Bobby Allison surprise birthday party last night

Spotter22

Spotter22

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Bobby and Jack.jpg
Bobby and Jack. Legends
 
You guys are spot on. For my money, a case can be made that Robert Arthur Allison is the best stock car driver ever. I know he doesn't have the titles to make that claim. And I know Petty and Pearson won more in that era. So, I'm not trying to start an argument. Petty won the bulk of his races at Petty Enterprises. Pearson with Holman Moody and the Wood Brothers. I'm not taking anything away from those two guys. Both are solid legends in their own right. Bobby was known to be a little tough to deal with in his day. That's a contributing factor to him never really having a long time ride. I've always been impressed with the success he had in spite of ride hopping as much as he did. And he won the Daytona 500 at fifty years of age. Junior Johnson of all people paid Bobby the greatest compliment. He said a few years ago, if he would have kept Bobby, instead of hiring Cale, they (Junior and Bobby) would have won more races that the Pettys. We'll never know. Junior and Bobby parted ways at the end of the 1972 season I believe. Cale joined Junior at the same time. Junior/Cale won the title in '76,'77 and '78. What might have been if Bobby and Junior could have got along? Bobbys' autobiography is a good read. His highs have really been high. His lows would have been nearly unbearable for most men. He is a legend, no doubt.
 
mack said:
You guys are spot on. For my money, a case can be made that Robert Arthur Allison is the best stock car driver ever. I know he doesn't have the titles to make that claim. And I know Petty and Pearson won more in that era. So, I'm not trying to start an argument. Petty won the bulk of his races at Petty Enterprises. Pearson with Holman Moody and the Wood Brothers. I'm not taking anything away from those two guys. Both are solid legends in their own right. Bobby was known to be a little tough to deal with in his day. That's a contributing factor to him never really having a long time ride. I've always been impressed with the success he had in spite of ride hopping as much as he did. And he won the Daytona 500 at fifty years of age. Junior Johnson of all people paid Bobby the greatest compliment. He said a few years ago, if he would have kept Bobby, instead of hiring Cale, they (Junior and Bobby) would have won more races that the Pettys. We'll never know. Junior and Bobby parted ways at the end of the 1972 season I believe. Cale joined Junior at the same time. Junior/Cale won the title in '76,'77 and '78. What might have been if Bobby and Junior could have got along? Bobbys' autobiography is a good read. His highs have really been high. His lows would have been nearly unbearable for most men. He is a legend, no doubt.
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Couldnt have said it any better, Bobby Allison, too me...... is the greatest ever. He could build it from the ground up then drive the hell out of it.
 
Spotter22, You ain't kidding at all. His contributions to NASCAR/stock car racing in general are countless. A high school educated man, that could design and build just about anything at all. He's had quite a life.
 
During the 1980s, he designed an aircraft propeller-loaded-dyno for Winston Cup and Busch engines. He also designed an oil heated wing de-ice, anti-ice system for light twin-engine airplanes. He converted his own Superstar airplane engine from a piston-powered engine to a turbine-powered engine. Designed the split spring suspension for modifieds back in the late 50's., during the 60's designed a front steer car for the Cup and Busch series that most everybody switched over too. Just a dumb ol country boy.
 
When I was a kid, it was the biggest deal in the world when Bobby, Donnie and Red Farmer showed up at the local bullring. An eight year old getting to sit in the seat of a 57 Chevy stock car that Bobby Allison had just drove in a 100 lap feature was almost better than Santa coming. You could still feel the heat and smell the tires. Now that may sound a little goofy, but it was a big deal. Bobby was always my favorite.
 
