12 September 2011

My name is Bob Shepherd, the "¼ mile smile". After 46 years as a drag racer I am leaving the sport. I’ve run out of the kind of money it takes to run Top Fuel and I would like tell this story to thank the many people who have helped me to be the ¼ mile smile.

THANKYOU TO my family, my mates, my sponsors, all the workers at every race track and the enthusiasm of the fans.

I have (as most racers do) many stories of the adventures we had on interstate trips to Calder, Adelaide, Brisbane and even Perth. In the 60’s & 70’s my mates like Don Mason, Ron Piper, Darron Blake, Ken Davies and Ron Ashby would all chip in petrol money so we could take off on Friday night go racing and always be back for work early Monday morning.

In 1979 I had a crash in my six cylinder dragster and spent a week in hospital in Melbourne. Don Mason drove my trailer and family home – Thanks Don.

In 1998 I smashed again at Calder in my fuel funny car. I was knocked unconscious and they had to fly me to hospital in a Helicopter and it took me 3 months to re-cover from burns and damage to my body.

But of course there are many, many highs. Back in the 70’s driving fuel altered and fuel funny cars with 2 speed gear boxed made every drive an adventure. Barry Lord and the Castlereagh fire crew rescued me many times, thanks boys.

I actually won the 1977 Summer Nats at Castlereagh in a fuel funny car. Then in 1978 ANDRA grand final in a fuel funny car. I won the 1995 competition eliminator at the Winternationals in a methanol funny car (sideways).

In last 8 years I have raced top fuel and it’s been a huge blast.

Racing with Amanda was a dream come true and I enjoyed every moment and every aspect or her short career.

In closing, I would like to thank all the unsung heroes of our sport. Everybody’s pit crew, my pit crew, the fire crews, the Ambulance people, the start-line people, the accreditation people, the meeting directors, EVERYBODY … thank you very much for your friendship!

To do my personal best speed and time of 4.932secs @ 295mph at the Fuchs Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway on my last weekend in Top Fuel was the icing on the cake for me. We couldn’t of scripted the weekend better if we tried.

Looks like the ¼ mile smile is going fishing and everything in my top fuel operation is now for sale. $130,000.00 buys you the truck, the trailer, the race car and more than you can imagine. Ring me on (02) 9600 6576 anytime.

Thanks again everyone.

Bob Shepherd