Here Comes Bullet: CEAT alumna donates in brother's memory

Here Comes Bullet: CEAT alumna donates in brother's memory

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | [email protected]

Every great race begins with a spark.

For Oklahoma State University's Bullet Racing team, that spark now carries the legacy of an alumnus who lived life immersed in all the aspects of the sport. Thanks to a generous endowment from his sister, Bob Lembcke's lifelong passion for motorsports is powering an entire team toward something greater than a checkered flag.

The $500,000 endowment is a transformational gift that will provide ongoing support for the team's operations, travel, equipment and growth, ensuring the next generation of engineers and racers have the fuel they need to keep pushing forward.

Bob and his sister, Mary Davey, graduated from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, Mary in chemical engineering in 1972, and Bob in mechanical engineering in 1974. Their careers took different paths, but the siblings had more in common than just their degrees. They were both swimmers. Both engineers. Both proud members of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

For Mary, this gift is more than a donation. It's a tribute.

Bob raced across the country, from Sonoma, California, to Watkins Glen, New York. His mother, also an OSU graduate, once served as his pit crew. His shop in Pensacola, Florida, became his sanctuary, a place where he could fabricate new solutions from scratch. He wasn't in it for the show. He was there for the precision, the problem-solving and the camaraderie of gearheads who shared his love of fast turns and fine-tuned engines.

Bob told friends and family early on that his goal was to retire at 55 after saving a million dollars. When he turned 55, he did just that, spending the rest of his life building and racing vintage cars.

Solving mechanical, electrical or structural issues within racing brought Bob joy. He fabricated parts from scratch, designed custom lifts to move cars solo and wasn't afraid to challenge industry standards if he believed his engineering made more sense.

"At one time, he challenged SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) safety harness requirements," Mary said. "He sent calculations, explanations and drawings of his design to challenge their new requirements."

When Bob passed suddenly in 2022, Mary knew she wanted to see his desire to contribute to something dear to him was achieved.

She toured CEAT's Zink Center and saw firsthand how Bullet Racing echoed Bob's passion. What he and his friends pursued independently in the '70s is now a thriving student organization, designing and building 90% of each formula-style vehicle from the ground up, competing internationally and preparing students for careers in engineering and innovation.

"OSU, and specifically engineering, were important to him. I thought the idea of providing support to the next crop of racers was exciting and in the spirit of Bob's love of racing," Mary said.

Bullet Racing is OSU's Formula Society of Automotive Engineers team, where students from all majors design and build a prototype race car for national and international competition. It's a full-throttle engineering experience.

Founded in 2018 by Zink Center manager Ray Lucas as a rebranding of Oklahoma State Racing, Bullet Racing is more than a competition team; it's a proving ground. Students can join as freshmen and gain experience in everything from Computer Aided Design modeling to drivetrain integration.

"Students gain critical industry skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and project management," said Aidan Rogers, 2025 Bullet Racing Club president. "It's not a class project. It's a full-time commitment, with many students dedicating 40-60 hours a week to the team."

The team competes against 120 other universities, and their vehicles have earned a reputation for professional appearance and advanced design. The team touts the reputation as one of the most followed and engaged with individual formula accounts on Instagram.

With the new endowment, the team will not only receive funding for annual needs like safety gear and travel, but also the momentum to grow. Bullet Racing is planning to quadruple its shop space and develop a new EV platform, aligning with trends in the automotive industry and giving students hands-on experience with electric vehicle design.

At the recent unveiling of the new formula SAE racecar, BR25, Mary said she was surprised to see Bob's name on the vehicle.

"I think he would have gotten a big kick out of it," she said.

It's not just a sticker, it's a spark. A quiet reminder that engineering begins where imagination meets purpose.

Through her generosity, students now race with the backing of someone who knew what it meant to chase an idea from concept to completion. While Bob never had the chance to be part of a team like Bullet Racing, Mary believes he would have been right at home.

"He would have been leading it," she said. "The combination of personal interest, use of technical skills, and the fun of working with others would have appealed to him. Bullet Racing is a unique experience that goes beyond classroom experiences. It should be available to all students who are really interested."

As for what she hopes the students take away?

A passion, certainly. A sense of teamwork. But most of all, understanding that engineering isn't just about numbers and equations. It's about building something that lasts on the track and far beyond.

And in every tire squeal, design iteration and victory lap, Bob Lembcke rides again.

This time, with a new generation at the wheel.

Photos by: Nick Napoliello and Provided

Story by: Desa James | IMPACT Magazine