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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Ralph Meaney has died

Posted by: davep Jun 12 2018, 07:20 PM

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forums/showthread.php?138842-R-I-P-Ralph
A legend has passed.

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 12 2018, 07:21 PM

sad.gif

Posted by: Cairo94507 Jun 12 2018, 07:25 PM

Wow - what a loss. sad.gif

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 12 2018, 08:01 PM

Met him at the WCR in Issaquah(?) ...
driving.gif

Posted by: Mueller Jun 12 2018, 08:02 PM

sad.gif

What a legend, I imagine he'll be doing laps up in heaven driving.gif

Posted by: 914Sixer Jun 12 2018, 08:07 PM

sad.gif He made lots of 914 history.

Posted by: Dion Jun 12 2018, 08:18 PM

RIP Mr. Meany. 914 legend for sure. Godspeed.

Posted by: infraredcalvin Jun 12 2018, 08:28 PM

RIP to a legend... sad.gif

Posted by: effutuo101 Jun 12 2018, 09:06 PM

RIP Ralph! You are an inspiration.

Posted by: plays with cars Jun 12 2018, 09:38 PM

Sorry to hear that. He was an interesting guy to talk to. I had the chance to meet him when he picked up a set of heads for me in Oregon and brought them up to Washington. He had a lot of stories about early Porsche development.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Jun 12 2018, 10:27 PM

QUOTE(SirAndy @ Jun 12 2018, 07:01 PM) *

Met him at the WCR in Issaquah(?) ...
driving.gif

Yup. I spoke with him on Sunday just before I started home. Interesting guy. Nice to talk to.

Posted by: carr914 Jun 13 2018, 04:52 AM

Please Correct the Title, his last name was spelled Meaney.

RIP

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Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 13 2018, 05:02 AM

914 history.

Posted by: Edward Blume Jun 13 2018, 06:51 AM

Condolences to friends and family.

Posted by: gandalf_025 Jun 13 2018, 09:35 AM

I was given Ralph’s name and the directions to his shop
In Framingham Mass. back in 1973 when I attended my 1 and only
PCA Event...
I brought my 6 to Ralph to have the float Levels adjusted....
They really Enjoyed teasing and scaring the hell out of an 18
year old Kid that knew NOTHING..
Best thing that came out of that situation was Ralph’s engine builder
Took pity on me and handed me the directions to HIS Shop, Also
in Framingham.... He has always been a great friend and has
Built some crazy stuff for me over the years...
My wife and I spent countless hours in that shop,
Building all sorts Of things...
I did disassembly work for him and he built engines for
Me.... Money never changed hands....
I was so lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.


Posted by: RoadGlue Jun 13 2018, 10:09 AM

QUOTE(carr914 @ Jun 13 2018, 03:52 AM) *

Please Correct the Title, his last name was spelled Meaney.


Done

Posted by: mstein95 Jun 13 2018, 10:24 AM

My Dad and I talking to Ralph at the Portland International Raceway in 2009.

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Posted by: sixnotfour Jun 13 2018, 10:47 AM

Great part of 914 History , I too spent a lot of time with him and even enjoyed his UFO sightings,, Ill never forget one night he was starring up into night sky , I said whats up Ralph, he replied sometimes I just get a feeling and look up to see.........So long old Friend...

here is some stories, from my house with his picture book, good times
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=69341&hl=Meaney

Posted by: gandalf_025 Jun 13 2018, 10:56 AM

Found the directions to his shop from 1973..
Time flies..

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Posted by: SirAndy Jun 13 2018, 11:21 AM

QUOTE(gandalf_025 @ Jun 13 2018, 09:56 AM) *
Found the directions to his shop from 1973..
Time flies..

That's awesome!

Posted by: davep Jun 13 2018, 01:31 PM

QUOTE(RoadGlue @ Jun 13 2018, 08:09 AM) *

QUOTE(carr914 @ Jun 13 2018, 03:52 AM) *

Please Correct the Title, his last name was spelled Meaney.

Done

Many thanks. Checking back, it is wrong in SO many places including here.

Posted by: RickS Jun 13 2018, 09:39 PM

Ralph used to work on my 72 911T in Kirkland, Wa. His glass case was full of trophies,pictures and memorabilia from his glory days. Ralph was a straight shooter and had no problem sucking $500 bills from my wallet with no seeming effort. At that time (1982) I had no idea of what a successful racing career he had, because he never talked about it. His glass case did the talking. That was the kind of guy he was.

Posted by: gandalf_025 Jun 14 2018, 08:33 AM

This thread got me thinking..

When Ralph moved away from Massachusetts, he sold off a lot of stuff he
didn't think he would be needing.
Parts and Cars alike..

I ended up with a couple of things....

First was a rear shift rod for my 6, that was modified so you could use an early aluminum sand cast engine case and clear the castings on the early engine.

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And a set of headers that were a backup set for one of his cars..
They were new when I bought them..

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If I had only bought the GT he sold off.

Posted by: haul Jan 28 2021, 04:08 PM

found again the vid, which you sure all know by now....

Ralph Meaney Racing At The 1970 6 Hours of Watkins Glen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvTcpJuuoOc

Posted by: sixnotfour Jan 28 2021, 09:26 PM

Its been posted here a few times , Great reminder... knew him pretty well, We did n interview with him at my house a few years back,,, I have the the Dealer Porsche sign from his shop...Good Ole , Ralph...Quite a UFO buff also.
.

Posted by: krazykonrad Jan 30 2021, 12:10 PM

Ralph is truly a legend. Godspeed.

Posted by: wonkipop Jan 31 2021, 01:27 AM

that footage is stunning.
what a record.

jackie stewart in the sucker car.
and the hippie 917.

its inspiring - i want to build a tribute 14.
with chromies. and tape strips for the rain drops over the engine grille.
i love the look of that car.

ralph had taste if he chose that soundtrack - bet he did given his choice of sunglasses.
thats american avante garde stuff - lou reed "ripped it off" its so good.

i never knew anything about him until i watched this and then i did some googling.

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