Now in his early forties, Bob’s first alliance with motor racing occurred at the tender age of fourteen, when he was mechanic for John Ayres in the British Formula Ford championship. In 1979, instead of pursuing circuit racing, which at the time was too expensive, Bob and his brother bought a Riley Elf and converted it for use in the SPC Rallycross Championship. After five years and numerous wins with the Elf and Minis, Bob built a 1550cc Mini with Semi Space Frame to compete in the British Formula D Championship and Lydden Winter Series. Two years later, during 1985-1986, he founded a friendship with Trevor Hopkins, who used to sell him his used tyres. Trevor at the time raced a Ford Fiesta, and Bob became a long-term part of his team of mechanics, later working on his Ford RS200. Selling his Mini, Bob purchased a Fiesta from Sean McCadden, planning to rebuild it into Formula D specification. This project was then abandoned, when the Escort became available.

In 1990, Bob lost interest in racing (albeit only temporarily) after Trevor had given up Rallycross, and a few years later Trevor sadly passed away. During this time, he met Carol (now his partner of sixteen years) and they bought and renovated a house together. The Escort remained in storage though, and two years ago Bob decided to resurrect it, and is now racing again, fulfilling his long-term ambition of competing in Rallycross with a Supercar.