74 replies to this topic

[The Number of]

I am sure Swiss will honor Ray's memory in some way in the future; let's let Mike decide.  

 

Bill

[Phil Nyland]

I never had the pleasure to meet Ray, my loss. I only heard wonderful things about him. Very sad.

RIP, Manta Ray.

[Maximo]

Rest in Peace, Ray...!

 

-xam

[Noose]

We in Retro East will also dedicate a future race to Manta Ray. We held a moment of silence in his honor yesterday at our event. I will miss him.

[Steve Deiters]

Sorry to hear of the passing of Ray. When the news of the severity of his illness hit last week one always hopes for the best, but this time it just didn't work out, creating our loss. It's news like this that always strikes close to home. 

 

I always enjoyed chatting with him at the R4 about racing as a kid in his home town in Cleveland and how he told us how he used to take the bus with a couple of transfers (he even remembered the bus routes and numbers!) to go racing at Parma. That dedication stuck with him to his adult life and the present form of slot racing he participated with his Retro racing buddies; much to the benefit of all of us who shared the track and the raceway with him

 

He and his family are in my thoughts as well as the slot racing community as a whole that now has this large void in its midst. He and the likes of him will always be missed by all of us.

[Dennis David]

Through all of your kind memories I have gotten to better know Manta Ray and I thank you for that.

[Cheater]

Here's a great pic of Mike and Ray at the previous location of Chicagoland Raceway in Downers Grove.


Photo by Jackie Sbarboro Swiss.

[JohnnySlotcar]

Memorial party to be held at his neighbors in the future. Will post.

[olderracer]

When someone like Ray leaves us it's always too soon. God bless, Ray and I hope there's plenty of Retro racing where you are now. My thoughts and prayers.
 
He's not really gone as long as we remember him.
 
-----------Jack

[Wizard Of Iz]

Like others, I never met Ray. I don't think we even exchanged messages. Yet... I read so many of his posts - and learned from them - that I felt like I knew him. Like so many others, I certainly respected him.  

 

My prayers go out to his family that God will reach down and give them peace and comfort to get through the coming days.

 

Godspeed, Ray!

[Ricky Vegas]

Reading each post here about Manta Ray Price; they really exemplify how he made other's slot racing experiences and builds that much more special.
 
I met "Manta Ray" at Sano 7 when I attended as a spectator and to help Mike out a bit. Like Javier said and said it best for my case, I was a pure stranger to him. And yet, he was like an ambassador that day. He wanted to know how and when I began slot racing, what the draw was for me that I wanted to see a Sano, and then told me if I ever needed anything at all any time to never hesitate to reach out to him.
 
I had the honor to race just one time with him at Johnny Slot Car's birthday party race at Mike's. And again, Manta Ray Price was a gentleman racer and along with the special group racing that day, literally made that event for me personally, one of the best days I ever had racing slot cars. I was among some the of the of the best in the Midwest, and even though I was truly was an outsider, these veteran slot racers made me absolutely and unequivocally feel I was a part of their group.
 
I only wish I had met Manta Ray Price years ago. Those who have known him for decades have been truly blessed ~ may our slot car racing passion and camaraderie always be that of a man who literally defined "incredible".
 
My most sincere condolences to Mr. Price's family and friends. 

Godspeed, Manta Ray.

[Bernie]

After taking a few days to let all of this sink in, I have come up with some of my thoughts about Ray.

 

I came back to Slots in 2009 at Chicagoland Raceway. Right away Ray jumped in to get me up to speed. He built all of my cars ( Scale and Retro) for a number of years. We had many wheel to wheel battles on Saturday nights and he always raced clean and fast. If you ever needed anything he was right there to help. Ray took special interest in my grandson Ezra's progess and always encouraged him. Ezra always kept a sharp eye on how Ray did things and would always tell me, "That's how Manta Ray does it".

 

I was privileged to be Ray's pit man at the Sano in 2011 when he podiumed in Can-Am. In my mind that was probably his best race over the years I knew him. I was so honored to be a small part of it. I will always treasure the chassis he built for me back in 2009 that I used to win the GTC/FK class at the 2013 Sano. It was the first Retro car he built me and gave many years of great service. That car may not have always been the fastest, but it always worked and I referred to it as "old reliable".

 

Those that knew Ray well know that he could have a biting sense of humor, which I will probably miss the most. There was a private joke between us that I will never forget. The punch line was, "Don't forget the peppers". I will keep it between us but I can tell you I almost wet myself on that one!

 

I am really going to miss the numerous phone conversations we had on a regular basis and the good times we had at the track... I really miss you, my friend... RIP

[MG Brown]

[HarV Wallbanger III]

RIP, Ray.

 

To all his friends... just remember the good times... from time to time and he will always be here.

[Craig]

RIP, Ray!

[Mark Johnson]

God bless, Ray.

[A Reeder]

I am one of the fortunate ones to have met Ray. Enough good can't be said about him. Great man... RIP.

[dz1]

Rest in Peace, Ray, you will be truly missed.

[Cheater]

A memorial party for Ray Price will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015, at 2 PM.

The address is 114 Ironwood Ct, Rolling Meadows, IL. The location is at Ray's next door neighbor's house.

[MSwiss]

With hosting so many kid's birthday parties and scouting events, I hesitated to put the glass fronts back on my tall showcases.
 
But with getting a bunch of RTR cars in, I needed low showcase room, so I did some rearranging and Manta Ray's assortment of Hot Rods, proxy cars, R4 Concours body, and Noose bodies got moved, and displayed a little nicer.
 

[MSwiss]

Right after the racing ended at my first birthday party, today, I was approached by a guest with, "I used to work for UPS and my boss..."

I cut in after "boss" and said "Ray Price."

He smiled and said yes, and added how much he loved working for Ray.

Anyway, a terrific reminder how much Ray was loved and respected.

[Steve Deiters]

I was thinking of Ray when I was walking around the R4/10 and how the place seemed a little empty without him there...

[Dave Crevie]

I was so fortunate to acquire a few of Ray's cars, a couple of which go back to his "Kamen Krazy" days, when I first met him. I often bring one out to take a few laps, and relive those times. I will never sell any of them.

[Dennis David]

Thanks for the sharing the recollections. Slot cars can be competitive but nothing beats the frendships that are created.

[Bill from NH]

I don't have any of Ray's cars, but I have a couple clear bodies I got in trades with him. He always treated me more than fair.