Born in Gloucestershire, England, Bob Foster started racing in 1932. He dabbled in mptocross and trials but his success ws found on the hard sufaces.
In 1933 and 1934 he rode his New Imperial to second place in the lightweight class at the 1934 Manx Grand Prix.
Success came in the Lightweight class at the Isle of Man TT in 1936 when he won, again on a New Imperial.
After the war, Bob picked up where he left off on the island, winning the 1947 Junior class on a Velocette. In 1948 he came second and would probably have won the 1948 trophy if his Moto Guzzi hadn’t developed mechianical trouble while he was leading by 57 seconds.
In 1949 Bob competed in the FIM World Championship, coming second in the Dutch and Belgian races.
The folowing year was his most successful. Wins in the Belgian, Dutch and Ulster rounds on his Velocette against a strong Norton team, and a second place in Switzerland, gave Bob the 350cc World Championship title for 1950.
Bob retired from racing after the 1951 TT, opening garages in Blandford Forum and Parkstone in Dorset, England. He crossed his final finish line this day in 1982.