Bobby Watts Speed Shop and Auto / Engine Parts - MUSEUM
(Online Museum, that is)
Author: Gordon Wayne Watts ; Published and Posted: Wednesday, 24 March 2021 ; Last Updated: Saturday, 06 August 2022 (PLANT CITY and
LAKELAND, FLORIDA) WELCOME, visitor, to the Bobby Watts Speed Shop and Auto / Engine Parts - MUSEUM (online Museum, that is). Robert Franklin "Bobby" Watts (1/27/1935 - 5/3/2018, R.I.P., Rest in Peace, dad), briefly worked for "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, the highly recognised, honoured, and legendary "King of Drag Racing," and still ranked #1 drag racer in the world, when they lived in the Central Florida area, before my father passed away, and before Don moved to Ocala, FL, where he presently has the "Don Garlits Museum" of Drag Racing. My father, Bobby Watts, was the owner of the "Bobby Watts Speed Shop & Engine Parts" shop, selling auto parts and giving advice - both for "regular" cars & vehicles, as well as race car applications. This online Museum is created by his son, Gordon Wayne Watts, to honour him, and feature information about his 4 Speed Shops, his gym, the AMERICAN EAGLE GYM, and "Project America." My father was well-liked, both within and outside the drag racing community, and well-known for his business here, in central Florida, which he ran from the mid-1960's (when I was a child) until has passing in the early morning hours of Thursday, 03 May 2018. He began his business, selling parts from home, and the house in my childhood home was filled with car parts, and we had regular visitors, as our local friends of all sizes, shapes, colours, genders, and ages (but mostly guys of all ages into fast cars and drag racing) came by to buy car parts (sometimes at all hours of the day and night!), get their cars tuned, get advice on racing & car repair, or just to chat. More-broadly, my father had many friends, and to honour them (that is, to not just honour my father, but also his many friends and customers) -- as well as preserve, share, and pass on his wisdom, I'm taking time to make a brief, but representative, online museum.
My father, Bobby Watts, was a Christian, first and foremost, and so it is fundamental to remember that my online museum, here, is useful "in the long
run" (eternally, that is), only to the extent that it shares positive, and eternal life-changing Truths. (But, we can have fun, and relive the
past, as well.)
HOME BUSINESS
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PLANT CITY Shop
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LAKELAND Shop
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ORLANDO Shop
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DADE CITY Shop
Click *_here_* to jump back to the top of the page. Miscellaneous images
Below, the "Tribute to a Lady" refers to my father's Elementary School principal, Gertrude Whitton (Mount Enon Elementary School, off of Taylor Road in N.E. Plant City, FL), who balanced authority with compassion.
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In the mid-1980's, my father began "Project America," an informal project to use "straight talk" to address several injustices
he saw present, and, as a solution, to do the following:
1. Advocate a closer work relationship between American citizens and our government, increasing trust and respect;
2. Stronger National Defense;
3. Oppose Communism;
4. Restoring the availability of prayer in public schools (for those who who prefer this option), while also allowing those others (probably in a minority)
to have available other facilities (as an option, and not compelling anyone or using government to either support or oppose any religion or the free
exercise thereof);
5. A hard crackdown on hard drugs, both users and pushers, with cooperation between citizens and police. No mention of medical marijuana, which
presumably would have been OK for necessary medical conditions and with medical prescription and supervision;
6. Promotion of educational T.V. documentaries which showed youth the advantages of Democracy over Communism, or, for that matter, living conditions
in ANY other country without as many freedoms. This would hopefully increase gratitude and appreciation and be thankful for our country;
7. Oppose any things that threaten the American way of life;
8. A local project was to help Mexican American and other local Hispanic migrant workers, who fell upon hard times due to economic or cold weather
conditions. (While many of the points above seem "Conservative,' this last point clearly shows that my father was NOT prejudiced, and indeed opposed
any bias, hate, or prejudice based on colour, race, gender, or socioeconomic status.)
