Bob Riley, a celebrated engineer, chassis designer and race car builder who left a permanent mark on motorsports and the automotive industry, died of a heart attack at age 93 after a brief hospitalization following a fall in his home.
Most recently, the Riley was inducted into the Formula Vee Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct 1, during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. RRDC President Bobby Rahal presented the award, stating, “Bob Riley is a wonderful man… When I first met Bob, I felt really stupid because I thought I knew a lot. I realized talking to Bob I didn’t know much at all. He’s a class act. He is super-talented and probably under-rated in many respects.”
This week, Rahal had these additional thoughts: “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.
“RIP my friend. You will be missed.”
Earlier this year, Riley was inducted into the IMSA’s Hall of Fame. In 2022, he received the prestigious Phil Hill Award from the Road Racing Drivers Club. Even as he advanced in age, Riley continued his work after retirement at Riley Technologies, the company he founded in 2006 with his son and co-owner, Bill, that released a Ford 1967 Le Mans winner continuation supercar, the Kar-Kraft Mk IV, just this year.
A genius in race car design, Riley contributed to several legendary racing wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, the Sebring 12-Hour and the Rolex 24 at Daytona over the course of five decades. He was a key contributor in the Le Mans-winning Ford GT Mk IV program and had a hand in building many other high-performance vehicles such as the Ford Mustang GTP, Coyote Indy car, Intrepid RM-1, and the Mk XI Daytona Prototype. In total, Riley carried over 70 car designs under his belt, including the dirt track racers that he built as a teenager. During his storied career, his innovative race car designs won championships in IndyCar, IMSA, the Grand-Am and the Trans-Am.
Tara Hurlin posted an obituary for Riley in Hemmings, detailing his incredible career, one of many remembrances including Autosport and Vintage Motorsport.
