Bob Knowles could fill a book about owning and promoting a successful race track. He should know – Bob owned one of the most historic race tracks in Maine for over 20 years – Unity Raceway.

Bob’s knowledge of racing was learnt from one of Maine’s legendary track owners, his father Ed Knowles. From the time his father opened Unity Raceway in 1949 to handing the reins of the track over to him in 1960, Bob served an apprenticeship on how to operate a race track under his father.

The 1960’s was a decade of change at Unity. Bob replaced all the grandstand seats, enlarged the pit area, erected new fencing and he guided the raceway as it made the transition from a half-mile dirt track to a paved one-third mile facility.

During this time, Bob and his wife Rae Jean were building a very successful x-ray film business serving the three-state region of northern New England.

If Bob’s "plate" wasn’t full enough with a growing x-ray film business and a successful race track, Bob built Spud Speedway in Caribou. He also promoted Speedway 95 in Bangor for several years and oversaw changes at that track, including changing the track’s name to Thunder Speedway.

After twenty-plus years, Bob sold Unity Raceway to Ralph Nason.

Bob joins his father Ed as members of the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame.