP Matt.

[AZhitman]

So sorry to hear this. Ian, please let us know if there's anything we, as a community, can do.

[DeXteR]

Didn't he drive the red Subaru with the neons a few years ago?

This is terrible news. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

[IanS]

Didn't he drive the red Subaru with the neons a few years ago?

This is terrible news. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Yes, I believe that was his car, though for the last few seasons he had been racing a teal and white 1G DSM.

[CTGordon]

Yes, I believe that was his car, though for the last few seasons he had been racing a teal and white 1G DSM.

Oddly that was Adam MARKUT, another damn good driver I rode with a few times over the two years that separated the first and second time I rode with Matt.

[IanS]

Yes, I believe that was his car, though for the last few seasons he had been racing a teal and white 1G DSM.

Oddly that was Adam MARKUT, another damn good driver I rode with a few times over the two years that separated the first and second time I rode with Matt.

I can't keep track any more. You were a bit of a codriving slut.

[alms24sebring]

Saw this in your build thread. Sorry to hear that, Im sure he will be missed.