RACE: Formula Vee driver Ralph Ridge 1947 to 2001

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Ralph W. Ridge, III.

On Saturday, May 26th, Ralph W. Ridge, III, of Grosse Ile, MI., died of a heart attack while on the final lap of the Formula Vee race at at Grattan Raceway just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The coroner described the cause of death as a massive heart attack. The heart attack occured prior to Ridge hitting the guardrail at turn 9 entering pit lane.

Ridge was a member of Waterford Hills Road Racing Association and Detroit Region, SCCA. He was a longtime competitor in Formula Vee. This past weekend, he entered the Double Regional at Grattan Raceway near Grand Rapids, Michigan after a successful battle with cancer.

Ridge was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 19, 1947. He had just turned 54. Ridge married his special lady, Martha, on May 5, 2001.

As a member of Detroit Region, I personally can speak of the many times that Ralph Ridge went out of his way to help someone; to give everyone a reason to smile; to remind us all of how much fun racing was; and to be there to thank us at the end of the day. However, I will only mention one short story: Waterford - SCCA Driver School - several years ago - I was at turn 5 on a very, wet day with a river forming on driver's left and a mud hole just beyond when a Formula Vee (not Ridge) came sliding off driver's left into the river and then the mud hole. Needless to say, I got the car with the driver's help out of the mud hole before it sank too deeply. My rainsuit was now covered with mud as was the rest of me. As I walked in for lunch, Ralph was there to greet me with a bucket of soapy water and lots of towels and a clean rain suit to use for the rest of the day. I met a very nice gentleman that day!
- nancys@motorsport.com

"Ralph was one of the many people I see only at the races. Those outside the sport would assume that because we competed against each other we were adversaries. Racing people know that this isn't always the case. Ralph and I shared many things; the thrills of close competition, great food (his), parts(mine), generators, shade, his paddock lawn mower, and most importantly the race track. He was the kind of driver who knew how to safely share the road, you could count on him to leave you racing room, even on the last turn of the last lap. He wanted to win, and also to have your respect."
- Tom Shaver, FV 01 - SCCA Central Division

Ralph Ridge will be missed by so many - workers, drivers, crew members, friends and family.

The SCCA and WHRRI communities have lost a dear friend. Gone but never forgotten.

Ridge was not only a racer; he was a respected businessman, a good friend and an active community member in Trenton and the "Downriver" communitites (area south of Detroit).