Bob Newton, founder of Hoosier Racing Tire, died Wednesday. He was 85.

Newton founded the tire maker in 1957 with his wife Joyce. Newton originally produced racing tires out of an abandoned horse barn in South Bend, IN, by re-treading street tires with a softer compound.

“Hoosier has lost a visionary and one of our ingenious co-founders, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” said Hoosier’s website at the top of its homepage Thursday. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Bob have lost a dear friend and an inspirational mentor. Bob leaves behind a company that only he could have been instrumental in helping to build, and his soul will forever be the foundation of Hoosier Racing Tire as we continue to grow and prosper.”

We’re never happy to learn about the loss of someone so meaningful to the advancement of motorsports.

But we’re always happy to celebrate their lives. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

Godspeed, Mr. Newton.

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Author: Matt Griswold

After a 10-year newspaper journalism career, Matt Griswold spent another decade writing about the automotive aftermarket and motorsports. He was part of the original OnAllCylinders editorial team when it launched in 2012.