Images: Ken Trevarthan/ Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things people have to deal with, especially when that loved one is taken tragically at a young age. But while the memory of those loved ones live on, so too do their passions and dreams through the objects they left behind. While seeing those items can add to the pain that one is feeling over their loss, they can also be used for good, such as for a tribute to the life that person led. For one group of friends in Charleston, Illinois, that’s exactly what they did with a 1998 Camaro, according to the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier.

On March 18^th, ’98 Camaro owner 33-year-old Ben Newton was killed while tending bar at a Charleston pub. The LS1 Camaro, which Newton had bought in 1999 with his brother-in-law, had been a significant part of Newton’s life for 14 years. When people knew Newton, they knew of his car and vice versa.

Kelly Edwards and her son Tony Easton with Ben Newton’s black Camaro. Easton had been close friends with Ben Newton since middle school.

After Newton’s death, his parents Bill and Liz brought the car into Cedar City Motors, a used car dealership in Charleston owned by Kelly Edwards. Edwards’ son Tony Easton had been long-time friends with Newton, along with about five others who had remained close friends since middle school. The boys even traveled back to the area often in their 20s to camp at Newton’s grandparents’ house over Labor Day weekend.

Edwards, who had been looking for a car to be able to drag race when the Newtons brought in Ben’s car, debated for about a week or two about keeping the car for herself before deciding there would be no better way to honor Ben’s memory than to drive and race his car.

After two weeks of preparations, Ben’s car was back on the pavement where it belong, this time hitting the dragstrip at Coles County Dragway just outside of Charleston.

Ben Newton’s memory now lives on not only in the hearts of his family and friends, but also through his beloved car that now sports a memorial sticker on the back windshield, featuring the phrase “Fish On,” which is said to have described Newton all too well. The car also features the front license plate Ben’s dad had given him when he bought the car, one that features the phrase “NO TKT 1” to keep him out of trouble, his dad told the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier.

Edwards is proud to be able to race Newton’s car and honor his memory. She recently won the PowderPuff class and took third in Sportsman at the August 10th Coles County Dragway races.

The loss of Ben Newton may still be fresh, but having his life honored in such a way can help the healing process. Our condolences go out to the Newton family and friends. 

Edwards has not only honored Newton’s memory by keeping his car going but also by taking titles with it on the dragstrip.