I first met Ray in 1988, we became friends instantly between our taste in cars and music. We had a whole group of car guy friends and go to car shows in Vineland and diners all over NJ and some other states. Elgen diner was one that's  pictured  on his fb cover page. His Mom and Dad graciously had all of us car friends over during Christmas every year. 

Ray used to play guitar and he always loved the drums as well. I would play on the drums the songs he liked to show him how they played them. We went to drum clinics and met Kenny Aronoff from John Cougar. Ray had a great ability to remember numbers (ex.mile markers on 295 lol) and lyrics  of many songs, especially Bruce Springsteen's that had so much to do with cars. We went to a lot of concerts as well. The Who, Cheap Trick, Pink Floyd, Chicago, John Cougar, Ratt and Rush to name a few. We both loved Rush a lot. We would talk about the drums more than guitar. 

Ray worked on my car a lot in 88 when I first got it way back in the day. Besides chevy, he liked Oldsmobile too, we always talked about Dr. Olds and all the cool 442 options and parts. My 1st car show I had my car in 89 he was one of the judges with the Jersey Late Greats . A couple of years  later we were driving  in my car together when I hit 100k. Ray was big on nicknames, he made mine Gunner because  I gunned my car. Lol. We used to go to Englishtown for car parts/shows and slept over once with someone he knew. I'll  miss his big long stories, as well as his quick one liners. Ray was also very talented and thoughtful to everyone.

Ray has so many great friends from all walks of life and I am glad to have been one of them. Though we drifted  apart we were still connected  through friends. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. 

Ray was a great man with a great heart. He will be missed. Take care to my longtime friend, Ray the Wrench.