15 replies to this topic

[John Gorski]

Another legendary LA California west coast racer and close friend has left us yesterday morning. Robert Crane, known to his racing friends as Stork, passed away from a battle with Parkinson's disease and cancer. The 1976 International USA Slot Car Champion chassis builder and designer known for his RetroPro chassis building and racing in resent years. An awesome person and racer. We had the best of times teaming up in the early Checkpoint Cup years between 2009 and 2013.

 

Will miss you, bro. Godspeed, mighty Stork!!!

 

Any pictures or memories of Bob, please feel free to post here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John Gorski]

'Stork.'

 

[MG Brown]

Sending our sympathy to Bob's family and friends.

[slotcarone]

May Bob RIP. Condolences to his friends and family.

[Phil Hackett]

I first met Bob in 1972 at Thunder Thumb Raceway in Redondo Beach, CA. John Gorski sums it up well.

 

RIP, Bob 'Stork' Crane.

[Sloter]

RIP.

 

Bob

[John Gorski]

Fun times!! Dancin' with the racers!!

 

[John Gorski]

One of Bob's RetroPro steel center section chassis I ran at Checkpoint cup. Fast chassis!!

 

 

[Tom Eatherly]

Wow. Knew Bob for a long time. With his health and me being in and out of racing, didn't see him much. A great guy and racer to be sure.

 

RIP, Stork.

 

Damn.

[Roy Lievanos]

I raced with Stork during the USRA 80s in SoCal. 

When Alice and I got back into racing, he came up to me and said, “Do you remember me?” 
 
Great racer and person. RIP and condolences to family and friends.

[Keith Tanaka]

 
I didn't meet Bob "Stork" Crane until 2008 when he started racing D3 Retro racing at Buena Park Raceway.

 

Here's a background note from Bob which I added to a profile on D3 Retro racers at BPR (2008):

 

"Bob "Stork" Crane was living in Santa Monica in 2008. He started slot cars in 1966. Home track back then: Republic Raceway in Hermosa Beach. Brief history: Won Western States Amateur at Pop's (Rosecrans) in 1970; joined Team Checkpoint in 1971. 1976 USRA Series SoCal champ. 1976 Bi-Centennial USRA NATS G-7 winner; 1980s raced two years; 1990s raced four years. I was SoCal USRA, 5th Western States G-7 BPR "GTO"; June 1, 2008 D3. Old racing friends: Billy Steube, John Skeels, Big Jim."
 
RIP, Bob,
 
Keith

[eshorer]

I only met Bob after I got back into racing with the Retro SoCal guys in 2006. I was always impressed by how well he raced even with the health problems he was dealing with. Condolences to his friends and family.
 
Eddie

[Tim Neja]

Prayers for Bob and his family!

 

RIP, sir – it was a pleasure knowing and racing with you. You are missed!

[Slot Car Rod]

From the Ben Jones Collection

 

 

 

 

[Bryan Warmack]

    The Retro community out here hadn't seen or heard from Bob in a while but knew of his health issues. Sad news. RIP Bob and condolences to your family.

[John Gorski]

2 more Stork Retro Pro originals.

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