Team Racecraft Patriarch Passes

[Mark.Wheeler]

Bob always reminded us of the importance of family within our sport. He made everyone feel like family. He will be greatly missed.

Mark Wheeler

[L. Allen]

I'm so happy I was there to see Ponch inducted. It meant so much to him.
Love you Ponch.

[Bob Dunlap]

We Will Miss You Ponch

We will truly miss Ponch, he was such a helpful person in so many ways. When we started planning last weekend's Jesup race I called him and asked him if he could come down and be race director. He wanted to but we knew he wasn't quite up to it. He was always willing to help if at all possible and if he couldn't come he had good ideas and helpful info. He always gave it his all, what a mentor for the young and old! Our deepest sympathy goes out to the entire family who will be in our prayers.

[STEVE FRENCH]

I think the last I saw Ponch was when he opened his house and put on a feast for everyone at Alexandria a couple years ago.

Felt like we were ALL members of his family that night.....Thank you POPS.
.
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[mercguy]

very sad!!!!

Ponch always came up to me when I was back east and we also had laughs together, plus he was also willing to give me a hand or advice, when I needed it.............he will be truly missed!!!!!!!

a TRUE ASSET to out sport!!!!

[Lifesasmile]

With our deepest sympathy to the entire Trolian family. Your in our thoughts and prayers.
Your husband and father was truly one of a kind!
" Pops " I will never forget the friendship, love, and mentoring that you so generously gave of yourself to my boys who lost their own father at an early age. Thanks for being there for them! Until we all meet again...
Love Kathy,Erik and Adam

[SE72DSH]

Saddened beyond compare

How many of us can ever have as many true friends as does Ponch? How many of us will have so many dear friends saying wonderful things about our character, our warmth, compassion, humor and sheer love of family and life? We all treasure many Ponch memories - probably enough to fill a book or two.

One of mine will always be the Bakersfield Nationals in 1996 - Ponch offered to haul my DSH from Florida to California (what's a couple thousand miles?) so I could run there - he knew that my 1-US in DSH in 1966 was a great memory for me and to be able to fly in and catch up with him and his family as well as many of my Region 6 friends - simply beyond compare - a great trip and much, much more.

Few knew that each day he gathered the crew and drivers nearby together for a little quiet time - a little reflection time ...he wanted to ask that we all be safe and that we take care of one another - he said a quiet prayer for all before the day started.

Be safe my friend and we will someday again share a little glass of the grape as we have before. Ponch - Thank you for defining what a friend should be and thanks to the Trolian family for sharing him with us ...

Bob Pontek

[RuthieRae]

Devastated....

I was competely torn up when I received the call today. Pops and I have been friends for 20 years, a friendship that resulting from my "cutting him off" at Yelm when I was 14...I still beg to differ, but it resulted in a great friendship. lol. He always treated us like family, inviting us to dinner at their place when we were in Wakefield, gave me a boat for free, always asking how my dad was doing after so many trials with his health, and so many other things that I can't grasp right now due to the shock.

I feel honored to have been present when he was inducted to the Honor Squadron, he made me cry that night, and today again. I miss him dearly and cherish the time we got to talk in Raliegh, and the way he took Ashley in just like he did with me when I was her age. He was an exceptional human being and will be dearly missed, and never forgotten.

Our condolences go out to everyone, as he touched so many. Miss you Pops!!
Sheryl, Ashley and Colin Rucker

[Tim Sidor]

You will be missed our friend

It will be hard to imagine not seeing Ponch during the racing season with that smile and grin that he could only bring to our sport that we all love.

Boat Racing is Family and there was no one better at making you feel more welcome at a boat race than Ponch, I can remember when my wife Vicki first met Ponch and he put his arms around her and gave her a big kiss and said welcome to our crazy sport of boat racing.

She had no clue who Ponch was and asked me if this guy was all right, I then busted out laughing and asked her why, She then preceded to tell me that he wanted her to share some wine and meet his family.

