Robert Macomber "Bob" Akin, III (March 6, 1936 – April 29, 2002) was an American business executive, journalist, television commentator and champion sports car racing driver.
He drove a front engine Volpini Formula Junior in 1960, then switched to a 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC for several races during the early part of the 1961 season, before retiring in July of that year, to concentrate on the family business.
Almost by accident, Akin returned to racing in 1973, after accepting an invitation from his friend, Sam Posey, to drive a few laps in his Mercedes-Benz 300SL, at the July 4th, 1973 Vintage Sports Car Club of America event at Lime Rock Park.
Within a month, he was back at it in earnest, driving a Lotus 11 in vintage racing events until switching to the 1959 Cooper-Monaco that would prove to be his favorite racer, in 1975.
On April 25, 2002, he was gravely injured in a violent crash while testing a powerful (900-plus horsepower, twin-turbocharged V-6) 1988 Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo for the Walter Mitty Challenge for historic cars at Road Atlanta.
The Road Racing Drivers Club presents the Bob Akin Memorial Motorsports Award annually to the race driver who exemplifies the characteristics for which Bob was known and respected: 2003 – Sam Posey 2004 – Charlie Gibson 2005 – John Fitch 2006 – Jim Haynes 2007 – Cameron Argetsinger 2008 – Jim Downing 2009 – Steven J. Earle 2010 – Augie Pabst 2011 – Don Knowles 2012 – Miles Collier 2013 – Peter Sachs 2014 - Bill Warner 2015 - Judy Stropus 2016 - Murray Smith 2017 - Archie Urciuoli 2018 - Jeff Zwart 2019 - Rob Dyson 2020 - No Award Given 2021 - Jeremy Shaw NY Times Obituary, dated May 3, 2002, Bob Akin, 66, Auto Racer Who Won at Sebring Twice Internet Source: Dark Horse Racing Internet Source: Hudson Historics About Us Internet Source: Historic Racing Internet Source: Road Racing Drivers Club