local racer Tom Ramey passed away 1/17/08...

[Fair!]

Tom Ramey collapsed and died while at work today. Tom worked at DynCorp near Alliance airport.

I know that some of you have a long history with Tom going back to the Austin days. I'm sure this will get around the autocross community pretty quickly, but please pass it on to other folks who were close to Tom.

This is truly a loss. Tom was a great guy and a great competitor. I've known him for almost 20 years and he will be sorely missed.

[Tommy R]

Re: local racer Tom Ramey passed away 1/17/08...

This sucks. Tom was the most influential autocrosser I've known. And he was a great, great friend. Truly sad news and I don't know if anyone can fill his shoes.

[Fair!]

Re: local racer Tom Ramey passed away 1/17/08...

Man, this is still sinking in...

I saw this from the Spokes List... hope you don't mind me reposting it Tommy.

> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:53 PM
> To: 'Spokes Folks'
> Subject: Re: [SPOKESLIST] Sad news
>
> I'll echo what everyone else is saying. I just don't know
> what to think right now.
>
> Tom was my first friend in Spokes when I joined in '96. He
> took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. He and I
> were in the same class and we always joked about the fact
> that he was in a Camaro and I was in a Mustang. We always
> talked smack back and forth and had a blast racing one
> another. He was extremely instrumental in my interest,
> enjoyment, and involvement in autocrossing, Spokes, and
> joining the Board of Directors. He showed me (and all of us)
> what it took to run a club like a well oiled machine.
> Without his influence, I truly doubt Spokes would be the club
> it is today.
>
> Members new and old, we are indebted to Tom Ramey....whether
> you knew him or not.
>
> I'm sure the BoD is going to do get an arrangement or
> something for the services and I would surely be willing to
> contribute myself.
>
> And while I'm not racing anymore at the moment, please allow
> me to humbly suggest that the BoD change the name of an award
> of their choosing to be in the name of Tom Ramey just as we
> have the "Steve Willis Driver of the Year" award. I think
> Tom earned that.
>
> We'll miss you, Tom. Now go tell God how to hot rod his car.
>
> Tommy

This really... really sucks. At the last SCCA event of the year (SCCA LaGrave Nov 18, 2007) I grabbed Tom and took him for a ride in the LS1 car (below). He was hootin' and hollerin' and had a total blast. I've got in-car video from that run that's got some great commentary from Tom... its a little uncensored - but its pure Tom. I will post it here when I get it digitized and uploaded.



He was a driving force for many years in three SCCA regions in Texas and his hard driving, hard work and humor will be missed.

[Tommy R]

Re: local racer Tom Ramey passed away 1/17/08...

Absolutely not a problem, Terry. Thanks for re-posting it. And share that video with the Spokes folks, too, please.

Tommy

[Fair!]

Funeral Arrangements for Tom Ramey

Sunday, Jan 20th, 4:30pm

Biggers Funeral Home
6100 Azle Ave
Lake Worth, Texas 76135
817-237-3341