Another old Ford racer gone.

lstanford · 02-23-2012, 08:09 PM

Len Richter drove the Bob Ford Thunderbolt and A/FX Mustangs in the 60's. Obit in today's Detroit News.

rawhide · 02-24-2012, 12:21 AM

Richter, Leonard Arthur, age 79, of Allen Park. Longtime companion of Beryl. Dear brother of Donald and Ralph. Also survived by several nephews and nieces. After serving his country in the United States Air Force, he became a professional drag racer for Ford Motor Company where he worked for 45 years.

I remember reading his name in magazines when I was a kid and thinking that Mr Richter and his fellow racers must walk on water.
regards, Roland

bigshow2966 · 02-24-2012, 08:18 PM

My Mom was the librarian in the little town I grew up in. When I was in high school the library had a 16 mm projector they would loan out and they could get movies. My favorite was one called 1320 Feet. It had in car footage of Len Richter driving his T-Bolt. The narator would say "Watch Len run through those gears!" and he'd make a pass. Must have watched that movie a hundred times.

Godspeed Len.

rawhide · 02-25-2012, 12:25 AM

A lot of the racers from the 50's and 60's are passing on. It seems like someone goes every couple of days. On Wednesday one of our Roanoke, Va racers from the 60's passed away. He was 78 and his name was Gene Tingler and he raced a supercharged 57 Ford called "Gone With the Wind". They say that he set the national record at the 1965 Bristol Springnationals in his stock class. RIP old time racers.
regards, Roland

ss wannabee · 02-25-2012, 08:04 AM

Also remember reading about Len back in the day....

RIP Len!

Ed Fernandez · 02-26-2012, 12:52 AM

He was one of my favorites,reading about him and the other Ford guys in the drag rags back then.And yeah I was a Ford fan back then.

02-23-2012, 08:09 PM	#1
lstanford Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 312 Likes: 1 Liked 134 Times in 32 Posts	Another old Ford racer gone. Len Richter drove the Bob Ford Thunderbolt and A/FX Mustangs in the 60's. Obit in today's Detroit News.

02-24-2012, 12:21 AM	#2
rawhide Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 270 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Another old Ford racer gone. Richter, Leonard Arthur, age 79, of Allen Park. Longtime companion of Beryl. Dear brother of Donald and Ralph. Also survived by several nephews and nieces. After serving his country in the United States Air Force, he became a professional drag racer for Ford Motor Company where he worked for 45 years. I remember reading his name in magazines when I was a kid and thinking that Mr Richter and his fellow racers must walk on water. regards, Roland

02-24-2012, 08:18 PM	#3
bigshow2966 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 651 Likes: 660 Liked 177 Times in 53 Posts	Re: Another old Ford racer gone. My Mom was the librarian in the little town I grew up in. When I was in high school the library had a 16 mm projector they would loan out and they could get movies. My favorite was one called 1320 Feet. It had in car footage of Len Richter driving his T-Bolt. The narator would say "Watch Len run through those gears!" and he'd make a pass. Must have watched that movie a hundred times. Godspeed Len.

02-25-2012, 12:25 AM	#4
rawhide Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 270 Likes: 1 Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Another old Ford racer gone. A lot of the racers from the 50's and 60's are passing on. It seems like someone goes every couple of days. On Wednesday one of our Roanoke, Va racers from the 60's passed away. He was 78 and his name was Gene Tingler and he raced a supercharged 57 Ford called "Gone With the Wind". They say that he set the national record at the 1965 Bristol Springnationals in his stock class. RIP old time racers. regards, Roland

02-25-2012, 08:04 AM	#5
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Another old Ford racer gone. Also remember reading about Len back in the day.... RIP Len!

02-26-2012, 12:52 AM	#6
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Another old Ford racer gone. He was one of my favorites,reading about him and the other Ford guys in the drag rags back then.And yeah I was a Ford fan back then. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA