4 Rob Ayres

[bill dedman]

I was the tech Stocker guy at Carlisle. Dale Ham made me an "area tech advisor" which meant that I was the go-to guy with all the NHRA tech bulletins and the Class guide. When I moved away, in 1964, I gave all the NHRA Tech bulletins and the Classification guide to Bob Ayres. He took over for me at Carlisle and the new (then) Little Rock strip. He and I were good friends.

He raced a Pontiac sedan in Stock, then he built that Barracuda, another Stocker, and a '57 Chevy sedan delivery, and then a '65 Chevelle wagon, first for Stock, then Super Stock. Bill Massey, who's a friend of mine, and Bob were partners on the Barracuda.

Rob is his son. Bob died a premature death, but I don't remember the cause. He was a good guy.

[Charlie A]

There was also: Super Grog.

That green Valiant that was a killer in it's time.

[Dwight Southerland]

The little green Valiant was famous in O/SA in its day. A couple of friends (Bill Godwin and Gary Hairston) worked with Bob on the Chevelle as a stocker and later converted it to SS. Bill and I used cast the off parts when he went to SS to build our first Stocker, a '65 Chevelle wagon. Gary and Bill both drove the car at different times in SS after we convinced him to put a four speed in it. Great experiences and one of the most colorful people I have ever known. I have a thousand Bob Ayres stories. He died of an ruptured aneurysm in 1975. I still talk to Rob occaisionally.

[Bimbo Jones]

His green Valiant was one of my favorite stockers that ran at Carlisle. But his light blue Baracuda Super GROG was one of the spectator favorites. I've search the internet for years trying to find photos and videos of Carlisle to see the cars I enjoyed watching back then. I think the closes I've been is the Lakeland website that Dwight mentioned and a thread on the H.A.M.B. about Jr stockers which I think I've seen Bob's car in both.

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

The little green Valiant was famous in O/SA in its day. A couple of friends (Bill Godwin and Gary Hairston) worked with Bob on the Chevelle as a stocker and later converted it to SS. Bill and I used cast the off parts when he went to SS to build our first Stocker, a '65 Chevelle wagon. Gary and Bill both drove the car at different times in SS after we convinced him to put a four speed in it. Great experiences and one of the most colorful people I have ever known. I have a thousand Bob Ayres stories. He died of an ruptured aneurysm in 1975. I still talk to Rob occaisionally.

I remember your white longroof very well. I was a high school kid with a 283/glide 65 Malibu back when you could win a trophy in Pure Stock.
Every car got my attention. I still remember more from those days than I do from yesterday!

[K Stubbs]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

I was the tech Stocker guy at Carlisle. Dale Ham made me an "area tech advisor" which meant that I was the go-to guy with all the NHRA tech bulletins and the Class guide. When I moved away, in 1964, I gave all the NHRA Tech bulletins and the Classification guide to Bob Ayres. He took over for me at Carlisle and the new (then) Little Rock strip. He and I were good friends.

He raced a Pontiac sedan in Stock, then he built that Barracuda, another Stocker, and a '57 Chevy sedan delivery, and then a '65 Chevelle wagon, first for Stock, then Super Stock. Bill Massey, who's a friend of mine, and Bob were partners on the Barracuda.

Rob is his son. Bob died a premature death, but I don't remember the cause. He was a good guy.

Rob is a great guy, havent talked to him in years....