Bob Riley, one of the most celebrated car builders in motorsports history has died on Thursday at the age of 93.
Riley, an inductee to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the IMSA Hall of Fame played a key role in the development of cars such as the Coyote Indy car wheeled by A.J. Foyt, the dominant Riley & Scott Trans-Am cars, the MK III prototype, the popular Mustang GTPs and the Riley Daytona Prototype chassis.
With a background in the aircraft industry, Riley started by building Formula Vee cars and soon building cars was his thing.
He contributed to Ford’s MK IV program and the Coyote before designing the For Mustang GTP.
His success went to a new level after he united with Mark Scott to create Riley & Scott and the company began turning out chassis for IMSA and Trans-Am competition. Riley & Scott also produced the MK III World Sports Car chassis, which produced tremendous success during the 1990s.
IMSA Presiden John Doonan issued a statement regarding Riley’s death.
Riley created Riley Technologies in 2001 and has built chassis for sports car competition.
“All of us at IMSA are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Bob Riley,” said IMSA Doonan. “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. Bob was one of the most important and influential race car engineers and designers in the United States, as evidenced by the many championships and race victories earned by Riley chassis – including seven Rolex 24 At Daytona wins. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s son, Bill, and the entire Riley family, as well as Bob’s many friends and colleagues. Bob was truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed.”
Dyson Racing was among the many teams that utilized Riley-built machinery.
“Dyson Racing’s association with Bob Riley goes back to 1994, when he consulted on the development of the team’s Spice-Ferrari WSC car,” said Rob Dyson. “With our encouragement Bob designed and his company Riley & Scott developed the Mk III chassis for the IMSA World Sports Car Championship,” Rob Dyson said. “Bob was one of the cornerstones in the foundation of Dyson Racing’s long-term success.”
Championship driver and team owner Bobby Rahal, who is also president of the Road Racing Drivers Club, also reacted.
“All of us at the Road Racing Drivers Club are saddened by Bob Riley’s passing. “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.
“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 and therefore such a shame that Bob’s car never achieved the success he deserved.
“I saw Bob at Road Atlanta two weeks ago. As always, he was in good spirits, and we spoke. Motorsport is the poorer with Bob’s passing.”