Charles “Chuck” Leighton

A Tribute To Our Friend Charles "Chuck" Leighton. The Ozarks sports car fraternity lost an active and enthusiastic member when Chuck Leighton, 51, Springfield, died unexpectedly Saturday morning, Dec. 9. Chuck was a long time member of the Porsche Club of America and won several national awards for the restoration and preservation of Porsche automobiles. For the past seven years, Chuck had competed in Sports Car Club of America races with an immaculate MGB roadster sponsored by his company, Top Craft Bodyworks. He won season championships in the Mid-Am Road Racing Series in 2002 and 2005 and was Third in SCCA Midwest Division national points in 2006. Chuck, a dedicated family man, used his racing activities to strengthen the bond with his five sons, Tripper, Blake, Spenser, Chance and Connor who helped build and maintain the Tahiti blue MGB. He was most happy when he could involve three generations of his family at race weekends. His father, Charles, was a noted sports car racer in the St. Louis area in the 1950s and 1960s, and Chuck grew up around road racing. Chuck loved getting the whole family together for his races at Gateway Int'l Raceway, Heartland Park-Topeka, or Road America. His sons, his wife, Karen, and his father were together in mid October at Chuck's last race, SCCA's National Championship at Topeka. Chuck's race car wore #22 because he said it took him 22 years to find his soul mate, Karen. Chuck's many friends throughout the Ozarks have lost a "sparkplug" who constantly was organizing nights out, parties, cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations, and bus trips. The camaraderie all his friends enjoyed through Chuck's efforts will be greatly missed, but mostly we will miss Chuck's obvious enjoyment at these affairs. Our friend loved classic Jaguar automobiles and currently drove a Jag sedan identical to his first car. Many years ago, he had restored a silver XKE roadster which he designated his "keeper" to be passed on to his sons. He entered his Jags in numerous area car shows, notably the ANPAC charity event in Springfield and the Greater Ozarks British Motoring Club show in Carthage. Boating was another of Chuck's interests. He owned several cruisers and sailboats over the years and enjoyed sailing at Table Rock Lake where he was member of Ozarks Yacht Club. At the end of one's life you don't regret the things you did; you regret the things that you didn't do. Chuck Leighton had no regrets. We all miss you, Chuck. The guys at the Automotive Archeologists, Chuck's friends, have established an educational fund at Signature Bank under Leighton Educational Fund.