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Dr Lawrence Piro spoke next and said, “Bob wouldn’t have cared about his funeral earlier today, but he would have loved this party at his museum.” Then Piro led a thirty-second cheer that reverberated throughout the huge tent. “Bob held court at any event that he attended,” said Piro, “and he always felt that he had something important to say and that others also had something important to say. He made you feel special.” Ruta Lee added, “Bob’s motto was ‘why worry,’ and he never did.” Ken Elliott took the microphone. “I was a friend of his for forty years. I am a shooter, just like Bob, and we enjoyed guns and the outdoors. Bob Petersen did as much for the sport of shooting as any man ever did. He kept Olympic shooting sports alive when others in the Olympic Committee wanted to terminate them,” said Elliott. Bruce Meyer introduced the next speaker and added, “Carroll Shelby and Pete Petersen were the best of friends and their phrase was let’s have a see through.” Then the jovial and always friendly Texan took the stage and the audience quieted. “I lost a lot of me last Friday,” said the suddenly somber Shelby. But he brightened his countenance and added, “Pete was always looking out after other people. That’s why we loved him so much. He called me and said, Ken Elliott’s in trouble, and needs pepping up after his last heart surgery. I know something about heart surgeries and so I called Ken. Pete cared about people,” said Shelby. “Bob used to be the clean up man. He dated a lot of starlets and he used to refer a few for me,” he said. Shelby continued, “I was pretty dejected in 1962 when I was building a sports car, but Bob pepped me up. That was the night Bob met Margie and he never looked at another woman after that."
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“Pete was always looking out after other people, that’s why we loved him so much”, said Carroll Shelby.
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The next to speak was Bill Tilley, a close friend of Bob’s, who said, “we are all tied together. Bob had a special relationship with Margie. Even while he was taking chemotherapy for the cancer afflicting him, he still had time for Margie,” said Tilley. “They suffered a horrible tragedy when they lost their sons. Their friends helped them through their loss, but Bob never forgot them,” Tilley added then finished, “I’m going to be with my boys,” Bob told Tilley. Arthur Kassel spoke on behalf of law enforcement. “I met Bob during the Sam Yorty campaign for mayor of the City of Los Angeles,” said Kassel. “Pete helped support law enforcement programs. He never said no when asked for help in supporting law men and their families,” Kassel added.
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Ruta Lee introduced the next speaker, Webb Lowe, who is her husband. “Behind every successful man is his wife, and behind Bob was Margie,” Lowe said. “Bob went from a man of the streets to a man of the world. He’s a real life Horatio Alger story. Bob was an energetic man always striving for success and was adept at nearly everything. He could talk to the man in the street and then communicate with the rich and the successful. But Bob’s greatest gift to us all was his inspiration,” added Lowe. John Dianna echoed that feeling. Dianna worked for Petersen, then left to create Buckaroo Communications. “I was one of the lucky ones to be involved with Bob,” said Dianna. “I left the East Coast with the intention of working for either Wally Parks or Bob Petersen. Bob made his employees feel comfortable. In his meetings he would let everyone talk then summarize the days agenda before he left. He drove us to success and treated us like his own family. I loved him because his causes were so pure. He provided a platform for the average hot rodder to achieve his dreams,” concluded Dianna.
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- Web Lowe said, “Bob went from a man of the streets to a man of the world”. Then asked everyone to give Bob a standing ovation.
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- “I was one of the lucky ones to be involved with Bob,” said John Dianna founder of Buckaroo Communications.
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Vic Edelbrock Jr was introduced. His corporate motto is known as ‘The Great Fun Team,’ and to see Vic with his wife Nancy and his daughters Chrissy and Camee showed how true that motto is. “Petersen was a great guy. I was there when Pete arrived on the scene. Bobby Meeks would give Pete a ride to the dry lakes. Pete made up an ad for my father and the next time dad saw him he yelled at Petersen,” said Vic Jr. “The phone is ringing off the hook because of your magazine ad,” Edelbrock remembered his father saying. “Pete helped SEMA when they were down and needed money, help and encouragement. Pete was a very gracious man and he helped people. Hot Rod Magazine started the success that hot rodding businessmen were to achieve,” finished Edelbrock. Dick Messer, the director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, thanked everyone for coming. “I will miss the talks we had. Pete was a handshake kind of guy. The phrase ‘your word is your bond’ describes the man. He had total integrity,” said Messer. “We had tough times getting the PAM started. I was in the board meetings and in the middle of the fight between the county of Los Angeles and the board members over the direction we wanted to go. The Natural History Museum wanted to take Pete’s donations and run. They thought they could take advantage of a man they thought little of, but Pete showed them the kind of businessman he was and formed a new board and negotiated the sale of the Museum from the county. Pete formed an independent board of directors that would continue on after he was gone. Margie now sits on the board of directors to continue Pete’s legacy. We aren’t going anywhere, our future is solid,” said Messer. “If they’re alive in our minds, then they’re still with us,” Messer reminded the crowd.
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Vic Edelbrock Jr was introduced, “Pete made up an ad for my father and the next time dad saw him he yelled at Petersen,” said Vic Jr. “The phone is ringing off the hook because of your magazine ad”.
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“I will miss the talks we had. Pete was a handshake kind of guy. The phrase ‘your word is your bond’ describes the man. He had total integrity,” said Dick Messer.
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Debbie Lewis spoke about the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the PAM. "Debbie Lewis is the publisher of Hot Rod Restoration Magazine and Trade Show. Her late husband was Jim Lewis, who started the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award six years ago. Wally Parks was the first to be honored. Following Parks was Carroll Shelby, George Barris, Andy Granatelli, Vic Edelbrock Jr and the Ford Family, with acceptance by Edsel Ford II," said Gigi Carleton. Ralph Panico was the next speaker and he told the crowd that “we always called him Mr Petersen. He was very special to have lunch with. He always supported the trade shows and was a blood and guts organizer. Pete took delight in what the admen and public relations guys did, since that was his roots,” said Panico. Phil Spagenberger told the audience that Petersen “was the most influential man in my life. He made his parties first class. They called me the ‘cowboy’ and Pete asked me to help him out whenever there was a western theme. For the Olympic games in 1984, Pete asked me to put on a Wild West show that wowed those from other countries,” Spagenberger said. Ruta Lee remarked to the crowd that Bob and Margie hosted many Balls, Banquets and fundraising events to help charities. She mentioned the Thalians, a charity close to the hearts of the Hollywood acting community. The program ended but the food, wine and music flowed on, just the way Robert E. Petersen would have loved it.
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Dan and Evi Gurney, racing legend, with Ed Justice Jr, (r), president of Justice Brother’s Car Care Products.
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Joann Brock, with Wally Parks, founder of NHRA.
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Linda Vaughan, Miss Hearst Shifter.
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Nick Arias, famous piston & engine manufacturer(l), with Dick Messers, Executive Director of the Peterson Museum.
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