Bob Bauer Jr. lives in Elma, New York. He runs and operates Galaxy Auto Place Service Center. He started racing in 1994 with a 1981 Camaro racing in the Heavy ET (non-electronics) class and won his first time out! He then moved up to a 1977 Vega wagon that he ran for 13 years in the Pro ET class. In 2009 he hired John Torrelli of Torrelli Pro Cars in Lockport, NY to build him a new Pontiac GTO built around a legal Pro Stock design. It features a five star light weight composite body, carbon fiber front end, carbon fiber tubs, fabricated TPC housing, Strange 40 spline gun drilled axles, brakes, struts and an Ultra Case 3rd member. American Racing Pro series wheels are mounted to 33.5x17 Hoosier slicks and front runners. Kevin Ryan at R&R Racing Trannys in Olean, NY built the powerglide transmission that features a Transmission Specialties 1:80 gear set, pro tree brake, solenoid and Torque Converter.
The engine was built by Mike Janis at Jan-Cen Racing Engines and consists of a Dart block, brodix intake, CFE bmf 385 heads, Comp Cams roller cam, T&D shaft rockers, BLP fuel system, ATI balance, Lunati Pro Series crank and rods, JE pistons and a CSR water pump. The engine cranked out over 1050 horsepower and the torque was an impressive 830.
Jason Vitez at Jason Vitez Race Cars did all the plumbing and wiring on the car with help from Jeff Gregoire. The car was painted by Scott Jahren and the graphics and lettering brushed by Dan DeLaney at Dan the Sign Man's shop.
Bauer thanks Mike Janis for all his help putting the engine combination together, Kevin Ryan at R&R and Jason Vitez for all their help in getting the car done. And he thanks the Smukall family for all their help through the years, Mike Mitchell for his help at the track and Rick and Dana Bress at Galaxy for all their help and contributions through the years.
"What can I say about John Torrelli," said Bauer. He builds a master piece and I couldn’t be happier with the car. We tested the car at the end of last season and I was impressed with the way the car handled. It showed a lot of promise," he continued. Bauer thanked his wife Michelle and son Robert Jr. who were a huge help in building the car and for all their help and support through the years in racing and in life and Larry "Unc" Bauer who can’t wait to get back out to the track. "I can’t wait for my son to get in this GTO and start racing." Bauer plans on running the Q16 class at DTRP along with select IHRA events in the Top Sportsman class.