Ponch only knew one special way to make you feel a part of the boat racing family and that was to welcome you in a hand shake or hug... The girls always got a kiss... I want to Thank You for making our family a part of your family and sharing all the great memories that we have shared through the years.

I also will always treasure the memory of him giving us his AXSH rig at Wakefield MI. at the 2002 nationals and letting our son Jared run it. We struggled trying to get it on plain for testing and were about to give up on the ideas when Ponch said ... I have this big bladed monster in the trailer that I think we should try... Well it got us on plain in a hurry and Jared qualified and then with a little more tweaking he went on to win the nationals.

Ponch and I could not believe that would of ever worked and we shared a laugh or two and all i can say is he was as surprised as me that his rig won without any real time to dial it in.

Bob will always be in our hearts and we will always treasure his gratefulness of sharing his life and family and most of all the great meals he and Linda provided for his race family.... and especially the friendship he gave with all his heart.

We will miss the 7:30 a.m. Prayer session at Team Racecrafts trailer and your forever Great Race Directing .

Race in peace our friend.

Our Thoughts and Prayers will be with , Linda and the Trolian Family


Love, Sidor- Rykse Racing

[canoeincutie]

my buddy

My dad told me this evening after my last final, I will always remember my buddy ponch. Every time I saw him I got a big hug and scratchy kiss. He always wanted me to get back in a boat, but supported my decision to stick with school for the moment. I will always remember the support he extended to my family after my mom died. He really helped my dad with his grief, but never hesitated to listen to mine. I don't know who I will harass at the races anymore. I miss you buddy, thank you for all your love and support throughout the years.

I know how it is to lose a parent, my condolences to linda, brian, sharon and the rest of the family. keep your chin up, you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Love you all,
Laura

[petekspeed]

Ponch

Bob Trolian is the only man, exept for my father, that I ever told I LOVE YOU. When I went to my first boat race, Tom Cronk walked me down the pits and told Ponch that I wanted to race A-stock, he gave me everything I needed to be competitive. I was successful, but he taught me more about life and love than any race knowledge That I ever needed. At the time I thought, if you were not on the Racecraft team, you wanted to be. That feeling was awesome! I still owe him. I will pay that, in my love to everyone in my life,and it's still not enough...
I LOVE YOU PONCH!
To the whole Trolian family, i'm sorry for your loss. I love you all.


"If God wanted you to have a wood boat, he wouldn't have made fiberglass trees." BOB TROLIAN

Pete Kelly 8-F

[Tony Staron]

Pops, We are going to miss you. Thanks for taking care of Me and my son so many times over the years. Bob was always there if I needed a place to sleep or a meal at a race. Never said No always there to help, even took care me when there was no boatracing involved. Robert, Paul, Sharon, Teniel, and Brian, I leave all of you with My Thoughts and Prayers.

Tony Staron 33F

[racerchic3z]

Ponch was one of the most generous, loving, caring, dedicated, sincerest person you could ever meet. His love for his family, friends and sport radiated from him, and it was contagious. You couldn't be around him without feeling the love.

He was always so good to me and my family. He would always tell me how he loved my dad and uncles like they were his own, and especially how much he loved Gammy Doris. I'm glad he got his Doris back. He is my family.

Linda and the "kids", thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful, amazing man with us. He has forever changed our lives, and the sport. He is a legend.

It is going to be very difficult for all of us to get used to his absence, fortunately, he will always be there with us, in our hearts, and watching over us as we race. He will be missed, more than words can express.

We'll always love you, Pop. Thank you for everything you've done!

Love always,
Stacy

[Justice]

I can't even begin to describe how much I'm gonna miss having Ponch around. He was always so helpful and good to me from the very beginning. I can't imagine the races without him. This is a sad day in boat racing, but we can be proud of al Bob Trolian accomplished and gave to the sport.

Dylan Justice
41-S

[JackGlasses40B]

Today is truly a sad day as our boat racing family has lost one of its finest gentlemen and one of the most revered men ever to be a part of stock outboard racing.
My deepest condolences to Linda, Robert Jr, Tenielle, Sharon, Paul, Brian and their families
Glasses