64 replies to this topic

[Mbloes]

Last year I sold one of those Team Nutley drop arms pictured above through the Blog to Philippe. I think it was listed for all of about five minutes before he snapped it up.
 
Moments later, a visibly (through the internet) distraught Bob wrote me to see if I had any more as he wanted to re-create one of his previous chassis - his Tottenham chassis, to be exact.
 
I had a used one and I felt so bad that I cleaned it up and sold it to him. He sent me a hand-addressed envelope with cash in it - very quaint.
 
Later, I saw some recent photos of him and I thought (this is terrible, I know), "He's not going to make it to make that chassis".
 
RIP, Bob.

[JimF]

Bob also ran this race series and manufactured tires as well.

 

I think this race was the first time I met him. I traveled from N. Vermont to race in his series a few times just to race with with a different crowd that I normally ran with in the NECC at the time. He was always very nice to a visiting racer and helped me a lot with the various tracks.

 

At the time, I didn't know about his legendary past... I wish I had.

 

[Tex]

RIP, Bob; save us a spot at the driver's panel.

[Keith Tanaka]

I never met Bob Emott, but I always admired his chassis design/building and his racing skills. He's a true icon in the world of slot car racing and will be greatly missed.

 

RIP, Bob.

 

Keith

[redbackspyder]

Rest well, Bob, and please say hello to Pete Zimmerman and Oscar Morales for us...

[Matt Bruce]

When you have the rare opportunity to meet and talk to the greats of slot racing, you begin to realize how much racers today owe everything that is slot racing to these men. Tony, Howie, Sandy, Roger, Katz, Gorski, Phillipe, Warmack, Cukras, Noose, Edsel, all these men I have had the pleasure to race with and call my friends. The Gods, who all have bowed to one man alone, Bob Emott.

 

I am thankful for have knowing Bob and getting to shake his hand whenever he came to the track. He was always full of questions, mind forever spinning with invention. He is and always will be the Greatest of The Greats.

 

I do believe Bob's legacy of not only what he meant to slot racing but also what he meant to those he taught to become slot greats will never die. What a absolute wonderful man, Hall of Fame inductee #1, hands down, the line starts with him.

Godspeed to the Best Ever.

[TSR]

Two old warriors, Tony P and Robert, during a visit in New Jersey in 2008:

 

 

During this meeting and with Tony's help. the LASCM acquired Robert's collection of 1960s cars, that have since been restored and prized as what they are, a physical testimony of greatness.

Many years earlier, Robert gave me this example, the "backup" car at the Tottenham race where he handily defeated the best England could throw at him, then kindly showed them how to do it in a thorough article in Model Cars (UK).

 

 

Bob, Godspeed, and true enthusiasts will never forget your contribution to our lifetime little passion...
 

[Half Fast]

As a fellow alumnus of Polk's Hobbies in Manhattan, I join in mourning his passing.

 

RIP, Bob E.

[Flash24]

Bob race directing at "Nutley" (the Belleville location) A friend to all now lost to all, RIP.

 

Keep the great memories everyone!

 

[Larry Labounty]

Will always look back to the trips from CT to NJ to race at BIR even for a Saturday night Group 27 race. Then later on for 1/12 R/C racing . Always a great time racing with old friends.

 

Thank you for being there! Godspeed!

 

Larry

[Noose]

I just heard from Bob's niece Molly (his brother Dave's daughter) and I did ask her to let me know what arrangements are being made. I'll post them as soon as I hear or see them in the paper here.

[Bryan Warmack]

I had the pleasure and honor of being at several events that Bob was at in the late '60s. I don't really remember too much about the races but I do remember the first time I saw one of Bob's cars. I thought my stuff and the West Coast stuff was pretty good but the minute I looked at one of Bob's chassis's I just thought... Oh my god!!... This guy is in another league altogether! I was just in awe and tried to equal Bob's unbelievable craftsmanship but never came close. I feel blessed to have a couple of old Emott chassis. 

 

A true gentleman. RIP, Bob.

[Gary Mayeda]

Bob Emott is a true legend in the slot car world. I never met him too but talked to him at one time. He may be gone but never forgotten! 

 

RIP, Bob.

[Horsepower]

RIP, Mr. Emott. He was not very old by today's standards.

[alainprost22]

We have lost a truly wonderful person, who just happened to be a master craftsman. 

 

I feel honored to have known Bob through many, many years of slot racing. From a first time meeting at Polk's, to a Team Russkit/Team Comet race, to a memorable roadtrip to Bob Kean's home, to attending many pro races, to "surprise" meeting him, at Newark Airport, to a last conversation at SpeedZone.

 

Life has come full circle.

[Mike Jr]

Back in the '90s I remember Bob bringing a bag of tires to the old Speedzone that was located on Rt 130 in Hightstown, NJ. Owner Frank Graziano used to buy tires from Bob.      

Bob actually would race with us on occasion, too. But it wasn`t scratchbuilt stuff; was flexi chassis with NASCAR bodies on the oval.  

He was such a nice easy-going guy. Glad I did actually get to talk with him a bit back then about the chassis building, etc. We both wanted to build again but that was before Retro got started.  

