Bob and Sandra Bahre have one the most extensive and notable private car collections in New England, and probably North America. Once per year they generously open the garages for public viewing of their Bahre Car Collection, with a small donation requested to benefit the small town of Paris, Maine's public library.
I crossed paths with Mr. Bahre a few times back when he owned and operated New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) in Loudon, NH. Bob, in his early seventies then and as congenial as can be, would drive a tractor around the paddock area and chat with us amateur drivers. In 1989 he had purchased what was then Bryar Motorsports Park and turned it into NHIS, the only successful NASCAR banked oval in the northeast. By all accounts the NASCAR teams thoroughly enjoyed Bahre's track and Yankee hospitality.
Bob sold NHIS to Speedway Motorsports back in 2008. It now runs as New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). The track can transition into a small 1.6 mile road course good for race cars and motorcycles, which includes a good portion of the Magic Mile Oval. It was my first racetrack, and thus I am quite fond of it. NHMS is a very decent track, with twelve turns and nice elevation changes. The old school New England charm of Mr. Bahre is certainly missed.
Bob Bahre is an avid collector of 60 plus cars and is a genuine lover of Duesenberg's, Packard's, Stutz Bearcats, a Tucker, Thomas Flyer, vintage race cars, and other rare collectibles. He is notorious for chasing after a mere rumor of a car's possible whereabouts, or pursuing an owner who won't sell. "Some guys chase broads," he says. "I chase cars." Indeed. There's a story of a 1937 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Rollston owned by a couple who absolutely did not want to sell. A bag filled with $500,000 in cash, spread upon their living room rug subtly persuaded the Michigan folks to trade the vehicle to Bob.
His cars, many restored to a 100 point restoration and others left original and unrestored, have won multiple awards at the esteemed Amelia Island Concourse and Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance.
1948 Tucker Sedan; This is Tucker #33 out of 51 built (in Chicago IL). The headlights turn with the steering wheel.