Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... - Page 4

Paul Ceasrine · 03-20-2010, 03:36 AM

Peter,
Ralph Ridgeway was in the north part of the state. Dick Moroso was in
the southern part of Connecticut. Stamford area.
Dick also ran in C/MP. Had a 61' Vette with a 283ci. Big promoter of
'Sig Erson' camshafts and 'Mondello Heads'.
Had the red 'Vette' with the Ansen Mag Wheels. Had the C/MP record in 67', and also ran the car in D/MSP. Low 12.00's.
Yes, he was a regular at Dover in the mid-late 60's. Had a black
61' Vette also. When the Modified Sports Class was eliminated in 68', he went to Gas, either E/G or F/G with the 283ci.
Paul

Paul Ceasrine · 03-21-2010, 05:58 AM

Peter.
Ralph Ridgeway was from the Hartford, CT/Springfield, Mass. area.
Involved with the 'Tunnel-Ram' development.
Dick Moroso was from the Stamford, Ct area. Involved first with
deep oil-pans and tall valve covers for the Chevy's.
Both Ralph and Dick were very succesful in Modified Production in the
mid-late 60's, and early 70's.
Ralph was runner-up at the 67' Nationals and also at SanAir/Grandnationals in 71'. Dick was runner-up in Street Eliminator at the 66' Nationals.
Dick first ran a 57' Vette in B/MP, then the 61' Vette in C/MP in 66'/67', and in 68'/69' he ran a 62' Vette in F/MP.
Paul

Paul Ceasrine · 03-23-2010, 06:14 AM

Peter,
Ralph Ridgeway's 69' Camaro (C/MP) was featured in the
February 1970 'Super Stock & Funny Car' magazine.
And the C/MP record in 1974, got to 10.17, which was set at the
Sportsnationals at Beech Bend.
Paul

Ed Wright · 03-23-2010, 04:47 PM

Carroll Caudle had a tunnel ram made from a Corvette FI manifold also. As did Butch lake's M.P. '55 panel truck. Carroll also was pretty fast. He still has his Indy winning C/MP '55 BelAir hardtop sitting in the back of his shop in Amarillo.

Ed Wright · 03-23-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Ridgeway

I can not believe how much new interest about my racing days has been generated this past year including people wanting to build a replica of my 55 Chev, my induction into the New England Hot Rod Hall of Fame, a local TV interview and newspaper article and an ESPN radio interview. Anyone wanting more information can contact me at: rridgeway8014@charter.net. I will be happy to share information. Attached are a couple of photos from my collection. I am presently working on scanning several slides to digital so I create a DVD that can be mailed out.

Very cool!

I had one of your stud girdles on my C/SM Camaro in the '70s.

63corvette · 03-23-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Carroll Caudle had a tunnel ram made from a Corvette FI manifold also. As did Butch lake's M.P. '55 panel truck. Carroll also was pretty fast. He still has his Indy winning C/MP '55 BelAir hardtop sitting in the back of his shop in Amarillo.

I see Carroll every once and awhile in Amarillo.
It has been a year or so since I saw him last.
He was still building motors part time with his grandson in his same old shop close to down town last time I talked to him.
He says he will never part with the 55.
He has had thoughts of getting it back out but never followed up.
Several years ago he had a big block camaro at Amarillo dragway and made a few passes.
He still has the bug.
I guess we never get rid of the Drag Racing Bug once we catch it.

Roger K Fain · 03-23-2010, 06:41 PM

I may be wrong but, I think Carrol Caudle's '55 was a four-door with the back doors welded up to make it appear as a two-door sedan.
I stand corrected...Carrol's Automotive of Amirillo, TX was in fact a Dk. Blue and white Belair hardtop, running G/MP. I found it on H.A.M.B.
The car I was thinking about was from Connelsville, PA that raced at PID and Eldora Raceway in Fairmont, WV in M/P.

Lew Silverman · 03-23-2010, 07:37 PM

Not only was Ralph Ridgeway a great racer and innovator he was also a successful businessman, setting up the "Ridgerunner Speed Shop" franchises in the Northeast in the late 60's and early 70's. My military service got in the way of my participation in his program, but they kept it going for quite a while. I think I still have the prospectus somewhere!

