A**** other things, I'm a filmmaker and my current favorite project is Salt: The Seduction of Speed. Ronnie Benham was going to be prominent in the show but I just couldnt get with him soon enough. If any of you have any pictures or video/film of Ronnie I would dearly like to know about you. Also any memories of contact you had with Ronnie over the years would be greatly appreciated. As this project gets funded I can arrange to have materials you might wish to contribute reproduced in your area so that they dont have to leave your hands. I haven't had a chance to see who all are members here, but if you ever new Ronnie, please contribut anything you can. If I can get enough stuff together I'll put a story together for the Journal is they want it.</O> <O></O> <O>You can message me here if you don't want to post it, or email me at Create1@cableone.net</O> <O></O> <O>M.D.</O> <O></O> <O>www.bonnevillesaltflatsracing.wordpress.com </O>
I knew Ron for 30 years or more. His little garage shop is only a couple of miles from my shop in El Monte. When ever my Dad or I needed anything welded, we'd run down to Ron, and he'd drop what ever he was working on, and jump on it for us. Ron was truly a master fabricator. He could do it all from building ch***is, to bending tin, Ronnie was the man. He did the hood on my current roadster, helped me with the roll pan, and got me out of a bind with the steering column. He used to drop by the shop folling the El Mirage meets, and give me the scoop. I remember when his Berkley modified sports car won the high point championship in 99. He came by and gave me an autographed 8 x 10 of the car taken at El Mirage. Ronnie was beaming with pride. He built something over 30 LSR cars in his garage, and most were record holders, many well over 200 mph. I'll miss Ronnie almost as much as my Dad.
An unsung hero , a true innovator who played by the rules , outsmarting those who wrote them , RIP Rebel Ronnie.
I'm going to get with Norm when I can track down his phone #. Here are some pics last time I saw Ron and Norm.
My father William Freudiger was the driver for the rear engine modified, and I, shane Freudiger came so close to buying that car. Norm is a great friend of ours. The freudiger's knew ron well! god speed ron!
Hi M.D. Did you ever get a hold of Norman? I just barely found this post. I knew Ronnie. I grew up down the street from him and Norman in the late 80's & Early 90's in my teens. I used to hang out in his garage & help out with his race cars. I mowed his lawn every week during the summers. He became like a grandfather to me and is soorly missed. Let me know if you'd like to hear anything else.
The Jalopy Journal
