Longtime S-S/S racer passes.

Rory McNeil · 01-13-2009, 11:11 PM

I just recieved the sad news that longtime Div. 6 Stock & Super Stock racer and engine builder, Richard Johnston passed away this morning. "R.J." as he was best known, most recently ran his 85 Oldsmobile (ex Popular Hot Rodding`s "Project O" project car) in SS/GTIA, he also ran a 68 Nova in D/SA before that, but Rick will always be best known for his 55 &56 Chevy 265 powered cars that he ran in the 70`s & 80`s. His SS/NA 56 sedan was a many time record holder, and it was with this car that he toured to most of the NHRA National events almost 30 years ago during a year long racing vacation. That year Rick was the #1 qualifier at the majority of the races that he attended. Rick was 59 years old, and a lifelong Richmond BC Canada resident. I will post the details of a memorial for Rick as the information becomes available. RIP Rick.

SSDiv6 · 01-13-2009, 11:31 PM

My condolences and simpathy for the Johnston family. Rick was a great racer and person; he will be missed. Godspeed.

Geerhead55 · 01-14-2009, 01:51 AM

I remember Rick's shoeboxes back in the day,,even have a few photos. I think his 56 was the first car around div.6 to have a trans brake. I can remember us in the stands, listening to the revs come up and shaking our heads after he launched,because we all knew it was a 'glide car. So down to the pits we went and checked it out,,I believe this was late 70s. My condolences to his family.
Danny Durham

larry dowty · 01-14-2009, 02:00 AM

godspeed my friend you will be missed

Chuck Porter · 01-14-2009, 12:16 PM

Our sincere condolences to Dee and all the Johnston family. We're thinking about you.
Chuck & Sandy

Belair 7548 · 01-14-2009, 01:08 PM

Sorry to hear of this sad news. I never had a chance to meet Rick but can say he was willing to help (via e-mails and by telephone) and it was much appreciated. Rick was able to help get us pointed in the right direction, without question. I watched from a distance as that 55 was the class of the field, no doubt one who had a long time passion for the sport as I'm sure in life. Please pass on our best wishes from Tempe Arizona.

Tom P · 01-14-2009, 09:55 PM

That's a bummer. My condolences to Dee and Ken and Jim and the rest of the family. I first met him in the late 70's and even though he was a Chevy guy he did a great job on building my Ford 427 which is still together and racing. He said it was the first one he'd done and he had to learn about the relief valve stuff. He had a 390 in his Ford ramptruck back then.

Rory forgot about his stint in Comp with a 4 banger dragster.

He was a great guy and i'll miss him . He spent his last year enjoying himself in the sun. Hard to tell he was even white any more!

Rory McNeil · 01-14-2009, 11:03 PM

A Celebration of Life memorial for Rick Johnston will be held this Sunday Jan. 18th 2009, at St.Annes Anglican Church, 4071 Francis Road (near #1 Rd.) in Richmond B.C. Canada, from 3.30-5.00PM.

thomas sheehan · 01-15-2009, 12:19 AM

Here is an old picture I found from National Dragster.

Rest in peace Mr. Johnston.

GallantRacingBSA · 01-15-2009, 01:16 AM

This is very sad news to hear, RJ was a great guy and packed with knowledge! Whenever I asked him a question he always found time to answer. Awesome guy, goin miss him. RIP RJ

Justin Gallant

01-13-2009, 11:31 PM	#2
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,043 Likes: 712 Liked 1,577 Times in 581 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. My condolences and simpathy for the Johnston family. Rick was a great racer and person; he will be missed. Godspeed.

01-14-2009, 01:51 AM	#3
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. I remember Rick's shoeboxes back in the day,,even have a few photos. I think his 56 was the first car around div.6 to have a trans brake. I can remember us in the stands, listening to the revs come up and shaking our heads after he launched,because we all knew it was a 'glide car. So down to the pits we went and checked it out,,I believe this was late 70s. My condolences to his family. Danny Durham

01-14-2009, 02:00 AM	#4
larry dowty Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: chewelah wa Posts: 283 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. godspeed my friend you will be missed

01-14-2009, 12:16 PM	#5
Chuck Porter Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 104 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. Our sincere condolences to Dee and all the Johnston family. We're thinking about you. Chuck & Sandy

01-14-2009, 01:08 PM	#6
Belair 7548 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 75 Likes: 3 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. Sorry to hear of this sad news. I never had a chance to meet Rick but can say he was willing to help (via e-mails and by telephone) and it was much appreciated. Rick was able to help get us pointed in the right direction, without question. I watched from a distance as that 55 was the class of the field, no doubt one who had a long time passion for the sport as I'm sure in life. Please pass on our best wishes from Tempe Arizona. __________________ Brad Vokes SS 7548

01-13-2009, 11:11 PM	#1
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,311 Likes: 315 Liked 1,103 Times in 301 Posts	Longtime S-S/S racer passes. I just recieved the sad news that longtime Div. 6 Stock & Super Stock racer and engine builder, Richard Johnston passed away this morning. "R.J." as he was best known, most recently ran his 85 Oldsmobile (ex Popular Hot Rodding`s "Project O" project car) in SS/GTIA, he also ran a 68 Nova in D/SA before that, but Rick will always be best known for his 55 &56 Chevy 265 powered cars that he ran in the 70`s & 80`s. His SS/NA 56 sedan was a many time record holder, and it was with this car that he toured to most of the NHRA National events almost 30 years ago during a year long racing vacation. That year Rick was the #1 qualifier at the majority of the races that he attended. Rick was 59 years old, and a lifelong Richmond BC Canada resident. I will post the details of a memorial for Rick as the information becomes available. RIP Rick. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

01-14-2009, 09:55 PM	#7
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. That's a bummer. My condolences to Dee and Ken and Jim and the rest of the family. I first met him in the late 70's and even though he was a Chevy guy he did a great job on building my Ford 427 which is still together and racing. He said it was the first one he'd done and he had to learn about the relief valve stuff. He had a 390 in his Ford ramptruck back then. Rory forgot about his stint in Comp with a 4 banger dragster. He was a great guy and i'll miss him . He spent his last year enjoying himself in the sun. Hard to tell he was even white any more!

01-14-2009, 11:03 PM	#8
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,311 Likes: 315 Liked 1,103 Times in 301 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes.Rick Johnston A Celebration of Life memorial for Rick Johnston will be held this Sunday Jan. 18th 2009, at St.Annes Anglican Church, 4071 Francis Road (near #1 Rd.) in Richmond B.C. Canada, from 3.30-5.00PM. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

01-15-2009, 12:19 AM	#9
thomas sheehan Photographer Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,717 Likes: 24 Liked 75 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. Here is an old picture I found from National Dragster. Rest in peace Mr. Johnston. __________________ Tom Sheehan SS GT/NA 1046

01-15-2009, 01:16 AM	#10
GallantRacingBSA Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: White rock BC Canada Posts: 1 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Longtime S-S/S racer passes. This is very sad news to hear, RJ was a great guy and packed with knowledge! Whenever I asked him a question he always found time to answer. Awesome guy, goin miss him. RIP RJ Justin Gallant Last edited by GallantRacingBSA; 01-15-2009 at 01:18 AM.