Hummingbird Speedway offers our sincere sympathy to the
family and many friends of Richard "Dick" Rankin, who was
killed in a construction accident on Wednesday August 13th.

In the late 1960's or early 70's I enjoyed many nights at Hummingbird Speedway watching Dick Rankin compete. Although I never personally knew him (unless - since I was just a youngster then - you count asking him for an autograph, which he gladly signed on the back of a picture of him I had, and still do to this day). But on Saturday August 2, 2003 I got the opportunity to finally meet Mr. Rankin. This time he was at Hummingbird, not with a car to drive but - rather - one he was trying to sell. During our brief conversation, I could tell everything I had heard was correct; that it was true... the comments many others had made about what a true gentleman and genuinely nice person he was.

Dave

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Here's Dick back from his "old" Bird Days...

And here he is checking out the track prep on August 2, 2003...

Now instead of being on the track or watching through the fence he'll be looking down from above. RIP.

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May it help the family to know that many share their sorrow and mourn the loss of such a wonderful man. For more information, you may wish to visit the Tri City Speedway website, where there is also a link to an article about that was published in several area newspapers - ironically - less than a week before his tragic death.