Three Time Champ Still Having Fun
Bob Gillies - 1998 Ministock Champion

-by Lois Pollard-Grant

For someone who didn't start racing cars until five years ago, ministock driver Bob Gillies' record of achievements in those few short years, has been nothing short of impressive.

If you can beat Bob Gillies on the track, you've beat the best - is the general consensus of his fellow drivers.

Bob has won the ministock championship for the last three years running.

His smooth aggressive driving style has earned him eight main event victories last year alone; and he is the current track record holder at both Western Speedway and Courteney's Saratoga Speedway.

Before joining the ministocks in 1994, Bob was an accomplished motorcycle racer, and for 25 years he ran motorcross and cross country, in both the amateur and expert level.

"It was a good part of my life for so long," Bob commented, but after a few injuries to his body, he admits to feeling safer in his race car.

As to any differences between car racing and bike racing, Bob says: racing is racing - it doesn't really matter - and most attitudes are the same."

In comparison to other classes at Western Speedway, the ministocks have a much larger proportion of drivers in the over 50 age bracket.

To Bob's way of thinking, "Once you strap on your helmet, the age factor is a level playing field for all." Bob is 57.

He believes "it takes a lot of dedication and consistency, as well as a whole bunch of luck to be successful in racing - and you have to know, and have confidence in your fellow driver.

"Bob is a bonafide class act on and off the track and while he has yet to confirm his plans for the '99 season, he will be back behind the wheel of a race car before too long.

"As long as I'm having fun," he said, "I'm there."

-as printed in the March 24, 1999 edition of the Goldstream News Gazette