Bob Wilder

Bob Wilder
Nationality	American
Born	Robert John Wilder, Jr. c. 1921 Palmer, Massachusetts, USA
Died	22 May 1953(1953-05-22) Bridgehampton Race Circuit, USA

Robert John Wilder, Jr. (c. 1921 – 22 May 1953), was a native of Massachusetts, who was an American racing driver who completed in the SCCA National Sports Car Championships between 1951 and 1953.

Career

Wilder served 18 months in the United States Air Force during World War II and had raced since being discharged. His most notable results was a third place in the 1953 12 Hours of Sebring, taking a class win, when he partnered Sherwood Johnston, in a Jaguar C-Type. The season before, he was seventh in the overall SCCA National Sports Car Championship standings, after winning Climb To The Clouds, at the Mount Equinox, and the Burke Mountain Hill Climb, setting hill climbing records in the process.^[1][2]

Historically, Bob and Rowland Keith who were co-drivers on the 1950 Six Hours of Sebring endurance race, were shown as Canadians, as a result of driving a car from a Canadian dealer, despite Bob being the entrant. The par finished 14th in their MG TC.^[1]

Death

On 22 May 1953, the Chicago Tribune reported that Wilder was killed when his Allard J2X Le Mans went out of control during a practice session for the Bridgehampton Sports Car Races. The car struck a depression in the road after crossing a bridge at high speed and rolled over. He was strapped in with a safety belt. His head was crushed.^[3]

Racing record

Career highlights

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1953	A. H. Feverbacher	Sherwood Johnston	Jaguar C-Type	S5.0	162	3rd	1st

References