Bob Robertson
One of the most familiar faces at race meetings for decades, BOB ROBERTSON passed away in his sleep aged 82 on 25th December in Calvary Retirement Village, Cessnock.
Bob competed in just about every form of motorcycle sport, on a wide variety of machines including, many of which he constructed himself. He had suffered a stroke ten years ago and had been in care ever since, but another stroke two years ago made life very tough thereafter.
In an amazing racing career that took him to A Grade in Short Circuit (Dirt Track), Bob was also a keen scrambles rider, initially on BSAs and Velocettes and in the latter years on Bultacos. In 1966 he won the Australian Hill Climb Championships at King Edward Park in his native Newcastle, taking out the Unlimited class on a 750 Norton owned by John Ferrier and the 350 class on his own Velocette.
Bob was president of the Northern Centre of the Auto Cycle Union of NSW for many years, and when scrambles (motocross) circuits in NSW were scarce in the ‘sixties, was a very hard worker to establish and run the Sugarloaf Circuit at Minmi. He also lectured, trained and mentored at road safety and rider education.
In 2009 Bob and his son Lance (who was often his sidecar passenger at Classic Race meetings) embarked on a ‘bucket list’ tour, buying a camper van to spectate at the Isle of Man TT, as many
British speedway meetings as they could fit in, and numerous other motorcycling related activities. They were also regular visitors to New Zealand for the Velocette rallies, although Bob’s stroke forced the cancellation of the third planned tour.
Bob was a long time member and president of the Mayfield MCC, and a member for many years of Lakes MCC. A tremendously popular figure, especially in Newcastle, Bob was farewelled at the Newcastle Memorial Park (Newcastle Crematorium) on Tuesday 5 January 2021.