Yesterday I received the terrible news that Richie Van, a well respected Vintage Racer and Lead Guitarist of Motoband, the rock and roll band comprised of vintage racers that regularly plays at AHRMA national events, had passed away suddenly following a play riding session at his local track.
Please find below some more information about Richie, which has been provided by his close friend in Motoband, Dave Byland.
Thomas R.(Richie) Vallandingham # 49J
Vintage plus 50 Int. and other VMX classes on a 400 CZ Post Vintage plus 50 Int. and other PVMX classes on a 390 Husky.
Visitation Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from 4pm - 7pm.
Funeral Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 11 am.
All services will be at Cater Funeral Home, Moberly, Missouri.
Cater's is located less than 1 mile west of 63 highway at the EE exit...the funeral home will be on the left and a cemetary will be on the right.
Richie will be buried in his riding gear. At the visitation Wednesday evening, there will be a continuously playing powerpoint of Righie's life, and his favorite music will be playing in the background. There will also be displays of pictures, trophies, guitars and riding gear.
Obituary
Richie was born in Moberly just a little over 56 years ago. He and I went to grade school and high school together, raced motorcycles together, played in rock bands together, and experienced most of life's "firsts" together. After a few years managing one of his Dad's IGA stores, Richie opened a Suzuki dealership in Moberly in the later 70's and operated it for a little over 5 years. For the past 20 years or so he served as National Pricing Administrator for a pvc pipe manufacturing firm in Columbia, Missouri currently owned by J.M.
Eagle.
Since 1965, Richie / "RV" / "Morocco Mole" / Vallandingham was an avid motocross racer and supporter, riding the national MX circuit as an amature during the early 70's, and helping to sponsor and operate races across Missouri (including HLR Motorsports Park in Moberly). In addition, Richie was an outstanding rock and roll guitarist, playing with a number of midwest bands during his life and touring with Plato and the Philosophers during the mid 70's and Bannister Tarleton in the late 80's / early 90's. Known for his innovative riffs and on-stage antics, Richie provided the spark that often energized otherwise middle-of-the-road bands.
To say that he was passionate about the things he believed in and his friends across the country would be an understatement. His email traffic and postings on various discussion groups generally proved to be interesting if not downright hiliarous, and he could always be pulled into a discussion of the finer qualities of....BEER! While he often described himself as something of a bit player in the game of life, he was in fact a giant of a friend, partner, and general all around good guy. The sparkle in his eye, quick wit and tendency towards playing jokes on his friends will be something long remembered. Even during the last few years, Richie was pure magic on a motorcycle or with a guitar...a pleasure to watch and hear.
Richie had a heart valve replacement a little over 4 years ago, and had been living life to its fullest travelling, playing with bands, racing the vintage MX circuit and taking road trips on his new Victory 8 Ball with his wife Teresa. In the past few weeks, his cardiologist had done a thorough review and given him a clean bill of health.
On Sunday, May 10, Richie and his son Garritt went out to HLR to ride a bit after doing work on Garrit's bike. After a half dozen laps (Garritt says he was "Smokin' on the big sweeper!"), they pulled off the track & took off their helmets. Richie remarked that his chest hurt a little...and 10 seconds later he was gone. He is fortunate that he died quickly, doing the thing he loved best, with his son.
All are welcome to join in celebrating the incredible life of RichieV in Moberly this week. I'm honored and very fortunate that he was my best and closest friend for the past 48 years.
Dave BylandI also had the pleasure of meeting, socialising (drinking beer) and playing music with Richie during each of my last three visits to the USA and we became pretty good friends. A nicer VMX racer and person would be very hard to find.
LtoR: Jim Pomoroy, Gary Davis, Dave Byland, Richie Van
Richie Racing his CZ
As Gary Davis commented this morning:
"#49j, Richie V gets the holeshot to heaven, no doubt about it!!
Godspeed!!"
