A little about myself, Rick Holmes…I’m a machine operator at Penford Inc. I love my job but I love racing more than anything! If you’re a big time sponsor reading this…call me, I would love to have your support so I could race full time. I would like to thank my wife of 21 years, Corinne. Giving me the time to race and maintain a race car of this caliber. Many hours go into working on my car and working with sponsors to keep Wild Cherry running in the top of the class. Corinne and I stay busy with kid’s activities. We have 4 great kids that I’m very proud of. Colton 19, Tyler 17, Brandon 15 and Jordan 13. They are involved in many sports from football, wrestling, basketball, volleyball & soccer. My wife does a great job at scheduling games & practices, she even has a color coordinated calendar just for the kid’s activities.
I started racing in 1980 with a stock 1978 Ford ½ ton pick-up. A friend of mine Don Pate had a F250 and asked me to go to a mud bog and race my truck with him, so I did and that’s where it all began.
In 1985 I built my first pro stock 1966 Ford Bronco and won my first race. I still have that trophy!
In 1986 I built my first front engine buggy with a 351 Cleveland.
In 1988 I went to a big block Ford 468. I placed first 9 out of 10 races. First winner of both modified and unlimited classes.
In 1989 I won the unlimited points championship
In 1990 I built first rear engine dragster big block Ford. Unlimited points champion
In 1992 I was first time winner of both modified and unlimited points champion
In 1994 I built a new rear engine RMC chassis, first blower car 392 Dodge Hemi G-71 blowers.
In 1998 I bought my current engine which is a 526 cu Keith black Hemi with Brad Anderson fat heads, 1471 Littlefield.
I met Mike Lane in 1999 and in 2004 he built me the first Fast Lane Rear Engine chassis which I’m still racing today. Last year Mike rebuilt my Hemi and did some fine tuning for me and it’s been a different hot rod ever since. What started out as buying a few parts to having a chassis built and a great friendship. I would like to thank Mike for all his help and his wife Melissa and kids for their hospitality when I travel from my home in Iowa to Ohio to work on the racecar. It’s been a lot of fun and great to have Fastlane Chassis on the side of my car! I would also like to thank my father in-law Ray Burke. Without him, I probably would not even be racing. He is a retired 30 year machinist who has made me everything from a throttle linkage to a homemade transfer case. When I could not afford to buy some parts he would make them. His famous quote is somebody made that part, so can I? Thanks to Mike Todd for all his help and support from his excellent sheet metal work to fabricating brackets. Thanks to Jeff and Chris Schmitt for helping out at local and Pro Races. Thanks to Don Pate, owner of Pates Construction. Don has always been the best of friends in the early years and allowing me to use his dads shop. If I need anything Don is always there to help and he’s been a great sponsor for Wild Cherry Racing. Thanks to Byron Tinkey. 30 years ago I met Byron at a local event and we did not even like each other but over the years racing against each other we have become the best of friends. Byron played a big role in building Wild Cherry VI. He also allows me to use his shop to store trailer and race car. Byron and his girlfriend Jodi are good people and great friends that would give you the shirt off there back. They have always been there to help me, thanks Byron and Jodi. Thanks to; Hollywood Graphics, if you want some “kick ass” shirts call Mark Vernon-319-351-4175. Tell him Wild Cherry sent you! Scooters Bar & Grill, Anamosa Iowa, Van Meter Industrial Inc, Hawkeye Alternative Heating, Albert Auto, Storm Steel, Kwapel Farms, Wilson Ranch, Kronos Products, Cooks custom concrete, Cool Concepts (if you need any parts powder coated of headers ceramic coated call Rick at 319-540-1571 tell him Wild Cherry sent you), Fast Lane Racing Chassis and Engines. Finally, I would like to thank Mike, Gary, Mark, Shawn & Eric for the efforts they have made with Pro-Badd.This is what the serious Mud Racers have been waiting for. With everyones’ help this could be really big for Mud Racing. Thanks again and let’s take this to the next level and let everyone see the Pros that we are…Pro-Badd that is….
Sponsors, Sponsors, Sponsors……without these special groups of people I would not even be racing. Sponsors are so important to racing and I work extra hard to do the best job I can to advertise the products my sponsors have to offer. I appreciate my sponsors and always go the extra mile to ensure I get them as much exposure as possible!
Wild Cherry VI is the most sponsored Mud Racer on the Pro-circuit and I’m very proud of that. I utilize my race car for Grand Openings in my hometown of Cedar Rapids, IA. I put my race car on display inside grocery stores with beer and pop displays built around the race car. I really enjoy taking my racecar to my sponsors’ place of business so the employees and owners can see just what a Pro Badd Mud Dragster is all about. I take food, beverages, let people look at my race car 1st hand, give away some t-shirts and then fire the Big Hemi and let them all hear the Pro Badd horse power first hand. The owners and employees really appreciate the efforts and love to here that Hemi! See you in the Mud…. Rick Holmes
