[Fot] Ray Freiwald, Rest in Peace

[Steven Belfer]

When I ran my first rookie laps, I was assigned to follow Ray around Blackhawk Farms for a bunch of laps. My dad Mike told me I would learn a lot by watching how Ray drives.

I tried to study his line as I followed him around the track for 4 or 5 laps. He sure knew the fast line in his blue Volvo P1800.  His car had tons of body roll and he just took off and I couldn’t catch him.  

On the track, Ray was one of those drivers that you could trust 100%.  Off track, he seemed kind and soft spoken.  Rest In Peace.

~Steve Belfer

> On Oct 26, 2022, at 5:14 PM, Joe Alexander via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
> 
> Nice tribute. And deserved.
> 
> Joe Alexander
> 4505 Donald Dr
> Cedar Falls, IA 50613
> The-vintage-racer.com <http://the-vintage-racer.com/>
> Gasketinnovations.com <http://gasketinnovations.com/>
> Cell:  319.464.4711
> 
> 
>> On Oct 26, 2022, at 6:37 PM, John Hornbostel via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Dear FOT,
>>     For many of us who have raced vintage sports cars in the Midwest, you will likely have fond memories of Ray Freiwald making good use of the track in his P1800. Ray (84 yrs old) recently passed away, shortly after returning home from one of his infamous vigorous bicycle rides in the countryside around Janesville, WI.  
>> 
>>     I believe Ray had seat time in a vintage race car for nearly 60 yrs. He was a man with a big heart and shared his mechanical expertise and wisdom of life with so many us, regardless of what you were racing. His shop, Foreign Auto Specialists, helped keep 100's of wonderful vintage cars in operation around the Midwest.  In 1986, he was the driving instructor for my introduction to racing via SCCA in my Dodge Omni GLH. He then helped me locate my first Triumph TR3a to set up for vintage racing. The memories and cars continued for many years...
>> 
>>     If there is a vintage sports car race scheduled soon in heaven, Ray is surely on the grid!
>> 
>> Rest in Peace, my friend.
>> John Hornbostel
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>> 
>> 
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