Dear Kathy, I'm so sorry for the loss of your dad. I just found out this week, and would have visited had i known sooner. I hope you remember me, and i want you to know that i am praying for your strength right now. If you need anything please e-mail me. Vinnie

KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN IN THE TAPE DECK COLORED LOGS IN THE FIREPLACE AND A BOTTLE OF COLD DUCK ON ICE WAS HOW WE SPENT MANY SATURDAY NIGHTS IN THE OFF SEASON. A WINNING NIGHT AT WALL AND IT WAS BACK TO BOBBY'S HOUSE TO CELEBRATE TILL THE WEE HOURS. THE IMPROMPTU PARTIES WERE ALWAYS BETTER THAN THE ONES THAT WERE PLANNED. HOW MANY TIMES DID WE ARRIVE AT BOBBY'S HOUSE AFTER A RACE AND HE'D HAVE TO GO WAKE LINDA UP AND TELL HER THERE WAS A PARTY HAPPENING DOWNSTAIRS? OR SOMETIMES THE PARTY WAS AT EVERNHAM'S IN HAZLET IF THE CELEBRATION INVOLVED RAY'S GOOD FORTUNE. BOBBY WAS ALWAYS COORDINATING SOMETHING! WE HAVE MEMORIES TO FILL A HUNDRED LIFETIMES. HE WAS A VALUED MEMBER OF THE #11 RACE TEAM. HE MADE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN THEY NEEDED TO HAPPEN. HE AND A COUPLE OTHERS WOULD SEND JIM HOME TO GET SOME SLEEP WHEN IT GOT LATE, BUT BOBBY WOULD STAY ALL NIGHT IF NEED BE, TO GET THE CAR RACE READY. THERE WAS ONLY ONE TINY INCIDENT WHERE BOBBY AND JIM HAD WORDS AND WE ULTIMATELY LAUGHED ABOUT IT. BOBBY, FOR SOME REASON, THOUGHT THE #11 WOULD LOOK GOOD WITH BRIGHT BLUE HEADERS. JIM AND I STOPPED BY THE SHOP ON OUR WAY HOME FROM DINNER, JIM SAW THE HEADERS AND WENT BALLISTIC! BOBBY ARGUED THAT THEY LOOKED GREAT, BUT JIM SAID HE WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR WITH BLUE HEADERS AND THAT WAS THAT. THE NEXT MORNING JIM WENT DOWN TO THE SHOP AND THE HEADERS WERE ONCE AGAIN THEIR NORMAL COLOR. LINDA AND I WOULD SOMETIMES WANT TO BE 'HELPFUL' AND BOBBY WOULD ASSIGN US TO PAINTING THE RAISED LETTERS ON THE RACE SLICKS WHITE! I REMEMBER SACRIFICING AN EYELINER BRUSH OR TWO ON THOSE PROJECTS! BOBBY HAD MORE RACE STORIES THAN ANYONE COULD TELL IN A LIFETIME AND DIDN'T NEED ANY ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET STARTED. IT USUALLY RESULTED IN US LAUGHING SO HARD WE WERE CRYING AND OUR SIDES WOULD HURT! ONE SATURDAY NIGHT THE FOUR OF US ATTENDED A RACE BANQUET ON LONG ISLAND. A GOOD PARTY AND A CHANCE FOR LINDA AND I TO DRESS UP. WE LEFT AND IT WAS VERY LATE AND WE GOT ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY GOING EAST. NOT SURE HOW FAR WE WENT BEFORE WE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO BE GOING WEST! WE WERE LOW ON GAS AND AT THREE AM TRYING TO FIND A GAS STATION IN MANHATTAN THAT WAS OPEN AND NOT IN A HORRIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT A NIGHT! BOBBY NEVER TIRED OF TELLING THAT ONE. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT NOT HAVING BOBBY WITH US; I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY SUNK IN YET. KATHY AND CARL CAN BE VERY PROUD OF ALL HE DID FOR OTHERS IN THE RACING WORLD. WE MISS HIM TERRIBLY AND I DON'T THINK THE HOLE IN OUR HEARTS WILL EVER GO AWAY. GODSPEED BOB, WE HOPE YOU'VE FOUND THE PEACE YOU WERE SEEKING.

