Rob-Bean

PHOTOS FROM THE COLLECTION OF:

ROB BEAN SR.

FOR SOME OF ROB'S NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, CLICK HERE

Here is Rob in an early mini stock at Hialeah. This Anglia was was another joint effort with Dana. After running this car at Hialeah, Rob soon became a Renault fan. He built a long line of Renault mini-stocks, and said the Renaults were very light, not to mention cheap and abundant!

Photo by Bobby Day, summer, 1968

Check out Rob's first racecar, a Hudson built in Coconut Grove with life-long friend Dana Barlow.

It turns out that I have a bunch of Rob's pictures from his mini stock days at Hialeah. Since this is a Florida City site, I have included those pictures at the bottom of this page.

Rob was the president of the group that reopened Florida City in October, 1970. They fixed up the place by raising the wall around the track, revamping the concession stand and making other improvements.

It is not easy to work with a committee, but Rob's patient manner and hard work helped guide the track through this new beginning.

8-21-71

8-28-71

While serving as president of the SMRA, he stepped out of the car to concentrate on running the show. Here his driver Art Dahlberg wins in one of Rob's potent Renaults.

photo by Ed Oberlies

Things were not always perfect between the SFRA, the TQ sanctioning group, and the mini-stock club, the SMRA. Rob was an ambassador who tried to bridge this gap. While racing mini-stocks, he joined the SFRA, won a position on its board, and became the owner/driver of this beautiful car. This was his first TQ win, October 23, 1971.

The next week, Rob backed it up with another win! 10-30-71

Sooner or later, it happens to everyone.

6-12-72

I love this picture! Rob and Joe Lessera (3) discuss recent developments as Raleigh Beatty (8) joins the scene.

March 3, 1973

Shown here with Larry Walker

There were lots of "A" class wins in those years!

4-14-73

3-3-73

Raleigh Beatty leads Rob through the hard left that was turn one.

Every neighborhood should have a race shop like Robs. Here he is shown with his hard-working crew: a collection of the neighbors' kids. Rob claims that the kids were the ones who often convinced him to get off the couch and get to work out in the shop! From left to right: Raymond, Ed, Bruce & Marv.