Bob Eshleman in his Healey

In Loving Memory of a True Sports Car Guy

Robert E. Eshleman, 73, of 1642 Old Forge Road, Annville, died Thursday, January 4, 2007 in the VA Medical Center in Lebanon, Pensylvania. He was the husband of Kathleen "Sis" Stover Eshleman. Robert ("Esh")served as the Grand Marshall of the 4th Annual Hershey Vintage Hillclimb in 2005. Esh was a retired machinist, having worked for Dechert's Dynamics for 16 years, and later for Alcoa Aluminum for another 29 years, where he was an esteemed member of the Alcoa Sports Car Club. This experience served him well throughout his life as he repaired and customized countless cars, both foreign and domestic.

Bob Eshleman with his Healey

He was born on January 14, 1933 and educated in the Palmyra (Pennsylvania) School system. After his high school graduation, Esh entered the U.S. Army, serving in Korea in the early 1950s. Upon his return, he married Kathleen ("Sis") in 1957. To that time, Esh was primarily interested in American cars, having owned a 1933 Ford 5-window coupe and later a 1955 Chevy. He was a charter member of the "Draggin" Dutchmen from Lebanon. He purchased his first sports car, a 1958 Austin-Healey 100-6, Type BN6 new from Ladd Motors in Lebanon, and his car life would be forever changed. He autocrossed this car in stock form at the Manheim Auction grounds, winning several trophies from 1959-1960. His only first place trophy cost him two new wire wheels and a rebuilt transmission! He and Sis traveled in the Healey in those days to sports car races at Upper Marlboro, MD, Vineland, NJ and Watkins Glen, NY.

Esh was associated with the first several Hershey Hillclimbs in a unique way-he rode with the wrecker crew from Ladd Motors to rescue competitors that had managed to go off course. In 1962, Esh traded his Healy in on a new 1962 Corvette, and Kelly was born the same year. As it is with young families, hobbies would change and 2-seaters would become sedans. As Kelly grew, Esh contented himself with a new hobby, scuba diving. From 1975-1992, Esh dove all over the East Coast and in the Caribbean. He traveled to St. Thomas, Belize, Cozumel, the Bahamas, Alexander Bay, CN, and Lake Erie among other destinations.

Eventually, once Kelly left for college, the sports car bug returned and in 1987 Esh once again owned a 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6, Type BN4. This was replaced by a 1958 Austin-Healey 100-6,Type BN6 like his first car in 1989. In 1992, he bought a 1955 Austin-Healey 100, Type BN1 "LeMans Conversion". Soon after, a 1955 MGTF was added for Sis to use. Esh accomplished extensive restorations on each of these cars using the skills he picked up as a career machinist. To date, Esh has shown his cars at local, regional, and national events, winning 57 first place trophies. He has shown the 1955 BN1 at both the Lehigh and Greenwich Concours de Elegance shows, winning the "Bethlehem Star" and "Best English Car" awards respectively. This car was also featured in "Austin-Healey 100 & 3000", by John Heilig, published in 1995.

Over the years, Esh and Sis have been very active in the Austin-Healey Sports and Touring Club, the New England "T" Register, the Austin- Healey Club of America, and the Antique Automobile Club of America. Esh and Sis is one of the original charter members of Susquehanna ValleyVintage Sports Car Club. Esh also has been on the HVH Tech Crew since the very first year and was a major resource for this top notch team. Esh was a great friend to all in the hobby. If you had a question, just ask. If you need a part, he either had it or can make it. Want to go for a Sunday run? Just give him a call! Once he found the Austin-Healey this Dutchman stopped "draggin" and started "flyin"! The Susquehanna Valley Vintage Sports Car Club will miss one of our treasured charter members, he was a true car guy.