Wally's half brother Leslie Royce (Jones) Pochos found this website and sent us his memories of Wally:

"I am sitting here absolutely open-mouthed and teary eyed.  Walter Downing 
Barnitz, Jr. was my half brother; we had the same mother.  I had been researching some names on the Internet and typed in Barnitz for the heck of it, just curious about a few of Wally's cousins.  You cannot imagine how shocked I was when Wally showed up on page one of the Google search.

Wally died in 1976, soon after our other, younger than Wally, brother Penn died.  Actually, a cardiologist said at the funeral that Wally's glider crash on the coast probably contributed to his early heart attack but then he didn't know that Wally's father died in his 40's from a coronary.  So who knows.

But I really wanted to add this to your Wally Barnitz lore:  He told me that he actually won a race and in the next race was given the pole position - I guess meaning he was first out at the start.  He was so nervous and so excited that he threw the car into reverse and actually came in last.  I have always loved that story. 

He was the most amazing older brother anyone could have had - he had me reading Shakespeare when I was in 2nd grade.  When I was with him after Penn died, he and his wife Jill were struggling financially; I was able to give them a present of some cash in the hopes that they would go away for a while and have the honeymoon they never could afford.  Instead, he looked at me as though I were completely mad and told me he would spend it on a trip that included Spencer and Liz.  So it easy for me to picture the two of you on that ride; no one was better or wiser with young people.

Thanks again for your web site and for your response.  This was so unbelievable and exciting for me; I cannot thank you enough.  I am sure that many drivers and car collectors are as grateful for your site but certainly none are more moved by it than I am." 

Thank you again.

Leslie Royce (Jones) Pochos
Philadelphia, PA