Drivers - Bob Woodhouse

BOB WOODHOUSE
Owner, Woodhouse Performance
No. 13 Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper
No. 99 Kenda Tires/ProMPI Dodge Viper

BIRTHDATE:  Feb. 15, 1946
HOMETOWN: Great Falls, MT
RESIDENCE: Blair, NE
SPOUSE: Louise

As a team owner and road racer himself, Bob Woodhouse is one of the most loved characters in the World Challenge paddock. With character and imagination as sharp as the No. 99 and the No. 13 Dodge Viper Competition Coupes that he fields in the SPEED World Challenge Series, Woodhouse is none other than a well-respected individual within the sport with a humble passion for cars and road racing.

As a graduate from Northern Montana College with a teaching degree in industrial arts and a minor in art, Woodhouse’s love for cars began in high school. At the end of his high school career, a car show was to be held in Great Falls, M.T.,.  It was his opportunity to show the world a masterpiece that he had worked so meticulously on for the past four high school years.

The car, meaning more to Woodhouse than graduating from high school, won the award for Best in Show. Woodhouse nicknamed the car ‘Cinderella’s Coach’ because it was a four-door car, which was uncharacteristic of car building in those days. It featured double headlights and Cadillac tail lights with a big Chevrolet motor. Winning the award, having the experience and building his own car ignited Woodhouse’s passion for cars.

The next car Woodhouse built was a drag racing machine with a 450HP Chevrolet motor in it. From there, Woodhouse continued with other performance cars such as a 1973 Boss 302 Mustang, which he adored, a 1972 DeTomaso Pantera with a Ford 351 Cleveland mid-engine and a body made in Italy. It was a street car that he converted into a semi-exotic

Cars were always a focus for Woodhouse but after graduating from college, and interviewing for various teaching positions, he set his sights on the Ford Motor Co. who had made him an offer during the interview process. With much love for the hobby aspect of cars and racing, Woodhouse set his hobbies aside to rightfully pursue a business career.

For six and a half years, Woodhouse worked for Ford Motor Company as a Zone Field Representative. He served as the liaison between Ford Motor Company and its dealerships. This experience proved to be a substantial part of Woodhouse’s career. He was able to familiarize himself with how to run a dealership, both financially and professionally.

During that time, Woodhouse realized that many things you do in a large corporation do not allow you to sit in one location and raise a family. The same is true for having a retail business but the difference was retail was much more enjoyable for him. So he borrowed a little money from his parents, promising to repay them and combined it with his savings to invest in a dealership with a partner.

This wasn’t just about purchasing a dealership though. Woodhouse and his partner searched nationwide for the right dealership. It had to be affordable with potential for growth. Woodhouse also considered his family during this search. He wanted an area that was suitable for himself and his family.

The opportunity ended up in Blair, Neb. They purchased a Ford Dealership and their business remained with Ford the first twenty years. Over the next several years, Woodhouse partnered with the Lance Pittack family and expanded the franchises to include over 600 employees and six dealerships. In 2007 he stepped away for the business that included the original Ford Store in Blair,  the Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Dealership also in Blair and a variety of other manufacturers in Omaha, including Mazda, Porsche, Nissan and Lincoln-Mercury.

While raising a family and running a dealership business, Woodhouse was able to pursue his love for cars and racing. In 1974, driving a slightly modified1970 Boss 302 Mustang, Woodhouse began racing in the SCCA Solo II series. This series, a division of SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) revolves around racing in parking lots with cones. It was a race against the clock as opposed to racing against another car. Woodhouse raced in this series for twenty-years because it kept him very engaged in automobiles and people, which he says was the thrill of it all. In addition to these benefits, Woodhouse (who is now a 20 year continuous member of SCCA) could pack up the family on Saturday, go racing and return on Sunday and not interfere with weekday obligations.

For Woodhouse, racing is about having fun and being able to maintain a high level of personal concentration versus allowing oneself to be concerned with the competitors around you.    

Throughout the 80’s and early 90’s he raced on the SOLO II scene, participating in regional and divisional events and picking up several regional and divisional championships. He also participated in The National Solo II Championships, visiting nine years total and placing in the top-five, five times.

Later, as his family got older, Woodhouse decided to take his racing career a step further; a step that was a lot more serious and demanding. With long-time friend and influence Rick Maxwell, the hobby of racing evolved into a mainstream responsibility. Bob Woodhouse went Pro-Racing in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Series in 2003 running two races. The 2004 and 2005 seasons yielded two ninth-place finishes at Sebring and Laguna Seca and one sixth-place finish at Sears Point. The 2006 season showed major improvement in his level of competition. In the first race of the season at Sebring International Raceway, Woodhouse scored his first-career podium finish.  The year continued to be a success with eight top-10 finishes and four top-five’s finishing the season 6th in driver standings.  He did that while tending his day job as a partner in the leadership of  six car dealerships, at the ripe old-age of 60.

So where is he now? He has relinquished the seat in order to focus
more on the current project at hand, which is the marketing and success of the Woodhouse Performance racing team and the SPEED World Challenge Series. The team is still young but has much potential and is incredibly capable. As Woodhouse describes his team; they have a nontraditional view of racing and with time they will make a difference.  Woodhouse will undoubtedly continue to build and strengthen his race team and remain a key player in the SPEED World Challenge Series.

Their goal as a team is to earn the right to surround themselves with the best people, sponsors, and drivers.

Career Highlights:

• Championships in several regional and divisional SCCA Solo II Series
• National Solo II: Placed in the top-five for five years
• Viper Days, 1998: Posted three wins in the Street Class Division
• Viper Days, 1999: One win, four second place finishes, and one third place finish
• Viper Racing League, 2002 and 2003: 12 Wins
• Two Viper Racing League Finals Championships
• 2000 Michelin Challenge Series Championship
• SCCA track records at, Road Atlanta, Heartland ParkTopeka, and Mid America Motorplex.
• SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge 2006 season overall finishing position of 6th