Flint H.R. History '46-'53 with a West Coast ending

Kathy, You have no idea how cool it is to have you post here. I hope we meet some day so I can tell you in person how much in awe of your dad I was (and still am).

As far as him being an instructor, I had no idea that he didn't have all of the credentials to teach (as far as the state was concerned) all I know is that the 'real" instructors at GMI couldn't hold a candle to him when it came to solving a problem or looking at something and seeing the possibilites to modify it to make it better or adapt it to a new use. All of the students would ALWAYS leave a cl*** awestruck by what he told us or showed us how to do. I think the thing that sticks with me the most is when he would be demonstrating something, like a lathe, he would say. "I'm supposed to show you this way to do this, but I've found if you do it this way it turns out much better and saves time" or a variation on that theme. He had a way of making you "think" and not just accept it because it was written somewhere.
I grew up idolizing my grandfather because of his mechanical expertise (he could fix anything, or given the opportunity could make it better). In my eyes your dad was exactly like him (maybe better) and I count it a privilege to have known him. I only wish I could have been around him more than the brief times at GMI and later when he helped us with our race car.

Frank

 

Ah yes, in Livonia in the early days there were races held at "ECKLES RD.".
In fact did you know the reason the MHRA started the Detroit Autorama was to save up enough money to build a Dragstrip ? "The Motor City Dragway"
Try this link , I can't seem to get it to work. I think you'll like this !

http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/drags.asp?id=1334&type=6


A overview shot of the first Detroit Autorama. Franks car in front, and if you can see that little roadster. 6th car back in the second row. it was a 31 A Roadster on a 32 Frame and it belonged to Bob Vivian. this was that car in Augest of that same year.


aproaching the top of a hill at night on 9mi. a Drunk was p***ing another car comming from the other direction and hit Bob sending him rolling into a orchard,... Bob got out alive but not his p***enger. Here the car is sitting on Frank Mack's trailer next to Frank's house on 8mi. and Randall.

 

One more shot of Bob Vivian's Roadster,......

 

Hello everyone--I hope you all had a Happy Holidays!
I need to answer some questions on this thread about "Bill!"

To wz56km: I loved your message about when he worked at GMI with your dad and grandma! I remember the white van and its conversion into a fifth wheel hauler! Was your dad a Gear Grinder when he hung out with my dad? I think the timing would be about right! What was your grandfather's name? He must have raced at Auto City, if he raced circle track locally. I remember many nights at those tracks!

To Big A from Canada:I sure hope your dad gets his chopped and rodded out pickup before it is too late!!! We have enjoyed our '38 pickup, and my dad was just getting ready to chop the top when he died. We kept the original line, more like when Gramp had it!

To 29RAT: Is the Mr. T you are referring to Mr. T in Swartz Creek--Tom Trembley?

To primerden: This picture is from 1954 and was in Hot Rod magazine November 1954; it was also in a Special Winter 2004 Issue of Hot Rod Magazine called the History of Hot Rodding; I got my copy directly from the editors of Hot Rod magazine, as they still had some left. It explains exactly where it was, and that it was one of the very first santioned drag races in Michigan!!! Also, you can tell it is my dad, as I am told he always wore white coveralls!!! A Gear Grinder told me about this new issue, and I had to get it to add to my collection which grows monthly.

To Old School HAMBer: Frank, it makes me very emotional to hear stories like yours!!! He was totally self taught, as he only attended Western University for one semester when he met my mom!!! I think he may have also taken a course or two at GMI. He loved working there, and took advantage of the factilities when he used the wind tunnel on his Bonneville car, etc. I also hope we meet some day!

Regarding the photo of the 1st Autorama at the U of D in 1953, my dad was also here. His Bonneville truck is at the far upper left with the hood propped up, and the Crosley Bonneville car is to its right, which can't be seen in this photo. I have other photos where it shows up better, and Cruisin' News had a whole article about the First Autorama on its Anniversary a couple years ago.

