Bob Riffle RIP

[quickford1]

Just received word that Bob Riffle of rod shop fame has passed.

[timsnively]

I had the good fortune of working with Bob at the Rod Shop in the late 80s. He was the Pro Stock engine builder and crew chief at that time.

[joe huestis]

After I relocated to N.C. in ‘99, I was a general mgr. for a local supermarket chain. I worked with Bob’s daughter Lucy for a short time and when she had heard I was a drag racer she said to me her dad used to race years ago. When she told me her dad was Bob Riffle I told her all I knew about her Dad’s racing career. She was surprised someone who came from N.Y. knew of her dad’s career. She did not even know at the time her dad was a big deal in NHRA racing in the 60’s and 70’s. At the time I worked with her she may have been only 20 yrs. old which explains her having little knowledge of how well known her Dad was and most likely a toddler at the end of his driving career. She did mention at the time he was building engines for a NASCAR team and had been doing so since relocating from Ohio. R.I.P. Bob.

[Carguy49]

The Rod Shop was a very big deal in the 60's and 70's. They had multiple cars and did very well. R.I.P. Bob. Prayers for his family and many friends.

How many of the original team are still around?? Just curious.

[Alan Nyhus]

I met Bob Riffle when working for the NHRA D5 Tech Team. Mr. Riffle won the D5 Points Race that weekend and when I did the post race cubic inch pump, it came up too big. So here I am...a young guy at some Divisional race in Fly Over Country and I have to tell one of the biggest bad asses in the sport that his stuff isn't right.

Without going into all the details, the class and manner in which Bob handled himself showed me how a true gentleman conducts himself. I've thought of that incident many, many times over the years and have tried to apply it in my own life.

Great racer and a smart, smart guy.