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Stories By: RPW’S FACEBOOK MEMBERS – Upon learning of legendary Dirt Modified driver Bob McCreadie’s passing, we thought about putting together our own thoughts about Bob and his racing career.
However, we felt it was better to hear from racers & the fans.
So, we put a question to our Facebook followers to share their memories of the “Master Of Going Faster.”
Here’s what they said:
Gary Tomkins
In the early 90’s, Canandaigua usually had a good enough cushion where it was faster than running the bottom. Problem was when the cars would come onto the track from the pits in turn 4, it would get knocked down, so basically you just sort of glided through there until you picked up the cushion just before the exit of turn 4.
One night I’m leading, either in ‘93 or ‘94 and running the cushion, we were running really good that night. Anyway I could hear him before I saw him, but there he was driving by me in the bottom. Once he got by me he went to the cushion, but how he went through where the cushion was knocked down still has me amazed to this day.
He would straighten his car up, so basically it was pointing at the wall at a 45 degree angle, drive across the area where the cushion was knocked down, then turn his car right before he got to the wall, all this while standing on the gas, and drive off the corner. This all happened within a few seconds right in turn 4.
One little mistake and he would’ve wrecked, probably badly. He didn’t need to do it, because he was faster than everyone else anyway, but he was so locked in as a driver that he had the skill and confidence to pull off that move lap after lap. Amazing!
Junior Welling
Green and race cars are a no no. If he seen a black cat. He turned around and went a different way. This picture is on his shop wall. I still remember as a kid staring at it in amazement. Fly High #9
Charlie Groulx
Seeing Bob win the World Series Weekend 200 at Rolling Wheels Raceway as a kid. What a thrill that was for me. I still have my autographed t-shirt Bob signed for me at Can-Am Speedway in 1995.
Frank Banks
Every time I went to Syracuse, he amazed me. Being a Hearn fan and watching his prep and equipment but yet Barefoot would give them all a run for there money.
Jim Johnson
He was my hero. When I raced karts my number was 9 because of him. Some of my favorite memories wasn’t his wins but the crazy stuff he did. Putting his car in the Mohawk at Fonda during 200 weekend and one time at Middletown during eastern states was coming out of the pits right in front of the field was going back to green and then gapping the leaders to stay on the lead lap.
Larry Brown
Worked as a gas station attendant in Cicero off 81 John’s Shell gas station. He and his crew pulled in and got gas. It was 1978. RIP Barefoot Bob.
Matthew R. Keith
I remember Bob racing a special event at Canaan Fair Speedway in New Hampshire and winning the race hands down
Justin Foster
I’ll never forget the time Bob called my dad after his first heart attack. Gave my old man the phone and said it’s barefoot bob. My dad goes yeah right. Bob always had time for the fans. Every Saturday night at Canandaigua he always made sure everyone had an autograph. True Legend.
Andrew Criss
I got a picture of him and I in victory lane at the Wheels. Dirt racing wasn’t the same when he retired.
Ed Maxon
I remember in 1984 he came up to our car to look at it. Brand new Troyer experimental chassis. He was a nice guy. RIP
Rolfe Schnur
I had the honor of presenting an award to Bob at Volusia County Speedway in 1987 when we honored my friend Richie Panch and Daytona. Budweiser who sponsored my modified and used to sponsor Richie. We gave an award to a good guy and it was Bob.
Brian Pepper
I couldn’t think of his name when I was a little kid, so my buddy’s dad told me to take my shoes and socks off and try to guess. 9️⃣
Bruce Bush
One of the very best race car drivers
Mark Weavin Weaver
Our team had purchased a new 89 Troyer Mud Bus and it was a Big Block Small Block shootout at Brewerton, being the first night out with the new car, we had a big push in the car and couldn’t get it to turn, so the shy old me went over to the Master of going faster and asked him what I should do and he said throw a ton of Stagger in the car and it will turn then, and he was correct we put it in the show. Bob was one of the greatest!
Leeann Achzet
I think my dad may be the only one who got video of Bob going into the Mohawk during the 1990 McDonald’s 200 that Sunday. My mom called the local TV station to see if he got it and to let him know that if he needed it, we had it. That Wednesday’s “This Week at Fonda” led off with dad’s video because none of his guys got it.
Mitchell Poole
A class guy, never used you up and always willing to help you get better.
Tammy Eassa
I use to work at a store that Bob came in.. it was race night at can am. I gave him a hug and told him good luck.. he hugged me and smiled.. he didn’t win that night and he never hugged me again.. lol he was so very superstitious. If he would have won. I would have gotten a hug every Saturday night. Bob became my friend, my hero learning of all of his accomplishments.. he was an amazing individual..
Denise Mangini
Condolences to the family & loved ones. Here’s a picture that was taken at Dirt Week in 1989 by my father-in-law, Robin Mangini.
Bob was his favorite driver. This is the year that my husband, Steve learned his love for dirt track racing.
Chris Topher Confer
As kids our local track Penn Can Speedway, he raced there with Jumpin’ Jack Johnson and I can remember the track doing kiddie rides and I rode on both of their cars
Joseph Cogliano
The D/A Modified he had. That was a fast car and unique design
Robert Eastman
We parked next to Bob at Brewerton several times he was such a humble man Timmy was just a young kid helping his dad.
REST EASY BAREFOOT BOB.
Chris Bickel
I remember when I first started going to races at Land of Legends raceway(Canandaigua Speedway then) as a wide eyed kid at 7 years old I would always stand and watch as Bob and his crew got his car prepared for the racing action that night because they always parked along the fence towards the grandstands.
He was one of the first drivers I ever remember cheering for when I started going to the races
- Joshua Fremouw
Chris Bickel this is exactly what I came here to say also the fact that he ALWAYS stayed until every kid that wanted a picture autograph to sit in his car whatever it was he was there until every last kid was gone at the end of the night - Chris Bickel
I was too shy as a kid to go up to him to get his autograph but he certainly loved saying hi to kids and his fans. Always made time for them before and after the races. Just like he was typically the first car at the track and last one to leave. - Joshua Fremouw
I have a picture with him somewhere that is autographed no clue where it went since it was taken like 30 yrs ago my uncle raced street/pro stocks at canandaigua when he was racing there so I was always in the pits all night long it was fun watching him and his crew work on his car but he always took time to teach anyone that wanted to learn about what they were doing
Keith Butler Jr
True legend
Cheri Sagatis
We use to go to Jumpin’ Jack’s all the time to visit when my son was little and Jack would say put him in the race car so he was very familiar with Jack Well we were at Rolling Wheels for a race and my son was given a Kinney Drug hats so we went in the pits to get it signed and we go up to Bob and my son say this isn’t Jack.
Well, Bob roared and he signed the hat anyway. He said to my son, who was about 5 yrs old at the time. That okay I’m a big Jack Johnson fan too.
He was a great guy and he really loved the fans to stop by after the race. He will truly be missed.
Ryan Mellon
I want to no the back story on how he got is nick name
Chico Rhines
I flagged a lot of races at Brewerton and every week he always told me how great I was. Always never had a bad word about anyone. He will never be forgotten. He will go down as the greatest driver of all time. RIP my friend. My prayers going out to his family he will always be remembered
Joe Kart Capasso
Saw him at Middletown eastern states . Open trailer. I had him sign my t shirt , that I was wearing. I didn’t feel the marker at all . I said to myself, this guy has strong hands to wheel a car.
We talked a bit . He started in the back and drove it to 2 or 3 I think ? SMOOTH AS GLASS. Loaded up and went home !
Ernie Jarvis
Aero car at Syracuse. Only his helmet was exposed. Also, of course his open trailer amongst the huge enclosed haulers. True legend.
- Phil Darrow
Ernie Jarvis Yes he said a hauler never won a race - Ernie Jarvis
Phil Darrow And proved it.
Keith Butler Jr.
One time at Weedsport went off of two into corn field and raced out of 4 onto track
Da Hanson
The Hood. Bob Dini scratching his head under the grandstand at Syracuse
Robert Motrie
Last time I saw Bob was in ‘08. He invited us in the toterhome for coffee. He was helping Canadian driver Pierre Deganais at Eastern States Weekend at OCFS
Bobby Bulger
Early 90’s he went into the Mohawk River coming out of turn 2 at Fonda Speedway
Cliff Montanye
1974 Weedsport Speedway. Bob had an automatic transmission car and would go out to the parking lot and do burnouts …first driver to use ground tires via the parking lot burnout …
Don Mitchell
Not a memory, but a quote.he’d say, after the night was over, “let’s get it loaded so we can get loaded.”
Skip Barger
Great guy
Eric Burger
I was driving a hauler for a northeast Busch team and we were doing some southern races while at Darlington in 93 or 94. I was sitting on pit wall reading the Gator racing paper on the front page was a picture of Bob.
Harry Gant walked by and noticed Bob on the front page and asked how the old guy was doing so he saw how many races he had won that year and said glad he is racing dirt and not asphalt.
So I guess when guys like that follow you and respect your talent that’s what you call a legend RIP Bob
John Veach