Biography
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An avid midget racing enthusiast from the very beginning, Marvin’s connection with midgets blossomed soon after the end of WW II. During the War, he was an Army Intelligence Officer who deciphered enemy transcripts and codes. Upon his return home, he went to work with his father, Harry, who was involved in a tire sales and retreading business in Watertown, Mass. His Dad had started the business during the 1930’s in the back of a Jenny Gas station on Main Street, but it was Marvin who became interested in making better recaps for race cars, specifically midgets and stock cars. Together they formed the M&H Tire Company (named for Marvin & Harry) and bought their tread stocks from Denhan Rubber in Warren, Ohio.
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Harry Rifchin proudly stands in front of their business on Main Street in Watertown, MA.
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Marvin realized he needed a tire that can control the heat, so he convinced Harry Webster, who was the president of Denhan Rubber, to manufacture a new tire tread and compound that was more suited for racing. This time after the War, rubber products were in short supply and tubes for 12" midget tires were impossible to find, and considered gold. Marvin was working at retreading tires for the popular racers, but the lack of tubes made for a hard sell. He devised a way to cut down 16" passenger tubes to make 12 inch tubes. That made it possible to sell more midget tire recaps and helped the business flourish. That is the time when he met the racers of the day, supplying tires to racers and services garages all across the Bay State, including Simmonetti's garage, which was a short distance away, and of course the famous Kelley Brother’s garage, which was the social hub for many local midget racers. Many of those guys became dear friends in addition to business associates. Marvin’s reputation and success expanded out across New England and the East Coast, supplying tires to popular racers at the time, including Joe Barzda and his “California Speed Shop” located in New Jersey. M&H became thee tire to have on your circle track race car in the 1950’s.
By the mid to late 1950’s, Marvin had made a name for himself in the midget and stock car industry, but the need for a better tire in drag racing sparked Marvin’s attention. Up until that time, drag racers were using smooth-tread recapped passenger tires, which did not offer much traction. His new goal was to develop a new purpose-built rear tire that could endure the incredible forces of acceleration. In 1958, he convinced a well-known drag racer named “Big Daddy” Don Garlits to try a set of his “drag slicks” for the next race in South Carolina. Garlits blistered the competition and won Top Eliminator that day. As they say…the rest is history.
"I knew about this man who was into stock car races," said Garlits in a 2003 interview. "He said that I needed a tire that’s not recapped. Marv had these tires that had the same mold but softer rubber. They were narrow, about 6 1/2 inches wide, but he said that wouldn’t matter. I didn’t know that much about tires back then and listened to what he had to say."
By the mid to late 1950’s, Marvin had made a name for himself in the midget and stock car industry, but the need for a better tire in drag racing sparked Marvin’s attention. Up until that time, drag racers were using smooth-tread recapped passenger tires, which did not offer much traction. His new goal was to develop a new purpose-built rear tire that could endure the incredible forces of acceleration. In 1958, he convinced a well-known drag racer named “Big Daddy” Don Garlits to try a set of his “drag slicks” for the next race in South Carolina. Garlits blistered the competition and won Top Eliminator that day. As they say…the rest is history.
"I knew about this man who was into stock car races," said Garlits in a 2003 interview. "He said that I needed a tire that’s not recapped. Marv had these tires that had the same mold but softer rubber. They were narrow, about 6 1/2 inches wide, but he said that wouldn’t matter. I didn’t know that much about tires back then and listened to what he had to say."
Marvin sits with Don "The Snake Prudhomme"
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That victory meant a lot to the company, as it sparked a tidal wave of business and continually increased as the years rolled on. Garlits was also the first to break the 8-second barrier on this innovative new tire, and later on, he recorded the first officially recognized 200-mph run in Great Meadows using M&H tires. Legendary racer, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme described Marvin as the “Godfather of drag racing slicks.
