BRIEF OVERVIEW !
Billy started racing at Milan Dragway in 1965. In 1966 he won the Spring Championship defeating his long time friend Bobby Smith in the finals. And won many weekly events.
In 1967 He purchased a 1957 Chevy from a Co-worker and friend the late Kirk McCowan.
He installed a 427 Big Block Chevy Engine in it and Ran the car in B Modified Production
B/MP. Billy won many weekly events at Milan Dragway and Tri-City Dragway in Saginaw,
Mi, and won his first National Event at Bristol Tennesee in 1968.
He installed a 427 Big Block Chevy Engine in it and Ran the car in B Modified Production
B/MP. Billy won many weekly events at Milan Dragway and Tri-City Dragway in Saginaw,
Mi, and won his first National Event at Bristol Tennesee in 1968.
In 1970, Billy sold the 57 Chevy and started racing his 1967 Chevelle at Milan Dragway and won many weekly events. He sold the Chevelle to his long time friend the late Ed Walker in 1972. He drove the Chevelle for Ed in 1972 while he was building his 1971 Nova which he purchased from Dominos Pizza. Billy won 21 races of 25 races he entered that year at Milan Dragway, Norwalk Raceway Park and Coeburn,Va driving Ed's Chevelle.
In 1973 Billy debuted the 1971 Nova which proved to be a terrible and frustrating year. Billy, after coming off a year of great success could not win a round and broke a lot of parts trying to sort out the new car. Billy says the only two good things that happened that year was being the first in his home town to run in the 10 second range and being runner up one time. At the end of the race season Billy entered the Nova in Cobo hall in Janurary of 1974 and won third place.
In 1974 Billy worked out all the bad links and won a few races. He decided to take some time off and sold the Nova to a good friend Bobby Noplis.
In 1975 Bobby and Billy decided to take the Nova to Bean Blossom Dragway's 1/8 mile track in Bean Blossom, IN. With Billy Driving, to challenge a racer that had not been beat all year. Not only did Billy beat him once but beat him twice (because of a timing problem) with the wheels in the air, to take the bean Blossom Modified Eliminator Championship.
In 1974 Billy worked out all the bad links and won a few races. He decided to take some time off and sold the Nova to a good friend Bobby Noplis.
In 1975 Bobby and Billy decided to take the Nova to Bean Blossom Dragway's 1/8 mile track in Bean Blossom, IN. With Billy Driving, to challenge a racer that had not been beat all year. Not only did Billy beat him once but beat him twice (because of a timing problem) with the wheels in the air, to take the bean Blossom Modified Eliminator Championship.
In 1980, Billy bought his old Nova back. After 4 years of not racing It only took a couple time runs and he was back in the groove, winning the first time out. Billy won a few races each year.
In 1985, Billy entered the IHRA Northen Nationals and won his second National Event downing John "Mr Motech" Tedder in the Final Round.
In 1985, Billy entered the IHRA Northen Nationals and won his second National Event downing John "Mr Motech" Tedder in the Final Round.
In 1986, Billy started building his new Car, a 1968 Nova.
In 1988, Billy gave his 1971 Nova to his wife Sandy to Race. In the spring of 1988 disaster struck when Billy lost his Father who gave Billy his start in mechanics, working with his Dad in his Auto Repair Shop at the age of 13. In the mid summer of 1988, Billy brought out the 68 Nova and once again Billy was faced with a frustrating start. After a few weeks he finally worked out the bugs. His racing friends talked him into going to a $1000.00 race at Detroit Dragway. Everyone there was having traction problems as they was using a new traction compound that failed terribly. After a few time runs Billy weeded his way to the Final round against a tough racer and friend, the late Shorty Adams and Won his first race with the 68 Nova.