Back then I never realized what an amazing craftsman he was. All I really did know is that he made really great tires.

Rest in Peace, Bob.

[Gil Aubin]

RIP, my friend. 

I have told the story before, but my most fond memory of Bob was talking to him on the phone on Christmas Eve, 1968. We both had our respective TV sets tuned to the live, grainy broadcast as Apollo 8 circled the moon. Despite what was then an expensive long distance call, we were both so transfixed by what we were watching that we were both silent. He still remembered the call the last time I saw him, back in the BIR tire days.
 
You will be missed but never forgotten.

[Dave Emott]

I have just read the warm sentiments expressed by all of you, Bob's wonderful friends in the slot car world, and thank you all. It was a Christmas in the late '50s when Bob brought our first slot car set, a Scalextric with two open-wheeled Grand Prix racers. We raced and raced, flipped them off and started again. Bob was hooked. The rest is history.

How Mother and Dad would have loved to see your comments. I am thrilled Bob created many memories with you and so thankful you expressed your recollections so freely. Know that you have lifted his family and dampened our sadness with your heartfelt expressions.

Thank you, thank you,

Dave Emott

[George Kimber]

From the other side of the pond, here in the UK we were very surprised to hear of the passing of Bob. He was a true legend not only in the US but also in the UK and Germany, after visiting these shores and showing the Europeans at the Tottenham Raceway a very clean pair of heels.

So many people have praised this man, not only for ability to build and race slot cars, but also for his willingness to pass on his knowledge.

I have had the privilege to meet Howie and Tony over recent years. Sadly I did not get the chance to meet Bob.

On behalf of all the UK Slotracers I would like to pass on our condolences to Bob's family and friends.

May he Rest in Peace.

A true legend.

[Cheater]

Well-known German 1/24 racer Dieter Jens said this about Bob Emott at his website Jens Scale Racing:
 

Bob Emott - Mr. Nice Guy
 
A quick and popular slot racer
 
Bob Emott is my favorite driver of all American professionals. I've never met him but the stories about him speak for themselves. Kind, helpful, and always friendly. Moreover, very fast and in his time one of the best chassis engineers of all. He drove for several large slot racing companies, but later he was considered one of the most important "Independents", which means he worked for himself and used the materials which seemed to him to be best. He had not, as a former works driver, any specific parts he had to use. He used all of the best parts. Bob Emott visited the former editors of "Model Car" and gave an interesting interview.

Very nice comments, and written before Bob's passing. Hope someone pointed them out to Bob...

[Cheater]

Thanks to the kindness of Slotblog member Don Siegel, I have posted scans of the Model Cars (UK) magazine race report detailing the story of Bob's dominating success at the Tottenham Open race meeting in September 1969.

 

Click HERE to go to the thread.

[Cheater]

Bob's obituary, which appeared in the Daily Record on April 27, 2014.

 

 

Robert Walsh Emott, Jr. of Florham Park, New Jersey, died on April 21, 2014. He was 73.

 

Born on December 15, 1940, in Morristown, New Jersey, he served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, and thereafter served in Antarctica. He received Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals, Navy Unit Commendation, Antarctica Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

 

Retired from his slot car business activities, he was an avid custom slot car designer, builder, and racer and was well-recognized and highly admired as an innovative pioneer in the slot car racing world and for his quiet, kind, always helpful demeanor.

 

Robert is survived by his two brothers, David and his wife Karen, of West Simsbury, Connecticut, and William, of Melbourne, Florida; as well as his nieces, nephews, and many cousins. He is also survived by his dear and long-time friend, Carole Francis, and her daughter Devon. He was predeceased by his parents Robert and Margaret (“Patty”) Emott, long time residents of Florham Park.

 

Arrangements were under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison, NJ. 

[Cheater]

I think it worth mentioning that Bob's obituary appeared in the April 27, 2014, Daily Record under the wrong name, Robert Walsh, with his last name being omitted.

 

Daily Record obituary

 

I've alerted the family to this error and mention this here for those of Bob's friends who wished to leave messages of condolences.

[brucefl]

Rest in peace, Bob.

 

I especially will miss you you became a big brother to me when you came to Glen Oaks Raceway in Queens, New York, and along with the other pros at the raceway built me a chassis and built me my first competitive car, perhaps saved my life. My father had recently passed away and my family was falling apart, my brother was addicted to drugs, and I had to escape to the raceway to survive. All the love I felt being a fatherless eleven-year-old kept me on track. It was a special honor that you made feel worthy to receive your sought-after talents that were usually reserved for other pros.

 

Your gentlemanly way and kind words and encouragement were part of why I went on to a successful life. I was inspired from your immaculate chassis building and strived to emulate that in my life, from the chassis I built to the high school electronics labs where my immaculate wiring solder joints got me high grades, now to a dental career where I've strived to acquire a level of care that is considered top notch.

 

I hope as you're walking through the pearly gates the you receive the finally trophy that you so earned in inspiring me and so many others. God bless you, Bob Emott. Enjoy racing on that blue King in the sky.

[Uncle Fred]

Nicely said, Bruce...