History "Speedy Bill" Smith

I happened to see Speedy Bill at SEMA and when I got home I got to thinking..
I know that Speedway Motors has existed since I was born, and I know Bill has a great collection of automobilia and pedal cars, but was Bill ever a racer or builder, or just always a supplier? I really dont know. Any history on the man?
I really dont want this thread to be about if you like his products or practices. I was just curious as to his personal history.

 

Chaz,

Here was an interesting "Speedy Bill" article on his history in racing and his business I read...

http://www.onedirt.com/forum/world-according-speedy-bill-exclusive-interview-441.html#

 

I think Bill did some small time racing in his home state.

 

Go here, to the year 2000 inductees:

http://www.sprintcarhof.com/Inductees.aspx

 

I worked for Bill for about 10 years in the 80's. Learned a ton about the hi-performance business from him. Could have stayed, but wanted to have my own business.
The only thing I read in this article that was incorrect was the fact that his dad was a mechanic. His dad worked for the Lincoln Telephone Co as a lineman.

 

...in the last Speedway catalog I got, on the back page is a book for sale about the life & times of Speedy Bill, mite check that out.

 

There's some pretty good background on him on the Speedway web site:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/SpeedwayHistory.dlp

Or, like rusty1 said, you can get the book.

 

During the early years of SEMA, the board of directors was dominated by west coast manufacturers. Bill and Nile Corneilson (DCI) were the first midwesterners to be voted on to the SEMA board.

 

I would put the "Speedway Museum" on your bucket list. They could have locked me inside and I could have stayed for days.

 

I bumped into him at Hershey this year and requested an autograph! He was mildly amused at being treated like a celebrity...he's up there with Honest Charley as a presence from my earliest days of interest in cars.

 

He should have been asking for your's Bruce!