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Ralph Ridgeway/Debs Automotive

Discussion in 'New to the H.A.M.B.? Introduce yourself here!' started by rridgeway, Mar 24, 2010.

  1. rridgeway
    Joined: Mar 24, 2010
    Posts: 2

    rridgeway
    Member

    There seems to be a lot of interest in what I accomplished during the 15 years that I raced in the 60's and early 70's so I am including the information that was covered during my induction into the New England Hot Rod Hall of Fame this past summer.



    Ralph Ridgeway, racing biography


    I purchased my 1st. 55 Chevy in 1959. This was primarily a street driven car but at the urging of Dave Riley, my roommate at Northeastern University, I began to drag race the car in C/Gas & D/Gas from 1960 to 1962.

    I bought a 1958 Corvette in 1963. This was also a street/strip car that I ran undefeated in C/MSP in 1963.

    In 1964, I purchased another partially built 55 Chevy and made it into a race-only car that I ran in NHRA C/MP and D/MP from 1964 to 1968.

    I won C/MP class at the 1965 Nationals in Indianapolis.

    In 1966, with this car, I won 27 out of 28 races for class and won Street Eliminator 15 times. Also I set an NHRA record at Sanford, ME.

    For 1967, I ran undefeated in class, won Street Eliminator 5 times, and won 12 Bucks or Cups Eliminators. I also won my class at the Spring Nationals @ Bristol, TN, The Nationals @ Indianapolis, and the AHRA Nationals in Long Island. I set 17 AHRA records including 10 at New England Dragway on July 1, 1967. I had low ET and top Speed for class at both Bristol and Indianapolis.

    In 1968 I only ran locally (New England Dragway, Lebanon Valley and CT. Dragway) and some of the northeast record meets with my biggest win of the year at the fall Suffolk, VA meet.

    I won my class at 33 different tracks in the US and Canada and broke the ET and Speed records for my class at: New England Dragway, Lebanon Valley, Connecticut Dragway, New York National, Napierville Canada, Bristol Dragway and Indianapolis Raceway Park.

    My best times with this car were 11.66 ET at 118.8 MPH.

    I sold the car to Les Davidson of Montreal, Canada at the end of 1968.

    In 1969 and 1970, I campaigned a 1969 Camaro from Norwood Chevrolet of Warwick, R.I. in Super Stock, E/Gas and D/MP. I set an AHRA record at New England Dragway on 8/2/70 (11.46 ET) in E/HR class.

    My last car was a 1970 1/2 Camaro sponsored by Beacon Chevrolet of Lynn, MA. The best this 3375# car ran with a 306 cu. in. engine was 10.9 at 125 MPH.
    I set an IHRA F1 FMS class record for 1/8th mile with an ET of 7.60 at St. Eugene Dragway, Quebec, Canada on 8/7/71.

    All of my cars were sponsored by Deb’s Automotive of Springfield, MA and Miller’s Machine Shop of Haverhill, MA. I also received product sponsorship from Crane Cams and Schiefer Clutch


    Ridgeway Biography follow-up



    RIDGERUNNER RAM MANIFOLD


    In 1965, I started to experiment with some of the cross-ram intake manifolds that started appearing on the market. These manifolds increased mid-range power but did not produce the top end (above 7500 RPM) power that the conventional in-line dual quad manifolds produced. This analysis was based on chassis dynamometer testing at Deb’s Automotive and actual drag strip testing of my 55 Chevy.

    We (Carl Debien and I) determined that the cross-ram runners were to long for effective high RPM horsepower. We started looking at what else was available to come up with a shorter ram length. We settled on a Chevrolet fuel injection manifold to which we modified the runner lengths and the inside of the plenum chamber to suit the use of carburetors above the plenum. The original FI unit only had air introduced into the plenum, not an air/fuel mixture. We then machined a suitable top plate to mount the AFB carburetors I was using at the time. The car was instantly .1- .2 seconds & 2 MPH quicker.

    Shortly afterwards I switched to Holley carbs. In order to make jet changes to the in-line Holleys, we had to take one of the carbs off the manifold to remove the float bowls. To eliminate this issue, we turned the carbs sideways to make removal of the float bowls for jet changes easier. We also made a different top plate for the manifold to run a single 4 bbl carb. With the ability to switch top plates without removing the whole intake manifold, I was able to set several AHRA records in one day by quickly switching from a 2-4bbl carb set up to a single 4bbl carb.

    In 1968, after winning the 1965 Nationals and the 1967 Spring Nationals and Nationals plus the 1967 AHRA Nationals and setting 17 AHRA records, we decided to manufacture and sell our own high-rise in-line intake manifold- The Ridge Runner Ram.

    Car Craft Magazine came to New England Dragway shortly after we started production for a mid-week test demonstration of my car with the new production manifold. (See Car Craft, November 1968).

    We produced several hundred small block manifolds and about 100 big block manifolds during the next few years.



    RIDGEWAY RACING ASSOCIATES ROCKER STUD SUPPORT


    In 1972, after breaking a rocker stud, I purchased a Jomar Stud Girdle. I found this stud girdle difficult to work with and also that when tightening the U-bolts that held the adjusting nuts, the valve lash changed.

