Just found out that Longtime Dirt track racer Rick Means passed away! Started racing in the Mid 60's art Speedway Park....
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by Monte Hunter on May 21, 2015, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Rick Means...."
oh man thats to bad he was always one of my heros growing up thank for the info joe but this really is a sad day for new mexico now with him windell, gaylord,dean hines all gone to race in the sky but we still have many more that we still can look up too like my dad,eddie gant,bill lynch all the other greats in our local family of racing
GOD SPEED RICK MEANS THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by mychal on May 21, 2015, 6:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Rick Means...."
Rick Means was one of the really good guys in racing. Everybody liked him & he was a great racer. I remember back in the day, at the height of the Raceway/Speedway Park wars. Rick jumped from Speedway to Raceway in mid season. There was no Internet or social media (Facebook) back then, but word spread throughout the local racing community like wild fire.It was a big deal & he caught a lot of grief for switching. His cars were always immaculate & different. When the old style sportsman were morphing into tube framed super mods...he came out with that 32 Victoria fiberglass bodied car & just killed everyone with it.(that things still around sitting in a backyard in grants) When everyone was running the wedge Camero bodied late models...he had that Corvette stingray bodied car...it was a beautiful piece. He was a good guy & always a class act. RIP sir...
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by Joe S on May 22, 2015, 12:50 am, in reply to "Re: Rick Means...." Mutly
I think RM got caught up in the Otis Rich boycott of Speedway Park! Its hard enough to get fans to the track now, how on Earth did ABQ Support 2 Dirt tracks from 1968-1981!
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by mychal on May 22, 2015, 7:35 am, in reply to "Re: Rick Means...."
The Otis Rich banning & subsequent boycott happened in late 68... Rick made the move in 70 or 71...during the season(I think). It was a pretty surprising, considering the big money Speedway was paying at the time.
The way Albuquerque supported racing back then was crazy. I remember one July Saturday night (monsoon season) Speedway got rained out. Down in the south valley Raceway stayed dry & they got the show in. Frank Crosby didn't wanna lose his weekly cash cow...so he scheduled the rain date the following Wednesday. Speedway was full every Saturday night, but with addition of all the Raceway fans, the place was standing room only by 5. There weren't enough seats & we ended up standing all night.(I've always wanted to ask Bob & Ray Ingram if they remember that night, keep forgetting to). Funny thing...not one Raceway car broke ranks & showed up...they still had over 100 cars in 3 divisions. Or... The night Raceway held an all star race for late models. So many people showed up... That cars were actually parked all the way out to and on both sides of South Broadway. ...it was crazy.
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by Bob Ingram on May 22, 2015, 3:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Rick Means...."
Sorry to hear about Rick Means passing. He was always a class act in and out of racing. I always loved his beautiful #65 Sportsman cars at Speedway Park. I don't really remember the Wednesday show at Speedway but do remember packed stands on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I was fortunate enough to be the Chief Flagman for the Stock Car shows on Saturday ( Claimers ( think Cruisers ), Sportsman and Late Models ) as well as the Motorcycle and Volkswagens, and occassionally the Super Modifieds. I was not a fan of Otis Rich even before the split, but Albq. did manage to do a great job of supporting two dirt tracks for several years. Things may not be perfect at Sandia Speedway but we are lucky to still have a local dirt track to support, and the show this year has been very good if not great.
Rest in peace Rick.
Have A Great Day God Bless Everybody
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by Joe S on May 22, 2015, 11:12 am, in reply to "Re: Rick Means...." Mutly
Well I have a pic on my History site from Opening day 1972 showing Packed stands at both Raceway, Speedway Park and ABQ Dragway all in the same day! Those days sadly are long gone!
Re: Rick Means....
Posted by Brenda Gantt on May 22, 2015, 2:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Rick Means...."
I am sorry to hear about Rick's passing. Always had a great looking car #56 and very fast. A fan favorite. Sending our condolences to his family.
I believe one of the problems today is that there is so much more to do and the interest has just dropped off. I posted an interesting article on Facebook regarding the issues of tracks closing and why. One reason is not getting the young kids of today interested. It is a very sad situation indeed Joe.
on May 20, 2015, 11:40 pm