Rich Vasseur, ah, let me tell ya, he was a man who never slowed down, not even a bit. Born and raised up in Hartford, Connecticut, he ended up livin’ in Ellington. This fella was somethin’ special on the racetrack, ya know? He had them heavy wheels at Riverside Park and Stafford Speedway, racin’ with all his heart. They say he was one of those drivers who’d give his best, right till the last lap. Folks loved watchin’ him zip around the tracks, back in the day when he was a Pro Stock and Late Model driver. Mighty proud he was, and mighty good too.
Ya know, racin’ was in his blood. Ever since he graduated from Enrico Fermi High School in 1981, it seems like he knew where he was goin’ – straight to that racetrack! Not every day you meet someone who lives and breathes somethin’ like that, but Rich, he was the real deal. It wasn’t just a hobby for him; it was his life. And if he wasn’t behind the wheel, he was out there ownin’ cars, makin’ sure the spirit of racin’ stayed alive in his community.
But life, oh boy, it can be mighty unexpected. On July 30, 2024, while on a vacation with his beloved girlfriend Crystal Foti, Rich suddenly left us, just like that, at the age of 60. They say he was in his favorite place, which brings a bit of comfort, don’t it? Imagine spendin’ your last days somewhere that brings ya peace. Makes a heart ache, but maybe it’s a little bit easier knowin’ he was happy in those final moments.
People remember him with all sorts of fond memories, ya know. Some talk about his way of livin’ – always pedal to the metal, never backin’ down from life. He taught folks a lot about racin’, about life, about enjoyin’ every single bit of it. He was always tellin’ stories, sharin’ the history of them short tracks, and keepin’ that racin’ legacy alive.
Rememberin’ Rich
They held a gathering in Ellington, Connecticut, where folks shared stories about the man they all loved. He wasn’t just a driver or a car owner; he was a friend, a mentor, a good ol’ fella with a big heart. Ain’t that somethin’? Even folks who didn’t know him personally felt like they lost someone dear, and that’s just the kinda impact Rich had.
- Hometown: Born in Hartford, Connecticut, lived in Ellington.
- High School: Enrico Fermi High School, Class of 1981.
- Passion: Racin’ at Riverside Park and Stafford Speedway.
- Companion: Loved and cherished Crystal Foti.
Rich ain’t here no more, but ya can bet his memory lives on. Every time someone takes a lap at those tracks he loved so much, they’re gonna think of him. Every new driver learnin’ the ropes, every old-timer sharin’ a racin’ tale, they’ll remember Rich and his love for the track.
So here’s to Rich Vasseur – a man who lived life full throttle, loved deeply, and left a legacy that’ll keep rollin’ down them tracks for years to come.
Tags：Rich Vasseur, racing, Ellington, Riverside Park, Stafford Speedway, Pro Stock, Late Model