Jerry Coale who currently owns the Henry J, myself with the '38 truck and my Brother with the MG Bonneville car may be at the Sloan Car Show this summer and/or the Perani Car Show. Will keep everyone posted about this!

Have a Happy New Year and Enjoy the Ride!!!

 

Lookin' forward to meetin' up with ya this summer at cruises and shows. The Nightmares try to take over Perani's, Sloan and Frankenmuth so I'm sure we'll bump into each other often.

 

OK Boys and Girls Here we go trying to post a message for Matt. Matt, stated how surprised Denny was when someone knew REGRET was one of Bill's cars when the car was at a car show. I had the same thing happen shortly after we completed my mini museum at the story in honor of Bill and a spot for the "J". An old time customer came in and had never seen the car so I draged him to the back, we walked throught the door and he say's " is that Waddill's Henry J" to which I responded " YES This IS the real deal- Bill's "J". The chap should be familiar to most hot rodders- - it was Jack "DOC" Watson, George Hurst's right hand man through the years. He and Pat live aa few miles south of town and have been customers for 30 + years. You NEVER know what Jack is into - - boy can I tell you some neat stories. Also maybe I shold post the story of owning the "J" for 35 years before Kathy helped me find out its importance to race history. Its filled with phone calls, inter-net sites, a drag racer from Ohio and strange Holly conections. One customer helped weld the roll bar into REGRET - soild steel if story is right. What do you think? Jerry Coale hollyautomotivesupply@comcast.net

 

That chopped 32 2-door was bought from Bill Waddill by Bill Pierce of Lansing, maybe 1959. Bill was an artist and worked for the State. That car was beautiful when he had it.

 

Thanks to a recent post this thread came back to the "top"-it was started back before I became a H.A.M.B.er. It caught my eye because I spent several years in Flint-starting in 1955 when I left Ohio to attend Generous Motors Ins***ute and begin my career at Chevrolet Mfg right down the street. I stayed there until 1974 when Chevrolet decided they wanted me in Indianapolis. I already had a case of automobile pox which I had contracted in 1950 when I was exposed to the Roaring Roadsters at a local track. Moving to Flint in 1955 was like going to the promised land--hot street cars everywhere you looked. (A guy named George Kotarski now owned the Waddill channelled roadster w/Buick 322 and street raced out of the old Dad's Caefeteria on Fenton Road).

While strugging to survive GMI, I became acquainted with several of the local Hot Rod set including a couple of GearGrinders. By 1961 I became a member and got to know Bill Waddill (who by then was no longer active in the club).

The article reprinted in the initial posting and which came from a 1973 M.S.R.A Newletter was written by me at the behest of Gary Benway (the Mad Pleater) who was the guru of the M.S.R.A. at the time. The article was based on a long (3 hour?) phone interview of Bill W. In those precomputer days there were a couple of transcriptions between the conversation and the final version which appeared in print. There are a few errors but I think they are minor. Some of the story about the founding of the club thru the acquisition of the roadster and the Speed Shop was either misinterpreted by me, or maybe, subject to a little selective memory on Bill's part. In recent years the story has been clarified by Frank Van Zant in the course of a couple G.G.G. reunions. I'm confident the real version will appear in Kathy Ridley's forthcoming book about her father and his exploits.

 

Dale,
I see that you just posted this in August of this year! We were just at Back to the Bricks in Flint and your name came up several times. Genesee Gear Grinders were asking if I had talked to you. I have just finished my first edit on the biography of my dad and it seems that I cannot write fast enough. I almost have it to a point that I can send a couple copies out for review. Joe Taubitz and James M. Miller, a Flint Journal writer, have said they would love to read it amd I hope to get it to them within a month or two. I was glad to see your post on this site.
Kathy

 

My book is finally done and available! It is called The Original Hot Rodder and it is a biography of my Dad, Bill Waddill, and his history of racing in Michigan and the Flint area starting in the late 1940s when hot rodding first started in the state and ending when he died in 1989. It is also a history of the Genesee Gear Grinders, an early local hot rod club in which my Dad was the first president and was an active member until 1963. My book has 250 pages (8" x 10.5") with over 550 black and white and color photographs of early and vintage hot rodding.

