Tribute to Bob Scott: Beneath that sometimes gruff exterior was “a heart of gold”

Looking back, I realize how much I enjoyed the years I was able to call Bob Scott a friend.

When I moved to Quincy late in the summer of 1998, Bob, who died Monday at age 78, was one of my first contacts. At the time, Bob owned and operated the local dirt track, Quincy Raceways, and I absolutely loved the sport. I had been around dirt tracks for most of life since my older brother had been a driver and later a car owner.

My first impressions of Bob were what I think most who had come to know him over the years probably had. I’m smiling as I write this, and for those of you who knew Bob, I’m pretty sure you’re smiling, too. You know what’s coming next.

At first glance, and even at first conversation, Bob could come across as a bit gruff.  But once that facade had been breached, I quickly discovered a different Bob Scott. There was so much more to him than that rather stern disposition he liked to showcase to the public. 

“He had a heart of gold, and would do anything for anyone,” said his son, Jeff Scott, in a well-deserved tribute.

I couldn’t agree more.

I chatted briefly with Jeff shortly after word had reached me of his father’s passing. I called him to let him know how I had felt about his dad, and that’s when Jeff told me of how much he had suffered in recent years. Bob had endured a number of major health issues, including seven back surgeries.

I always looked at Bob as an extremely private person. Spotlights were not for him, which was too bad because there were times he was certainly deserving. He did so much behind the scenes that few people probably realized how big that heart of gold his son spoke about actually was.

For years, Bob worked in virtual anonymity on the the Festival of Lights, the holiday showcase at Moorman-Wavering Park that Quincyans have enjoyed for years. It had grown into a year-round project for Bob, with his only reward being able to see the faces of the families and children who enjoyed driving through the holiday treat from around Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

In recent years, I’ve had acquaintances come forward telling me stories of how much Bob had helped them on various projects. The best thing about what he did? It wasn’t for any sort of headline, it was simply the right thing to do.

Few people probably realize Bob was a Vietnam War veteran, earning both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. And beneath that sometimes-gruff exterior was an incredible family man who loved spending time with his grandkids, whether it was at a dance recital or watching them race karts. Not surprisingly, Bob enjoyed trying to “teach them every piece of knowledge he could,” according Jeff.

Surprisingly, at least to me, was when I found out Bob loved playing roller hockey — until his body would no longer allow it at age 60. There were many levels to Bob, and all of them were interesting.

Probably more than anything else, Bob and his family will always be looked at as an integral part of Quincy’s racing history. Sure, the Scott family’s ties to other recreational outlets such as roller skating and Scotties Fun Spot (which features numerous kids’ activities, arcade games, skating, miniature golf and bumper cars) are equally well-known, but it was always the dirt-track racing that was synonymous with the Scotts.

Quincy Raceways has long been a regional mecca for dirt-track racers — the boys who make the noise. The .29-mile semi-banked site at 8000 Broadway has been a home away from home for local racers and fans on must Sunday nights from early spring to early fall since 1975.

Bob’s dad, Albert, who died in late 2000 at age 87, founded the track. Bob had taken over operation of the 28.5-acre facility in 1993 and ran Quincy Raceways until the family sold it in 2007.

I’ve talked with numerous drivers and racing personalities over the years about the track and its impact.

Terry Gallaher, who was on hand when Bob and his family were honored as part of the track’s 40th anniversary celebration, noted, “The track has always been one of the neat things about this region … and I’ve raced all over the country.”

On that night, Bob and his family, drew a rousing ovation, the fans’ way of saying “thank you”. It was a fitting tribute that I will always remember.

Mark Burgtorf, the 16-time late model track champion and arguably the most popular driver to ever race there, told me more than a decade ago that racing at Quincy was “what you lived for back then”. He, too, praised the effort of Bob and his family.

Steven DeLonjay, one of the most successful modified drivers in track history, may have summed up best what Bob and his family meant to the Quincy area. “I can’t thank the Scotts enough for giving us this track,” he told me in 2014.

If you were fortunate enough to have known Bob and are planning on attending races this season at 8000 Broadway, you might want to take a moment on opening night and simply look around the track, take a deep breath and whisper to yourself, “Thanks, Bob.”

I can promise you won’t be alone.