"Broadway Bob" RIP

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Demon416

Demon416

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“Broadway Bob” Metzler, the innovative, creative, and beloved owner of Great Lakes Dragaway, died July 27. He was 83 and had been in failing health recently.
Metzler’s Union Grove, Wis., racetrack, which he opened in 1955, was a popular haunt for the touring teams of the 1970s, and remained a favorite among racers and fans to this day, even though he sold his interest years ago. The circus-like atmosphere of his annual Olympics of Drag Racing, a Midwest staple since 1957, was not to be missed. His signature act was to pose upon the nose of a jet dragster while it performed its pre-run fire show. Metzler was a inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the Jet Car Hall of Fame, quite a coup for a track operator, but emblematic of his station in the sport.
A friend reports that is his last visit with Metzler, he said, "Tell all the racers I love them all," and the feeling certainly was mutual among the legions of racers who answered his siren call to come race at Great Lakes.
Services will be held Friday, Aug. 3, in Union Grove, with funeral Saturday, Aug. 4, at the VA cemetery. He will be missed by all that knew him.
 
Bob Metzler was a very "colorful character." Always entertaining the crowd with his crazy antics. All the greatest drag racers respected him and showed up to race at Union Grove. Don Garlits and the like, came there to race, at what is now known as one of the best old drag strips in the country. RIP Bob.
 
Any of you guys at the Mopar show today at great lakes dragway, I was and broadway Bob will be dearly missed for sure.
 
Had many a Beer with Bob in the '60s and more with him and his Daughter in the '70's.The man was crazy about the cars,people and racing as long as you brought the beer. The first promoter with 3 day shows and big name racers.
EVERY big name raced at the "Grove" in the day. Bob would ride out on the hoods of the jet cars with a beer in his hand and crank up the crowds. I think he went into the Drag Racing Hall of Fame a number of years ago. He also helped to start the track in Byron,Il (where they raced 4 wide many years ago) and the track at Cordoba,Il. As most of us know Byron is the home of the wheel stand contest every fall.
Bob was one cool guy and knew most of us that visited right up to the end. Racing owes him a lot as far as promotions and showmanship. All tracks need a guy like Bob to make it fun and worth spending our money at.....He will be missed.
 
What a great man,had plenty of beers qwith him in the 80s he is surely going to be missed.RIP Bob.PBRS for everyone.
 
Raced at his tracks many times in the late 60s with my neighbor Lee Smith, in his F/X Plymouth. The racers loved the man.
 
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