Tires were a mystery to most racers in both circle track and drag racing, so they ran recaps until the undeniable performance of Marvin’s tires made them a believer. But of course all this success with both his new drag racing slick and his improved oval track tires encouraged other tire manufacturers to enter the drag and circle track racing market. |
By the mid-60s, M&H went head-to-head with giant companies like Firestone and Goodyear. In the 1970’s, M&H faced more competition with a younger grass-roots tire company, named “Hoosier”, that was quickly finding success on the racing circuit. But like the others, Marvin found all this competition stimulating and a lot of fun, and the M&H continued to thrive. It was this brand wars of the 1960’s and 70’s that led to some of the greatest advancements in tire technology.
“I think the greatest accomplishment that any of us could have were the tire wars that we went through with Goodyear,” recalled Marvin years later. “The competition lead to us being instrumental in securing some of the most fantastic advances that have taken place in mechanical and scientific business.”
“I think the greatest accomplishment that any of us could have were the tire wars that we went through with Goodyear,” recalled Marvin years later. “The competition lead to us being instrumental in securing some of the most fantastic advances that have taken place in mechanical and scientific business.”
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In addition to making tires for racers all over the country, Marvin tried his hand at car ownership. In the 1970's, he successfully raced modifieds at the Thompson International Speedway and the Waterford Speedbowl. At the tail end of the ownership stint, he purchased the Bill Hood #7 modified and found even more success. The most notable driver for Marvin was an up and coming young man named Ronnie Bouchard, who of course later left to pursue his professional stock car racing career as a then Winston Cup driver. Marvin assembled a team that included Bob Judkins who spun the wrenches, Steve Kalkowski who handled tires, and Chuck Grime who made sure the whole operation ran smoothly. In typical Marvin fashion, he tried to stay behind the scenes. Together, they went on to win championships at Seekonk and Stafford Motor Speedways.
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Marvin talking strategy with Ron Bouchard and Vic Kangas at Stafford in 1980
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It was the midgets and people of NEMA however that Marvin always truly adored. He was around when NEMA took its first green flag in 1953, though in his usual fashion working through others who provided track service. Undoubtedly, most of the midgets that day were on M&H rubber. Marvin's partnership with Kelley Brothers garage was key to M&H's success and growth in the world of Northeast midget racing. Ray and Wen Kelley sold Marvin’s tires for more than the first four decades of the club’s history. You could always count on Ray, his M&H tire truck, and his personalized - and colorful, service to be at each and every race. Through these years, even when business demands pulled Marvin away from NEMA, he always worked to insure there were tires available for those little cars he liked so much. It was this great service and quality that made it easy for many racers to select M&H for their NEMA midget over the many years.
Drew Fornoro stands in victory lane with Wen Kelley's son, Sam (left), Ray Kelley (far right), and Marvin Rifchin in 2003.
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Throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's, and into the 90's, Marvin's tires helped deliver countless NEMA victories and championships with guys like Bill Eldridge, Al Pillion, Dave Humphrey, Lee Smith, Joey Coy, and Drew Fornoro just to name a few. M&H sponsored all of Bobby White's midget efforts that helped earn him championships in 1975 and 1979. Marvin also developed a close friendship over many years with NEMA Legends, Bruce Bean and Russ Stoehr, who together earned two driving championships and an owner's championship in the 90's. However, it might have been Marvin's reverence to the low-buck racer that some consider most noble. In his typical quite fashion, Marvin often did whatever he could to help the "little guys", even if it meant giving them a free tire or two to try out for the night. Dedicated races like Jim O'Brien, Mike Luggelle, Pete Pernisiglio, Glen Cabral and many others all benefited from his kindness. For years, especially late in his life when his schedule allowed, he was a fixture at the NEMA races and often helped support the club with sponsorship and his invaluable wisdom behind the scenes.
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By the late 1970’s, Marvin had developed tires for almost every form of racing over the years, which were produced exclusively for M&H at the Denhan tire factory in Warren, OH. However, his insatiable desire to make all M&H tires better and faster than the competition lead him to establish and operate his own tire factory in the early 1980’s. So at the ripe young age of 65, he moved his business from Watertown to Gardner, just of Route 2, where he continued to grow his business and make his own tires until his retirement almost twenty years later. When he retired, he was well into his eighties and doing the mental and physical work most 20 year olds could not and would not do today. He was also tired with the inability to attract employees who shared his passion, which was not so much the tires, but his relentless pursuit of a better recipe and the results. This was the same passion he had inherited from his Dad, Harry. Therefore in 1996, he made the difficult decision to sell M&H to the Interco Tire Company but remained involved with the company as a consultant until his final days.
