Ralph Kirk Monhay

Ralph Kirk Monhay was born Harry Ralph on March 23, 1935, in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Ruth Ralph, his unwed mother gave up her parental rights, allowing for him to be adopted by Ephraim and Harriett Monge when nine months of age. The family's last name was later changed to its current spelling, Monhay.

Harriett was a missionary associated with the Prairie Bible Institute and the family lived in several places in Alberta, British Columbia and Australia.

In1955 he was living in Vancouver working for an appliance store. His neighbor, Dick Brooks was the announcer for nearby Digney Speedway. Dick took Ralph to his first automobile race after which Ralph bought a 1934 Ford stockcar. As fate would have it, the legend was born.

Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s he partnered with Jim Marchant and raced locally at Digney, Langley, False Creek and Western Speedways.

In 1963 the new series CAMRA (Canadian American Modified Racing Association) began, Ralph raced the first CAMRA race, ran a limited schedule and finished tenth in points.

Ralph went on to race with CAMRA and in 1967 through 1969 he partnered with Bob Morgan. In 1972 he crewed with Don "Rebel" Selley, whose team won the CAMRA Championship.

In 1974 Ralph was back driving the #12 RAM Sprint Car, Rodney Rat aka The Advertiser. During his racing career Ralph set many track records. He was a crowd favorite; served on the CAMRA Board for several years and finished in the CAMRA top 10 points, a total of 11 times.

In 1977 Ralph hung up his driving suit and went on to other pursuits. This included ownership of the Arlington Hotel (Trail BC) and Factory Direct Sales.

In 2003 the coupe he and Jim built in 1963 came up for sale on Ebay and Dave Dowler bought the car of his childhood hero, Ralph. Dave and Ralph met in 2004, and it was the beginning of a treasured friendship. Dave and another long-time close friend Ron Michaux completed the restoration in 2008 on the coupe just as she raced in 1964.

From 2010 to 2015 Ralph and his pretty red coupe raced with West Coast Vintage Racers before retiring the coupe to a place of honor in his shop. Ralph continued to race WCVR with another restored vintage sprint until 2021, when he hung up his driving suit for the last time.

Ralph was inducted into the Greater Vancouver Motorsports Society and the Idaho Historical Racing Society for his contributions to open wheel racing. Real race cars don't have fenders. He has been featured in several newspaper and magazine articles. Some of these articles and many trophies are on display in his beloved Yuma shop.

Ralph is survived by his wife Maureen; his son Ralph; his daughter Melanie (Tim) and son Kirk (Francesca); grandchildren Jake, Jade, Julia, Kobe, Oskar, Felix and Eliza as well as his brothers from another mother, Dave Dowler, Ron Michaux, Kent Daly, Jeff Cook, Jeff Kennedy, Al Belanger and a whole army of friends. Ralph never met a stranger.

At his request there will be no services. A celebration of life at a future date.

Celebrate a life well lived, his way.