BOB NOTTINGHAM - Inducted 2004

Pioneer - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

by Larry Braine from information supplied by Keith Warren, 2004

Bob Nottingham 1967 Ford  (Bob Nottingham collection)

Bob was a drag racing star from the time he started racing in 1962. His first race car was a new Chev 409; he raced it at Arlington and Kent in Washington. After a little super-tuning, he was winning A/stock class with very quick 13.06 et. In 1962-63, he and Dave Johnstone built a blown, injected Chev powered dragster.

Bob switched to MOPAR in 1964-65, racing a 1963 Dodge 383 in class C automatic. He won 40 trophies, running times of 13.60 sec. In 1966-67, Fogg motors and Ford Motor Co. sponsored Ford Fairlanes for Bob to run. The ’66 Fairlane 390 ran in B/SA at 13.60 et. The 1967 Fairlane was a rare 427 ci Ford factory race car. With this potent machine, Bob ran 11.60 et.

Bob raced a 57 Chev. 283/283HP in 1968-69 which ran at, or under the
I/SA record. At Mission in 1969, he was awarded the Trophy for the Most Winning Race Car.

In 1970 Bob started racing the car that brought him the most glory: a 1966 Chev 4 door sedan. He ran the car in
P/S class with a 283/220 HP and was a consistent winner and six time NHRA

Bob Nottingham 1967

record holder. Bob converted the car to run in O/S class and again won races and set records. He was invited to the NHRA World Finals and qualified fourth while running under his own record time.

In 1971, at Mission Raceway, he was awarded the Most Outstanding

Performance by a local racer.

Bob continued racing the ‘66 Chev in 1972, and due to a rule change, the car now ran in SS/R class. With an allowed cam and manifold change, the car ran under the record in the first race, defeating well-known racers Buck Kinney, Dave Wren and others. Bob set records with this car that were not broken for two years. In the fall of 1972, Bob retired from racing.

In later years Bob restored a ‘64 Corvette Coupe and a ‘66 427 Convertible. In 1985, he built a 1934 Ford Tudor, and in 1991 built a 1934 Ford Cabriolet.

Bob is currently helping his son, Mike build a clone of his 1967 Ford Fairlane race car.

Bob Nottingham is a serious drag racing competitor, from the day he starting in 1962 to this day over forty years later.