Although he drove in several other cars before, Bill Wimble is best known for the long and successful run he had in Dave McCredy's 33, out of Sherburne, NY. Starting out life as a dairy farmer in northern New York, Wimble was introduced to racing at places like St. Lawrence Valley Speedway in Canton, NY and by people like noted car owner Floyd Geary, who owned the black and whie cars with the zebra striped roofs. Geary had drivers such as Buck Holliday to serve as examples for Wimble.
             Once he had enough of the sometimes - tempestuous Geary, Wimble began running for Ellenburg Depot's Gaylord Rowe, who fielded the potent, Ford - powered T-800 car. Wimble won win a championship at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh with this car and drive an additional year for Rowe in New York and in Canada. Eventually, Bill gravitated towards what, in those days, was the big time: Fonda Speedway [which represented a long travel time from the Wimble family farm]. He would drive for car owner Hal Kempeny before being chosen to drive the McCredy S33.
             The tall McCready, a car dealer in Sherburne, had the services of ace mechanic Fred DeCarr. Together, the team managed two national championships, numerous track and state titles, and many, many feature wins. When Wimble decided to stop driving after a major accident at Lebanon Valley, Mrs. McCredy [who by then had taken over the team from her departed husband] folded the tents, ending the reign of one of New York's most dominant teams. It is doubtful either one could have accomplished what they did without the other.

           
All Photos Courtesy of Alan McDonald
Childhood and youth photos from the family collection.

The Pre - Rowe Years

Courtesy of Wimble Collection via the Fonda Book

Wimble Collection Via the Fonda Book Bill, at speed, with his own car, aptly named The Lucky Lady.

Wimble Collc via Alan McDonald A second very grainy shot of Bill with the Lucky Lady.

Wimble Collc via Alan McDonald Bill and the Sliver Whites, one of his earlier car owners.

Wimble Collection Via the Fonda Book Bill, already a hired gun at an early age. This is said to be The Darryl Cloce car. - at the St. Lawrence Valley Speedway in Canton, NY.

Wimble Collc via Alan McDonald Another, different car at Canton - supposedly Bill. This was the Hermie Graf C15.

Wimble Collc via Alan McDonald An early photo of what is said to be BIll in a more competitive looking car at Canton. Sliver White's 15.

The Gaylord Rowe Years

Courtesy of Scott Richner
The original Rowe T-800. It had less body metal than the later one driven by Dick Goodell.

Courtesy of Wimble Collection
Bill with Gaylord Rowe, Sr., a man he always esteemed.

From The Fonda History Book Bill with a win in the Rowe T-800 at Airborne.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Bill with the other Rowe entry at Airborne. he never liked it as well as the T-800.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Bill, at speed, with the Rowe 26 at Airborne. He points out how it always leaned to one side and didn't distribute weight well.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion Another 26 pose.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Wimble in the Airborne pits after a race with fans.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy ofMike Watts Sr The Rowe 26 sits in a pit lineup waiting for the next race.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts Sr Bill with legs crossed sits on the roof of the 26, awaiting a next race with Ben Nephew. His former Cloce 21 ride is ahead.
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts Sr The Rowe team cars sit on the starting grid, with Bill's 26 on the outside and Dick Goodelle with the  T-800.	HAMB Site Contributor Unknown Another full view of the unpopular 26. Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of G. Rowe Jr	Courtesy of Craig Revelle Bill with the 26 at Bouvrette Speedway, St. Jerome, QC - around 1956.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Craig Revelle A rare shot of Bill posing with the T-800 around 1955.	Trombley Family Photo Courtesy of Ron Trombley Bob Trombley obligingly did away with the 26 at Bouvrette in 1957. This is son, Ron, posing with what was left.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of G. Rowe Jr Bill with the T-800 warily leads Bob Bushey, a man who threatened to roll him over.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of R.Trombley Bill, 3rd from left, with a bunch of his Rowe era fellow drivers: Jackie Peterson, Harold Ormsby, Bill, Ernie Reid, Bob Bushey, and Gaylord Rowe, Sr and Jr.

