...would have turned 58 tomorrow. I still miss him. RIP Rapid Rich.:crying:

Hard to believe that eighteen years have passed since his last ride at Salem on July 21, 1990. I still think about what heights his career might have reached if not for that tragic night.

I watched that race live on ESPN Thunder. You knew. You just knew. Absolutely Rich was one of the very best ever. RIP.

Ya know. When I was younger, Gaines and Wilkerson were the man to beat anywhere they showed up.

Rich was certainly one in that catagory It's a catagory only shared by a few each decade.

One of those days I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when it happened. I was at the Kings Royal and heard on the way home via radio

Thanks so much for the memories Rich! :applaud: :checkered:
Chuck

I remember hearing the sad news about his death over and over on the radio news the next morning. They kept saying he was credited with the win of the event that evening. I still keep the Open wheel magazine with the tribute to him on the top of my magazine heep!

That is a night that still haunts me. I lost my driver, my mentor and my very good friend that night. :crying:

RIP Mad Dog. :checkered:

Rob Hoffman

Rob
Could you ever share any of your good memories from earlier that night? If not i totally understand..

I remember reading the article the late Larry Nuber did about that evening and the rain that was everywere in Indiana except for Salem that night .

I was never a Vogler fan, but I do remember watching Thunder that night with my mom and dad in the living room. You're right, Dwight. When you saw the helmet, you had to know.
Another thing I remember is the Sportscenter anchors confirming his death on their show, maybe just 20 minutes later (Sportscenter followed Thunder). I even think I remember that it was former anchor Charley Steiner that said the words "Rich Vogler has died." Obviously those were very shocking words, and to have them uttered about our sport on a national show like Sportscenter was until that time unprecedented, as far as I know. I'm quite sure it hasn't happened since and let's hope never again.

Please, don't flame me. Read till the end.

I never liked Rich. He always raced what I would consider dirty and alway came across as an "I'm better than you driver" much the same way Dale Sr. was.

With that said, I will state tha Rich had talent second only to Kenyon when it came to the midgets and it was a travesty that Rich passed long before his time.

That night I was watching that race. I went to bed after the telecast was over and they announcd it on Sportscenter. My dad came and told me that Rich had indeed passed. That was the first time I had ever cried about the passing of a driver.

RIP Rich.

Rich was indeed a man loved by many as a child of 3 i was at the race with my family. My mother was married to Rich and to this day loves him very much. It truely is a sad day to watch some one you know and love and grown to respect past is such a terrible manner. To all who know his mother Eleanor still comes racing and even has a scholarship in his honor. I was lucky enough to be granted that scholarship earlier this year and hold it to be a great honor. you are loved by many and missed by more RIP Rich