I feel that a tribute is appropriate for Bob. He is the one man from BNI that
stands out in my memories. Many years ago in the old Stateline Cafe I asked
Bob about some of his family history, because my Mother's maiden name is
Higbee. He could not tell me a lot on the spur of the moment like that, but he
did tell me enough for me to look into a very complete Higbee Family History
book compiled by Clinton David Higby, and printed in Boston in 1927, and then
up-dated after that. The one listing that may have been one of Bob's
ancestor's, (Father ?) was a man who worked in the construction business
(bridges ?), in Michigan and died in an accident about 1925-1930. I am foggy
on the details, because I looked this up many years ago. I am not sure if I
ever gave this information to Bob, as I did'nt get to Bonneville much after
that. I have inherited the book, so if someone will give me some information,
I will look it up again.
Bob was a great man to have at the starting line, as he knew all the answers
that a scared rookie needed. I started going to Bonneville in 1952, started
running a car in 1955, and then started seriously competing in 1964. The one
thing that came out of the deep reaches of my memory when I read your e-mail
about Bob, was back about 1953 when I was a wide-eyed car nut who felt like
he was in heaven every time that I went to Bonneville. I remember some guys
coming up to the inspection area to have their '53 Lincoln checked out for
safety items. Bob was helping out there, so when they got out of the car Bob
sent them up to the engine for something, then leaned down and reached under
the car beneath the drivers seat. He then removed the nut from the underside
of the body that was holding in the home-installed seat belt. He then asked
the driver to get into the car, put on the seat belt, and pull it up tight. It
was funny to see the belt come out in the guys hands. But Bob did not rub it
in or laugh at the guy, he just explained how to put a jamb-nut on it so it
could not come loose. I have three pictures of Bob that I will get to you. One
is Bob explaining the course to the driver of a Nash-Healy that went 113 mph
(1955 ?) Another is the (seat-belt) Lincoln. Another is a belly-tank lakester
that went 115 mph. Again Bob is explaining things to the driver. The car
might have had a Wisconsin V4 air-cooled engine. And the best picture is Ak
Miller's Sports Car. (177mph). Bob is holding up five fingers to let the
timing tower know that Ak will be using the long course. Properly cropped,
this picture could be a Classic. Another picture that reminds of Bob is a line
of cars at the starting line at dawn going for record runs. Wilford Higbee
Day... I will get back to you.
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