Bill Fraley

Male

Greensboro, NC

United States

Profile Information:

About Me:

38-year-plus SCCA member, raced a yellow FF Winkelmann WDF-2 for 3 years in SCCA SE Div Regionals and Nationals in the early 1970s. My 1st drivers' school was @ VIR in 1971.

Have owned the 1966 Nickey Chevrolet McLaren M1B, Mk II, chassis #001 since 1969, when I purchased it fm George Alderman and Brett Lunger in New Castle, Delaware. Car is on the cover of July, 1966 R&T magazine. It was driven when new by Charlie Hayes and had partial sponsorship also by "Hoss" Cartwright(Dan Blocker) of the TV Series "Bonanza".

The primary sponsor was the famous "Nickey backwards-K" Chevrolet Dealership in Chicago, the largest Chevy dealer West of the Mississippi and famous for its' envolvement in automotive competition. Tom Stephanis' dad was one of the principals @ Nickey and Tom very actively campains a USRRC/Can-Am Genie in Vintage today!! The car was also in the movie "Winning" with Paul Newman, in a "Wink" commerical and driven around Central Park from the Tavern On The Green by Bruce McLaren to announce the 1967 Can-Am Series!!

See photo below from the original press kit with Dan and Charlie shaking hands. The front cover of the press kit was a cartoon of the car, below. Interesting note: Directly behind the carbs on the tail section was lettered in quotes......."PURE HOSS-POWER"!!! The car was campained in the USRRC series and the early Can-Am Series. George Alderman and Brett Lunger also did quite well with the car and George won the Marlboro Cup in this car as well as other important events. Brett drove the car @ Nassau Speed Week as well and went on to do a stint in Formula One before retiring.

I am the third owner. We ran it once @ Watkins Glen in a 1970 Trans-Am/SCCA National with Bill Cannon up. I know I have a HUGE learning curve ahead to transition fm FF to this rocketship, not to mention the many years I have not driven in "anger". I'll need all the help & guidance I can get fm the vintage community.

Went to Jim Jones @ Traco Racing Engines in Culver City, Calif.(www.tracoengineering.com) and did the correct R&T motor with the 58 DCO-3 side-draft Webers, directly fm the 1966 build sheets. Jim now lives in NASCAR country @ Lake Norman, North Carolina & his shop is in Denver on "Racing Drive"!!! Re-build is on-going and our progress can be viewed soon @ www.mccainautomotive.com.

Also was heavily involved with the FCA(ferraris), and owned a 1968 330 GTC, sn#11247, a 308 gts and a Mondial. Was a head concours judge/3 member team @ the 1994 FCA meet(Pebble Beach) and Judged also @ Watkins Glen, Elkhart Lake, Pinehurst, Savannah, Summit Point, VIR, Road Atlanta, ect. for 10+ years.

Thanks for the VRL!!!!....
p.s....Also own a 34M mile 1971 280 SL(Arabian Grey/Blk MB-tex) that my mom bought new.

What car(s) do you own?

1. McLaren Elva/MkII-M1B, chassis #001, 1966, Nickey Chevrolet/Charlie Hayes/George Aldermann/Brett Lunger USRRC/Can-Am racecar & Road & Track cover car.
2. 280SL Mercedes-Benz 1971; Arabian Grey/Black MB-Tex interior removable hardtop coupe/convertible
3. 2nd owner 330GTC Ferrari, 1968, sn #11247...now Rosso Chiarro(red) w/bisquit leather & Pininfarina trip covers...sold in 2000 & presently in California.

What do you like to do (e.g. vintage race with...)?

finishing my race car for Vintage events

What clubs do you belong to?

SCCA, past FCA member

What would you like to do (e.g. go to race school; get into Vintage Racing)?

finishing my race car for vintage events

Historic Cars Owned

1966 McLaren-Elva MkII M1B, chassis 30-001, 1968 Ferrari 330GTC, sn#11247, 1971 280 SL Mercedes-Benz coupe/roadster, 1980 Ferrari 308 and 1982 Ferrari Mondial 8 coupe.

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