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(This is copied and pasted verbatim from Mr. Rathgeb's friends' Facebook posting, Mr. Doug Schellinger):
I am sad to report the passing of Chrysler stock car legend and Mopar Hall of Fame inductee Larry Rathgeb this afternoon. After celebrating his 90th birthday in February, Larry contracted the Coronavirus a week ago and was hospitalized on Wednesday.
Larry was involved with the race program from the early 1960's until Chrysler's withdrawal from racing in 1978. He was the crew chief on the #88 Daytona and was responsible for chassis structure and suspension for Mopar circle track cars. He became Chrysler's man at the race track serving as a liason between teams and the company.
In 1972, he became responsible for all Mopar stock car programs and was the creator of the Chrysler Kit Car. After Chrysler's withdrawal from racing, Larry remained with Chrysler until his retirement in 1987. Larry continued his career working with Petty Enterprises into the early 1990's. He later became a consultant for Chrysler on the Gen 1 Dodge Viper program working on the suspension.
Larry was an avid sportsman and an expert clay target shooter. More than a guy with a slide rule, Larry was a trained mechanic from a young age and an Army veteran, serving as a shop foreman on General Douglas Macarthur's motor pool in Tokyo just after WW2. Larry loved his country and a portrait of Gen. MacArthur still hangs in his office at the family home. Larry was a friend to the winged car community making multiple appearances at events beginning in 1976 through last October in Alabama.
Larry was a personal friend and I am deeply saddened by his death and the circumstances surrounding it. Larry's wife has also contracted the virus and she remains hospitalized. Please keep her in your prayers.
-Doug Schellinger
I am sad to report the passing of Chrysler stock car legend and Mopar Hall of Fame inductee Larry Rathgeb this afternoon. After celebrating his 90th birthday in February, Larry contracted the Coronavirus a week ago and was hospitalized on Wednesday.
Larry was involved with the race program from the early 1960's until Chrysler's withdrawal from racing in 1978. He was the crew chief on the #88 Daytona and was responsible for chassis structure and suspension for Mopar circle track cars. He became Chrysler's man at the race track serving as a liason between teams and the company.
In 1972, he became responsible for all Mopar stock car programs and was the creator of the Chrysler Kit Car. After Chrysler's withdrawal from racing, Larry remained with Chrysler until his retirement in 1987. Larry continued his career working with Petty Enterprises into the early 1990's. He later became a consultant for Chrysler on the Gen 1 Dodge Viper program working on the suspension.
Larry was an avid sportsman and an expert clay target shooter. More than a guy with a slide rule, Larry was a trained mechanic from a young age and an Army veteran, serving as a shop foreman on General Douglas Macarthur's motor pool in Tokyo just after WW2. Larry loved his country and a portrait of Gen. MacArthur still hangs in his office at the family home. Larry was a friend to the winged car community making multiple appearances at events beginning in 1976 through last October in Alabama.
Larry was a personal friend and I am deeply saddened by his death and the circumstances surrounding it. Larry's wife has also contracted the virus and she remains hospitalized. Please keep her in your prayers.
-Doug Schellinger
