I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
DLodge
Posts: 594
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:14 pm
First Name: Dick
Last Name: Lodge
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: St. Louis MO
MTFCA Number: 19659
Board Member Since: 1999

I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by DLodge » Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:31 am

This was the sign that Ralph put on his T one year when DST ended.

clock back.jpg

I miss his posts here on the forum....

User avatar

Mark Gregush
Posts: 4956
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
MTFCA Number: 52564
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Mark Gregush » Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:52 am

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.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:57 am

Ralph coined one of my favorite terms: disturbutor. :)
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

George Mills
Posts: 543
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
First Name: George
Last Name: Mills
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Roadster, 1919 Hack, 1925 Fordor
Location: Cherry Hill NJ/Anona Largo FL
MTFCA Number: 29497
MTFCI Number: 10032
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by George Mills » Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:10 am

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

User avatar

david_dewey
Posts: 521
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:42 pm
First Name: David
Last Name: Dewey
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1925 runaboaut, 1926 Tudor
Location: Oroville, CA
MTFCI Number: 19936
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by david_dewey » Wed Oct 30, 2019 1:48 pm

Yes, he was a great guy, and left us too soon (in our opinion, at least).
T'ake care,
David Dewey


SurfCityGene
Posts: 600
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:00 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Carrothers
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 Torpedo Roadster
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca
MTFCA Number: 22905
MTFCI Number: 23068
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by SurfCityGene » Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:09 pm

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
1912 Torpedo Roadster


Bud Delong
Posts: 468
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:09 pm
First Name: Kenneth
Last Name: DeLong
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 touring,1915 roadster
Location: Wheeler, MI

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Bud Delong » Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:13 pm

We got to meet him once and drove him around the OCF in our 14.Bud.


Moxie26
Posts: 1314
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:20 pm
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Jablonski
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 407
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Moxie26 » Sat Nov 02, 2019 1:08 pm

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.


Burger in Spokane
Posts: 2251
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Burger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
Location: Spokane, Wa.
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Burger in Spokane » Sat Nov 02, 2019 1:17 pm

Never met Ralph. Read his posts and all the accolades. Sounds like a serious
troublemaker. The best kind to have around.
More people are doing it today than ever before !

User avatar

Topic author
DLodge
Posts: 594
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:14 pm
First Name: Dick
Last Name: Lodge
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: St. Louis MO
MTFCA Number: 19659
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by DLodge » Sat Nov 02, 2019 2:42 pm

Great Race, pulling into Peoria. (2000?)

peoria01.jpg

Late night maintenance.

peoria07b.jpg


Moxie26
Posts: 1314
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:20 pm
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Jablonski
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 407
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Moxie26 » Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:29 pm

Gene, thanks for putting up those pictures of Ralph of his great race days


Moxie26
Posts: 1314
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:20 pm
First Name: Robert
Last Name: Jablonski
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 407
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Moxie26 » Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:31 pm

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.


Les Schubert
Posts: 1311
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:47 pm
First Name: Les
Last Name: Schubert
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 27 roadster 13 touring
Location: Calgary

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Les Schubert » Sun Nov 03, 2019 6:41 pm

Great guy. I had a couple of great visits

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6789
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by Rich Eagle » Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:47 am

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
When did I do that?


tdump
Posts: 1275
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:00 pm
First Name: Mack
Last Name: Cole
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT. T express pickup,speedster project.
Location: North Carolina
MTFCA Number: 28146

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by tdump » Tue Nov 05, 2019 1:16 pm

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! :shock:
If you can't help em, don't hinder em'

User avatar

HalSched
Posts: 180
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 8:13 pm
First Name: Hal
Last Name: Schedler
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 23 RA, 25 Fordor
Location: Sacramento
MTFCA Number: 16688
MTFCI Number: 19356
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by HalSched » Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:09 pm

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
77 Ricks and Foley in Sacramento, Ca..JPG (68.03 KiB) Viewed 5579 times


JimDix
Posts: 50
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:05 pm
First Name: James F
Last Name: Dix
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring, 1921 Coupe
Location: Big Flats, NY
MTFCA Number: 7082
MTFCI Number: 14604

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by JimDix » Tue Nov 05, 2019 2:10 pm

Was R D Ricks also Ralph?

User avatar

George Mills
Posts: 543
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
First Name: George
Last Name: Mills
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Roadster, 1919 Hack, 1925 Fordor
Location: Cherry Hill NJ/Anona Largo FL
MTFCA Number: 29497
MTFCI Number: 10032
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by George Mills » Tue Nov 05, 2019 3:34 pm

YES


SurfCityGene
Posts: 600
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:00 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Carrothers
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 Torpedo Roadster
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca
MTFCA Number: 22905
MTFCI Number: 23068
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: I think of Ralph Ricks around this time of year

Post by SurfCityGene » Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:56 pm

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.
1912 Torpedo Roadster

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic