October 25, 2024
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is saddened by the loss of Bob Riley, a legendary engineer and car designer whose vehicles still compete and win in Trans Am today. Riley has been designing innovative and competitive racecars over the course of five decades, winning events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indy 500, 12 Hours of Sebring and Rolex 24 at Daytona, and his vehicles have won championships in IMSA, INDYCAR and Grand-Am. Trans Am drivers such as Scott Pruett, Scott Sharp, Jack Baldwin and Wally Dallenbach Jr. have won 14 Trans Am titles behind the wheel of Riley-built cars.
Tom Gloy won the 1984 Trans Am championship in a Lincoln-Mercury Capri designed by Riley at Roush Racing. In 1990, Riley and Mark Scott teamed up to form Riley & Scott. The first car the company developed was the Mk I Trans Am chassis, which was piloted to many wins in the series. In 2001, the Mk VIII debuted in Trans Am.
His most recent contribution to Trans Am, TA’s Ave-Riley AR3, made its on-track debut in 2022, with drivers such as Chris Dyson, Tomy Drissi, Justin Marks, David Pintaric and Gar Robinson finding success in the car since.
“Racing is an engineering sport and there is always something new to learn and apply to the future generation of cars,” Bob Riley said at the time of its release. “We implemented into this car all the thoughts and ideas we have developed over the past 20-plus years since we designed and built their previous generation of cars that are continuing to be raced today.”
Longtime Trans Am competitor David Pintaric took delivery of the very first AR3.
“I was fortunate to be involved with Mr. Riley’s last design project; my current car is chassis No. 1,” said Pintaric. “It was an honor to work with him. He was a great engineer, but an even greater man. He will be missed.”
Three-time TA champion Chris Dyson has been utilizing the AR3 for the last three seasons at his team, CD Racing, including his title-winning years in 2022 and 2023. He has earned two victories in the car this season.
“Twenty-four years ago, I began my professional racing career in a Riley & Scott Mk III, and this year, I’m still winning races in a car that Bob designed,” said Dyson. “That Bob remained a thoughtful and creative force in racecar design through his 80s and into his early 90s is a testament to how his work continues to influence the sport. It was my honor to work with him and enjoy so much success together.”
2009 TA champion Tomy Drissi has driven many Riley cars over the years, and currently owns a stable of them at his team, Drissi Motorsports.
“We lost a racing legend in Bob Riley, and he will never be forgotten,” said Drissi. “I am proud to have driven his cars to poles and wins, and I hope to have many more with him riding along with me.”
A two-time CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion, Gar Robinson made his TA class debut last year in the season finale at Circuit of The Americas behind the wheel of a Riley car, winning the event. He said at the time, “That was probably my favorite start ever in all my all my starts in motorsports. These are the most fun cars to drive. Being able to drive against all the guys that my dad used to drive against, all the legends, and to be a part of it and to share it with all my friends and family is amazing. Extending the relationship between my family and Riley Motorsports and being back here in Trans Am has made this the best day ever.”
TA Technical Director Aaron Coalwell reflected on his meetings with Riley.
“I am relatively new to motorsports compared to Bob Riley, and even though I have heard the name of Bob Riley for many years, I only met Bob after the release of the Riley AR3 car for Trans Am in 2023,” said Coalwell. “Each of the few times I met with Bob, he was so gracious with his time, and willing to share his vast motorsports experience; it made me feel like I had known him much longer than I had. The motorsports world was a better place for Bob Riley being in it, and he will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences go out to Bill Riley and the entire Riley Technologies organization.”
The Trans Am Series expresses condolences to Riley’s family, friends and employees.