** Editor's Note: These goals seem like they would resonate with both Conservatives and Liberals, but we face new challenges these days, more economic,
and less military, threats loom large and in charge -- and demand our immediate action.~~Editor, Gordon Wayne Watts///
Selected Project America communications: Letters to France, Canada, and England ** Link for PDF format **
Selected Project America communications: Canada's response, dated Dec. 1, 1983 ** Link for PDF format **
Selected Project America communications: Letter to Congressman Mike Bilirakis (dated Nov. 11,1983), and the Congressman's response (dated Jan. 10, 1984) ** Link for PDF format **
Selected Project America communications: Letter to President Ronald Reagan, dated Nov. 14, 1983, and Congressman Mike Bilirakis' reply, dated Dec. 5, 1984 ** Link for PDF format **
Selected Project America communications: My father's press release, dated Jan. 27, 1984, defending local Hispanic and Mexican-American migrant workers ** Link for PDF format **
Selected Project America communications: My father's letter to Congressman Mike Bilirakis (dated Feb. 13, 1984) asking for help for local Mexican-American and Hispanic migrant workers, and the congressman's response, dated Mar. 8, 1984 ** Link for PDF format **
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AMERICAN EAGLE GYM:
My father ran the American Eagle Gym (and rented from Kirk Mays, and his mother, Lily Mays. Kirk's father was the late J. Arden
Mays, has a local street named after him: E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., Plant City, FL). Below are selected images from that era.
But, before that, here's a small Fair Use quote (source: https://PowerShopFitness.com
Archive-1: https://Archive.vn/SYsXj
Archive-2:
https://Web.Archive.org/web/20210120213734/https://powershopfitness.com/), from the Power Shop FITNESS, which took over when Kirk ran the gym after my
father closed shop; it is a piece of history:
Selected powerlifting clips to honour my late father, Bobby Watts, who had not only the Bobby Watts Speed Shop, but also the AMERICAN EAGLE GYM: "A
Symbol of Strength," in Plant City, Fla., during the 1980's. These clips, however, are from Deb's Gym, in neighbouring, Lakeland, FL,
later on:
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FAMILY & FRIENDS<0>
Mom's childhood friends
Alice Johnson & Bonnie (Aldridge) Austin, mom's childhood friends
Judy (Bumgardner) Garmany, mom's best friend
Dad's funeral
Photo of dad with his first wife, Betty Johnson, at the Tampa Dragway in the early 1960's. Photos provided by Ginger Hall Houck. I have no idea what happened to Betty, and this was before my time (I was born in 1966), but I hope all is wel with Betty now days. --GORDON WAYNE WATTS, Plant City, Florida, Saturday, 06 August 1966
Click *_here_* to jump back to the top of the page. Bobby's LAST WILL and TESTAMENT: A few last words ** Link for PDF format **
LAKELAND, Fla. (Sat. 12 May 2018) - Robert Franklin Delano 'Bobby' Watts (aka Bobby Watts), 83, died Thursday, May 3, 2018. Bobby was born at Jackson Memorial Hospital, in Miami, FL on Sunday, Jan. 27, 1935. With the exception of a brief stint in the Navy, Bobby spent his entire life in Florida, working for the railroad, owning the American Eagle gym in Plant City, and several auto parts stores. For 43 years, he was the very proud owner of the Bobby Watts Speed Shop. One of his first jobs was with “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, the 'King of Drag Racing.' Over his entire life he never missed a day of work except when he was in the hospital. An avid drag racer as a young man, and harmonica player in his later years, he found happiness in his racing and music, and strength from his Saviour Jesus Christ. He is preceded in death by his parents, Loring M. Watts, Sr. and 'Mary' Iola Whitlock Watts Wood, his brother Loring Mitchell “Mickey” Watts, Jr,. and his sisters Jessie Mattair and Janie Barnett. Bobby is survived by his wife, Anne Watts and his son, Gordon Watts. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Sat., May 12, 2018, at the Fellowship Church Assembly of God, 4405 N. Galloway Rd, Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, please follow Bobby's example and give to someone in need.
Religious Service Information: For further information or to donate: * GoFundMe: https://www.GoFundMe.com/bobby-watts-speed-shops-family
* PayPal: (To DONATE, click button below:) * http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theledger/obituary.aspx?pid=188972018 * "Obit_BobbyWatts.html" (Gordon's expanded obituary of his father) * "Obit_BobbyWatts.html" (mirror 1) * "Obit_BobbyWatts.html" (mirror 2) * "Obit_BobbyWatts.html" (mirror 3) * https://www.facebook.com/BobbyWatts.SpeedShop (personal Facebook) * https://www.Facebook.com/WattsBobbySpeedShop (Fan page) * https://www.facebook.com/pages/Watts-Bobby-Speed-Shop/149395311770269 * https://www.facebook.com/149395311770269/reviews * https://www.facebook.com/GordonWayneWatts * To view guestbook *** To sign guestbook *** http://www.gentry-morrison.com
National Director, CONTRACT WITH AMERICA: PART II(TM)
* Gww1210@gmail.com MAIN
GordonWatts.com
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