    I started Ridgeway Racing Associates in 1973 along with John Yediniak, owner of Crystal Tool in Rockville, CT to manufacture some of the speed equipment products that I experimented with.

    In late 1973, I came up with my own rocker stud support design that allowed valve adjustments without the use of U-bolts, etc. I received a Patent (US Patent # 3,870,024) for my design on January 21, 1974. The Stud Support was our first marketed product under the Ridgeway Racing Associates name. (See Chevy Action Magazine, May 1974). We sold several thousand of these Stud Supports for Chevy, Ford, and Pontiac etc. The Rocker Stud Support along with several other pieces of racing speed equipment are still being manufactured and sold by Ridgeway Racing Associates.

    Anyone wanting more information can contact me @ [email protected]
     

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  2. fifTsix
    Joined: Jul 26, 2008
    Posts: 486

    fifTsix
    Member
    from TEXAS

    Sounds like youre really into yourself
     
  3. Yeah,Dont break your arm pattin your self on the back
     
  4. colesy
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 319

    colesy
    Member

    Thanks for posting your bio Ralph. There are a great many of us here who appreciate your accomplishments and inovations in the sport of Drag Racing. We started a Modified Production thread here on the HAMB a while back. Check it out if you get a chance......
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348502&highlight=modified+production
    Also, you might enjoy many of the stories and memories over at the Junior Stock thread as well.
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201085&highlight=modified+production
    Your name has come-up many times on both of these threads. I have an article on your 69 Camaro that I'll post on the Modified Production thread in the next while. Again, thanks for posting here, and we sure do appreciate all the memories you've provided over the years.
     

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  5. 31Atudor
    Joined: Aug 19, 2006
    Posts: 56

    31Atudor
    Member

    Welcome to the HAMB Ralph. As you can already tell, not everyone's friendly here. I understood your Bio right off and appreciated your accomplishments. Doorslammers were tough to win in and you sure won more than your share.

    Ralph
     
  6. ridin dirty
    Joined: Jul 6, 2008
    Posts: 551

    ridin dirty
    Member

    Ralph, I understand. You have given to the sport more than others and we thank you for it. Welcome to the Hamb
     
  7. hotrod mike
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,728

    hotrod mike
    Member

    Oh yeah, I remember the name Ralph Ridgeway. Thanks for posting your bio. Your Ridgerunner manifolds were the hot lick back then. I wasn't aware of the rocker stud support. You were an innovator and had a good career too. Glad to have you on the HAMB. Mike
     
  8. bundyracingdaman
    Joined: Oct 29, 2008
    Posts: 62

    bundyracingdaman
    Member

    Mr. Ridgeway, please allow me to "PAT YOU ON THE BACK" I remember your racing accomplishments and your innovative intake manifold design! there was a time when I scoured all the swapmeets I could trying to locate a Ridgeway Runner intake for my at the time 55 bel-air. The only one that I ever found (one with the single carb plate) I could not afford! (I dont think the guy really wanted to sell it!) Are you still manufacturing them?
     
  9. P426
    Joined: Mar 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,023

    P426
    BANNED
    from New Jersey

    Ralph,

    Hello and welcome to this forum! Yes, I remember reading about you and your 55 Chevy and later Camaros in the publications of the day which I still have.

    "Yeah,Dont break your arm pattin your self on the back"

    "Sounds like youre really into yourself"

    Hey, why don't you show the man some respect?? He was NOT bragging one bit just giving us his bio and background which is quite extensive, and to inform those who weren't old enough, didn't follow drag racing or didn't hear of him if they did (hard to believe that) just who he is.

    I ask you: where would drag racing engines be today without a tunnel ram manifold?? I'll tell ya: down lots of horsepower!

    Sure, someone sooner or later would've probably come up with the idea but they didn't--MR. RIDGEWAY DID! Did that sink in? Bill Jenkins didn't come up with the idea nor did the Sox & Martin team nor Dyno Don Nicholson, Dick Landy nor any other top dogs of the day--just Mr. Ridgeway!

    Having said that, I'd love to see some photos and stories from you on this Modified Production thread:

    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348502

    Best regards,

    Pete
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2010
    alanp561 likes this.
  10. jimdillon
    Joined: Dec 6, 2005
    Posts: 3,291

    jimdillon
    Member

    Ralph, welcome to the HAMB and don't let the naysayers influence your posting on drag racing during the 60s. Guys into drag racing on this forum appreciate your accomplishments. The records speak for themselves. One of the best drag races I remember from those days was Indy 1967 and I remember your 55. I followed the gassers, modified sports and modified production mainly as well as most early Corvettes. Hopefully you will post something on your 58 Vette. It was a couple of years before my time but would love to hear about it sometime. Hopefully we will see you post on the Modified Production thread-Jim
     
  11. Angliaguy
    Joined: Jan 21, 2008
    Posts: 107

    Angliaguy
    Member

    As point of interest a while back I ran into Carl Debien and his wife at Their Debs Dyno
    Shop on West Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach Fl. As A former Crane Cams employee we had
    some nice chats about your accomplishments. He said that he hadn't spoken to you for a while at that time. I would think that it was before your induction. I hope he was there to share to share it with you. Bill
     
  12. 65deluxe
    Joined: Oct 16, 2007
    Posts: 756

    65deluxe
    Member

    Wow, talk about misunderstanding the point of a post. Its a shame it was interpided as it was.
    Ralph your contribution to the sport can not be over estimated. In recent conversation with a certain Grumpy one, the significants of your manifold did come up.
     
