Touring with the Pro-4’S
Richardi Family Racing…Organized Chaos
Easton, MA: While the Pro-4 Division has a few weeks off, I went looking for some victims (I mean competitors) to get to know better. When the Richardi’s were called, they were very gracious and invited me for dinner so we could talk in a casual setting with the whole family present. With Roast Chicken, mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli set on the table, it was time to get to know the characters better. Rob Sr. has been into racing for a long time. Until seven years ago, most of his experience, however, was in Drag Racing. Barbara’s interest came from being the only female in a seemingly men’s world. Robby, now 23, captured the racing bug at the young age of seven when he was taken to see a race in New Hampshire. Instantly he was focused on the track and what was happening on the other side of the fence. Twenty-one year old David, followed in his brothers’ footsteps and wanted to show big brother that he was just as good if not better in competition.
Having very different styles on the track, both of the boys started in the SYRA (Seekonk Youth Racing Association) division about seven years ago at Seekonk Speedway and the Mini Cup Division on the New Hampshire and Maine tracks. Robby loves to run hard and believes that he can conquer whatever or whoever challenges him. David tends to be a little more cautious but won’t back down from the job at hand. When asked who was the better driver, they both hesitated, looked at each other and claimed that the other was better. While in SYRA, both of these young men brought home many awards, from Rookie of the Year, to Wins, and Points placement. Since joining the Pro-4 Club ( in 2003), the awards have kept coming. Some of them being very outstanding and prestigious.