Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by lukester - March 28th 2024 12:26 pm
Crazy mods
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 9:38 am
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
#560441 May 06th 2012 7:43 pm
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 348
Knighty Offline OP

Knews Anchorman
OP Offline

Knews Anchorman
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 348
MANY YEARS have passed since I last saw my old friend Dick Rattee.In the beginning Dick was very active in vanning and going so far as to promote a show of his own in his home town in CT. Scott Croft and spent the weekend with him and particpated in the show...The last event I saw him at was the natz in Lebanon PA....Even then he was reverting to his Indian roots and instead of van events he could be found at Pow-Wow's...Years later, as Lucy and I drove home along the Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts I spotted his van parked on the grounds. We turned around and went back and had a long visit with him....He was telling me that he had purchased some land in Colorado and just might retire there....We never saw him again, but I always would wonder what happened to him whenever we drove past the Pow Wow area....

Many vanners in New England in those days knew Dick well and his van " FOX DEN " was a constant winner in van shows....I even got into the act and routed out a set of running boards with the van name in old English script.....

Now today, we got a phone call from our son Sean and his wife Peggy that they had discovered this old show van, wanted to buy it, and asked if I knew any history on the van....They live in Muskogee OK and found the van in Texas....A peek at some online pictures showed me that this indeed was Dick's van. They purchased it on the spot and intend to bring it back to it's former glory.....

As for Dick, I have no idea if he is dead or alive, or where he might be, but if anyone out there has a contact with him I'd sure like to know.......


Knighty
Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Knighty #560614 May 07th 2012 5:08 pm
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 18,213
Likes: 2
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 18,213
Likes: 2
I'm sure the last time I saw him was the 96 Nats in Pa


Everyday above ground is a Good Day!!!
Never Stop Vannin'

Member of Break Away Vanners
Host of Spring Break
At Shenandoah Acres Family Campground

Owner & Creator of Wizard's Van-In Videos
Member of Riding High Truckers from 1982 to 1996
2nd Member of The Toopa Sinner Tribe
Member of Free Bird Vanners 1996 to Present
Member of Cape Atlantic Truckers South Jersey
Host Club of Freeze Out
Certified Nats Judge
Member of Shenandoah Valley Vans
Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Knighty #560649 May 07th 2012 8:12 pm
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 1
dan Offline
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 1
I remember Dick and his van very well. The last time I seen him he was telling me about the whole indian thing as well, dont know how to contact him now. I do remember him talking about a daughter, but thats all I know. He is one of those old vanners I think about from time to time and wonder what ever happened to them.


DAN
BLUES TRAVELER-93 DODGE B250
2000 Astro LS fully loaded

Flyin Dutchmen Vans
Central LI Vans
DANLVAN@myfairpoint.net
[Linked Image]
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2941890
Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
dan #560672 May 07th 2012 10:01 pm
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 12,847
Maniac
Offline
Maniac
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 12,847
Interesting ..hope he's alive and well...would love to see pics of his van.. smile


[Linked Image]




Proud member: Shenandoah Valley Vans


............" REALITY IS JUST AN ELABORATE ILLUSION"..................

Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Knighty #560866 May 08th 2012 5:24 pm
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 64
S
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
S
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 64
We absolutely fell in love with this van when we saw it. It does need a LOT of work - but we can do it. It just needs some TLC! We will post pics soon. Sean drove it the 4 hours home and had no problems - needs a few minor adjustments. He has been working on the hinges, sliding door, engine, fiberglass patching frown and I have already started working on the pretties (curtains, interior) smile Lookin forward to getting it on the road!!!


78 Chevy (Fox Den)
72 Ford Econoline
78 Chevy (Routey) our RT66 van!
Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Knighty #560886 May 08th 2012 7:20 pm
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,898
Vanner
Offline
Vanner
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,898
Nice ! A priceless artifact, and a vanner who returned to his routes...A double bonus !

Knightly, download Firefox 12 at www.mozilla.com.


I don't need to be honoured by Vanning, I am honoured to be Vanning !
Supporting Vanning, by going Vanning In A Van !
I hate it, when real life interferes with Vanning !
Van Clan Plus One, Vanning since 1977 !
Ontario Federation Of Truckers (Vanner's)
Ottawa Valley Vans
I.B.O.B.
Founder,Mixed Bag Truckers
Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Knighty #561053 May 09th 2012 12:32 pm
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 89
N
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
N
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 89
I was in Silver City Vans with Dick Rattee back then in the late 80s. We trucked to alot of runs together. He won alot of trophys with that van. I remember working on it with him alot. Don't know what happened to him. He has a daughter Michelle who is probably in her mid to late 30s now. Hope the resto comes out good. Would like to see it again...

Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Sean_and_Peggy #561054 May 09th 2012 12:33 pm
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 89
N
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
N
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 89
I have some pix of that van way back if needed...

Re: FOUND.....A HISTORIC VAN.
Knighty #561056 May 09th 2012 12:43 pm
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
N
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
I found a Michelle L. Ratte (Age 39) in Southington, CT doing a people search. Could be Dick's daughter.


Nate Breece
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Astro 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 17 guests, and 6 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 129
CatFish 25
frscke1 25
Wedgy 21
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,746
Posts537,916
Members12,725
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4