Moments before Friday’s qualifying session at the AMA Prostar Finals at Gainesville Raceway Park, 59 year-old OCR team member Robert Proffitt had a massive heart attack and passed away in the team pit area.

“Emergency crews fought rigorously to save him. He was taken care of at the track, life- flighted to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced gone. The Gainesville people did everything they could,” said Bill Furr.

“We’d towed the bike up to the staging lanes. Jay Turner and I were out first. We’d left my gloves at the pit. Robert walked back to get them. After about 10 minutes, I knew something was wrong and borrowed a pit bike to check. When I got back to the pit, Robert was face down a few feet from the trailer. We got emergency crews over and they did their best. At first we thought he’d fallen and hit his head. But ER doctors revealed that most signs pointed to massive heart attack.”

“Team Bulldog owner Bobby Buckley is one of Robert’s five step-sons. He began crewing with me back when Bobby and I ran a bike together. I’ve known him for more than 10 years. Bobby always has a big crew, so Robert crewed with me when he could get away and race a few times a year.” Proffitt was famous for his jokes and movie stories. A truck driver in his younger years, his second career as a professional driver for film makers kept him impressively busy. From acquiring specialty vehicles to driving the stars, he had a smile and a joke for everyone.

Services were Tuesday, November 18 in Virginia. He is survived by five step-sons and his wife Barbara. Bill Furr and all of the Orangeburg Cycle Racing team salute Robert Proffitt.