4 Rob Ayres

Charlie A · 02-06-2011, 12:55 PM

http://racecarregistry.com/images/Ra.../scan0001a.jpg

One of the earliest class racers from arkansas.

bill dedman · 02-07-2011, 12:19 AM

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 · 02-07-2011, 09:26 AM

There was also: Super Grog.

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

K Stubbs · 02-07-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

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....

Dwight Southerland · 02-07-2011, 09:59 AM

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 · 02-07-2011, 11:14 AM

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 · 02-07-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

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!

Rob Ayres · 02-08-2011, 11:23 AM

It makes me very proud that you guys are discussing my old man 36 years after his death. He was quite a character. Bill, I still have every one of those tech bulletins and classification guides. Thanks for the pictures. Brings back lots of memories. Good ones.

bill dedman · 02-08-2011, 02:46 PM

Rob,
Great to hear from you!

You dad was one of those "larger-than-life" characters that we have NO TROUBLE remembering! One of my all-time favorite racers!

Hang onto those tech bulletins; the old cars MAY be coming back...

That information is like gold, now...

Ed Wright · 02-08-2011, 02:50 PM

I remember that green car. Never did get to know Bob, but he was fast.

02-06-2011, 12:55 PM	#1
Charlie A VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 2,483 Likes: 68 Liked 87 Times in 63 Posts	4 Rob Ayres http://racecarregistry.com/images/Ra.../scan0001a.jpg One of the earliest class racers from arkansas.

02-07-2011, 12:19 AM	#2
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres 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. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 02-07-2011 at 12:52 AM.

02-07-2011, 09:26 AM	#3
Charlie A VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 2,483 Likes: 68 Liked 87 Times in 63 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres There was also: Super Grog. That green Valiant that was a killer in it's time.

02-07-2011, 09:59 AM	#5
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,999 Likes: 64 Liked 772 Times in 192 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres 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.

02-07-2011, 11:14 AM	#6
Bimbo Jones Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres 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.

02-08-2011, 11:23 AM	#8
Rob Ayres Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 31 Times in 2 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres It makes me very proud that you guys are discussing my old man 36 years after his death. He was quite a character. Bill, I still have every one of those tech bulletins and classification guides. Thanks for the pictures. Brings back lots of memories. Good ones.

02-08-2011, 02:46 PM	#9
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres Rob, Great to hear from you! You dad was one of those "larger-than-life" characters that we have NO TROUBLE remembering! One of my all-time favorite racers! Hang onto those tech bulletins; the old cars MAY be coming back... That information is like gold, now... __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 02-08-2011 at 06:28 PM.

02-08-2011, 02:50 PM	#10
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: 4 Rob Ayres I remember that green car. Never did get to know Bob, but he was fast. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA