RIP Richard Merritt | FerrariChat

RIP Richard Merritt

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by Bryanp, Mar 13, 2021.

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  1. Bryanp

    Bryanp F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2002
    3,799
    Santa Fe, NM
    Dogdish, rob lay, Lowell and 10 others like this.
  2. mlgtoeng

    mlgtoeng Rookie

    Jul 1, 2010
    34
    I knew him all my adult life. Lovely man and we still regularly refer to his book
     
  3. Pierre Coquet

    Pierre Coquet Rookie

    Mar 3, 2005
    49
    F - 21340 Baubigny
    Full Name:
    Pierre Coquet
    Great loss for the Ferrari world
     
    Nembo1777 likes this.
  4. wolfchen75

    wolfchen75 Karting

    Aug 7, 2004
    145
    oh dear one of the nicest and most knowledgeable men in the old sports car community , godspeed dick
     
  5. Ed Niles

    Ed Niles Formula 3
    Honorary

    Sep 7, 2004
    2,493
    West Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwin K. Niles
    I hate that I'm at the point where all my buds are dying. Dick was such a great friend to the car community; irreplaceable. I used to smile about his last job, a bit like putting the fox in the hen house. What a loss!
     
  6. ggjjr

    ggjjr Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2003
    870
    Detroit
    Full Name:
    George
    Such a knowledgeable and gracious man. RIP, Dick.
     
    Admiral Goodwrench likes this.
  7. italiancars

    italiancars F1 Rookie

    Apr 18, 2004
    3,338
    Hershey, PA
    A lot of people don’t realize Dick was the “Gatekeeper” at the DOT.
     
    Admiral Goodwrench and Nembo1777 like this.
  8. Azorf

    Azorf Karting
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 12, 2004
    64
    Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Peter
    Many great conversations and always very helpful. Condolences to the family. RIP
    Peter Sweeney
     
    Admiral Goodwrench likes this.
  9. pilotoCS

    pilotoCS F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    May 19, 2019
    12,530
    The Capital of The United States of America
    Full Name:
    Willis
    Dick Merritt spent many great years as a very helpful civil servant at the Department of Transportation. He was the go-to man for compliance letters for many a Ferrari.
     
    donv and Admiral Goodwrench like this.
  10. afwrench

    afwrench Formula Junior

    Nov 24, 2004
    593
    NY
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I contacted Mr.Merritt about the legality of a Euro spec car I wanted to buy. Thinking that DOT info would be a nightmare to get I was stunned to get documentation in 24hrs that the car was legal. I had the pleasure to meet him at an event years later . A class act all the way. RIP. M Meehan
     
  11. ArtS

    ArtS F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    8,880
    Central NJ
  12. Zarathustra

    Zarathustra Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 7, 2006
    863
    Hawaii
    Full Name:
    Gary Robinson
    In 1980, I was taking the Georgetown University bus across Key Bridge and noticed a red Testarossa, or something, following the bus. I had a feeling it was going to Ed Waterman's Checkered Flag shop, in Arlington, so I went there and I was right. That was the first time I met Dick, and after that, I had the pleasure of chatting with him many times at swap meets and FCA events. He surprised me once by showing me photos of his Bizzarrini project. (He was way ahead of his time seeing fun and value in Bizzarrinis.)
    Many years later I called him up at the DOT to check on their records of a Stratos I purchased, and he was very kind to tell me it wasn't Federalized and suggested some shops to do it, or perhaps I should just wait for its 25th birthday to be DOT exempt.
    Dick was the quintessential gentleman enthusiast.
     
    donv, nschots, 375+ and 2 others like this.
  13. Bertocchi

    Bertocchi Formula 3
    Consultant

    Jan 28, 2004
    2,176
    Austin, Texas
    Full Name:
    David Castelhano
    In 1994 I had a small booth in the Flea Market of the Lime Rock Historic races, amongst the many things I had for sale were several ceramic tiles from the remodel of the Cavallino restaurant in Maranello. Dick was there racing his front engined Dino. His book has been in my library since I was 16 years old.
    When he approached my booth and introduced himself I was overwhelmed with excitement.
    We ended up swapping tiles for autographed F&M books. I brought my 2nd edition with me the next day and got him to sign it and we started a very long friendship. When I restored a 212 Cabriolet, #0235, Dick had the original gearbox for the car in his enormous collection of parts so I visited his Maryland home to purchase the piece.
    Son Kendall is in the car business also and a great guy. Last I knew they had a Bizzarini race car they cared for. We are witnessing the loss of real enthusiasts that loved and cared for Ferrari long before the values were high and parts easily available. I will miss my friend.
     
    V12addict, donv, Nembo1777 and 4 others like this.
  14. Marcel Massini

    Marcel Massini Two Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary

    Mar 2, 2005
    22,739
    Photo from the funeral procession for Richard F. "Dick" Merritt, last Friday 30 April 2021. Led by Kendall Merritt carrying Dick Merritt's remains to the Ketoctin Church, (Virginia), Cemetery. Three black Ferraris was so appropriate.
    Not my own photo.

    Marcel Massini

    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    gt1995, ferraripete, Oengus and 20 others like this.
  15. Bertocchi

    Bertocchi Formula 3
    Consultant

    Jan 28, 2004
    2,176
    Austin, Texas
    Full Name:
    David Castelhano
    Fitting tribute
     
    readplays likes this.
  16. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2005
    11,884
    Excellent cover article on Dick in the current issue of Prancing Horse no.219.
     
  17. msdesignltd

    msdesignltd F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2003
    17,765
    NYC. / E. Hampton
    Full Name:
    Michael
    2 of my 3 boxers were amerispec..he never hesitated to answer my numerous inquiries...Kind Man. RIP
    he always had euro 512 mufflers for sale.
     
  18. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    do you mean merrit or fritz?
     
    readplays likes this.
  19. msdesignltd

    msdesignltd F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2003
    17,765
    NYC. / E. Hampton
    Full Name:
    Michael
    Hmm..did I mix them up...was merit a concours judge?
     
  20. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2005
    11,884
    You are thinking of Dick Fritz, Amerispec and ex-Chinetti.
     

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