By Jerry Sauls
Raymond Lee grew up in the small town of Hughson, CA, where his parents ran a grocery store. They resided on a ranch in Ceres, and he would commute to Hughson every morning for grammar school through eighth grade. The boundary line for high school was divided down the middle. Those living on Ray’s side of the road attended Turlock High, while those on the other side went to Ceres High. Lee considers himself lucky to have friends from both Hughson and Turlock. He met his wife, Marsha, in grammar school, and they began dating at the age of 16. They had a street rod wedding in 1978.
Ray’s dad was the one who got him interested in hot rods. While Ray’s dad was mostly a Porsche and Mercedes enthusiast, the two of them shared a passion for fixing old cars. A significant turning point came when they had a 1959 Datsun shop truck that desperately needed a new motor. They bought a totaled 57 Chevy and replaced the old four-cylinder with a 283 V-8, an automatic transmission, and a narrowed 57 rear end. This customized creation was Ray’s first vehicle. When he drove this unique truck to high school and parked it by the shop, he always left the hood up. The distinctive sound drew attention, with guys wanting to see where all the noise was coming from.
During the weekends, Ray enjoyed cruising McHenry, meeting new people, and seeing old friends.
Cars have always played a significant role in Ray’s life. He credits his wife Marsha for their collaborative efforts in building many cars over the years and for her support in acquiring that “one last car”. A notable memory is when Ray purchased his 1965 Corvette, knowing his father’s disapproval, he hid the car at Marsha’s mother’s house. Over time, they’ve owned numerous remarkable cars, including ’68 and ’69 Camaros, ’65 and ’66 Corvettes, and ’29, ’40s, and ’56 Fords. Their daughter Megan even got her first car, a ’68 Nova, restored when she was 16. Currently, Ray is restoring a ’66 C10 Truck for Marsha.
Marsha and Ray, residents of Modesto, have been charter members of the Modesto Area Street Rod Association (MASRA) since 1975. The MASRA car club organizes the notable Graffiti Classic car show, which is held on the first Sunday of June each year at McHenry Village. This event draws over 500 classic car enthusiasts annually. Ray, his wife Marsha, and daughter Megan are an integral part of this car show’s longevity and success.
