BILL & ANNE WILLARD
“Merrittville’s First Family of Auto Racing”
When looking back at Merrittville’s past,
it’s hard not to talk about racing without mentioning the
Willard family. Bill’s love affair with auto racing became
intertwined with his family business. Bill hailed from
Rockway, Ontario and for those of us that grew up in that
area, we knew it consisted of two thriving buildings, those
being Willard’s Garage and Auto Wreckers and the Rockway
Community Centre.
Bill’s love for auto racing blossomed in the
1950’s and he started fielding cars mostly Ford Coupes, when Merrittville
Speedway was in it’s infancy. Bill and Anne Willard raised their two children,
Al and Betty in the quiet hills of Rockway’s agricultural community. However,
the roar of the flathead V8’s could be heard from within the walls of the
wrecking yard. Emerging from the confines was the bright red #777 to be driven
by Don Taylor and the #21 driven by George Winger. Willard’s cars could easily
be recognized by their bright red paint, trimmed in black and white lettering,
with large numerals, usually with a #7 in them on the doors.
While the
Willard family contributed greatly to the racing community, many people remember
the Willards as great lovers of country music. The Willards along with Orv
Merry and family, formed the “Rockway Serenaders” and would travel locally,
usually in the racing off-season to perform at local functions, being it a
wedding at Lipa Park or a Saturday night dance at the Birch Palais at Turner’s
Corners. On of my father Ken’s memorable moments with Bill, was attending a
grand opening of Bill’s new garage at the wrecking yard, it was a simple affair
with lots of “Rockway” hospitality. The other, was a hair raising ride with
Bill to the stock car races at Syracuse in the 1950’s since Bill loved fast hot
rodded street cars.
The Willards, at one point at Merrittville Speedway,
fielded as many as four cars for various drivers, all painted red and trimmed
in the familiar Willard colours. Those drivers were: #77 – Terry Edwards #78 –
Stan Friesen #79 – Al Willard (a brief career) #777 Bev MacTavish At this
time, most of Willard’s cars were either six cylinder G.M.C. powered Chev
coupes, or V-8 Chevrolet powered coupes. The overhead valve V-8 was starting to
outperform the old reliable flathead Fords.
When track owners Ken Kavanagh and
Bill Russell, held a special event such as a demolition derby, Willard’s Auto
Wreckers would supply the cars, usually driving them from Rockway through the
backroads of Pelham and Thorold township in a long procession snaking through
the hills of St. John’s. I remember riding in these cars, and as my love for
restored old autos grew, I remember how many of these restorable 1940’s model
cars we smashed up. As well, Willards also provided the towing service at the
Speedway for many years as needed.
A few years later, Bill and Anne moved the
family to Louth Street and the Willards Towing Co. flourished as a business,
later to become affiliated with the CAA. The Willard family business grew and
the bright red tow trucks started to turn yellow as the CAA road service took
shape under the direction of the Willard family.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s,
Bill and Anne enjoyed their other winter time passion, snowmobiling. For many
years, Bill and Anne as members of the Lincoln Snowmobile Club, practiced safe
snowmobiling, putting many miles on their sleds. During the early 1980’s I
visited with Bill and Anne, along with track owner Stan Friesen to buy their
sleds. While Stan bought the sleds, Bill referred me to Fletcher Smith, their
brother-in-law, and I purchased his sled. Again the sleds were the familiar
bright red. One memory of the past was a red #77 coupe in the shed, that Terry
Edwards had once driven in the Limited Sportsmen class at Merrittville.
During
the 1980’s Bill Willard Jr. carried the family banner racing in the Limited
Sportsmen Division and later in the Sportsmen Division. Bill enjoyed much
success and was later jointed by his sister Tammy, who started out racing go
karts and later, Sportsmen cars, fielded again by father Al and the Willard
family. The #77 and #777 were brought back to life as these two youngsters
raced at area ovals, but their home was Merrittville Speedway.
Bill was also a
very charitable man, working for many causes but one in particular was the
Christmas Dinner and Turkey raffle, for the “West St. Catharines Businessmen’s
Association”. Bill was in his glory at the microphone calling numbers and
kidding with many of his friends, while I supplied the turkeys for the event.
He was truly at home in Rockway, the West Hill was an important area of small
businesses as well as many family farms. Unfortunately in 1990, Bill was
diagnosed with cancer, but before his passing, a special night was held at
Merrittville Speedway in his honour and the #77 and #777 were retired. The
plaque is permanently displayed on the Walls of Fame at the Speedway.The Willard
family continued to field cars for both Tammy &Bill jr. through the 1990’s with
each winning Sportsmen Championships in their own right The 77jr. with CAA
sponsorship continues to be a force to be reconned with under the Willard family
banner.
The Willards continue to support stock car racing at Merrittvile as they
have for50years&we are indebited to the entire Family &it all started with a
love of the sport that was passed on from Bill sr.&Anne toBetty, Allan &Laura
toBilljr.&sister Tammy&now to thenext generation with Tyler McPherson graduating
from Go-karts to the 777 Hoosier –Stock under the watchful eye of former racer
,Mike Granton.
We surely hope that Bill jr. keeps driving for the Willard
family racing team ,but when he finally hangs up his helmet,Tyler will be
watching for his chance to try & keep the racing tradition alive in the Sportsman
division. For over thirty years, our family has lived near Rockway and Bill’s
old wrecking yard is still functioning today. Somewhere in the distance, I can
still hear the old flathead of the #777, being tuned up for it’s next race
breaking the silence of the rural air.
Thanks for the memories and your 50
year’s of contribution to our area’s #1 sport.
Rick Kavanagh
P.S. All of us on
the Merrittville Speedway Alumni wish Allan &Laura a happy retirement from CAA &
hope to see you at our annual Reunion &we appreciate your support as a Sponsor
of our evening.