My Dad was the first man east of the Mississippi to set a Bonneville land speed record in 1952 and he set several national drag racing records. He also competed and was very successful in Reliability Runs, Gymkhanas, the Mexican Carrera Pan-Americana race, sports car racing and off-road racing in the Mint 400 and Baja 500. He attended many early car shows, including the first Autorama in Detroit in 1953, and consistently won "Best Engineered" and top honors in his cl***. He counted Mickey Thompson, Roger Huntington and Wally Parks a**** his many racing friends.

My book is unique in that it is a hot rod book written by the daughter of a hot rodder, and many family stories and events are interrelated with his early hot rodding history. My book is searchable on Amazon.com where they are selling them for $49.00. I am selling them for $29.00 + $4.00 shipping (no handling). If you would like to purchase a copy, email me at krandart@comcast.net for mailing instructions.

 

Everyone with interest in the history of Michigan hot rodding should buy a copy of Kathy's book, while I have not gotten to sit down and read the whole thing yet, the bit's I have read are great and my dad loved it.

Thank you Kathy for taking such time and dedication that you did while researching for the book, we are learning a lot not only about cars, but also your fathers life and I think it's wonderful.

I'll get you that full review soon!

 

Thanks for bringing ths back to the top Matt. I had to reread the whole thing as it had information about a very important time in my life. I've also got Kathy's book and cannot recommend too highly. anyone who is interested in hot rodding in the Michigan and specifically Flint area it's a "must read".

Frank

 

I bought a copy of Kathy's book last July, I have to find time to finish it but its been a great read so far.
Its kind of odd that I've known Jerry Coale for 30 year, I met Matt and Denny about 6yrs ago, met Bob Waddill last July when I bought Kathy's book from him. Kind of strange that I knew of most of bills cars and where they are now before I ever found out that all this history originated right here were I live!
By the way, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, Bill's son Bob still spins wrenches here in Swartz Creek and is the only person that I know of in the area that has earned a red hat at B'ville.

 

I just recently met your nephew I believe. I bought your dads old race trailer and will be repurposeing it to tow some of my toys. I have a copy of your book as well.

 

I inspected Bills MG the year entered the 200 mph club. We definitely had a controversy about it. Most open cars were entered from the top. Bills car appeared to small to do it. He opened the door and slid up into it. At that time there was no rule on paneling or netting to hold you in an incident. I believe he had a swing away pinned bar and just like an enclosed car. Great ingenuity and safe to boot. He was a very likable guy.

 

Couple pictures I found cleaning out the camper

 

Thank you for letting me know that you will be using this trailer, not just s****ping it! My Dad built it by hand and installed every single rivet. I sure hope it works for you! The first picture you found was the trailer and his modified van at Glamis sand dunes in southeast California. My Mom and Dad went every year, and he was known on the dunes. I think the second photo was taken at a Michigan Sport Buggy ***ociation event and every dune buggy in the picture was made by Daddy. Are you in Lansing? Kathy

 

Daddy, Bill Waddill, built this car; but it was my youngest brother Bob who entered the 200 mph Club in 1998, so that is who you must have talked with. Bob has been deceased now for three years and Daddy has been gone for 33 years. Daddy was known for being very innovative! In 1952 when he was racing the Crosley at Bonneville, he could remove one bolt and the entire body of the car. It slid from front to back. Wally Parks told him he had to add more safety features, but when he examined the car, it was accepted as is!

 

That’s awesome! I’m a big Dunner. Just cam back from a 4 day weekend at silver lake. And no I’m in fenton just a few miles from where I bought the traiker

 

Nice to see this pop back up.