  13. biscaynes
    Joined: Mar 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,647

    biscaynes
    Member

    thanks for the bio ralph.
    always liked your '55 and your 'enginenewity' ;)

    disregard the idiots, your career record speaks for itself! :cool:
     
  14. olddrags
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 476

    olddrags
    Member
    from ky

    Welcome to the HAMB and thanks for the great intro! We are very fortunite and honored to have members like yourself !
    Bobby D.
     
  15. k9racer
    Joined: Jan 20, 2003
    Posts: 3,091

    k9racer
    Member

    Welcome.. One of the best intros on the board....
     
  16. farmer12
    Joined: Aug 28, 2006
    Posts: 7,717

    farmer12
    Member

    Welcome from the Netherlands!
     
  17. claymore
    Joined: Feb 21, 2009
    Posts: 896

    claymore
    BANNED

    Wow I remember watching you at Connecticut and Lebanon Valley when I was just a young kid and you were "THE MAN" to us younger fans. Screw the big mouths that don't know your history the rest of us sure are glad you decided to let us in on your story from the source. Welcome to the hamb.
     
  18. colesy
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 319

    colesy
    Member

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    Last edited: Mar 25, 2010
  19. Always great to get first hand information, straight from the source! Thanks for the bio, and please stick around.-MIKE
     
  20. TMcCrea
    Joined: Aug 13, 2008
    Posts: 578

    TMcCrea
    Member
    from Maryland

    Ralph,

    Good to see you here and thanks for the bio.

    In 1966 I was being trained at Ft. Devens, MA and overheard a guy say that he was going to CT Dragway one weekend. I asked if I could go along an had a real treat in seeing Bruce Larson's '66 Chevelle match race Bill Flynn's Baracuda.

    I can still remember seeing your '55 and, at 20 years old, being amazed at your ingenuity in using the FI intake with carbs. So who did it first, you or Carroll Caudle?

    Here is a photo I took of the Camaro at Indy in 1969.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. Gary Glover
    Joined: Jun 19, 2009
    Posts: 171

    Gary Glover
    Member

    Thanks for the bio Ralph. Try to ignore the dick heads on here. It is not easy.:eek:
     
  22. 60s Racer
    Joined: Oct 5, 2009
    Posts: 17

    60s Racer
    Member
    from northeast

    Ralph Ridgeway truly one of the best this sport has ever produced.

    Those of us who remember his cars remember the attention to detail was unsurpassed.

    Thanks for joining us here.
     
  23. 56sedandelivery
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 6,695

    56sedandelivery
    Member Emeritus

    The first two responses to Ralphs' bio should be deleted; moderators? Reread how Ralph began his bio, and then make an apology. I remember looking at his 55 in magazines when I was in Jr. and Sr. high school; this kid could only dream back then. If it were'nt for guys like Ralph Ridgeway, drag racing would'nt have progressed the way it has. Thanks for the bio, and stick around. Butch/56sedandelivery.
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  24. mrgasser396
    Joined: Mar 13, 2010
    Posts: 15

    mrgasser396
    Member
    from NEW YORK

    Welcome Ralph thanks for posting and ignore the no nothing butt wipes
     
  25. sqweaka
    Joined: Jan 6, 2008
    Posts: 77

    sqweaka
    Member

    hi, and welcome form the UK!
     
  26. ace5043
    Joined: Sep 28, 2008
    Posts: 128

    ace5043
    Member
    from Florida

    Welcome Ralph and thank you for taking the time to answer my recent questions sent to your personal email about your tunnel ram. I look forward to getting it on my engine.
    Fiftsix and Wbrw32..maybe when you grow up you too will have accomplished something that contributes to this hobby/sport that is noteworthy.
     
  27. Dave2spd
    Joined: Dec 22, 2006
    Posts: 8

    Dave2spd
    Member

    Ralph saw the CD you sent Carl & Joan of your induction to the New England Hot Rod Hall of Fame. Enjoyed it much, congrats!!
     
  28. FlashGumby
    Joined: Nov 8, 2007
    Posts: 7

    FlashGumby
    Member

    Thanks for pointing me to the thread, Dave.... You're right about that hood. (VERY cool!)

    Welcome to the H.A.M.B., Ralph. Thanks for the intro.
     
  29. Mr Ace5043...For your information...I am probably old enough to be your grandfather,,,,And the point I was making is that there are many other more famous guys here on this board That do not
    exude about their accomplishments... And I wish you all the best in makeing your mark in this industry as I have.
     
  30. PegLegStrick
    Joined: Aug 8, 2007
    Posts: 1,883

    PegLegStrick
    Member

    Welcome to the H.A.M.B. from Funston Georgia
    Great intro!
     

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