Marvin himself once told the story "I was working with my Dad for years, as I watched him slow down to the point I said to him one day - Dad it's time." His dad retired immediately. Marvin never slowed down himself, but knew it was time.
Marvin's contributions to the industry has been nationally recognized. In 1999, he was inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame. In 2006, NEMA ran a special race at Thompson to Honor Marvin (see below) and to this day, they annually hold an annual memorial race in his name.
Even after the tire plant moved to the midwest, he stayed loyal to friends in both the world of drag racing and circle track, offering his advice and mentor-ship on or off the track. Everywhere Marvin went, no matter what type of racing it was - whether it was NEMA, NASCAR, IHRA, NHRA, CART, USAC, WOO....and the list goes on - Marvin was an ambassador to motorsports. The long corridor inside his Gardner, MA factory, which connected his front door to his office, was wall papered with photos of well-known racers from all over the world thanking him for his tires and advice. That's just the kind of guy he was...a great family man, an amazing chemist, and a wonderful friend...the world of motorsports, and NEMA especially, is lucky to have known him.
Marvin himself once told the story "I was working with my Dad for years, as I watched him slow down to the point I said to him one day - Dad it's time." His dad retired immediately. Marvin never slowed down himself, but knew it was time.
Marvin's contributions to the industry has been nationally recognized. In 1999, he was inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame. In 2006, NEMA ran a special race at Thompson to Honor Marvin (see below) and to this day, they annually hold an annual memorial race in his name.
Even after the tire plant moved to the midwest, he stayed loyal to friends in both the world of drag racing and circle track, offering his advice and mentor-ship on or off the track. Everywhere Marvin went, no matter what type of racing it was - whether it was NEMA, NASCAR, IHRA, NHRA, CART, USAC, WOO....and the list goes on - Marvin was an ambassador to motorsports. The long corridor inside his Gardner, MA factory, which connected his front door to his office, was wall papered with photos of well-known racers from all over the world thanking him for his tires and advice. That's just the kind of guy he was...a great family man, an amazing chemist, and a wonderful friend...the world of motorsports, and NEMA especially, is lucky to have known him.
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"Marvin was a very special man... a sportsman, engineer, chemist, Racer, and a self-made man"... recalls fellow Hall of Famer and dear friend Bruce Beane..."The week before he passed, He received word in the nursing home, from the company that he sold his business to, that his latest compound cured a problem they had been fighting in a front wheel drive drag car application. He was really pleased that he had once more solved a tire problem for the company... Marvin's most valued things, next to his family and many friends, were his books of tire compound formulas that he had developed over the many years that he built racing tires. Hopefully these books are tucked away safe somewhere... Marvin's generosity to many will never be fully understood ... he was truly special." |
Marvin stands with close friends, Bruce Beane and Russ Stoehr, at Thompson.
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(Special thanks to Marvin's son and daughter, Robert Rifchin and Deb McDowell, and also Paul Stoehr, Russ Stoehr, Bruce Beane, and WeDidItForLove.com for providing much of the invaluable information and stories herein)
NEAR Hall of Fame
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In 1999, Marvin was inducted in the New England Antique Racers Hall of Fame. Upon receipt of the gracious award, he was quoted as saying "You know, I worked with a lot of fellows in racing, and I never found a bad one.". Click below to read more about this honor...
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SEMA Hall of Fame
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In 2003, Marvin was inducted into the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Hall of Fame, which is their most prestigious award. Other notable recipients of this nationally recognized award includes Bill France Sr., Chris Economaki, Smokey Yunick, Caroll Shelby, and Don Garlits just to name a few.
