Bob Middleton has been involved in some form of speedway and circuit racing for thirty years. In this time he has raced oval track speedway various cars and circuits including an EH, Torana, Pontiac, Corvette, Camaro and even a go kart just to mention a few!
Bob competed in the 1994 Australian Grand Prix Thundersports in a Chevrolet Camaro and also ran in the inaugural 2000 Le Mans on the streets of Adelaide.
Bob also competed in numerous sport sedan meets taking out 3rd in the SA Title and the Dennis Dix Memorial at Mallala. Bob commenced racing Nascars as they were known then, in 1995 at which time it was commented that the SA driver was one of the fastest “rookie’s” in some five years having qualified at his first meet at 28.66 but doing laps as low as 28.2 during the course of the race at the Thunderdome.
Sporting magazines at the time said his first meet was a fabulous debut race. In each season Bob finished well up in the top 10 for the series. Along the way he won numerous awards including:
• Best presented car and crew several times
• Nascar encouragement award
• Hard Charger awards
• 1st place Thunderdome – Round 6 in the 1996/97 season
• 1996/97 Formula 1 GP in the Nascars & Bathurst in 1998
• 1999 raced as co-driver in a BMW at a 3 hour endurance race at Bathurst finishing 2nd in the class.
• Bob drove in the Super Truck Series for co-drivers with several podium finishes.
In January/February of 2002 Bob competed in the New Zealand championship of the supertrucks, driving for Inky Tulloch Motorsport in the second Super Truck. In 2002 Whiteline Racing then purchased and transported the Volvo to Australia to campaign the 2002 series in Australia with The Builder achieving several podium finishes. In 2003 the decision was made to retire the Volvo. From chassis up a new Freightliner with a C12 Caterpillar was born, competing in Australia and New Zealand with 2004 Bob ‘The Builder’ taking out the Trans Tasman Championship in New Zealand, followed by the Australian 2005 Championship.
Bob would also take out the National Title in 2006, 2007, 2008 and, in what was a close and controversial finish, 2nd in 2009. In 2009 Bob also ran in The Biante Touring Car Masters in a 1969 Camaro and would finish 11th in the Group 1 Category.
| Driver: | Bob Middleton |
| Make: | Freightliner |
| Model: | 2004 Century Class |
| Chassis: | Cab |
| Engine: | 12 litre C12 Caterpillar twin turbo |
| Power: | 1600 horsepower at 1800 rpm |
| Gearbox: | ZF 5-speed auto |
| Diff: | Eaton limited slip |
| Brakes: | ABS front and rear disc brakes |
| Steering: | Ross power steering |
| Wheels: | ROH Wheels Australia |
| Weight: | 5000 kg |
| Suspension: | Coil over shockers - adjustable |
| Fuel: | Diesel - 100 Litre capacity |
