Bill Willard
Third generation driver of the 77Jr
If you are fairly new to Merrittville
Speedway … you may have heard Sportsman driver BJ Willard
thank his dad Bill in Victory Lane or perhaps relate how his
experience helped him get there. If you are a longtime fan
you have to know Bill Willard to be a former driver and part
of a family that has been involved in most of our 60 year
history.
Beginning in the 1950’s the family got
its start in the local racing scene when Bill Willard Senior
quickly became an accomplished car owner for drivers
including Don Taylor, Bev MacTavish, Stan Friesen, George
Winger and Terry Edwards while at the same time providing
towing service through Willard & Son Towing. Fast forward to
the 1970’s and the cars Bill Sr. and his son Al would own
and maintain would be those driven by the family’s third
generation … Bill Willard and later his sister Tammy. Like
so many multi-generational families that have played a part
in our history it was only a matter of time before Bill
Willard got involved himself. Growing up on Louth Street in
St. Catharines alongside his grandparents and Aunt Betty
next door to the family business he too would develop a
passion for the sport of Stock Car Racing.
After getting his start in the former
Bomber Division, Bill would soon take the family’s 77Jr to
the Sportsman Division – first with a 6 Cylinder before a V8
when the division changed to that engine variation.
Eventually the 77Jr would be joined by a 77Jrette driven by
his sister Tammy as the two would become perhaps the only
brother and sister to compete against each other in the same
division. From the start, Willard-owned cars carried certain
numbers and before long the 77’s were joined by the 777 of
their brother-in-law Guy McPherson in the Sportsman
Division. McPherson married Lori Willard – second daughter
of Al and Laura and grand-daughter of Bill Sr. and Anne.
With three cars in action in the Sportsman Division in the
90’s … the family sure had lots to cheer for sure!
Through his career Bill and Tammy would
also compete in the Modified Division but the Sportsman
Division would be where both would find their most success.
In 1993, Bill would earn the Sportsman Division Points
Championship repeating in 1995. 3 years later Tammy would
as well. Throughout his career Bill has seen quite an
evolvement in racing equipment as his first open wheel racer
was a 1933 Ford Coupe. From there it became the
Gremlin-bodied cars through to the chassis and body styles
of today with it’s GM Crate Engine that all competitors
including his son BJ campaigns. Bill would race until 2005
and fittingly the last race he won was the Sterling Silvr
Event hosted by former racer Ken Walsh that honors his
Grandfather Bill Sr.
Shortly thereafter … Bill would put his
son BJ behind the wheel . An even further show of how far
things have come was when BJ won his first Sportsman
Feature. Dad Bill was away on Holidays receiving a call from
BJ on his sister Alicia’s cell phone from Victory Lane. Back
in the day news like that or any kind would not be passed on
near that quick. Alicia enjoyed her own racing success on
two occasions Tuesday Nights growing up with her brother as
both would race Go Karts. She made a successful return a few
years ago – winning the Senior Flat Head Division Points
Championship as Alicia Braun after marrying Bobcat of
Hamilton 358 Modified Driver Travis Braun. With the arrival
of Bill’s Grandson Carter Braun … is a 5th generation driver
in the family possible?
Today
Bill is still involved in CAA Niagara while serving as Crew
Chief for his son BJ. The fourth generation of the 77
currently sits atop the Sportsman Points Race. Leading the
charge to overtake him – his cousin Cody McPherson – son of
Guy and Lori. Similar to the third generation drivers … up
until recently it was three cars in the same division as BJ
and Cody had their cousin and brother Tyler McPherson
chasing them down as well. When his sister Tammy won her
first Sportsman Feature he was able to watch it after
breaking earlier in the event. When she was inducted into
the Wall of Fame a few years ago he got to watch that too as
one of a circle of family of friends that were the only ones
to know of what was to come.
Tonight Bill - it’s once again your turn
to be in the spotlight on the CAA Stage as your family and
friends are here to enjoy your reaction upon induction into
the L. St. Amand Enterprises Wall of Fame … joining Tammy,
your dad Al and your grandfather Bill Sr.!
Congratulations on behalf of the
Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee.