Broadway Bob was inducted into Don Garlits’ International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.  (Mark Bruderle photo)

As the events of the 1960s exceeded “extravaganza” status, they became mind-boggling productions of massive financial risk. Yet Metzler assumed that risk and gambled with Mother Nature while wearing a grin. Although he did hold several sanctioned national events in which the host association shared that risk, he more often placed a $250,000 wager of his own…and usually came out the winner.

On occasion, Metzler simply couldn’t restrain himself from creating legendary events from seemingly nothing. A classic example came in 1989 when he hosted the National Chrysler Convention, a specialty event for Mopar vehicles, which was originally scheduled to be a one-day affair. In a period of one month prior to the race, Metzler decided to add a pair of jet dragsters to the schedule. A few days later, he decided it should include six jets. He then added wheelstanders, nitro Funny Cars, match race stars Arnie Beswick and Ronnie Sox and, by the time the event arrived, a total of 63 guaranteed (booked-in) professional machines were on the grounds for a two-day race.

The original $9,000 budget ballooned to over $125,000 but, in typical Metzler fashion, he simply fired up his “promotional machine” and hit the road for two weeks spreading those flyers and posters. In the end, the event drew a huge crowd and actually showed a sizeable profit. However, even Metzler admitted he “got a bit carried away.”

While many recount only Metzler’s involvement with professional drivers and race cars, thousands more can offer testaments to his devotion to the weekly sportsman racer. Metzler strived to present a decent purse for his regular customers. At one point, he created a “flexible” payout system that permitted the weekly racer to compete for as little as $100 to as much as $10,000 to win an event…each week!

While racer greed made the format unfeasible, it was a magnificent concept. Metzler always made certain the track was available to anybody who needed it…for any reason with any vehicle. For more than two decades, Great Lakes Dragaway was open six nights per week during the season.

However, Metzler never restricted himself to drag racing vehicles to draw a crowd. Stunt drivers of all kinds, monster trucks, jet-powered robots and plenty of celebrity appearances made each event a “happening” rather than a race. When a new trend appeared, he made the most of it. The Great Lakes Dragaway facility hosted motocross races, mud drags and even off-road races in place of or in conjunction with the quarter-mile activities.

Likewise, Metzler’s eye for social trends played a huge role. In the 1960s, beach parties and acid rock bands were included in the events. In the 1970s, van-ins and more bands were added to the schedule. In the 1980s, the trees surrounding the fabled strip were covered with bizarre designs made by strands of flashing lights…and there were more bands. Music was always a part of the presentation. A bandstand was erected in the center of Metzler’s well-known “beer garden”, a small village of souvenir and concession stands that remained open until near sunrise after each day of racing. At Metzler’s insistence, the bands never stopped playing for forty years. He knew what his customers wanted and many simply wanted an excuse not to go home.

While Metzler operated the track during five decades of cultural change and revolution. most amazing of all may have been the transformation of Metzler himself. From his business-only appearance in the 1950s, he always changed with the times. By the end of the 1960s, Metzler could be seen at the track wearing the latest (and constantly changing) fashions, hairstyles and any combination of outlandish jewelry. In the 1970s, he reflected the most trendy fashions of that decade and by the end of the ‘80s he had created his own fashion designed strictly by the imagination of “Broadway Bob”. Eventually, he became recognizable for an appearance unlike any other person on the planet if only because it, too, reflected his legendary status. He knew his customers expected a nearly mythical figure to match his reputation and, as always, he delivered.

Yet, through it all, Metzler remained loyal to those who offered their own loyalty. Of all his idiosyncrasies, the most unusual was his love of the fans. While Metzler always surrounded himself with extremely capable employees who loved the facility as much as he did and could easily run an event without him,