Very few people live as long and as productively as did Bob Riley, who passed this week at the age of 93. An engineer and car designer who thought well outside the box, Riley is responsible for technical evolution in the racing industry that is unparalleled.
Best known for his work in sports car environments, Riley was inducted, earlier in October to IMSA’s Hall of Fame, Bob Riley will also be known for his achievement of ten overall victories in the midwinter Rolex 24 at Daytona, second only to major vehicle manufacturer Porsche! Riley attended this year’s Motul Petit Le Mans and was present for his IMSA induction; he entered the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2013.
With all the victories achieved throughout his monumental career, Bob Riley always continued to be humble and gracious to everyone he met, a trait he passed on to his son, Bill, who is carrying on the business begun by his father. Riley Motorsports, run by Bill Riley, has been a staple in both IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Fanatic GT World Challenge America, achieving many championships
Bob Riley is best known for his sports car designs, in particular the high downforce Intrepid RM-1, co-designed with son Bill and constructed by Pratt & Miller. Bob Riley then teamed with Mark Scott to form Riley & Scott at the start of the 1990s; their Mk III became one of the most successful prototypes in history, dominating the World Sports Car (WSC) category in the late 1990s.
Riley’s Daytona Prototype was one of the most successful Grand-Am Sports Car Series prototypes, while the mechanical and aeronautical engineer used his experience in aircraft construction and Chrysler’s Space Division Saturn rocket program, even as he built – at home – his legendary Lynx Formula Vee.
During his early engineering stay at Ford Motor Co, Bob Riley contributed to the Ford GT Mk IV program and, in the 1970s helped A.J. Foyt by designing the Coyote Indy car chassis. That Coyote chassis, designed by Bob Riley, allowed Foyt to become the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.
One of the first to understand the benefits of higher downforce race cars in sports car competition, Bob Riley’s Mustang GTP front-engine machine was only held back by the fragile 2.1liter engine. That design begat the RM-1, which had the highest cornering speeds of any GTP car in its era. Another over-achieving cars produced and developed by Riley are the SpeedSource RX-7 and Viper GTS-R, both of which ran in IMSA GTLM competition from 2012-2014.
John Noonan, president of IMSA noted, upon learning of Bob Riley’s passing, that he was pleased to present the engineer into the sanction’s hall of fame: “All of us at IMSA are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Bob Riley,” he said. “Bob was a legendary figure in sports car racing and we were proud to have him with us as we inducted him into the IMSA Hall of Fame less than two weeks ago. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s son Bill and the entire Riley family. Bob was truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed.”
Bobby Rahal, president of the Road Racing Drivers Club understood Riley’s achievements on the track and off: “I knew Bob Riley, He was not just a creative, practical engineer/designer, but a humble, energetic gentleman. I was fortunate to work with him in 1983-84 on the Ford Mustang project,” Rahal said. “A victory in its first race clearly showed its capabilities, but engine unreliability hampered our efforts in virtually every race. Despite this, there was no question the car handled beautifully. RIP my friend; you will be missed.”
it’s notable that Dyson Racing’s relationship with Bob Riley “goes back to 1994, when he consulted on the development of the team’s Spice-Ferrari WSC car,” noted patriarch Rob Dyson. “With our encouragement, Bob designed and his company Riley & Scott developed the Mk III chassis for the IMSA World Sports Car Championship. Bob was one of the cornerstones in the foundation of Dyson Racing’s longterm success. Beginning in 1995,” Rob Dyson continued, “the Riley & Scott Mk III brought us eight years of success, including four consecutive series championships and victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, in 1997 and 1999.”
Rob’s son, Chris Dyson, who is the three-time and reigning Trans Am champion, currently campaigns a Riley Ford Mustang. “Twenty-four years ago I began my professional career in a Riley & Scott Mk III. And this year I’m still winning races in a car that Bob designed. That Bob remained a thoughtful and creative force in race car design, through his 80s and into his early 90s, is a testament to how his work continues to influence the sport. It was my honor to work with him and enjoy so much success together.”
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