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Hot Rod Magazine
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A Tribute to a Legend
Photo Gallery
A Tribute to Marvin Rifchin
Thompson Speedway, July 6th, 2006
Thompson Speedway, July 6th, 2006
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The Northeastern Midget Association honored the legendary Marvin Rifchin with a one of the most memorable tribute races in this club’s rich history. Marvin was on hand to celebrate the night’s event and to congratulate the winner, a young Randy Cabral, in victory lane. A number of great retired drivers like Ron Bouchard, Dave Humphrey, Leo Cleary, George Summers, and Billy Harmon joined the celebration and watched Cabral charge to victory lane in the Bertrand Motorsports machine (see below).
“No race means more to me than winning this race for Marvin,” said Cabral. “He helped me out so much. Marvin got me started in Midget Racing.” |
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“I want to say thank you to all the people who helped me look so good over all these years,” said Rifchin from the front stretch at Thompson, where as a car owner he too had celebrated victories.
NEMA Announcer Pete Falconi fittingly called Marvin “a United States racing legend.”
NEMA Announcer Pete Falconi fittingly called Marvin “a United States racing legend.”
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Race Results...
Car No. Driver Car Owner
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Race Day Action...
R. Cabral leads B. Kittredge, Jeff Horn, and Joey Payne.
N. Fornoro and G. Stoehr battle for position
J. Horn loses an axle down the backstretch
M. Lugelle earns a career best for his dear friend
S. Hammond, J. Horn, L. Bundy, J. Payne, N. Fornoro and B. Seitz in the heat
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Victory Lane Celebration
For more news and photos of this wonderful evening, go to the race results page on Nemaracing.com…
(courtesy of Pete Zanardi and Norm Marx)
(courtesy of Pete Zanardi and Norm Marx)
Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race Recap
2009 October 25th
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Taking control on a lap 16 restart, Nokie Fornoro captured the 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature at Thompson Speedway’s World Series. This race was the final outing for car owner Mike Jarret and was the 110th career Midget victory for Fornoro, 45 of them in NEMA including three that year. Read More...
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2010 July 1st
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Randy Cabral withstood a late challenge from Russ Stoehr and won the 25-lap Marvin Rifchin Trophy race by a foot at Thompson Speedway. The leader since lap 15, Cabral survived a last-lap counterattack that began in turn three and fell inches short at the line. It was the second win of the season for Cabral and a big night for Bertrand Motorsports, visiting Cole Carter claiming third. Read More...
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2011 July 7th
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“It’s like a dream", Mike Horn said after winning the Northeastern Midget Association Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race at Thompson Speedway. It was his first-ever NEMA checkered. After an aborted initial start when the yellow caution lights remained on too long, the race went green for all 25 laps. Horn, a NEMA competitor since 1993, led all of them in his own machine. Read More...
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2012 May 12th
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Absolutely dominating the second half of the race, Greg Stoehr captured the 30-lap Marvin Rifchin Trophy race at the Northeastern Midget Association’s Diamond Anniversary Race at Waterford Speedbowl. Grabbing the lead on a lap 13 restart, Stoehr, in the family 26b, went on to a 1.450 seconds win over Randy Cabral. Read More...
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2013 June 8th
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John Zych Jr. went from third to first in one move en route to a convincing victory in the Northeastern Midget Association’s Marvin Rifchin Trophy Race at Star Speedway. Coming from the ninth starting spot, Zych took command moving past both Joey Payne Jr. and Greg Stoehr on the back stretch on lap 10. This was the first victory for John and his car owner, John Zych Sr., in their 2013 championship campaign. Read More...
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2014 July 19th
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The young talent of the NEMA were fast and in charge at Oxford Plains Speedway. Eighteen year old Avery Stoehr won the NEMA main and 22 year old Jake Smith took the checkers in the Lites feature. Both drivers had a straightaway lead at one point during their romp to victory. Both received the Marvin Rifkin Trophy for winning the race named for the late owner and operator of M&H Tire, honored for his endless support of NEMA. Read More...
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2015 July 17th
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Avery Stoehr became the first repeat winner in this prestigious race. A storybook ending topped the evening for the young, hard charger whose family including car owner, Russ Stoehr, has had a long affiliation with the late Marvin Rifchin. Doug Cleveland and Paul Scally led the field to the green. Stoehr, who started third, quickly blasted into the lead and never looked back. Read More...
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2001 NEMA Yearbook
