Farewell, Rick "Surf" Stambaugh

Popular nostalgia drag racer and speed shop owner Rick "Surf" Stambaugh of Fredericksburg, Virginia, passed away in his sleep during the night of Friday, May 13, 2011.

Rick, along with son Matt and daughter Robin, ran the New Generation Speed Shop and a series of drag racing cars that bore the same name. Rick and his New Generation machines were well-known participants in funny car, fuel altered, and dragster drag racing from the 1970s through 2011. Rick also was planning to host a nostalgia drag racing event at Sumerduck Raceway in Virginia in October 2011. At this time, all team racing activities are anticipated to continue in Rick's honor.

Memorial services are tentatively scheduled to take place in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Further details are forthcoming.

updated by @bill-pratt: 04/05/18 12:56:29AM

A great guy. He will be missed, RIP "Surf"

Services will be held on Wednesday May 18th, 11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church - 2911 Cameron Mills Rd, Alexandria, VA 22302. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Rick Stambaugh Memorial Fund - 4422 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22408.

The nostalgia drag racing community will not be the same without him. He was a big part of our sport and very devoted to nostalgia drag racing. He will be missed by everyone! Our condolences to Matt , Robin & MarshaDale&Ellen

Rick will be sadly missed.While as teens many of us were happy to be getting ANY car down a dragstrip Rick was running fuel cars here in mid-Atlantic.He was a racer,builder and innovator who was involved with import road racing,oval track and his true love drag racing and successful in all venues

At the time of his passing Rick was actively organizing a Nostalgia race for this coming October at Sumerduck Va. I've spoken with his son Matt and this race will go on as scheduled as a tribute to Rick and all of his efforts in helping to to promote racing and particularly nostalgia racing.

We've lost a one of a kind and a real racer's racer.

RIP my friend.

How fortunate we have been to have "Surf" in our world of Drag Racing. He was always there to help anyone and promote Nostalgia Racing forever. Our hearts ache for Matt and Robin and we can't forget "Willie" (his pup). We could literally spend hours listening to Rick telling us racing stories "Just to make a long story short"....was one of his famous sayings. We loved him and he will be missed! Bunny & All The Boys..............RIP

Rest in peace old friend. Penny Flammia

rick will be sadly missed. rest in peace.