Bob Hynes, an icon in desert off-road race radio communications, was recently admitted to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California July 28, 2008, according to several off-road industry sources. Known as "BFG Radio Bob," whose company RLH Communications provides race communications for BFGoodrich Tires that includes relay, timing and scoring logistics at such races as the famed Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, Hynes is currently in an intensive care unit due to complications associated with his back and respiratory system.

What follows is an excerpt from an email distributed via off-road race reporter Tony Tellier, as received from author Dave Walter, who is also a key component in the BFGoodrich Tires Racing effort. Also note the You Tube video compilation provided by Race Day Films, which features Hynes receiving the 2006 BFGoodrich Performance Team Awards, as introduced by Frank DeAngelo. The photo featured early in the video of Hynes standing in front of his van was snapped sometime in the mid-90s by myself during a Baja 1000 or possibly a Baja 500 contingency. In spite of a notably humble vehicle that traversed much of the rigors of the Baja Peninsula, his influence and importance in Baja racing history is held in high regard.

Radio Bob Hynes was admitted to Sharp Hospital on July 28. He compressed two more disks in his back and was having a hard time breathing. Turns out, he had a lot of fluid in his lung cavity, but they partially successful draining the fluid. Last week, he was in a private room and doing amazingly well. We could not get him to stop talking even though he still had a couple of drain tubes.

This week is a different story. He’s back in the Intensive Care Unit with irregular heart beats, a very bad case of phenomena and is currently getting assistance from a breathing machine, although his breathing is extremely labored. He is wearing a mask over his mouth and nose and is unable talk through it. Although stable at the moment, the Doctors are not optimistic about his future.

He is alert and has decided that when the time comes, he does not want to be put on a respirator because he would be on it for the rest of his life.

While he is ICU, he does not have a telephone (couldn’t talk anyway) and visitors are restricted to family members.

Mary Hynes is keeping her spirits high and is trying to keep the RLH Communications business running.

Radio Bob and his family need a little help with your prayers and good thoughts and would appreciate a card or note.

Bob Hynes
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
751 Medical Center Court
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Sincerely,

Dave Walter