Eighinger: Bob Scott’s quiet, understated legacy will be part of Grand Prix of Karting forever

QUINCY — On the surface, Bob Scott often came across as a bit gruff. He was never shy about giving you a piece of his mind.

And that was the beauty of Bob, who beneath that somewhat rough exterior housed a heart filled with unmatched compassion. If you took the time to know Bob — actually sit down and discuss the world with him — that compassion was evident, and it was next to impossible to walk away from a conversation with him and not feel better about life itself.

And the best part about Bob? He didn’t have to advertise his good deeds. He never sought attention or recognition. He simply did things the right way.

Scott, who had served as technical director of the Grand Prix of Karting and before that owned and operated Quincy Raceways, passed away earlier this year. His presence will be greatly missed this year’s Grand Prix June 29-29 at South Park.

Bob was 78 at the time of his death in early February.

“He had a heart of gold, and would do anything for anyone,” said his son, Jeff Scott, who is in his second year as director of Grand Prix.

I couldn’t agree more.

Since the time of Bob’s death, I have talked several times with Jeff. Shortly after word had reached me of his father’s passing, I called Jeff to let him know how I had felt about his dad. That’s when Jeff told me of how much Bob had suffered in recent years. 

Bob, who was a Vietnam War veteran, earning both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, 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 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.

Few know that Bob was nationally known for his technical expertise when it came to karting. In recent years, he had served as a chief steward at major races across the country.

Bob was also 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 to Jeff.

In recent years, and especially since his passing, I’ve had acquaintances come forward telling me stories of how much Bob had helped them on various projects. And the best thing about what he did? It wasn’t for any sort of headline or grand thank you.

Bob simply did whatever the task called for because it was the right thing to do.