AUTO INDUSTRY LEGEND BOB TASCA SR. PASSES AWAY
Sarah Ehrett
Racing series BUSINESS OBITUARIES NHRA
Date 2010-01-08
AUTO INDUSTRY LEGEND BOB TASCA SR. PASSES AWAY
CRANSTON, R.I. -- January 8, 2010 -- Bob Tasca Sr., an automotive
enthusiast, Ford dealer and drag racing innovator, passed away on
Friday, January 8, 2010, his family announced today. Tasca Sr. was 83
years old.
An automotive businessman for more than 60 years, Tasca achieved fame
as a record-setting automotive dealer and as an internationally-known
designer of high-performance race cars. Tasca Sr. is credited with
helping create the Ford Thunderbolt drag racing car, and bringing the
Cobra Jet 428 engine to NHRA in the 1960s.
"Bob Tasca Sr. had three important aspects to his life -- his family,
his friends, and Ford Motor Company," said his grandson, Bob Tasca
III. "Those were the touch points in his life and for that we're
thankful. We are grateful and privileged to have had so many years
with him, and it's hard to say goodbye.
"My grandfather has touched so many and he will live forever in the
hearts of people around the world. It was his time to move on. I think
he held on and fought the fight for as long as he could fight it, but
clearly his passing doesn't mark the end of the impact and influence
that he'll have on this world, that's for sure."
Tasca Sr. started his long relationship with Ford Motor Company on May
5, 1943, while working at a dealership. In 1953, Tasca acquired his
first dealership in Bristol, R.I., and attributed his success to two
elements -- knowing cars and taking care of the customer.
After a hurricane destroyed his Bristol dealership, Tasca moved to
East Providence, R.I., at the famous 777 Taunton Avenue address. While
in East Providence, Tasca Sr. developed a friendship Carroll Shelby
and became the first person to help Shelby assemble the Cobra. The two
automotive legends maintained a lifelong friendship.
Tasca Sr. became a Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury dealer in Seekonk,
Mass., in 1971. Under his guidance, Tasca Ford acquired a Volvo
dealership in Seekonk in 2001 and built its Cranston, R.I., dealership
in 2002. Several years ago, the Tasca family purchased an adjacent
property that now serves as its wholesale outlet, body shop and truck
center.
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http://mustangs.about.com/od/history/tp/10-mustang-history-makers.htm
Ten Ford Mustang History Makers
The People Behind the Success of the Ford Mustang
5. Bob Tasca, Sr.
Are you familiar with the Cobra Jet 428 engine? Drag racer Bob Tasca,
Sr., owner of Tasca Ford in Rhode Island, was the man behind this
performance power horse. Tasca was frustrated, in the 60s, when
potential buyers would leave his dealership because the Mustang wasn�t
fast enough. In turn, he and his dealership team created their own
engine (Cobra Jet 428) using parts from the Ford service parts
catalog. On the drag strip, his engine blew away the competition, thus
resulting in a demand for the 428. In all, Tasca is credited with
making Ford Mustangs better than when they left the factory. He once
even told Henry Ford II that he made lousy cars. His influence at
Ford, as a quality consultant, has resulted in years of Mustang
performance.
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Tasca Sr. and his Rhode Island dealership team created their own
engine, the Cobra Jet 428, from parts found in the Ford service parts
catalog. Tasca's Mustang Cobra Jet race cars were often taken to the
drag strip where they defeated the competition, creating a demand for
the Cobra Jet 428.
While dominating on the race track, Tasca Sr. coined the phrase, "Win
on Sunday, Sell on Monday," because that was exactly what he did.
Tasca Sr.'s dealership modified Mustangs on Sunday, won races, and
sold those same cars in his dealership on Monday.
Bob Tasca Sr. is also credited with helping make Ford products better
than when they left the factory. His influence at Ford, as a quality
consultant, resulted in years of Ford performance. Every one of Tasca
Ford dealership's vehicles was driven 200 miles by a Tasca before it
was delivered to a customer as part of Tasca's "de-bugging" plan.
Tasca Sr. was also instrumental in the advent of short-term leasing,
which made automobiles affordable throughout the world.
Tasca Sr. developed a tight bond with Henry Ford II during the 1940s
and two men held mutual respect for each other as automotive pioneers.
Ford II viewed Tasca Sr. as one of his most trusted advisors in the
automotive industry.
He also wrote a well-known book in 1996 on customer service, "You Will
Be Satisfied," which remains the slogan of Tasca's dealerships today.
Ford Motor Company asked Tasca Sr. to train more than 150,000 Ford
employees and dealers, and he was the key force behind the "Quality is
Job 1" initiative. In his life, Tasca affected an entire generation of
products and sales techniques from his dealership in Rhode Island.
"I want to thank all of his friends through these last couple of
years," said Tasca III. "He's had some health issues and we're so
grateful for the network of people that really become part of our
family and we want to thank them for their support and prayers. Many
people from Ford Motor Company and the NHRA series loved being around
my grandfather, and I know he loved being around them. We're grateful
for all of the support and friendship that we've built, and just want
everyone to know that Grandpa is in a better place right now."
Memorial services for Bob Tasca Sr. are pending, and the family will
release further information when it comes available.
-source: motorcraft/mqlracing
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=354603&FS=