Ralph Moody
Encyclopedia
Ralph Moody was one of early drivers of NASCAR. However, he eventually became the most famous as team co-owner of Holman Moody
.
race car in 1935, and ran it on nights and weekends. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II
, and drove a tank under the command of General George S. Patton
. He married his wife Mitzi in 1949, and they moved to Florida so that he could race all year.
While still living in Massachusetts, after World War II, Ralph Moody was an
active midget chauffeur in the now defunct Bay State Midget Racing
Association.
. He finished eighth in the final points, with 21 Top-10 finishes in 35 races.
He raced the first third of 1957, until Ford and the other American automobile manufacturers pulled out of racing.
Mr. Moody immediately took out a loan against an airplane he owned, and he and John Holman
paid $12,000 to buy the shop and equipment that had been Ford's Charlotte-based racing operation (http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/archives/8881437.htm).
Holman Moody began as a racecar owner operation, but became more famous for their racecar building operation. Holman Moody chassis featured improvements such as tube shocks, square tubing frames, and rear ends with floater housings (http://www.near1.com/HALL-OF-FAME/2000/Moody_Ralph.htm). They built around 50 race cars a year until Moody sold his portion of the company after the 1971 season. They had won 92 NASCAR Grand National races.
Holman Moody
Holman Moody was an auto racing team, racecar manufacturer, and marine engine manufacturer. The team built virtually all of the factory Ford racecars of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. It owned racecars that competed in NASCAR, drag racing, ocean boat racing, rallys, and sports car racing. The team...
.
Background
He built his first Model T FordFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
race car in 1935, and ran it on nights and weekends. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and drove a tank under the command of General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
. He married his wife Mitzi in 1949, and they moved to Florida so that he could race all year.
While still living in Massachusetts, after World War II, Ralph Moody was an
active midget chauffeur in the now defunct Bay State Midget Racing
Association.
NASCAR career
Moody won four races in 1956 for owner Pete DePaoloPete DePaolo
Pete DePaolo was an American race car driver. He won the 1925 Indianapolis 500.-Racing career:...
. He finished eighth in the final points, with 21 Top-10 finishes in 35 races.
He raced the first third of 1957, until Ford and the other American automobile manufacturers pulled out of racing.
Holman Moody
for the main article, see Holman MoodyHolman Moody
Holman Moody was an auto racing team, racecar manufacturer, and marine engine manufacturer. The team built virtually all of the factory Ford racecars of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. It owned racecars that competed in NASCAR, drag racing, ocean boat racing, rallys, and sports car racing. The team...
Mr. Moody immediately took out a loan against an airplane he owned, and he and John Holman
John Holman (NASCAR)
John Holman was a NASCAR owner. He is most famous for his co-ownership of two time NASCAR championship team Holman Moody with Ralph Moody.-Early career:...
paid $12,000 to buy the shop and equipment that had been Ford's Charlotte-based racing operation (http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/archives/8881437.htm).
Holman Moody began as a racecar owner operation, but became more famous for their racecar building operation. Holman Moody chassis featured improvements such as tube shocks, square tubing frames, and rear ends with floater housings (http://www.near1.com/HALL-OF-FAME/2000/Moody_Ralph.htm). They built around 50 race cars a year until Moody sold his portion of the company after the 1971 season. They had won 92 NASCAR Grand National races.
Ralph Moody, Inc.
He then opened Ralph Moody Inc. in Charlotte. He built race engines and race cars, and did research and development of high mileage automobiles at that site for several years.List of Halls of Fame inductions
- North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2003
- National Motorsports Press Association Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1990
- International Motorsports Hall of FameInternational Motorsports Hall of FameThe International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer...
in 1994 - Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaThe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in 2005 - New England Auto Racers Hall of FameNew England Auto Racers Hall of FameThe New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for racing-related people in the New England region of the United States. NEAR was established in 1981. The New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the New England Antique Racers.-New England Antique Racers:The...
in 2000 - Drag Racing Hall of Fame
- Old Timers Hall of Fame