TAMMY WILLARD
When the former Virgil Kart Club held one
of it’s demonstrations at Merrittville Speedway in the 80’s
– long before the infield track of today was even thought of
– little did the racing community know what was to become of
a young Tammy Willard as she sat in Victory Lane.
Her first feature win at the Thorold
Track would actually come in a Go Kart – the first of many
that would come in both the Bomber and Sportsmen Divisions
in later years. Growing up in Merrittville Speedway’s
unofficial first family – Tammy could not help get involved
in the sport as her grandfather Bill Willard Senior and
father Al have been car owners for a number of drivers since
the first years of the Speedway while operating Willard and
Son Towing which would later grow to become CAA Niagara.
While Al and Bill had embarked on the
Stock Car Scene, Tammy would race into her teen years with
her Kart – something that her and her grandfather Bill would
do together. After one of her championship seasons –
Tammy decided that she too wanted to race Saturday Nights
at Merrittville in the former Bomber Division and would
purchase a car for the 1987 season. Although she got a
late start to that season – within the first complete year
had found Victory Lane and before the 1988 season was
complete – she made the move to the Sportsmen Division.
Tammy would quickly find success with the Sportsmen also
as in only her third or fourth night in the car – she would
end up in Victory Lane in one of the most emotional
celebrations on the front-stretch with family and friends
that many fans in the grandstands still remember. “I
remember the night clearly,” says older brother Bill, “I had
broke and was in the pits and was able to watch her take her
first Sportsmen win … I raced myself for 26 years and I’m
still known as Tammy Willard’s brother.”
Perhaps the only brother and sister to
race together and maybe at any track not just Merrittville –
the two would move on to the 358 Modifieds – Bill for
the second time – but after two years – they would
return to the Sportsmen Division where both had their
successes.
The 1998 Season would see Tammy win the
Sportsmen Championship at Merrittville Speedway in
addition to the same at Ohsweken. Eventually Tammy would
step back from her own racing but would still be involved as
her nephews Tyler McPherson and BJ Willard and her niece
Alicia would embark on their own Kart Racing careers now at
Merrittville Tuesday nights – eventually joined by the
youngest in the family – Cody and Josh McPherson. She was
a big supporter of all of them and today when she’s at the
track – Tyler and BJ who now run in the Sportsmen
Division themselves and Cody who is in his second Hoosier
Stock Season – look forward to walking the track with Aunt
Tammy as he shares her experiences with them. Tyler, Cody
and Josh are sons of Tammy older sister Lori married Guy
McPherson and at one time in the 90’s both Tammy, Bill and
Guy had the trademark Willard 77 and 777 in competition
in the Sportsmen ranks at the area tracks. “As a racer,”
relates Bill, “you’ll probably not find one of us that
wouldn’t race wheel to wheel with her … she had the respect
of everyone … and as her older brother … none of us couldn’t
have done it without dad and grandpa … we owe it all to
them.”
Although Tammy has got back behind the
wheel a few times since retiring, those trips back to the
track have been to help others out. Back in the day it was
probably difficult for Tammy Willard to get her start in the
traditionally male sport of racing but like any true racer
she earned the respect of her peers. Well – to borrow
something that always graced her race cars – it’s Hammer
Time!
On behalf of the Merrittville Speedway
Reunion Committee and your fans—enjoy tonight Tammy and your
induction into the L. St. Amand Wall of Fame at Merrittville
as you join your grandfather Bill Senior and all the other
honorees – you definitely have earned it!