Lew Russell Robinson (June 2, 1933 – February 6, 1971), nicknamed "Sneaky Pete", was an American drag racer. == Biography == Robinson was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Robinson was born Lew Russell Robinson but is best known as Pete or "Sneaky Pete". Pete is the son of Olaf Robinson brother to Lowell Galen Robinson or "LG". Olaf had two sons Torch and Pete Robinson. Pete married wife Sandra Robinson on October,27th 1962, at the family home in Fitzgerald. They lived in Atlanta where Pete owned Pete's Engineering Company and raced NHRA top fuel dragsters. Pete's wife traveled with him to the races, and helped her husband run his business until his death. Career Gassers He started drag racing in 1950, at the wheel of a Buick-engined B/Gas 1940 Ford, which he continued to campaign until 1961. Dragsters Robinson purchased his first slingshot rail from a wealthy friend, who was unable to persuade his father it was merely a go kart. Robinson, obsessive about lightening his cars (once quipping, "Anything that falls to the ground when you let it go from your hand is way too heavy to be on my race car." ) immediately began trimming weight off the car, reducing it from over the course of three months. He improved its performance from a previous quickest pass of 9.50 seconds to a 9.13. It was the focus on weight reduction that prompted him to switch to a Cobra engine, which was lighter than the Chevrolet. He gained national attention at NHRA's 1961 Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in his small-block Dragmaster-chassied gas dragster, eliminating Tom McEwen (not yet "Mongoose") to win AA/GD before beating Dode Martin to take the Top Eliminator title. Along the way, he set low e.t. of the meet with an 8.68 second pass, which contributed to his "Sneaky Pete" appellation. At the 1962 NHRA Winternationals, Robinson reached the semi-final in Top Eliminator before being defeated by eventual event winner Nelson. Robinson also attended the 1963 NHRA U.S. Nationals at IRP. Top Fuel 1964 Robinson moved up to Top Fuel in 1964. He did compete in Top Gas at the 1964 NHRA U.S. Nationals, losing in the final to Gordon Collett. 1965 Relying on a new Ford "Cammer", he reached TF/D final the 1965 Springnationals at Bristol Motor Speedway, being eliminated by Maynard Rupp. In Top Gas at that event, he lost to Collett again. 1966