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I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:31 am
by DLodge
This was the sign that Ralph put on his T one year when DST ended.
I miss his posts here on the forum....
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:52 am
by Mark Gregush
Thank you for posting that. I think of him every time I run across one of his postings. Never got meet him, but would liked to have.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:57 am
by Steve Jelf
Ralph coined one of my favorite terms: disturbutor.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:10 am
by George Mills
Dick,
Me too and not just this time of year. He had unique constant wit on any subject, and never took life too serious. Iconic!
We confused folks at times on forum. Some topics we’d banter viciously...other topics we’d appear to support and push one another forward. That’s the way if goes with Friends, true Friends. Some days we’d call and chat on any random topic, a lot of times in response to something Chewbacca did. Chewbacca was his pet bird with extensive vocabulary.
I’ll share something...Ralph sounded very anti-China on forum...then would temper as say “Let the stuff in, but go full inspection before it clears customs”. He’d use old school words to describe Chinese etc. Yet when he had a dinner party coming up, he’d call looking for near secret fodder that nobody would be aware of, the latest inner China happenings, and then proudly offer his inside stories to the dinner party... Yup, that was Ralph...a great guy tto have as a true Friend! Ahhhh...the guy was more like a brother!!! Gotta go
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 1:48 pm
by david_dewey
Yes, he was a great guy, and left us too soon (in our opinion, at least).
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:09 pm
by SurfCityGene
Thanks for posting the reminder of my best friend and neighbor. I recently thought of him when reading the posts about towing a T. He advocated towing on all fours and of course his warnings about oak spokes still abound. My favorite RDR subject was about Model T brakes which caused me to make and install a set of original after market style McNearney / Big Four front wheel brakes on my '12 Torpedo.
My favorite times with Ralph were when we drove our Model T's locally here on the freeways at speed and for sure had our seat belts secured.
With every season of wild fires I think of him with much respect as he did a lot of the avionics work on the planes dumping retardant for the Forrest Service.
RIP RDR
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:13 pm
by Bud Delong
We got to meet him once and drove him around the OCF in our 14.Bud.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 1:08 pm
by Moxie26
Ralph Ricks, truly missed here and real life. ...... Friendship cemented meeting in Binghamton, NY during one of his Great Race rallies years ago. True gentleman ,generous and kind.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 1:17 pm
by Burger in Spokane
Never met Ralph. Read his posts and all the accolades. Sounds like a serious
troublemaker. The best kind to have around.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:42 pm
by DLodge
Great Race, pulling into Peoria. (2000?)
Late night maintenance.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:29 pm
by Moxie26
Gene, thanks for putting up those pictures of Ralph of his great race days
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:31 pm
by Moxie26
Excuse me thank you Dick Lodge for the pictures very appreciated....... Dick, I'm still enjoying your eggnog recipe around the holidays thanks again. Bob J.
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 6:41 pm
by Les Schubert
Great guy. I had a couple of great visits
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:47 am
by Rich Eagle
I only knew him through this forum but what a delightful character he was. His knowledge and wit were a nice addition to it in those years he contributed.
Rich
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 1:16 pm
by tdump
I have often wondered where his truck went when he finished with it.I was always in awe of him and Fast Frank driving T's on freeways at hi speed.I am about afraid of getting mine on a numbered route.Much less a freeway!
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:09 pm
by HalSched
I was his trail vehicle and pit crew on the Atlanta to San Diego Geat Race (a long time ago) and got to know him quite well. He was a great guy. Foley has "flown West" too.
- 77 Ricks and Foley in Sacramento, Ca..JPG (68.03 KiB) Viewed 5624 times
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:10 pm
by JimDix
Was R D Ricks also Ralph?
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 3:34 pm
by George Mills
YES
Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:56 pm
by SurfCityGene
Thanks for posting the pictures of RDR (Ralph Ricks). That 77 was my favorite of the many changes RDR did to his car / Picup as he called them. He had a very unique vocabulary. The car still resides on Old Pirate Lane and in his Son, Ross Ricks's, possession. It's now a pea green color and sporting a homemade wooden box on the rear which RDR used daily hauling loads from the local Home Depot.
A few things come t mind when I think of him. He always said, "A Fast Car can Always Go Slow". RDR and I preferred driving on the freeways at speed here locally along with Humble Howard Genrich's Luck 7 mostly because there is no cross traffic or drivers cutting in front of you just to slam on their brakes to turn into a fast food place. He was the biggest supporter of Four Wheel Brakes and had Nash Metro hydraulic's on all four wheels. He insisted that any rider in his car put on their seat belt because if he did a panic stop you'd surely need them to stay in the car!
Ya. With RDR gone, Fast Frank and Humble Howard "too old" to drive their T's I feel pretty lonesome out there and really miss the times we had burning up and down the 605 and others in our Model T's. Think of Ralph every time I drive mine now.