Dear Carl and Family, I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of your father. I worked with him for 4 years at IROC from 1994 to 1998. He was a great friend and mentor during those years. We spent many of hours together at work, in vans going to Daytona,Michigan, Darlington, Talladega and others. But, the most fun we had together was at the local short tracks around those areas. I enjoyed many hours of bench racing from the good ole' days that your dad passionately spoke of. He always made racing and traveling fun! Godspeed Bobby!!! Your Friend, Todd Geiger

Dear Carl & Cathy, Joanne and I send our deepest sympathy and are very sorry we did not make it up to NJ for the services. As a kid I knew who Bobby was, watching Jim Hoffman in the 42 and Bobby's #11 coupe during the 70's & 80's. I met BT in 1984 when I went to work at IROC and worked with him for probably 15 years. He was always the guy with many years of experience that would always be there to help out the next new kid to come along in the racing business. He was a guy who took a lot of pride in the way his cars were prepared. After all the work was done, he could keep you laughing for hours telling racing stories and some of his famous quotes. I still borrow a few of them every now and then. Rest in peace BT.

Dear Carl, Kathy and everyone in Bobby's family: My deepest sympathy. Bobby was a great guy to talk with and especially to laugh with. We worked together at IROC for over a decade and shared good times. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.

My condolences to you Carl, Kathy and the rest of Bobbys family.My Friend since the NUSS Gas Station days,He 17 with a 63' chevy Impala cruiser and I 19 with a 64'Impala Z11 "409" Street Racer.Many a night was spent in Jimmys garage working on cars and just having fun,one in particular always comes to mind.On this Turkey Derby day the 11 wouldn't handle for love or money! Jim went back out and the car ripped a right rear upper link right out of the chrome Moly tubing,Jim got out of the car and told Bobby he could cut the car up as far as he was concerned,Jim was totally discusted.Bobby had been wanting to change the rear set up all season,Bobby asked Jim for one thing and that was to be first in line with his racing suit on ready to get in the car to qualify the next morning.We had everything we needed back at Jims Shop in Keyport,Bobby looked at me with that Big Smile of his and said Brownie lets go cut that car up. We spent the whole night replacing the rear suspension on Jims 11, was first in line the next morning, went out going from close to last in the field to a top 10 starting position.That was one of those "Special Moments" we all experience in Racing and bring out during the many "Bench Racing" sessions now a days.

Bobby and I were best friends growing up in Keyport. Bobby was like part of our family. We lived on the same block and walked to school together almost every day. We spent most of our out nights at the shop working on stock cars for Dick Owens and Jim Hoffman. On weekends we would travel as part of the racing team. We raced at Wall Stadium East Windsor, Flemington, Middletown, NY, Martinsville and Daytona to name a few. Those were the days. I remenber when Bobby was 17 his father bought him a Plymouth Roadrunner. Even though we moved apart I always thought of you as a friend and you will be missed. My condolances go out to Kathy and Carl and the rest of his family.

I am very sorry for your loss. I hope your great memories will get you through this very difficult time. You are in my thoughts & prayers. Allie

Please accept my deepest sympathies at this most difficult time. My thoughts are with Robert's entire family. Best wishes, Donna Wallis (John McCormack's sister)

I wish I could be there with everyone, other IROC teammates and all who knew Bobby. I send my heartfelt condolences to Carl, Kathy and the rest of Bobby's family. Bobby would be okay with me not being able to come because I'm working out here at the Brickyard for the 400. I'm staying where we used to stay during the IROC years, where we shared laughs, sweated our asses off and celebrated our season's championships. BT will always be a champion in my book -- a model racer and mentor to all. Checkered Flag Bobby.

Bobby: You will surely be missed. You where one of the best most caring people I have ever met. It was an honor for me to know you and I will never forget you. God Bless.

I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the entire Thomas family. Bob was a good friend , a very nice guy, and will be missed by us all. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, Don Stives

Booby, I'm sorry I didnt call you. I knew how much IROC and Wall Stadium meant to you and how deeply it affected you when they closed, but, I still didnt call. I thought of you often and wondered how you were, assuming the whole time that everything would work out for the best. I guess it did, but I wish it wasnt this way. I was looking forward to having you help us with the car, and working in the new garage, I just wished I called you. You were great, funny, caring, and always genuine. I will miss you and pray for you and your family. And, I will try to call those people that I've been meaning to. Love ya, jim