Bobby Meeks
Encyclopedia
Bobby Meeks 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.
Meeks was born in St. Louis, Missouri
. 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?" Meeks became Edelbrock
's first employee and never worked for anyone else. Meeks was like a brother to Vic and was next to him the day his only son was born, Vic Edelbrock, Jr.
In 1942, Meeks joined the U.S. Navy and served four years as a Gunner's Mate
in World War II
.
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.
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. The latter was the first American car to break to 200 mph barrier at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Meeks was known to have built custom engines for both bootleggers
and the very same IRS agents attempting to catch them.
Meeks was also one of the first mechanics to experiment with high-octane fuels. 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.
Meeks died in 2006 at the age of 85.
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
engine builder and chief mechanic to famed hot rod driver and auto parts designer Vic Edelbrock
Vic Edelbrock
Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr....
. Meeks was pioneer in the early days of hot-rodding and was considered the first Ford flathead
Ford Flathead engine
The Ford flathead V8 was a V8 engine of the flathead type, designed by the Ford Motor Company and built by Ford and various licensees...
guru.
Meeks was born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. When he was just 15 years old, Vic Edelbrock
Vic Edelbrock
Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr. Otis Victor Edelbrock, Sr....
found Meeks hanging around his repair garage and offered him a job, asking "wanna get your hands dirty?" Meeks became Edelbrock
Edelbrock
Edelbrock, LLC is a specialty performance automotive and motorcycle aftermarket parts manufacturer based in Torrance, California. The company has five locations, including four in Torrance: its headquarters, a distribution center and museum, the Russell division , and the exhaust plant...
's first employee and never worked for anyone else. Meeks was like a brother to Vic and was next to him the day his only son was born, Vic Edelbrock, Jr.
Vic Edelbrock, Jr.
Vic Edelbrock, Jr. is the son and only child of famed mechanic and Edelbrock founder, Vic Edelbrock. He has been the president of Edelbrock since 1962...
In 1942, Meeks joined the U.S. Navy and served four years as a Gunner's Mate
Gunner's Mate
The United States Navy occupational rating of gunner's mate also known as gunsmens mate is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel to enlisted sailors who either satisfactorily complete initial Gunner's Mate "A" school training, or who "strike" for the rating as a deck seaman by...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1955, a friend of Meeks who worked at General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, came to him at Edelbrock and presented him with the opportunity to work on the new Chevy V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
. Edelbrock was given 3 of the brand new engines before the public ever saw them and Meeks was in charge of testing.
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
Alex Xydias
Alex Xydias was an influential figure in the early days of the auto racing sport involving hot rods.Xydias served in World War II as radio operator and engineer on a B-17...
with his So-cal
So-Cal Speed Shop
The So-Cal Speed Shop is a specialty parts shop for hot rods, specializing in cars built in the 1940s. It offers parts online, as well as a number of retail stores in the western United States and one in Canada. The headquarters is located in Pomona, California....
streamliner in 1949. The latter was the first American car to break to 200 mph barrier at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Meeks was known to have built custom engines for both bootleggers
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
and the very same IRS agents attempting to catch them.
Meeks was also one of the first mechanics to experiment with high-octane fuels. He worked with nitromethane
Nitromethane
Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a slightly viscous, highly polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent...
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.
Meeks died in 2006 at the age of 85.