Robert ‘Rob’ Iannucci, one of the world’s most passionate and influential men when it came to racing classic motorcycles from the ‘golden age’ of racing – early-1950s to mid-1970s in his view – has died at the age of 80.
Iannucci was a retired New York attorney, motorsports pioneer and preservationist – and the founder of Team Obsolete with racer Dave Roper.
Team Obsolete wrote a heartfelt goodbye to Rob on social media:
“Rob was known for an unshakable passion for history in all its forms. Whether he was restoring buildings, reviving forgotten boats, or bringing legendary motorcycles back to life, he approached every endeavour with curiosity, conviction, and a passionate spirit.
As a young adult working in auto garages, Rob discovered a fascination with how things worked. That early curiosity stayed with him for the rest of his life.
Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Rob began his professional path in public service. He worked as a Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney, a social worker, and a probation officer in both New York and New Jersey.
His commitment to community extended far beyond local borders. During his service in the Peace Corps in Jamaica and Barbados, he helped establish commercial fishermen’s cooperatives. It was an early reflection of his desire to strengthen communities by giving people the tools to succeed. It was also there that he met his wife and lifelong business partner, Sonia Ewers.
Rob’s legacy shone brightly in the world of motorsports. As the founder of Historic Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the United States, he created Team Obsolete, a pioneering presence on the international racing stage.
Between 1978 and 2002, his team competed in more than 1,800 races across the globe, from Norway to Japan, earning respect, admiration, and countless accolades. His riders included icons such as Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, and Dave Roper, the only American to win the Isle of Man TT.
Team Obsolete built one of the world’s most admired collections of museum-quality Grand Prix motorcycles, including the rare 1965 Honda RC165 250/6 and the AJS E95 Porcupine. The team continued to travel to race events, carrying Rob’s passion forward.
Rob had a rare gift for recognizing potential where others saw only decline. In real estate, he restored and revived unique and distressed properties throughout the United States and the Caribbean. In Kingston, New York, the former capital of the state, he assembled and prepared for development three-quarters of a mile of waterfront property, acquiring 37 parcels in less than two years and building a strong working relationship with the City that continues today.
In Downtown Brooklyn, he transformed a 50,000-square-foot commercial loft building, giving the building new purpose and providing the first office for the now-famous Etsy website.
His devotion to preservation extended to the water. Rob worked tirelessly to rescue WWII naval vessels through his nonprofit, the Fleet Obsolete Restoration Project. He saved several World War II PT Boats, an Army tug, and a 180-foot former floating hospital barge. Some of these vessels had seen action in the Pacific Theatre and at Normandy. Under his care, they found new life and purpose, with ongoing efforts to prepare them for educational and humanitarian missions.
Rob Iannucci lived with bold ambition and a deep reverence for the past. He believed that history deserved to be protected, honoured and shared. Whether it roared around a racetrack, sailed into danger, or stood weathered on a forgotten shoreline, he worked to keep it alive. His legacy endures in every engine he restored, every structure he saved, and every life he influenced along the way.
He leaves behind family, longtime colleagues, and many friends. Each of them carries with them the inspiration of his work, his relentless curiosity, and his extraordinary passion.
