Daniel Joseph Robson

Daniel Joseph Robson, age 71, known in the SCCA race car community as Mad-Man-Dan, took his last green flag on 4/2 surrounded by many of his crew (oddly enough, Dan’s race car number was 42)! Although Dan suffered from Parkinson’s Disease; we learned he had an aggressive, advanced cancer that was incurable.

Following high school, Dan enlisted in the US Air Force in 1969 and served for five years, primarily in Avionics. He did see duty in various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War where he worked on a special wing of F-105's referred to as 'Wild Weasels', which were used to foil air defense sites of the North Vietnamese. One of the aircraft he serviced is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, which he visited in 2016 (links below, under Donations). His service continued until he was eventually stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, NC, where he finished his service. After his honorable discharge, he moved to Raleigh, NC which became his on and off home for the rest of his life.

Racer, car builder, fabricator, crew chief, and friend to many, Dan had lent his skills to many successful race teams. Dan was also a very successful driver himself, having been SCCA SEDIV champion 7 times in small GT cars, all of which he built and maintained himself. He was also twice runner-up at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, an event which he competed in as an NCR member an unprecedented 28 times. His resume also includes many years as a fabricator, mechanic, or crew chief for many pro teams, such as Team Highball, which won the 24 hours of Daytona 5 times in a row in IMSA GTU; Mandeville AutoTech in IMSA GTO; Tommy Riggins in TransAm; Leitzinger Motorsports, a Nissan factory team, and Support Net Racing in international Prototype racing. He was well known and well respected all across the country. You couldn't go to an SCCA or IMSA sports car event anywhere in the US and not have several competitors come up to Dan to chat or to ask for his advice and counsel on a technical matter. He was a walking encyclopedia of racing knowledge. We have been very fortunate to have been able to count Dan as an NCR member for 46 years.

Dan is preceded in death by his father Corky, brother Mike Quick, an Uncle and grandparents. He is survived by his mother Joyce (Gene) Quick, brothers Dave Robson, Doug Robson, Dale (Julie) Robson, Mark (Miki) Quick, sisters Kris (Eugene) Cupps and Kathy Collins, and loved by many nieces, nephews and their children.

While visiting the museum in Dayton, Dan was adamant if there were service logbooks out there, his name would be in there for those he touched while in Thailand.

A celebration of Life was held April 23 in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612. A video of the service can be found below under the heading of DONATIONS for those the were unable to attend.