03.26.2003

The Wild Man Cometh
Pete Ricart knows how to have a good time, and he does it with a'64 Fairlane.
By Rob Kinnan

Some people you just can't read. You never know what they're really thinking, and you get the distinct impression that they can look you square in the eye and tell you a half-truth, or perhaps an outright fabrication, just to keep you guessing. We all know some racers like that. Mystery and deception are part of the game, occasionally necessary to maintain one's "secrets." But Pete Ricart is not one to deceive. He knows what he likes, he does what he likes, and if you don't like it, that's just fine with him. He does what he says, and when he tells you something you know he's not jerkin' your merkin.

If you have been to an NMRA event, you've probably seen Pete. He's the one trying to stay out of trouble, which is hard to do when you've got an itch to go fast and a 10-second troublemaker under your right foot. Pete runs a '64 Fairlane in Toyo Tires Open Comp, a car that we thought was a real '64 Thunderbolt when we first saw it. When Pete popped the hood it became obvious that this was either a clone, or that he was truly insane and had transplanted a 514 Ford crate motor in place of the original 427. You see, Pete has the resources to cut up a priceless original, since he is part of the Ricart Ford Family, owners of (on and off) the biggest Ford dealership in the world, Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio.

Pete actually does own a real lightweight Thunderbolt, but he wisely leaves it in the garage, far from any guardrails. The car he races is a clone (he calls it a "Lightning Bolt"), but a very well-done one with nearly 100 cubic-inches more than the original. Pete bought the Fairlane from Matthew Kossow in Michigan, back in 1989. It was an Arizona car with only 84,000 original miles, so it was rust-free and a great platform from which to build a nice hot rod. The gennie body was left all-steel, save for a Crites Reproductions 'glass hood and bumpers, and he painted the traditional Thunderbolt off-white. The interior was also restored with original aqua vinyl and lots of love.

Under that 'glass hood is a complete Ford Racing Performance Parts 514-inch crate motor. Pete swapped the intake for one with a Dominator flange so it would accept his Bob Mackey-prepared 1050 Dominator. The carb is fed race gas via an Aeromotive electric pump and regulator, with Russell braided lines and fittings. A Mallory High Fire 4 ignition lights the spark, and a set of Crites swap headers get the gas out and breathe free without the restriction of mufflers. Yes, it's loud, and Pete likes it that way! Backing the big-block is a C-6 three-speed with a TCI torque converter, a Cheetah valve body, and a Cheetah shifter. The rearend is a 9-inch filled with an FRPP 4.10:1 ring and pinion, a Strange case, a Strange 31-spline spool and Moser axles.