Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/628605
22 UCW JANUARY 20-26, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM A few weeks ago, the world and North Carolina lost a friend and a motorcycle icon. Ray Price passed away at the age of 78. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Price once, but I did not know him personally. However, I do know several people who work for him, and through them, I have admired his love of motorcycling, his love of people and his kind heart. For the last few years, Ray Price and his staff supported the Fayetteville Hogs and Rags fundraising event that has helped raise thousands of dollars for various charities here in Fayetteville and the surrounding area. He is known for various reasons: Ray Price was a veteran, an athlete, a businessman, a philanthropist, a family man and a friend. Throughout the motorcycle community, he is a racing legend. Price bought his first bike at the age of 30. He was the designer of the motorcycle wheelie bar and the developer of the two-speed automatic racing transmission. He is known as the father of drag racing's "Funnybike." In 1993, Price was an inductee into the American Motorcycle Association's Motorcycle Hall of Fame. According to the AMA's biography page, Price started his motorcycle drag racing career with a 1966 Harley- Davidson Sportster. Since then, Price and his Ray Price Harley-Davidson drag racing team have attained multiple race victories, records and championships in AMA Dragbike, the All Harley Drag Racing Association and the International Hot Rod Association. Price's personal racing career continued beyond his 65th birthday into the 2003 AHDRA season. Over the years, he has continued to be a force in the motorcycle racing world. This year, Price's team won the 2015 National Hot Rod Association Harley- Davidson Drag Racing Series. Price has also been inducted into the the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the N.C. Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame, and the National Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Price is well-known for his motorcycle dealerships, the Ray Price Harley- Davidson and Ray Price Triumph, which is the largest Harley-Davidson dealership in the southeast. His sales and service staff are a manifestation of his love for his community and customers. Throughout the year, his dealership hosts various charity rides for a multitude of causes. Each September, Ray Price draws over 100,000 visitors to downtown Raleigh for the Capital City Bikefest. Price is survived by his wife, Jean, his daughter, Robin and grandchildren Rebecca and Jordan Richardson. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE! FEBRUARY 7 • NAM KNIGHTS MC CHILI COOK OFF AND SUPER BOWL PARTY 5-12pm Register by Feb. 6. $5/entry fee. Call 850- 8136 for information or to register. MAY 7 • ALS CHARITY MOTORCYCLE RIDE in Sanford. Registration at 9:30 or online at www. Alscharityride.com. Lunch, DJ music, People's Choice Bike Show, silent suction, 50/50 raffle and more. Benefiting The ALS Association Jim Catfish Hunter Chapter www. Alscharityride.com Brian Weaver Dreamweaver8@ embarqmail.com 919.542.6102. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more information about the group. Advertising to Grow Your Business www.upandcomingweekly.com For effective advertising call 910.484.6200 today! 4624 BRAGG BLVD. COLDEST DRINKS IN TOWN! Ray Price the Legend by JIM JONES JIM JONES, Motorcycle Enthusiast, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200 Motorcycle legend Ray Price leaves behind an impressive career and a dedicated biking community.