mack said:
When I was a kid, it was the biggest deal in the world when Bobby, Donnie and Red Farmer showed up at the local bullring. An eight year old getting to sit in the seat of a 57 Chevy stock car that Bobby Allison had just drove in a 100 lap feature was almost better than Santa coming. You could still feel the heat and smell the tires. Now that may sound a little goofy, but it was a big deal. Bobby was always my favorite.
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Not goofy at all ! that's the sort of memory that stays with you for life
 
mack said:
When I was a kid, it was the biggest deal in the world when Bobby, Donnie and Red Farmer showed up at the local bullring. An eight year old getting to sit in the seat of a 57 Chevy stock car that Bobby Allison had just drove in a 100 lap feature was almost better than Santa coming. You could still feel the heat and smell the tires. Now that may sound a little goofy, but it was a big deal. Bobby was always my favorite.
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He rode me around the track after he went through Tech at Myrtle Beach Speedway, that was the day before the 1975 Southern 500 at Darlington when he won in a Matador. Little did I know that was the beginning of my racing career.
 
Spotter22 said:
He rode me around the track after he went through Tech at Myrtle Beach Speedway, that was the day before the 1975 Southern 500 at Darlington when he won in a Matador. Little did I know that was the beginning of my racing career.
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Now that is just way too cool!!!!! I remember Bobby working on a race car, grit and grime on his drivers suit, looking like he'd been in a bar fight. He was trying to get ready for a feature and being kind and polite to any fans who happened to be standing around wanting a program or whatever signed. Now he could get testy, with anyone. His relationship with Junior had gotten so bad toward the end of their deal, they didn't even speak. They were in the garage at MIS i believe. Junior, Bobby and Herb Nab were standing at the front of the car. Junior had decided to change the rear end ratio. Junior said "Herb, tell Bobby we changed the rear end", Herb turned to Bobby to relay the message. Bobby said, "Herb tell Junior to kiss my a#%." They were all three standing next to each other. Bobby was hard headed in those days. He would fight tooth and nail with anyone, anywhere for a win. The sport really misses those kinds of characters.
 
I an really enjoying reading everyones great memories.
I was a Petty fan and and I am still am, and back in the day in my small world Bobby Allison was the enemy.

I remember a couple of 200 lappers he ran at Greenville Pickens. He did a fly over one time on his way to the track. Another time he had something to break on the car and they welded it back together. He came back on the track about 50 laps down. He battled
with the leader Butch Lindley just like it was for the lead. They ran door to door and swapped track positions several times. I guess he knew thats what the people came for, it was great stuff.

I was a big dummy for not appreciating his greatness in real time. I started to post it another thread a few days ago, this one just seemed more appropriate to me.

https://racing-forums.com/threads/nascar-stuff-you-were-really-wrong-about.61418/#post-1286145
 
Greg said:
I an really enjoying reading everyones great memories.
I was a Petty fan and and I am still am, and back in the day in my small world Bobby Allison was the enemy.

I remember a couple of 200 lappers he ran at Greenville Pickens. He did a fly over one time on his way to the track. Another time he had something to break on the car and they welded it back together. He came back on the track about 50 laps down. He battled
with the leader Butch Lindley just like it was for the lead. They ran door to door and swapped track positions several times. I guess he knew thats what the people came for, it was great stuff.

I was a big dummy for not appreciating his greatness in real time. I started to post it another thread a few days ago, this one just seemed more appropriate to me.

https://racing-forums.com/threads/nascar-stuff-you-were-really-wrong-about.61418/#post-1286145
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You arent a dummy, you were a Petty fan and probably fiercely loyal one and those two went at it tooth and nail. As I look back now as an Allison fan, I appreciate all of the drivers he raced against. Even Darrell, but that took some therapy.;)
 
Spotter22 said:
During the 1980s, he designed an aircraft propeller-loaded-dyno for Winston Cup and Busch engines.
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James Hylton has one of those too. I don't know if they are of the same design or not. Bobby was never one of the guys I really pulled for, but you HAVE to respect his driving ability, his car building skills, his tenacity, and the fact that he has gone through so many awful things and is still standing. 99% of the races today aren't worthy enough to carry his helmet bag.
 
