R.C. SHERMAN PASSES

Former Top Fuel and Funny Car racer Ray "R.C." Sherman, who piloted a long line of entries including the Black Magic and Raybestos machines, died Dec. 18 of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was 64.

Sherman and the ATI Black Magic teams were prolific match-race contenders in the mid 1970s and were known for having a quick car that seldom broke, thanks to Bill Barrett's

tune-up that relied on smaller engines and superchargers than the national-event heavies yet was capable of competitive times. The team won several NHRA National Opens, IHRA national events, and many match races.

Sherman, of Frederick. MD, had been involved in auto racing since 1959, originally in sports car drag racing, but stepped up to a gas-burning Corvette Funny Car, "the Gentleman," in 1971. He eventually converted the car to run on methanol, partnered with Len Cottrell of Chicken Chokers fame.

In 1989, he began a long stint in the seat of Nick Boninfante's Raybestos entry. Although never a final-round contender in the NHRA series, the team did win an IHRA championship and stayed together through the 1993 season. He also drove a couple of times for Don Garlits in Garlits’ mono-strut Top Fueler.

Sherman continued to compete infrequently in 1994, driving Paul Smith's school car and for Dan Richards before retiring.

He is survived by his wife Ginger and mother Alise. [Thanks to Phil Burgess and NHRA.com for supplying most of the information in this obituary.]  (illustration by B. Tatman) [12/20/2007]