5 replies to this topic

[Steve Deiters]

Bob Collins a prominent racer in the original Tri-State Series covering Ohio and Indiana has passed away.  His races with Bob Kennedy of Team Champion in the same series were legendary. The series ran from the late '60s  to the early '70s. It would occasionally attract racers like John Cukrus and Pete Von Ahrens of Team Mura. It was the peak of the "Group 7" era of unlimited slot cars before the era of wing cars. The only rules with width of the car, the air dam had to clear the bridge, and you had to run a Can-Am body. Motor winds? Run it as hot as you wanted. That was it.
 
At that time Bob was a machinist for a shop in Cincinnati called Don's Crankshaft. They did a lot of engine machine work and sometimes strayed into the real racing world. Bob used to say there were eight machine tools in the shop and he could run six of them. He went on to have a successful career servicing fleet vehicles for the City of Cincinnati and he retired from there.
 
I traveled to a lot of races with Bob and his close friend the late Bill Davis. My time shared with has stayed with me all these years and I will and have missed them. Bob's family and those that knew him are in thoughts.

[airhead]

That racing can't be real, Every one is under 50.

[Pappy]

Bob was a fantastic guy and a true gentleman. A nicer guy you will never meet.

 

RIP, Bob, we'll miss you.

[Bob Kurkowski]

Bob Collins was one of the fast guys that us then 12 year old kids looked up to when the big races came to town.

 

The second photo of Bob qualifying at Parma Model Raceway sure brings back a lot of good memories.

 

Remember Bill Davis also. If Bill yelled out at a bad marshall the whole building shook.

 

Bob K.

[Pappy]

I don't remember Bill Davis but I do remember Bob racing in the mid 60's. We had a Tri State series here in the Cincinnati area and Bob raced for I think it was Don's Hobbies and Bike Shop in Oakley (Steve, correct me if I'm wrong). They had the team to beat back then in the Cincinnati area. I ran into Bob again in the late 80's when I got back into slot racing. We became friends and he came down to the cabin I had on a lake in Kentucky a few times. And as you all know how life is we drifted apart. The last time I saw Bob was when I had my raceway in McGonigle and he came to see me with his new wife.

[Gary Adams]

Bob was one of the truly nicest people you could hope to meet. I remember being 13 years old at Don's Hobby & Bike in Price Hill, and Bob being kind enough to help me out with issues with my race car in the midst of his own test and practice time.

He was a fierce competitor as Pappy mentioned above, never giving up no matter how bad things sometimes looked. Bob seemed to have another level he could go to when bitter rival Bob Kennedy was on the track. Some really classic races between those two.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children. Rest in peace Bob.