RIP Richard Merritt | FerrariChat

RIP Richard Merritt

Discussion in 'Who's Who in Ferrari Universe' started by Admiral Goodwrench, Mar 12, 2021.

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  1. Admiral Goodwrench

    Admiral Goodwrench Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2005
    687
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Robert Phillips
    This evening I received a call from Kendall Merritt advising that his father had passed on this morning.

    A good friend for over a half century ,Richard was a major figure in the world of Ferrari. He had owned at least four dozen Ferraris at different times, was a founding member of the Ferrari Club of America, early author of a definitive Ferrari book, Past president of the FCA and a repository of incredible Ferrari stories.

    He will be sorely missed,

    Best regards,

    Robert
     
    furmano, DonB, SCantera and 17 others like this.
  2. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2005
    11,881
    Richard was one of my heroes, a giant in the Ferrari world and a kind and gracious man. It was my great privilege to have known him, Godspeed good friend.
     
    ggjjr, Terra, Nembo1777 and 6 others like this.
  3. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,738
    Very sad news indeed.
    A life well lived. Thank you Dick for what you did for all of us.
    I learned a lot from this gentleman.
    Rest in peace.

    Marcel Massini
     
    willrace, ggjjr, Terra and 7 others like this.
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Oh, Admiral, Sir....I am SO sorry to hear.

    Having only known him thru correspondence, or perhaps a brief phone conversation, he guided me into the world of Ferrari with such professionalism.
    Taught me the few detail differences, to ensure I was buying legally imported cars, and then we parted ways...

    A lion has fallen......Rest In Peace....
     
  5. rossodino

    rossodino Formula Junior

    Dec 16, 2007
    447
    corona del mar, ca.
    Full Name:
    bruce sansone
    I am so sad to hear of this news, while I never knew him personally, I came across his name so many times as I started to learn about Ferrari history especially here in the States. We have all lost a true Legend!
     
    Admiral Goodwrench likes this.
  6. DWR46

    DWR46 Formula 3
    Honorary

    Jun 19, 2012
    1,807
    Dick was a good friend and a true pioneer in the Ferrari world. If you go back and read his book, written with Warren Fitzgerald, you will be amazed by how accurate it is even with all the knowledge we have about the cars today. To think he did all this with no internet and little long distance phone calls due to the high costs, makes his work even more impressive. I will never forget the phone call from him asking if Sue and i wanted to partner with him on a 250 GTO. We each would have had to put up $3,000. Neither of us had the full purchase price, so he hoped we could combine our funds and get the car. However, the more we talked about it, the less sense it made, as it was an old, wore out race car, and we each owed money on other Ferraris. So, we made the "intelligent" decision and passed on the GTO.
     
    F1tommy, furmano, DonB and 11 others like this.
  7. spider348

    spider348 Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,264
    MA
    Full Name:
    John
    Truly sad news. Dick was a gentleman and a genuine car guy. He helped me with several RoW Ferraris and Porsches I purchased over the years. A sad day.
     
  8. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,799
    Santa Fe, NM
    One of most memorable road trips I have ever had was in 2001, riding in a tow vehicle w/ Dick, Kendall and my father (RADM Goodwrench) on our way to a show in PA, listening to Dick's epic tales; dealings w/ Chinetti and Garthewaite, surreal visits to Tom Meade when he was living in Modena, and his mind-blowing caravan driving the Breadvan and a 250LM thru an Indiana blizzard at night . . . .
    Some pics over many years;

    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2005
    11,881
    Great stuff Bryan, thanks for posting.
     
    Admiral Goodwrench likes this.
  10. malcolmb

    malcolmb Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 17, 2002
    1,160
    San diego
    Full Name:
    Malcolm Barksdale
    Reading his book and Geralds Market letter was my first information about Ferraris, still have the book of course, and it is indeed amazing how much information there is given the time period.
    RIP
    Malcolm
     
    of2worlds, Zanny1, Terra and 2 others like this.
  11. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

    Nov 24, 2004
    4,874
    Condolences to the family. Truly a wealth of knowledge was lost.

    CW
     
    Admiral Goodwrench likes this.
  12. Nicolas21

    Nicolas21 Formula Junior

    Jul 13, 2016
    665
    Near a nuclear powerplant
    Full Name:
    Nicolas
    Bad news :(
    Rest in peace
     
    Admiral Goodwrench likes this.
  13. jimmyr

    jimmyr Formula Junior

    Oct 10, 2004
    287
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Dick was the guiding light for my 50+ years with Ferrari vehicles, and the book of knowledge for everything Ferrari. RIP my friend. Jim Riff
     
    Terra, 375+ and Admiral Goodwrench like this.
  14. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

    Apr 18, 2004
    3,338
    Hershey, PA
    RIP - the “Gate Keeper”
     
  15. Cobraownr

    Cobraownr Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 6, 2008
    929
    Edgewater, MD
    Full Name:
    Donald Silawsky
    I spoke with Dick a number of times and met him at a few events. As others here have said, a kind and gracious man, always happy to help with information and advice. In his position at NHTSA as the Show or Display import reviewer he belied the stereotype of a clueless and unhelpful bureaucrat. He truly wanted to help guys like me import a car (in my case a Porsche 959) within the regs if at all possible. My condolences to Kendall and the family.
     
    of2worlds, Nembo1777, Bryanp and 2 others like this.
  16. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,799
    Santa Fe, NM
  17. of2worlds

    of2worlds F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 6, 2004
    16,445
    ON
    Full Name:
    CH
  18. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2005
    11,881
    Today as well.
     
    Admiral Goodwrench and of2worlds like this.
  19. 166MM alum

    166MM alum Rookie

    Jul 24, 2018
    46
    Full Name:
    Darrell Westfaul
    Sad to hear that another of The Old Guard has passed on. Many years ago, Dick shared tales with me from his early days in Detroit that helped me greatly with research. His was a life well lived.
     
    Admiral Goodwrench and 375+ like this.
  20. simchanova

    simchanova Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 3, 2010
    571
    Philadelphia
    Full Name:
    Stuart
    ...singlehandedly Dick Merritt created the vintage Ferrari hobby...Enzo himself personally thanked him for this...legendary is a massive understatement for this man...his genuine passion was Ferrari and dedicated and enjoyed life to its fullest because of it...RIP
     
    Admiral Goodwrench and of2worlds like this.
  21. DonB

    DonB Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Nov 11, 2003
    616
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Don Bartz
    When I was going to purchase my '84 BBi back in '98, I called Dick to ask if he could confirm that it was a "legal" car. Not knowing me from Adam, he was very accommodating and helpful. Just a nice man, and yes, it was legal and I've enjoyed it ever since.. I think I'm fortunate to have a First Edition of of the Fitzgerald and Merritt book as well as a Third Edition autographed by Dick.
    It's always sad to hear of the passing of these gentlemen, because with them goes a little bit of Ferrari history. RIP Dick.
     
  22. Admiral Goodwrench

    Admiral Goodwrench Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2005
    687
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Robert Phillips
    With a lump in my throat as I write this, the attached photo is of Kendall Merritt driving the first of three black Ferraris carrying Richard Merritt's remains to the Ketoctin Church, (Virginia) Cemetery last Friday, April 30th. I cannot imagine a better final escort for my dear friend of over a half century. The Ferrari community is what it is today because of him. To say that I (we) will miss him is a vast understatement.

    RIP Richard!

    Best regards,

    Robert

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