{{Short description|American hot rod mechanic}} '''Robert E. Meeks''' (July 17, 1921 – August 8, 2006)<ref>{{cite news |title=In Memoriam: Robert E. Meeks |newspaper=The Friday Flyer |date=August 18, 2006 |url=http://legacy.fridayflyer.com/FF-2006-8-18/FFS-5010.htm |access-date=June 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906072852/http://legacy.fridayflyer.com/FF-2006-8-18/FFS-5010.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> was an American hot rod engine builder and chief mechanic to famed hot rod driver and auto parts designer Vic Edelbrock. Meeks was pioneer in the early days of hot-rodding and was considered the first Ford flathead guru.<ref name="AHRF">{{cite web|url=http://www.ahrf.com/pioneer.php?id=10022|title=AHRF|publisher=AHRF.com Pioneer|accessdate=2010-04-27}}</ref>
Meeks was born in St. Louis, Missouri.<ref name="oilstickObit">[http://www.oilstick.com/rparks/obit/index.htm Oilstick.com obituary]</ref> When he was just 15 years old, Vic Edelbrock found Meeks hanging around his repair garage and offered him a job, asking "wanna get your hands dirty?"<ref name="moparmuscle">{{cite web|url= http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/thehistoryof/155_0502w_nhra_legends_racing_panel_discussion/index.html|title=Racing and Automotive Legends Hold Panel Discussion|accessdate=2010-05-05|last=Groak|first=William}}</ref> Meeks became Edelbrock's first employee and never worked for anyone else.<ref name="HotRod&Resto">''Hotrod & Restoration'' magazine article, July 2005, Bill Sessa</ref> Meeks was like a brother to Vic and was next to him the day his only son was born, Vic Edelbrock, Jr.<ref name="EdelbrockHistory">[http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/company/bobby_meeks.shtml History at Edelbrock's official website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113205704/http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/company/bobby_meeks.shtml |date=January 13, 2010 }}</ref>
In 1942, Meeks joined the U.S. Navy and served four years as a Gunner's Mate in World War II.<ref name="oilstickObit"/>
In 1955, a friend of Meeks who worked at General Motors, came to him at Edelbrock and presented him with the opportunity to work on the new Chevy V8. Edelbrock was given 3 of the brand new engines before the public ever saw them and Meeks was in charge of testing.<ref name="HotRod&Resto"/>
While working with Edelbrock, Meeks headed up his racing team and also worked on notable record-breakers such as the Pierson Brothers coupe and Alex Xydias with his So-cal streamliner in 1949.<ref name="StreetRodderWeb">{{cite web|url=http://www.streetrodderweb.com/milestones/0106sr_pierson_brothers_coupe/index.html|title=The Pierson Brothers Coupe|publisher=www.streetrodderweb.com|accessdate=2010-05-04|last=Gross|first=Ken}}</ref><ref name=AmericanRodder>Anderson, Stephen K. "Historical Reunion: Repeating History Through a Car and a Great American Family". ''American Rodder Magazine'', May 2004. Retrieved 5 August 2008</ref> The latter was the first American car to break to 200 mph barrier at the Bonneville Salt Flats.<ref name="HotRod&Resto"/>
Meeks was known to have built custom engines for both bootleggers and the very same IRS agents attempting to catch them.<ref name="HotRod&Resto"/>
Meeks was also one of the first mechanics to experiment with high-octane fuels.<ref name="HotRod&Resto"/> He worked with nitromethane and spent considerable effort disguising it so competitors wouldn't know what his giving him the speed increase.
Meeks retired in 1993 after working with Edelbrock for almost 65 years.<ref name="Nitrogeezers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nitrogeezers.com/Edelbrock%201.htm |title=Nitrogeezers.com |access-date=2010-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128041655/http://nitrogeezers.com/Edelbrock%201.htm |archive-date=2010-11-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Meeks died in 2006 at the age of 85.<ref name="oilstickObit"/>
==References and further reading== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meeks, Bobby}} Category:Auto racing people Category:1921 births Category:2006 deaths Category:American motorsport people Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:United States Navy sailors