Bob Riley will be inducted into the Formula Vee Hall of Fame in ceremonies set for Tuesday, Oct 1, during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America. Joining Riley in this year’s Hall of Fame class is Jonathan Weisheit, a true veteran and advocate of Formula Vee.
Bob Riley, the visionary engineer behind the iconic Lynx Formula Vee, played a pivotal role in the development of this highly successful car. First introduced in the 1960s, the Lynx went on to dominate the Formula Vee class, capturing four SCCA National Championships and solidifying its place as a benchmark of engineering excellence. Riley’s innovative designs and commitment to performance have made him a revered figure in the racing world, with his influence continuing to shape the sport to this day.
“Bob Riley and Jonathan Weisheit have each left an indelible mark on Formula Vee racing,” said Graham Loughead, founder of the Formula Vee Hall of Fame. “Riley’s engineering and technological innovations changed the course of the sport.”
Here is Bob’s recollection of building the first Lynx from the Lynx Formula Vee History website:
“The first Lynx Formula Vee was built in a single car garage with a dirt floor in Detroit Michigan in 1964. The only fabricating tools I had at that time were an Oxygen-Acetylene torch, electric hand drill, handheld saber saw, and a hack saw with a good supply of blades. The steel tubing for the frame was hand bent by packing the tube with sand and using the torch. We made a body buck using plywood and foam. Female fiber glass molds were made from this buck. The body was three layers of ten-ounce fiberglass cloth using polyester resin.
“John Mills and I worked at Ford in advance engineering. We became friends and eventually partners building Lynx cars. We decided that to be able to afford to go racing, we would need to sell the car to other enthusiasts. John used his experience working with ad agencies in Detroit to create the Lynx brochures. We ran an ad in Road and Track Magazine offering Formula Vee kits. To our complete surprise, we got as many as 10 inquiries a day! Later, we moved to a small building where we fabricated, assembled, and sold FVs, and SFVs ready to race. Also purchased a dynamometer where we developed and sold engines for our cars. We probably sold about 50 cars.
“Because I was very busy designing other race cars, I did not have proper time to spend at Lynx, so I sold my interest to John. Later, Ford Motor Company bought the name Lynx from John. Thus ended the Lynx formula cars.” – Bob Riley
