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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 sponsorshipcontinues 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.
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