Tribute to Rick Merz

[Lynn]

Everyone,

I placed the following post with Rick's "My GTD is for sale" post, but I want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to read my Thank You to Rick and contribute their own thoughts.

Lynn
<font color="orange">
Rick,

I hope the GT40 community realizes what we are loosing as you sell your car and and migrate south. You have been the standard bearer for GT40 replica ownership and, even more so, USE, in every sense of the word. Every time there was any kind of component/kit built function that was covered by any automotive magazine, there was the red GT40 of Rick Merz. Along with the caption chronicling your victory or victories, there was a quote from you saying, "It's just my daily driver" or "..bye the way, it's also my daily driver." In those few words, you told everyone who read them, that the GT40 replica is a car that you can use for what ever you want to use it for and it will work well in any and all of those roles. Beyond this, Rick, you have shown yourself to be one of the most helpful owner/builder out there. You have always been open to any questions or pleas for guidance and willing to share what you have learned/developed through out the evolution of your GTD.

Everyone who has ever sold anything related to a GT40, from an entire car to a gas cap, in the US, at least, owes Rick a debt of gratitude in my opinion. If there were a Hall of Fame for GT40 replicas, you and your car would HAVE to be in it.

Regards and Good Luck, Rick!
Lynn </font>

[Iron Sheik]

Mr. Larsen,

I AGREE WITH you 100%.

[John]

I was planning on posting in Rick's "for sale" post writing "say it ain't so?!" Alas, I couldn't post there for some reason... but I'll put it here.

I had the privilege of meeting Rick last spring when I was down at the beach. His GT was in pieces as he was busy rebuilding it, but it was a sight to behold. Awesome car and Rick is a great guy for taking the time to let me pick his brain about the car.

Have fun in Mexico Rick!

John

[Tim Kay]

Ditto

Here's an example (short story) of Rick's far reaching effects:

In my consideration to buy Rick’s car I was reviewing all my own documents that came along with the purchase of my current Tornado. My friend Chris, who owned the car for a number of years, and ‘till I finally broke him down to selling me his ‘baby’, was quite meticulous. He had a couple of folders documenting the build. In one folder labeled ‘Important Info and Contacts’ were several notes with names and phone numbers. In the middle of the list between names like Inglese (Webers) and Patrick Motorsports was ‘Rick Merz – car owner’

Knowing Chris quite well, he was not a internet guy so he did not frequent GT40S.com. Needless to say I was impressed when I came across this simple note. Evidently, someone, somewhere told Chris, Rick is a guy to call for what ever.

In landing at the airport in Virginia to meet with Rick and discuss his car I think the first thing I said to him was “Boy, look at all these trees! (I’m from SoCal’s concrete jungle and was truly amazed at all the lush trees) While shaking his hand, the second thing I said was “It’s nice to meet a legend…..”. In the brief time I have known Rick, he is all the man everyone here says he is and I'm glad to have met him.

But I must add as they say, Behind every great man …… a women (hard for me to say much less print the whole thing [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]). And Carolina must be that woman knowing the time GT40 enthusiast spend with their cars.

Kudos’ Rick and Carolina

[Ian K]

Rick's car was the first I ever saw (other than ERA's
website), and that was in Kit Car. That was the car
that really got me hooked. I even tried sending him
an email (trying to read it off a grainy picture
in a magazine). This was well before Ron started the
first iteration of GT40s.com.

His experiences related here have been most helpful
in my planning stages. Now, if I could only find some
way to afford it, I would have jumped at the chance
to buy his.

Ian