Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker)

Mike Pearson · 10-05-2016, 03:29 PM

Back in the early eighties I was trying to set the record in SS/J. The other car there was the "LIL OLE Nova" running the same class. This was after Ricky sold the car. I cant remember who owned the car at the time. We battled back and forth all day. I finally set the record on the last record run of the day. That was a good time. I think we each made at least 5 record runs that day.

TOM KASCH · 10-05-2016, 03:55 PM

my friend Ray called & asked if i remember the story :
After the 75 Indy nationals they were driving home, stoped to get gas , Ricky started to drive thinking Leo was in the trailer. He got home opened the trailer door & no Leo.
He left him at the gas station.

John Kelley · 10-05-2016, 04:31 PM

If I remember right he was the late Al Dapozzo's brother in law. I think Al was married to Ricky's sister if my memory is right ! Al died in a horrible alky funny car crash at Bowling Green.......RIP to both of these guys ........

Frank Castros · 10-05-2016, 05:42 PM

One bad race team, RIP Ricky.

Dwight Southerland · 10-05-2016, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOM KASCH

my friend Ray called & asked if i remember the story :
After the 75 Indy nationals they were driving home, stoped to get gas , Ricky started to drive thinking Leo was in the trailer. He got home opened the trailer door & no Leo.
He left him at the gas station.

Tom, I had forgotten about that one! They had one of those flatbed trucks with the car loaded on. Leo had climbed up into the car to get some sleep and got out to use the bathroom when Ricky stopped for gas. I believe it was just outside of Louisville.

Ronnie Charnes · 10-05-2016, 09:52 PM

I knew both of them Great people When Ricky left Leo at gas station Leo had no shoes on and called Mark Heffington i believe to send money for bus ticket home. Ricky was Al's brother in law. They were a real trip to be around. Always interesting.

Hardrock

Rick Voegelin · 10-06-2016, 03:03 PM

I'd like to add a couple of Leo and Ricky stories, but first I'll say that they were both wonderful men who used their ingenuity and creativity to run fast.

One year we somehow managed to win a Division 7 points race in Modified, and National Dragster ran a photo of us in the winner's circle. We were a pretty scruffy bunch, long-haired dirtball drag racers. A week later, I got a check for $100 in the mail from Leo, with a note that the money was a Mississippi Grass Farms contingency award, and that we should use the money to get haircuts.

When we raced in Seattle at the Fallnationals, Ricky and Leo were at the same mom-and-pop motel where we were staying. There was a restaurant next door, and Leo ordered a steak dinner to go. Then he served the steak and all the fixings to my partner's long-haired German shepherd, Gus, in the parking lot. Needless to say, Gus was always happy to see Leo after that.

I miss them both. Race in peace, Ricky.

Ok stocker · 10-06-2016, 09:22 PM

I met them when I was a kid. Saw them race many places they were tough to beat. We were glad when they got out of super stock. Godsspeed

10-06-2016, 09:32 PM

Met Ricky and Leo back in the 80's at Fremont Raceway. Great guys and boy were they fast!

Rest in Peace Ricky.
Prayers for the Klarr Family.

10-05-2016, 03:29 PM	#1
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,453 Likes: 615 Liked 1,938 Times in 583 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) Back in the early eighties I was trying to set the record in SS/J. The other car there was the "LIL OLE Nova" running the same class. This was after Ricky sold the car. I cant remember who owned the car at the time. We battled back and forth all day. I finally set the record on the last record run of the day. That was a good time. I think we each made at least 5 record runs that day. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

10-05-2016, 03:55 PM	#2
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) my friend Ray called & asked if i remember the story : After the 75 Indy nationals they were driving home, stoped to get gas , Ricky started to drive thinking Leo was in the trailer. He got home opened the trailer door & no Leo. He left him at the gas station.

10-05-2016, 04:31 PM	#3
John Kelley Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tightwad,TEXAS Posts: 911 Likes: 6 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) If I remember right he was the late Al Dapozzo's brother in law. I think Al was married to Ricky's sister if my memory is right ! Al died in a horrible alky funny car crash at Bowling Green.......RIP to both of these guys ........

10-05-2016, 05:42 PM	#4
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,982 Likes: 2,605 Liked 2,737 Times in 965 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) One bad race team, RIP Ricky.

10-05-2016, 09:52 PM	#6
Ronnie Charnes Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 44 Likes: 261 Liked 15 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) I knew both of them Great people When Ricky left Leo at gas station Leo had no shoes on and called Mark Heffington i believe to send money for bus ticket home. Ricky was Al's brother in law. They were a real trip to be around. Always interesting. Hardrock

10-06-2016, 03:03 PM	#7
Rick Voegelin Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 5 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) I'd like to add a couple of Leo and Ricky stories, but first I'll say that they were both wonderful men who used their ingenuity and creativity to run fast. One year we somehow managed to win a Division 7 points race in Modified, and National Dragster ran a photo of us in the winner's circle. We were a pretty scruffy bunch, long-haired dirtball drag racers. A week later, I got a check for $100 in the mail from Leo, with a note that the money was a Mississippi Grass Farms contingency award, and that we should use the money to get haircuts. When we raced in Seattle at the Fallnationals, Ricky and Leo were at the same mom-and-pop motel where we were staying. There was a restaurant next door, and Leo ordered a steak dinner to go. Then he served the steak and all the fixings to my partner's long-haired German shepherd, Gus, in the parking lot. Needless to say, Gus was always happy to see Leo after that. I miss them both. Race in peace, Ricky.

10-06-2016, 09:22 PM	#8
Ok stocker Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 139 Likes: 20 Liked 100 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) I met them when I was a kid. Saw them race many places they were tough to beat. We were glad when they got out of super stock. Godsspeed

10-06-2016, 09:32 PM	#9
Barry Polley Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Ricky Klarr.......RIP (Lil Ole Nova Super Stocker) Met Ricky and Leo back in the 80's at Fremont Raceway. Great guys and boy were they fast! Rest in Peace Ricky. Prayers for the Klarr Family.