Bobby Marshall RIP

BrentTFunk · 12/29/21, 1:04 PM

I just saw that Bobby Marshall died. He was one the original Qutlaws. A great guy. He had great stories. He had many about James Mcelreath and Jan Opperman. Lucky that I saw him race. RIP

kendirt · 12/29/21, 2:36 PM

I'm really going to miss the stories and pictures he posted in his FB group.

motorhead748 · 12/29/21, 3:03 PM

I never raced against him or even met him but his stories & posts on FB made it seem as he were a good friend. RIP

Charles Nungester · 12/29/21, 4:23 PM

Was going to post last night but figured wasn't my place as I didn't know him personally.

His history and Christian post on FB is where I knew him from even though I did see him race a few times.

Jerry Shaw · 12/29/21, 9:34 PM

Yesterday was such a sad day. Not only was Bobby a hell of a racer, he was also a gifted storyteller. And most of his stories weren't even about himself. So many of them were about racers and characters in the early days of the World of Outlaws, the Texas racing scene and he and his dad's travels, in the life of a true "outlaw" sprint car driver. So many of those stories introduced you to those friends and taught you just what kind of a person they were. Jim, James and Shirley McElreath were in quite a few of them, because he was close to them. Jan Opperman, also, because he was a friend and obviously someone Bobby looked up to.

He talked often about the incredible amount of charisma Jan had and in one story, he described how previously Jim didn't like Jan "because he was a hippie", but when he took Jan over to Jim's shop and introduced them, Jan "won him over with his charisma" and Jim liked him from that point on. And James and Jan were very close.

There were hundreds of stories like this, from Bobby and if you followed him in the Facebook groups he frequented, his stories allowed you to get to know not only these racing people, but so many others. Because of Bobby, I almost feel like I knew the McElreaths and Jan. I will always be thankful to Bobby Marshall for sharing what he did. R.I.P. racer.

Jerry

flagboy55 · 12/29/21, 10:33 PM

Jerry, you and everyone else are correct in the tribute to Bobby. Some of us who saw a lot of his posts are probably amazed by his humility. Seldom did he blow his own horn, in spite of the fact he was very much a great racer who raced against some of the all time greats. Rest In Peace Bobby Marshall

Will Shunk · 12/30/21, 12:26 PM

I had a "God Wink" yesterday. I decided to pull out my old 1977 non wing sprint cars @ Limaland 8mm film transferred to DVD, to try to upload to FB. I was unable to upload BUT I did relive Gaines, Ferkel, Allen, AND Marshall's powder blue #19 hammering through the highbanks. Today I learn of Bobby Marshall's passing. Odd coincidence, likely. RIP Bobby.