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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">19/03/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Bob Wollek</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">By Martin Haven</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/llekBy%20MAME.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> <BR> Eurosport’s Martin Haven wasn’t in Florida for the Sebring 12 Hours, and he was glad he wasn’t there. Readers have expressed their feeelings on Bob’s death, in considerable numbers, on the Racing-Talk Forum and on PSCR’s Forum. His contributions to sportscar racing over such a long period have guaranteed his place in many people’s thoughts and memories. The list of his accomplishments on the track (compiled by Janos Wimpffen, in the Sebring section of the site) goes to show how far he travelled, criss-crossing his way around the world, doing what he loved. Ed.<BR> <BR> <BR> I started becoming interested in sportscar racing at the beginning of the 80s. Every year since then, Bob Wollek has been a fixture in the scene and more recently, I have been privileged not just to admire him from track-side, but to get to know him at close-quarters, at work and play.<BR> <BR> It doesn't take a tragedy like this to make you think of Bob but now, of course, those little moments frozen in time crystallise themselves.<BR> <BR> I will remember Bob, shaking with silent tears of frustration and disappointment in the tiny holding room off the Le Mans podium, while just three feet away, Allan McNish was barely able to contain his delight and relief at winning the great race...<BR> <BR> I will remember, too, the frustrations of a pole-sitting Lancia with a gearbox full of detritus, surrounded by ill-disguised chaos...<BR> <BR> I will remember his often fiery opinions and fury at injustices, which he would express in private and then repeat - fluently and convincingly – for the cameras...<BR> <BR> I will never forget time spent with Bob out of overalls. Dinner was a prime chance to sound him out on the form of others, past and present; on politics and wheeler-dealing within the sport; on the delights and disappointments of the sport.<BR> <BR> But most of all, dinner with Bob and Mimi was a chance to enjoy good food and wine in the company of a charming couple, who welcomed all that life has to offer and enjoyed it to the full.<BR> <BR> Such men do not come along often and we are all the poorer when we bid one of them goodbye... Donington without Bob will be very grey indeed...<BR> <BR> Martin Haven.<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>