Formerjackman said:
James Hylton has one of those too. I don't know if they are of the same design or not. Bobby was never one of the guys I really pulled for, but you HAVE to respect his driving ability, his car building skills, his tenacity, and the fact that he has gone through so many awful things and is still standing. 99% of the races today aren't worthy enough to carry his helmet bag.
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Right or wrong I always believed that old school guys like Bobby, Petty, Pearson, and Jack Ingram were the men, and the rest of us, at least myself are boys.
 
True story, Bobby was racing and winning regularly at Birmingham and Dixie Speedway, he was telling everyone how racers in general were copy cats when they saw something someone was doing, especially if they were winning, so he bored a 3 inch hole in the fender behind the right front tire and raced in Birmingham and won. The next week he came back and every car in the field had the hole bored behind the right front. Dude is a genius.
 
2 Sweet said:
Sorry for going off topic...but did Junior Johnson get along with anyone?
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Junior was about as old school as they came. I believe he and Herb Nab had a pretty good relationship. And oddly enough he's pretty good friends with Rick Hendrick nowadays. But back in his prime, he was a tough customer, so I've always heard. He really wanted to hire Kulwicki when either Waltrip or Labonte moved on. Kulwicki turned that ride down. At the time I thought Kulwicki had lost his mind, time proved Kulwicki was right.
 
I only remember him a bit from 87 and 88, wish I was around earlier to watch more of him. Always been fascinated reading up on him as he’s lived a hell of a life, I find it incredible that he had 84 wins but won one Winston Cup. He won a hell of a lot at Daytona and Talladega a real master of those places before there was one, I wish I had seen him race more. A true American hero.
 
Good stories in this thread. Here is Eddie Gossage's take on Bobby, Donnie, and Cale. I presume the "Cale" is an actor, but this still makes me laugh...
 
Spotter22 said:
Agreed. If someone wanted to make a REAL racing movie, look no further then this man.
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It is funny how a thought remains after hearing it, or maybe better said it does not happen nearly enough.
I cannot think of a racing family that has paid a bigger price.
Everyone knows about that. I think of Donnie as well they both ended up with terrible crashes.

I heard Bobby on a radio show talking about the Matador and it seemed like Penske was the student among the two.
Bobby also had the badasss outlaw thing going on, too. I can't think of a racer that was more determined to do it his way. I can't think of a driver that won more or anything close for so many different owners.
In 1971 he won five races in roll, 3 in Mercury and 2 in a Dodge, he could win in anything.
 
I am guessing that Bobby Allison holds the all time record for wins with the most different car owners, and maybe for car makes and models too, although Richard would be close on that. Possibly the most different crew chiefs too. I'm a real geek for trivia questions like that.
 
Bobby and Penske always had a good relationship from what I've read. Penske had, and still has I guess, an enormous amount of respect for Bobby. Thinking of the price Bobby paid is hard to imagine. The week before his career ending crash at Pocono (June 1988), he and Judy, his wife of thirty years or so had decided to divorce. The wreck helped keep them together. But they lost everything. Then Clifford got killed at Michigan in 1992, a year later Davey dies in a helicopter crash. He had a terrible run there for a few years. Judy passed a few years ago, (2012). I hope Bobby has a lot of great memories. He sure made a lot of people proud from his adopted home state. I remember Dale Sr. laughing about a conversation he had with Bobby. Dale told Bobby, "you taught me everything I know", to which Bobby replied, "but I didn't teach you everything I know". Sr. had a lot of respect for Bobby also. Bobby is an absolute legend.
 
I forgot to add. Bobby and Judy divorced after Davey lost his life. But, they met up at Adam Pettys funeral of all places. One thing led to another and they remarried, and spent the remainder of her life together. I hope all is well for Bobby these days.
 
Funny story told by Neil Bonnett. Neil was injured pretty badly in a wreck after Bobby had his and also suffered a sever head injury. Well Neil and Bobby were best friends so they got them together to see if it would help them recover. Neil said it was a hell of a day, Bobby couldnt say what he was thinking and Neil couldnt remember what he said lol.
 
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