Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sasquatch]
#2282668
04/05/17 07:57 AM
04/05/17 07:57 AM
|
crabman173
Unregistered
|
crabman173
Unregistered
|
Wow! So many Bob tales Once at Farmington--he got crazy side ways --you could read his name on both sides of the car from starting line--he got it straight ans STOMPED it again--when he came up the return road he stopped threw open passenger door to pick up his girl--he had a cig in his hand and another in his mouth--just a shaking--he hollered out--"that Richard Petty ain't got nothing on me!" I totally agree Once at Farmington--I was helping/watching him R&R a head on the Hemi--there was a steel shim head gasket in the grass--looked more used than the one on our honing station--he said hand me that gasket--he wiped the grass off and slapped it on--I asked you think that will work and not leak? He said all Hemis leak--big deal. I remember him running and breaking a record at Virginia Motorsports Park--it was a BIG deal--guy walked up to him and said I want to buy that Hemi--Bob gave him some crazy price--the guy said OK take it out--so the deal was made right then and there--I am sure the man thought he was getting a cutting edge unit--well...I had seen it go together that previous week at Bobs shop--it had THREE different brand pistons and was put together with parts from all over the shop and who knows what all--it was a Mutt but then it did run and set the record--It was truly a slap together out of leftover junk engine--Bob said it was the chassis and car ( and of course Driver LOL) while he counted that fat stack Saw him sell the Silver Bullet for Big $$$ a time or two after a hot run--only to go home and drag out the latest version that he had been crafting on--this was an all the time thing so when THE Silver Bullet Hemi car comes up for sale I will be laughing--he cranked them out.
The sad part is all of that knowledge--all of that experience is GONE now--makes me want to cry -- Bob was a one of a kind who did what he loved his entire life--did it with great passion and in the end--he Stomped most anyone that ever pulled in the lane beside him--He was one of the very few Heros I had--even with his flaws --he was REAL--I count myself lucky to have known him.
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sasquatch]
#2282674
04/05/17 08:47 AM
04/05/17 08:47 AM
|
crabman173
Unregistered
|
crabman173
Unregistered
|
Gosh the tales just keep popping into my mind about ole Bob--I have stood in his front yard after watching him thrash to get a new Hemi in the car--and after a "few" cold Coors lights--and then see him break in the rings out in front of the house--8 second car ripping up the neighborhood--now THAT is fun to watch!!!! Moma's get your kids out of the road
He took his front wheel bearings with no grease--dipped them in STP and hung them to drip off --then installed--no grease ever
One of the most amazing things I ever saw was the car was sitting outside the shop on the concrete--in neutral--wind came up and car moved a long way I asked --he says--rolling resistance on a race car should be like that--wasn't mine?? Duh--no!!! If you sit down and think about that a while you will understand just how he did so many record breaking things with a drag car--I SWEAR that happened exactly as I described!
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sasquatch]
#2282690
04/05/17 09:28 AM
04/05/17 09:28 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,022 MN
JERICOGTX
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,022
MN
|
What a bummer. Always wanted to meet Bob Reed. A 4 speed hero.
69 GTX
68 Road Runner
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sasquatch]
#2282707
04/05/17 10:18 AM
04/05/17 10:18 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,544 Syracuse,NY
CompWedgeEngines
master
|
master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,544
Syracuse,NY
|
Wow Todd, how weird based on our conversation Monday. Bob was certainly a character, and one cool dude. Fortunate to have seen him last year at our track.As I mentioned, one of our local guys made his first pass in Bobs car this past weekend. He was like Bobs son....going to be hard. RIP Bob, gonna miss you for sure.
RIP Monte Smith
Your work is a reflection of yourself, autograph it with quality.
WD for Diamond Pistons,Sidewinder cylinder heads, Wiseco, K1 rods and cranks,BAM lifters, Morel lifters, Molnar Technologies, Harland Sharp, Pro Gear, Cometic, King Engine Bearings and many others.
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sasquatch]
#2282709
04/05/17 10:19 AM
04/05/17 10:19 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,587 Great Neck,LI,new york
hemi-itis
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,587
Great Neck,LI,new york
|
My favorite memory was Bob walking over to my car at Englishtown and he just stood over the radiator staring,then he smiled looked up at me and gave the "nod"
Race in piece Bob!
HEMI-ITIS has no cure. My condition is fully BLOWN!!
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: BradH]
#2282724
04/05/17 10:59 AM
04/05/17 10:59 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,060 Western New York
sixpackbee
master
|
master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,060
Western New York
|
No doubt a fun guy to hang out with. RIP Bob.
1959 Bugeye Sprite 1967 Charger Black L code 1967 Coronet R/T Convert Green 440 auto bought from original owner 1968 Charger R/T Bronze 440 4 spd console AM/FM 1969 Super Bee WM21H B5 A40 D21 N96 1969 Barracuda Formula S 340 Convert pilot car 1969 Hemi Road Runner RM23J D32 Omaha orange 4.10 Dana N96 N85 1970 Super Bee WM23N FE5 V1X 3.91 axle package, N96 1970 Road Runner RM21N B3 V1X D13 1971 MG Midget 1971 Road Runner RM23H GW3, A57 1972 Road Runner RM23P FY1, D21
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sixpackbee]
#2282731
04/05/17 11:12 AM
04/05/17 11:12 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,174 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
|
"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,174
PA.
|
How can you not love guys like this. Down to Earth American legions that we all grew up admiring. RIP. You will be missed by many.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sixpackbee]
#2282734
04/05/17 11:16 AM
04/05/17 11:16 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,717 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,717
North Dakota
|
I saw him in a TV interview one time and (I hope I don't screw this up) went "There's only two kinds of people in this world, them that own a Hemi and them that want one."
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sasquatch]
#2282735
04/05/17 11:17 AM
04/05/17 11:17 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
|
Saw this on FB last night when Lenny posted it...I was shocked. I had no idea he was sick. He was definitely a character and a hell of a good guy. Was lucky enough to meet and talk w/ him a few times...and I agree, don't think he ever met a stranger.
A few years ago at Mopars at the Rock...he had just made an 8 sec pass and was coming up the return road back to his trailer which was just a few pit spots down from me. I walked up as he was getting out of his car w/ a Coors light in his hand. I laughed, he looked at me, looked at his beer and said...."this is the damndest place I ever seen, stopped to get my timeslip and some fella came runnin out the woods and handed me this beer!" He just laughed and smiled, lol.
He could definitely row a 4 speed all while wearing his cowboy boots!
I remember Lenny Melton telling me he borrowed one of Bob's hemis (they were real close). The thing ran 8s in Bob's car but would only run 9.9-10.0s in Lenny's Dart. He said that old guy def knows what he's doing, lol.
CHIP '70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60 '71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75 '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75 '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
|
|
|
Re: Another legend has left us
[Re: sixpackbee]
#2282751
04/05/17 11:41 AM
04/05/17 11:41 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,675 Akron, Ohio U.S.A.
roadhazard
master
|
master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,675
Akron, Ohio U.S.A.
|
Growing up and seeing all these icon's in magazines was a great place in time and "Bullet Bob" was certainly one of those icon's for me. I never had the pleasure of meeting Bob in person but did speak with him over the phone a few months back when he was looking for some gaskets for those Hemi's of his. Enjoyable conversation for sure! RIP Bullet Bob, your memory will live on
|
|
|
|
|