Bob D’Amore

Born Oct. 27, 1935 // A native of West Newbury, Mass., Bob D’Amore is the very definition of an east coast hot rodder active in the ’50s. Bob got off to a slow start (attempting to street race his father’s Oldsmobile) but quickly learned the art of hopping up Ford’s venerable flathead V8 and soon found himself to be the terror of the Boston street racing scene in the early/mid-1950s. Making the unusual choice to go with a ’37 Ford Business coupe, Bob was able to fool nearly any potential fellow hot rodder into a race simply based on the sedate and frumpy appearance of his little coupe. This tactic makes Bob one of the earlier known users of the now popular “sleeper” strategy. He not only ran his ’37 on the street in and around the Boston area but also at one of the first NHRA Drag Safari competitions in the northeast. Bob would go on to compete in various forms of auto racing, from hill climbs to SCCA road racing. The later of which he is still involved with today. A real deal car guy and great storyteller, we think you’ll enjoy listening in as Bob takes you through the sounds sights and smells of early hot rodding in 1950s New England.

Running time 27:03