I've had a few requests for more information recently, so I thought that this would be a good place to share what I have found.
After several emails to Boston area shops, leads from other vintage cycling enthusiasts, and a bit of luck, I heard back from several of Bob's riding peers. Surprisingly, I also found out that the bike is a few years younger than I originally thought. Instead of an 81/82, as shown in the catalogs, the bike is actually an 84. I guess that it was a custom job.
Bob got his start in racing after buying a bike from Jim Quinn in about 1981. Although he was in his 50's at the time, Bob thought that he could keep up with anyone. After Jim invited him up to the weekly Wompatuck State Park races, Bob was hooked. He dove into the sport, sponsored some riders, and joined the Mass Bay Road Club.
He started in the Masters(55+) group, but he was unable to finish his first race. Disappointed, he went out and bought another bike in hopes of improving. (I guess that he hadn't learned that it was the engine, not the bike) Determined, he began to improve his times and eventually win races. Later, the passion that drove him to train harder also forced him to continue even after he had a pacemaker put in.
Some time later, Bob got involved in the USCF and Olympic facility in Colorado. To this day, many riders still follow the program he wrote many years ago. Eventually, he fostered several riders from the New England area, including Frank/Mark McCormack and Paul Curley.
I'm not exactly sure when Bob stopped racing, but I have read that he was still riding 300 miles a week when he was 72, which is something that I hope I am able to do at that age. Unfortunately, it seems that he disappeared from his old riding partners about 5 years ago. I felt bad when I informed them of his recent passing.
Apparently, Bob bought the Super Record from Bill Sykes out of Corner Cycles in Plymouth. Originally, Bill bought the bike for himself to race, but later sold it to Bob, who rode it for quite a while. At the time Fuji and Suntour were sponsors for the club and supplied the Opus for many members, but I suppose Bob wanted a step above the rest.
Thankfully, Bill also offered me quite a few pictures of Bob when he was racing on the bike. I'm very grateful for these, as I was unsuccessful in finding more pictures of him.
http://s969.photobucket.com/
If anybody has more to share, I am still very interested in learning more. I love this bike and I always enjoy hearing more about him.
Matt Beecher
Yorkville, Il