Another legend has left us

Just thought some of you would like to know. Super Stock legend Bob Reed passed away this evening.He found out just a few weeks ago that he had lung cancer and the doctors were very aggressive in the treatment but he lost his fight tonight. Bob was always quite the character and was a frequent guest at my shop. I really loved to here all of his old stories. To anyone who met him, I do not believe he ever met a stranger. I met Bob in 1992 at the Southern Nationals and I was just a snot nose kid but there I was under his car with him, and he was showing me his four link set up. I know that Ronnie was Mr 4 speed and Herb was often called that as well but ol Bob would give any of them a run for their money. So long old man, I guess heaven needed another old racer.
Todd

He was a class act. He was at Keystone raceway quite a few years ago with Ronnie. I asked him if he had any of those Smith Stokes plates for sale that he had in front of his cuda. He said that he was all out of them and handed me a screw driver and said "Go ahead and take the one off my car." I said I can't do that. Its fine, I just liked the looks of the plate. He walked to his car and took it off himself and gave it to me. I'm very sure a fella like that will be missed....

I agree I met him once. He answered any questions I had. Spent plenty of time with me, nice guy. Prayers for him.
Doug

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.

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!

^^^ great stories! He seemed and sounded like a fun person to have known!

What a bummer. Always wanted to meet Bob Reed. A 4 speed hero.

It was in the early 90's when I talked to him. I asked about acid porting the heads. He told me Hemi ports were plenty big. His power came from intake manifolds and oil pans.
Doug

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.

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!

Same here...

No doubt a fun guy to hang out with. RIP Bob.

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.

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."

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.

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

Rip Bullet Bob.

RIP Bob

RIP Bob...

RIP Bob
I think I may have spoke to him once, but it was too long ago to remember when & where. Always enjoyed watching him race.

It was many years after I named my car "LOCOMOTION" that I found out he ran a car by that name as well. His had to be in the early to mid '60's. Mine was '79-'80.

Godspeed Bullet Bob

Todd Thanks for posting ( RIP Bob Reed). Years ago when Bob lived up North in Ohio we would race on Saturday nights at Norwalk back in the 70 & 80's. He drove a 1965 Plymouth Hemi car. This is very sad news. Gary

RIP Bob.

Race in Peace Bullet Bob

Man I love those old stories.
RIP, Mike

I meet him at Va Motorsport for a divisional race I think in 01-02. We talked about his engine-car and he said then the intake was the biggest bottleneck to making power. Very down to earth person, acted like he knew you all his life, just someone you wanted to be associated with. I knew this in the 15-20 minutes we talked. One more book of knowledge lost to us. Life, is too short.

I`m proud to say that I could call bob a friend .like others on here I could tell a few stories.once you met him you had a friend for life. even if you wouldn`t cross paths but every once in a while,he remembered you like his closest friend.god speed my friend you will be greatly missed

This Picture I took of Bob from Lancaster Dragway in Buffalo NY.... I think around 2007 During the National Anthem. RIP Bullet.

I've always been a bullet Bob fan.... this is some sad news! RIP, Bob.

This is so sad. I met Bob once when he was running his Cuda at Englishtown and I enjoyed talking with him. I always liked how he helped Ronnie Sox and built the last 68 Hemi Cuda Ronnie drove. So sorry to hear of this. RIP Bob. Ron

Sad to hear this. I went on youtube to see a video and found one with him, Ronnie Sox and Dick Landy all in it. That was kind of sad to see all at once and think about.

Great racer, may he RIP

Another legend is so true w/him and Landy and several others...........RIP...........

Bob's "Locomotion"
RIP #2450
Yes, that's Bob, check out the boots!
https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...amp;oe=595265A7

Sad news......

I bought a 68' SS hood from him years ago and while I never met him in person, he was a good guy to deal with.

Bob was one of my stick racer heros. I was fortunate enough to talk with him a few times at the track and got an autographed T-shirt at the Nats about 10 years ago. So many of the old guys that carried the wisdom are leaving us lately. I hope we can remember what they told us and live long enough to hand it down to the next generation.

Gus

very sad

I met Bob in the early 1990s

A shop I was working at I was adjusting the carbs on a 413 long ram

( on his own) Bob came over and showed me a " trick" on adjusting the carbs

we all remember Bobs famous quote

" 4 speed, mans car"

Bob, you will be missed, thanks for the memories

I spoke with Bob at one of the first Chrysler Classics events at Norwalk ,he had the Silver Bullet ripping of 8.82s back to back like it was nothing with his cowboy boots on. I introduced myself and told him what car that I had there and bought a couple T- shirts off of him. Then I told him that I was told that he used to own my car at one time. He replied yes I know your car and yes I did own it. He said when I owned it was black and it was called Locomotion. My reply was I didn't believe all the stories then, but you just made me a believer. He said that cars got a kink in the RT. frame rail just in front of the K frame and little kink on the top of front Inner fender. I just grinned and yep it used to be yours! Sad to loose another legend and so much knowledge. Rest In Peace my friend and Gods speed!!