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Racing community mourns the passing of former racer, contributor Dan Ramey
by Bill Sullivan

PLACERVILLE, CA (8-28-08) - In our lives there are people we meet that embrace us and become what we call “true friends.” It is these people that go out of their way to help you and reach out to you when you are in need, regardless if it is business or personal, profitable or not. Today, many of us in the motor sports community received the heartbreaking and shocking news of the passing of our great friend and contributor Dan Ramey of Cameron Park.

Many knew Dan Ramey from his racing days when he competed in stock cars at Placerville Speedway with a teammate by the name of Alex Hanson. They were known best as the duo who had matching yellow cars with a beer can affixed to the top of the roof. Others knew him from his business, DSR Graphics and Signs which provided uncountable graphics to race cars in multiple venues. Regardless of how you knew him, Dan Ramey was your friend and his passing is a tremendous loss to the racing community.

Dan reportedly suffered a heart attack today while vacationing in Las Vegas , a vacation he had been talking about for months to those of us that were friends, colleagues and customers. It was something he had been looking forward to for months. Despite the vacation plans, he was making sure he was taking care of business and was planning to return early Friday to wrap up some loose ends, one of which was for his longtime customer and friend John Taylor, the owner of Colby Wiesz’s #35 sprint car.

“I can’t believe this. I can’t believe he is gone,” said Taylor . “I just talked to him a couple of days ago and he said what a great time he was having in vegas and that he would be back Friday. He was a really friend and took great pride in his work no matter what it was and who it was for.”

Ramey was living a dream come true. A former stock racer that was told to call quits after injury he found a niche in life that allowed him to be involved with the sport he loved and make a living doing it. Not only did he provide services for race teams he provided a tremendous amount of support to myself with signage and special things for Placerville Speedway as well as for my own use with my private public relations clients.

In fact, for years Dan encouraged me to do more in the way of private services and when I did so early this year I remember him saying, “Its about time, now what do you need from me to help you?” That was Dan’s nature, he was your friend first and you were his customer second. Dan and I had a gentlemen’s agreement that I would accept his vinyl work pro bono but would barter a press release to promote his business when he needed. This article is certainly not what I expected to be writing as part of that deal.

Stock car driver Danielle Clauson of Placerville has known Dan Ramey all of her life. Clauson’s family was closely knit with Dan back in his racing days and she and her late bother, A.J. Dunn spent many days playing in the shop where Dan would work on his stock car.

“He was like a dad to me, he always looked out for me and helped me with my race car so much,” said Clauson, who learned the news like many of us Thursday morning. “I could not believe my ears when I got the call because he seemed perfectly fine. He was so excited about that trip last week and last we heard he was having a great time. I am going to miss him so much, he really meant the world to me.”

At this time funeral arrangements and services have not yet been determined for Dan Ramey. Dan’s son, Dan Jr. is taking care of loose ends with the business and will announce such plans once they have been arranged. Ramey will recognized in a special, privately planned fashion during the opening of Placerville Speedway’s final point race this Saturday night.

God Speed to Dan Ramey. On behalf of the entire staff of Placerville Speedway and is driver population our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan Ramey Jr. and all of those who had their lives touched in one way or another by Dan. Dan was like a father and a brother to so many of us and there will surely be a huge void in all of our lives with his loss. Dan Ramey was only 52 years old.