Bob Hanes

He was one of the charter members of the Pandragger Association in 1951 when he owned a ‘34 Ford Model A hot rod.
Bob began drag racing in 1953 and continued until 1955, but did not get a chance to resume racing again until 1959, due to four years of service in the US Marines. He was one of the first in the Lansing area to build a rail frame dragster.

Bob began his oval track career in 1968. He won features at Owosso, Spartan, Dixie, Crystal, Mt. Pleasant, and Merritt Speedways. Bob earned a Mount Pleasant Speedway season championship in 1973. Bob, ever resourceful on a limited budget, regularly won against cars with 10 times more money invested.
”Watching Bob Hanes race with so very few dollars invested,” said veteran driver Ed Damer, “makes you wonder what the guy could do with a good sponsor backing him.”
By the early 1980’s, when Late Model investments had climbed to ever larger amounts, Bob Hanes closed the book on another racing chapter. “When a form of racing gets too expensive, we move on to something else, said Bob.” He then looked to the direction of Mud Bog Drag racing.

He also set the state record that year for the cut-tire class in Harrison, MI. In 1996, Bob won 31 of 33 races entered, taking 2nd in the other two! Bob was the 1997 Michigan Mud Racing Champion. From 1998 through 2002, Bob won all four Mud classes in Michigan sanctioned with the Concerned Mud Racers Association. From 2003 through 2005, Bob Hanes won the non-supercharged 4-wheel drive class. In 2006, Bob's son-in-law, Mark Schumacher joined the team and is Bob's driver for the 4wd class. With Bob's "old school" and Mark's "new school" approach, they have Bob's 4wd-modified car running faster than ever before, and this teamwork shows great promise for many seasons to come.