Paul Ceasrine · 03-24-2010, 06:31 AM

Lew,
Don't forget too, Carl DeBien, 'Deb's Automotive. Had several locations, the Dyno-shop in Springfield, Mass. and (3) in Connecticut (Hartford, Rockville and Milford).
At one time in 68'/69', Deb's Automotive sponsored Bill Flynn's' Yankee Peddler' 68' SS/B Hemi Dart, Ralph Ridgeway's 55' Chevy D/MP, 'Brainbeau Oldsmobile's 68' 442 E/S and Joseph Patelli's 68' SS/BA Hemi Dart out of Hampden, Mass. Not-A-Bad-Line-Up.
Paul

dinotheweirdo · 12-02-2010, 05:30 PM

Ok Gang ...Had to jump in here...Looking for a info on Gasser that ran A Debs Decal..Photo from 1970 at Dover .Last bought from "a Kid" in Waterbury,Ct.in late 70's by Art Brissette then sold . .Oh- And Heres Ralph at New York National...from our Photo archives at the Dover Site

03-20-2010, 03:36 AM	#31
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Peter, Ralph Ridgeway was in the north part of the state. Dick Moroso was in the southern part of Connecticut. Stamford area. Dick also ran in C/MP. Had a 61' Vette with a 283ci. Big promoter of 'Sig Erson' camshafts and 'Mondello Heads'. Had the red 'Vette' with the Ansen Mag Wheels. Had the C/MP record in 67', and also ran the car in D/MSP. Low 12.00's. Yes, he was a regular at Dover in the mid-late 60's. Had a black 61' Vette also. When the Modified Sports Class was eliminated in 68', he went to Gas, either E/G or F/G with the 283ci. Paul

03-21-2010, 05:58 AM	#32
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Peter. Ralph Ridgeway was from the Hartford, CT/Springfield, Mass. area. Involved with the 'Tunnel-Ram' development. Dick Moroso was from the Stamford, Ct area. Involved first with deep oil-pans and tall valve covers for the Chevy's. Both Ralph and Dick were very succesful in Modified Production in the mid-late 60's, and early 70's. Ralph was runner-up at the 67' Nationals and also at SanAir/Grandnationals in 71'. Dick was runner-up in Street Eliminator at the 66' Nationals. Dick first ran a 57' Vette in B/MP, then the 61' Vette in C/MP in 66'/67', and in 68'/69' he ran a 62' Vette in F/MP. Paul Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 03-21-2010 at 06:23 AM. Reason: note and addition

03-23-2010, 06:14 AM	#33
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Peter, Ralph Ridgeway's 69' Camaro (C/MP) was featured in the February 1970 'Super Stock & Funny Car' magazine. And the C/MP record in 1974, got to 10.17, which was set at the Sportsnationals at Beech Bend. Paul

03-23-2010, 04:47 PM	#34
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 168 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Carroll Caudle had a tunnel ram made from a Corvette FI manifold also. As did Butch lake's M.P. '55 panel truck. Carroll also was pretty fast. He still has his Indy winning C/MP '55 BelAir hardtop sitting in the back of his shop in Amarillo. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

03-23-2010, 06:41 PM	#37
Roger K Fain Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clarksburg, WV Posts: 146 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... I may be wrong but, I think Carrol Caudle's '55 was a four-door with the back doors welded up to make it appear as a two-door sedan. I stand corrected...Carrol's Automotive of Amirillo, TX was in fact a Dk. Blue and white Belair hardtop, running G/MP. I found it on H.A.M.B. The car I was thinking about was from Connelsville, PA that raced at PID and Eldora Raceway in Fairmont, WV in M/P. Last edited by Roger K Fain; 03-24-2010 at 08:16 AM.

03-23-2010, 07:37 PM	#38
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,438 Likes: 372 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Not only was Ralph Ridgeway a great racer and innovator he was also a successful businessman, setting up the "Ridgerunner Speed Shop" franchises in the Northeast in the late 60's and early 70's. My military service got in the way of my participation in his program, but they kept it going for quite a while. I think I still have the prospectus somewhere! __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

03-24-2010, 06:31 AM	#39
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Lew, Don't forget too, Carl DeBien, 'Deb's Automotive. Had several locations, the Dyno-shop in Springfield, Mass. and (3) in Connecticut (Hartford, Rockville and Milford). At one time in 68'/69', Deb's Automotive sponsored Bill Flynn's' Yankee Peddler' 68' SS/B Hemi Dart, Ralph Ridgeway's 55' Chevy D/MP, 'Brainbeau Oldsmobile's 68' 442 E/S and Joseph Patelli's 68' SS/BA Hemi Dart out of Hampden, Mass. Not-A-Bad-Line-Up. Paul Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 03-24-2010 at 06:34 AM. Reason: addition

12-02-2010, 05:30 PM	#40
dinotheweirdo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Rockingham,N.C. Posts: 21 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Deb's/Ralph Ridgeway '55 Chev C/MP car..... Ok Gang ...Had to jump in here...Looking for a info on Gasser that ran A Debs Decal..Photo from 1970 at Dover .Last bought from "a Kid" in Waterbury,Ct.in late 70's by Art Brissette then sold . .Oh- And Heres Ralph at New York National...from our Photo archives at the Dover Site Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.doverdragstrip.com Last edited by dinotheweirdo; 12-02-2010 at 05:51 PM.