In 1988, Billy gave his 1971 Nova to his wife Sandy to Race. In the spring of 1988 disaster struck when Billy lost his Father who gave Billy his start in mechanics, working with his Dad in his Auto Repair Shop at the age of 13. In the mid summer of 1988, Billy brought out the 68 Nova and once again Billy was faced with a frustrating start. After a few weeks he finally worked out the bugs. His racing friends talked him into going to a $1000.00 race at Detroit Dragway. Everyone there was having traction problems as they was using a new traction compound that failed terribly. After a few time runs Billy weeded his way to the Final round against a tough racer and friend, the late Shorty Adams and Won his first race with the 68 Nova.
In 1990: Billy had a great year, winning 7 races with one race he remembers well. It was a Chevrolet Performance Race which was sponsored by GM and he really wanted to do well at that race. On Billy's first time run disaster struck when the oil pump failed and he thought his day was over. A friend of his talked him into loading up and going home and change the motor to the new one he had at home. There were doubts that this could happen but him and a friend change the engine and made it back just in time for first round. After winning first round he stated " I can't believe we pulled this off" and went on to WIN the race!
At the end of the 1990 season Billy sold the 1968 Nova.
In 1991: Billy took the year off to build his new shop in Manchester, MI.
In 1992 to 1994: Billy once again returned to the track but only as a Crew Chief for Sandy and occasionally would double up in Sandy's car.
In 1995: Billy continued helping Sandy and Helping Jim with his car in which Jim moved up to a 1968 Camaro. Billy built Leesa (jim's Wife) a 1971 Mustang Mach I and she started racing it in mid season 1995. Billy started building a 1992 Camaro to once again to have his own car. Billy's business was booming and didn't have a lot of time to do a lot of work on his own car and now having to take care of 3 cars at the track.
In 1997: Mid Season Billy finally took the 92 Camaro to the track. The car ran pretty good but wasn't as fast as he thought it would be, so back into the motor he went. The rest of the season was mostly fine tuning it to his expectations.
In 1998: Billy had a good season winning a few races and having a lot of fun with the Camaro. He quailfied in the point to go to the Indianapolis Bracket Finals. Billy came up short in the Fourth round.
In 1999: Billy had a great season and at the end of the 1999 Race Season Billy & Sandy decided to take some time off and build thier new house.
At the end of the 1990 season Billy sold the 1968 Nova.
In 1991: Billy took the year off to build his new shop in Manchester, MI.
In 1992 to 1994: Billy once again returned to the track but only as a Crew Chief for Sandy and occasionally would double up in Sandy's car.
In 1995: Billy continued helping Sandy and Helping Jim with his car in which Jim moved up to a 1968 Camaro. Billy built Leesa (jim's Wife) a 1971 Mustang Mach I and she started racing it in mid season 1995. Billy started building a 1992 Camaro to once again to have his own car. Billy's business was booming and didn't have a lot of time to do a lot of work on his own car and now having to take care of 3 cars at the track.
In 1997: Mid Season Billy finally took the 92 Camaro to the track. The car ran pretty good but wasn't as fast as he thought it would be, so back into the motor he went. The rest of the season was mostly fine tuning it to his expectations.
In 1998: Billy had a good season winning a few races and having a lot of fun with the Camaro. He quailfied in the point to go to the Indianapolis Bracket Finals. Billy came up short in the Fourth round.
In 1999: Billy had a great season and at the end of the 1999 Race Season Billy & Sandy decided to take some time off and build thier new house.
In 2000: Billy & Sandy worked building their house and in Feb 2001 They finally moved in. When the 2001 Race Season rolled in, they decided to hang up racing and sold their entire racing equipment. Billy quit building race cars and focused on doing what he always had a love for in vintage cars and street rods in which he grew up working on. He continues today building street rods and restoring vintage cars. I ask him if he misses racing and he says "just about everyday"
Who Knows, we might see him back on the track some day.
Who Knows, we might see him back on the track some day.
Billy Began Racing Fords in 1962 while in the US NAVY but raced mostly on the street. Occasionally Going to Virginia Beach Dragway. He would really get disgusted when going to the dragway as he was always getting beat by the Chevys so when he was discharged from the US NAVY in 1965 he purchased a 1965 Chevrolet Impala.