The ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv Road Racing community was stunned and saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Averett on Friday, November 6. Jim was piloting a small aircraft in formation flight practice for Veterans Day activities, when a mid-air collision forced his plane down near his hometown of Fredericksburg, TX, according to news reports.

After joining ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv in 1980, Jim enjoyed a successful career as a driver, earning Southwest Division Championships in Formula Vee in 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. He made seven ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv National Championship Runoffs appearances as a driver, with a runner-up finish in his final appearance in 1987 after leading three laps at Road Atlanta. Jim entered the stewards program in 1995, working through the license grades to become a National Chief in 1997. He served as the Southwest Division Executive Steward from 2004-2006 before becoming Assistant Chief Steward at the Runoffs in 2007, moving into the Chief Steward role from 2008-2010 at Heartland Motorsports Park and Road America.

Jim has been a Chief Steward for ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv Pro Racing series, and was currently serving on the ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv Road Racing Court of Appeals, in addition to being a fixture at ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv events in the Southwest Division. He was the subject of this feature on ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv.com in 2018.

After retiring from the United States Air Force in 1974, Jim enjoyed a 26-year career flying with Delta Airlines.

ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû51xxtv extends its deepest sympathies to Jim’s wife Madeline, daughter Amanda and their extended family.