Dennis Rollain, 76, of Kenosha, Wi., died early Thursday morning at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa after being struck by a van while legally crossing the street on a three-wheeled motorized scooter on Wednesday afternoon.  Rollain suffered massive head injuries in the accident and was transported to Kenosha Hospital and Medical Center before being transferred to Froedtert.

Dennis Rollain, 76, of Kenosha, Wi., died early Thursday morning at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa after being struck by a van while legally crossing the street on a three-wheeled motorized scooter on Wednesday afternoon.  Rollain suffered massive head injuries in the accident and was transported to Kenosha Hospital and Medical Center before being transferred to Froedtert.

Rollain was partnered with legendary car builder and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame 2010 inductee John Buttera in R&B Automotive of Kenosha prior to Buttera’s move to California in the late 60s.  During their years together Rollain and Buttera earned an enviable reputation for producing some of the finest drag racing chassis ever produced in the Midwest.  From Tom Hoover to the late “Starvin’ Marvin” Schwartz, R&B Automotive supplied race cars for the era’s best.  The majority of Midwest UDRA Top Fuel participants drove R&B creations, while early Funny Car efforts included Don Schumacher’s first “Stardust” Dodge Charger.

Rollain got his start building street rods out of his garage, which was where he and Buttera first connected.  Theirs was an ideal partnership because both were supreme craftsman determined that their cars would look as good as they performed.

Buttera passed away in 2008 at the age of 67 after a long battle with brain cancer.

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