RPW Column: Orange County & Nazareth Speedway Legend Bob Shoenberger Passes

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – NAZARETH, PA – It was with great sadness that a beloved member of the Orange County/Nazareth scene passed away on Sunday, October 18th.

Bob Shoenberger raced at area speedways in the Sportsman division from the 70’s until the 80’s, winning features at at both OCFS and Nazareth during his racing career. His clean and sharp looking #43’s were some of the best remembered cars of the era. In recent years, Bob was a fixture at the OCFS Nostalgia Night, usually wearing the same style Goodyear hat that he wore during his racing days. It was always easy to see just how much Shelly was enjoying the festivities.

Occasionally, a celebrity would join Bob in his pit. Longtime boxer and former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes would sometimes show up to watch Shelly race. Larry and Bob had been friends for many years, both living in Easton, Pa. with Bob’s business, 13th Street Sunoco, located there. Bob had on the hood of his 43 Larry’s nickname, ‘The Easton Assassin’.

I didn’t know Bob during his racing years. But sometime, quite a few years ago, he noticed on a racing message board some of my old OCFS photos and I sent him the link to my photo pages. Through social media, we got to be talking about the old days of racing and we formed a great friendship. Bob loved to talk about racing and I really enjoyed listening to his stories. He was always so complimentary of my photography and more recently, my writing.

Shelly was such a a good person and he had a really big heart. He took a big liking to my sons. One time, he saw on social media that I was taking my boys to Pocono Raceway for the day. He messaged me and told me to go to the Racing Electronics trailer and get radios for the boys so they could listen to the race chatter. He told me not to worry about paying for it, that it was already taken care of. He did that for a few years for the boys and they really enjoyed it. That’s the type of guy Bob was, just a wonderful friend to us with a heart of gold.

When Bob had his first bout with his health issues, another great friend of mine, Jerry Wildrick, heard about what he was going through. Jerry didn’t know Bob, but he got a hold of him and told him that if he beat his issues, he would do a tribute car for him of his Vega. Jerry wanted to give Shelly some incentive to win his fight. By this time, Jerry already had 2 tribute cars done and a third one almost complete. When Bob finished his treatments and won his battle, Jerry followed through. He and Bob began trying to track down what they would need to put together the Vega.

Things were going well until Jerry tried to find a Vega roof. They searched and searched with no luck. A promising lead turned out to be a swindler that cost Jerry $600. Finally, Jerry told Bob that the project was no longer active.

But Jerry never gave up. Eventually, he was able to find a roof in Texas. Jerry and Bob’s wife, Donna, decided to keep it a secret that the project was once again active. Their plan was to surprise Bob with it at the 2018 OCFS Nostalgia Night.

Somehow, Bob never found out. When he and Donna arrived for the Nostalgia Night festivities, people were waiting with anticipation to see his reaction. When he rounded the corner and saw the back of the Vega, he did a double take. and his reaction that followed was priceless. It remains as one of the most favorite moments I’ve ever seen at OCFS. I was so happy for him that day. Jerry brought to Bob so much joy with that car for the last 2+ years and I’m so glad that he had that time to enjoy it. It was so good of Jerry to do that for Bob, he is another one with a big and good heart.

Race Pro Weekly, my sons and myself send our deepest condolences to Bob’s wife, Donna, his daughters and other family members along with his racing family and friends.

We will always treasure the friendship and kindness that you showed to us Shelly. Heaven has gained one heck of a racer and an even better person.