LAKEPORT — Longtime race car driver and track manager Bob Strauss of Lucerne was inducted into the Lakeport Speedway/Northern California Racing Association Hall of Fame on Saturday night as part of the 15th annual NCRA Founder”s Cup Race at the Lakeport Speedway.
Strauss was called up into the grandstands after winning the trophy dash in his No. 11 modified to receive his award. A shocked Strauss said he was “very surprised and blown away” when he learned that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Most of the other members of the Hall of Fame are great friends of mine,” Strauss said. “And I”m very proud to be a part of their group.”
Strauss has been a member of NCRA since 1968. He began his racing career in 1969 in a $159 claimer, a car in which he shared driving duties with brother-in-law Jack Humphrey and friend Lawrence Frazier.
His next car was a 1959 Plymouth that was painted green with purple flames. It was known as the bat-mobile. The following year his paint scheme was exactly the opposite … a purple car with green flames. And from the beginning, Strauss” car carried the No. 11.
He graduated to the stock car division in 1973 and earned “rookie of the year” honors that season. Strauss won his first championship in 1974, claiming the track championships at Lakeport and Ukiah as well as the overall NCRA championship.
His other championships came in 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1989 in the super stock division; and 1993, 1996 and 2003 in the modified division.
Strauss introduced the IMCA modified to the state of California in 1989 and started the class the following year. It has since become the top division at Lakeport Speedway. He also developed the L.A. Cruiser class and was responsible for bringing the “boat races” to Lakeport Speedway.
In the pits Strauss is known as “Doctor Bob” because he offers advice, loans parts and lends a helping hand to anyone who needs his help.
Strauss served 12 years on the NCRA board of directors before taking over as the Lakeport Speedway track manager.?He and his wife Nadine were voted RPM Promoters of the year in 2003.?He still takes care of track maintenance at Lakeport and is currently driving both a modified and an L.A. Cruiser.
Strauss, who will turn 62 in the summer, is the 10th person to be inducted into the Lakeport Speedway Hall of Fame. The other prestigious members are Jim McKinney, Gus Schnabl, NCRA founding fathers Jim Daniel, Ted Neilson, Vic Henry, Bill Robison, Bill Deschamp and Darrell Billups, and longtime speedway supporter Bill McVey, who was the last inductee in 2004.
