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"It was completely spontaneous. I just picked these people up, gave them champagne and took them for a ride downtown. Next thing I know, I'm on the evening news.

"From that time on, the phone didn't stop ringing. And it was superstars wanting me to drive them. I'm going to the airport and picking up people like [Miami Vice stars] Phillip Michael Thomas and Don Johnson."

The investigative journalist in me has a hunch they're the inspiration for the white Ferrari 'Superossa', a stretch Testarossa that makes up part of Bob's rental fleet.

It was just when it all felt so right that it started to go so wrong again. Bob fell prey to what he describes as "a sophisticated con scam with a Hollywood twist".

Kim Basinger's brother approached him to set up as a partner and ended up walking off with Bob's entire business.

It wasn't until he'd touted his sense of injustice on some of America's most popular chat shows in front of "a jury of millions", that Bob felt vindicated.

He used the popular support as a platform for his third attempt at the limo business, the one that sees him here now, arrayed in gold and, not altogether surprisingly, accompanied by a small entourage of bodyguards.

Under their studied gaze, I get round to the question I'd been meaning to ask the big man since being introduced. These chains around your neck, Bob, do you wear them to bed?

"No. But I had a bit too much to drink one time and forgot to take them off before going to sleep. I thought I was getting mugged all night!"

He lets out a huge, booming belly laugh. As far as Bob and the limo business goes, it's time to sit back, stretch out and enjoy the ride.