The Hal Kempeny Years

Courtesy of Dan Ody

Courtesy of Otto Graham Hal Kempeny bought a Dutch Hoag car and soon Bill was behind the wheel.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Hal Kempeny's 113 at Langhorne, when it was first acquired.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Dutch Hoag, who ran the 113 before Bill.	Courtesy of Lew Boyd An early Victory Lane with the Kempeny car.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Wimble in the Airborne pits after a race with fans.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Hal Kempeny's 113 had 2 other drivers. This one is Utica, NY's Jim Luke.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Hal Kempeny's 113 with Tiger Tom Kotary grabbing a win.
	Courtesy of Don Rounds Jr The Kempeny car, now as 213, at Langhorne - in front of Henry Caputo's #11 with George Baumgardner at the wheel.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD Whoever had it at this Stateline race put a few more wrinkles on it.		Maynard Johnson Photo The Kempeny car is now 213, but it could be Bill driving at Stateline. Hal had 2 cars for a bit	From Ed Duncan via Three Wide Driving Frank Trinkhaus' 62, behind Irish Jack Murphy, at Trenton.

The McCredy Years

Ladabouche Collection

Courtesy of Otto Graham This may be the earliest McCready photo I have. They were still using the S33 number and the car looks like a Ford.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Bill, at speed, with the 33 at Airborne around 1960.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Perhaps the first McCready Chevy coupe.	Ed Baccei Photo Around 1963, leaving Otter Creek Speedway in Waltham, VT - chasing national points.	Ladabouche Photo Same situation as photo left. The familiar McCready Cadillac tow car is partly visible.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Running in the track at Airborne during the successful 1960 championship chase.	Courtesy of Gary Nephew NASCAR Record Book Portrait shot.
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock A closeup at Airborne Park Speedway	Courtesy of Wes Moody Leading Walt Schutt at an undisclosed track.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Getting the checkers from Art Prairie at Airborne around 1960.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Getting the hardware at Airborne's Victory Lane.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais A little bit more modern 33 coupe - likely set up for pavement.	J.M. Johnson Photo Pete Corey lends a hand on the track at Trenton as Bill tries to adjust something, probably under a caution.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler Bill and crew are very focused on something as they wait to go out.
Courtesy of Pascal Cote Another '60's portrait.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham Wimble, Bill Ferguson, Fred DeCarr, Doug Rundell, and Jim Kelley savor a Victory Lane moment.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham Fred DeCarr, then - driver Don Henderrberg, Fonda announcer Red Wildey, and Dave McCready in an earlier Victory Lane.	Courtesy of Don Rounds Jr The same McCready Ford Bill started out with. Here, Chuck Mahoney was driving it at Langhorne.	Courtesy of Lew Boyd A McCready car [likely Dutch Hoag next to Lou Lazarro at Langhorne.	Ladabouche Collection My favorite classic Wimble shot. The early 60's car, the Hawaiian short, and the usual win.	Source Unknown This is supposedly Bill's Syracuse fire.
Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A bent - up 33, kind of a rare sight. This is after the bad Valley wreck.	Courtesy of Paul Connors A much earlier and equally - rare S33 wreck. Future Grand National driver Paul Connors poses before the S33 at Stateline. Probably wrecked by Don Henderberg.	Courtesy of Paul Connors More of the Stateline disaster.	Audette Photo Wimble, at Malta, with a lowered pavement version.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A typical McCready 33, trailered.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club No driving suits yet.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A very lowered version takes a Fonda win.
Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Jim Kelley, Doug Rundell, Fred DeCarr and Bill - many years later at some reunion.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Another Fonda win.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A photo of a Fonda win taken from a strange angle.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Wimble chasing an early Frankie Schneider sedan at somewhere like Langhorne or Nazareth.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Putting the old Ford through its paces after it had survived Mahoney and Henderberg.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club The less - photographed sedan.	Bob Hoffman Photo One of the coupes, after having been sold.
Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A Fonda pose around 1961.	Frank Simek Photo {Obviously] At speed on one of the big tracks with the sedan.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo via Andy Fusco Bad wreck at Stafford. Closest to being killed - according to some.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo via Andy Fusco Given a cake by fans at Stafford. Bill was misunderstood as aloof there because he didn't stick around after races. Hell, he had a farm to run the next day almost in Canada.	Frank Simek Photo [Obviously] This is said to be a rare shot because Fred didn't like using fuel injection.	Frank Simek Photo Racing Fred Adam at Langhorne. The hood is missing because it had popped up in his face during the race.	Frank Simek Photo Leading Ray Sitterly and Dave Lape in his first car.
Frank Simek Photo Racing Pete Corey in the potent Drellos 11.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo via Andy Fusco A rare photo of a primered McCready car. The team was fussy about the appearance of their cars.	Shaney Lorenzent  Photo via Andy Fusco Same car painted up. Shaney didn't take weird angles - we were snapping these off to the side of a projector screen.	At speed somewhere.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club The familiar coupe behind the equally - familiar Cadillac hauler.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A rare stint in Peter Hollebrand's 53 at Stafford.	Frank Simek Photo A nice helmet portrait by Frank.
Shaney Lorenzent Photo Screwed up by Us A Stafford win.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo Screwed up by Us Another Stafford win.	Frank Simek Photo A rare injected Fonda win.	Frank Simek Photo A popular Fonda win. Know anyone in that crowd ?	Ladabouche Collection As a member of the 1967 All Star League - winning Fonda team. Team mate Ron Narducci is beside him. The 3rd member was Ernie Gahan.	Frank Simek Photo At speed on the tricky Fonda oval.	Frank Simek Photo Two McCready cars at somewhere like Syracuse or Langhorne.
Internet Source - From "The Bullfather" At Utica - Rome.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Wearing a satin race jacket, so popular in the '60's.	Courtesy of Gerry LaVallee The sedan, amde famous at Langhorne.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo via Tom Ormsby Another Stafford shot.	Internet Source - From "The Bullfather" At Malta, with Wes Moody looking on in background.	John Bisci Photo Leading Chuck Boos at Lancaster.	Ladabouche Collection A Fonda win with Dave joining in.
Courtesy of  Dan Ody Wimble leads a heat off the track at Victoria Speedway.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Bill, at Devil's Bowl when it first opened.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Bill, in the Fonda infield with small - time car owner Theron Von Benschoten in the background.	Courtesy of Tom Ormsby A great sedan shot.	Ladabouche Collection Bill, during his stint as a Lebanon Valley regular	Courtesy of Gary Nephew In a 1961 Canadian track program during the national points chase that ended in a tie.	Courtesy of Gary Nephew Ironic photo of Bill France handing out the trophies for the NASCAR National Sportsman co- Championships. Neither looks that happy and each has the other's trophy.
Unidentified Internet Source On some dirt track. What's with the flag on the side ? He isn't holding onto it.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Chuck Mahoney, in Peter Hollebrand's 53 has hit Bill in an early S33.	Internet Source - From "The Bullfather" Chasing Jack Malone maybe at Islip.	Internet Source - From "The Bullfather" Someone's Kodak shot of the sedan arriving or leaving.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Bill's and Ken Meahl's cars burn on the track at Syracuse.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Another injected win. Great retaining fence eh ?	Off You Tube At his last race, in Dave Lape's car and firesuit.
Frank Simek Photo A nice color shot of action at Fonda.	Al Clark Collection via Gerry LaVallee Comin' atcha	Courtesy of Gerry LaVallee On the track at Stafford.	Courtesy of Gerry LaVallee With an older, more upright 33	Frank Simek Photo A nice shot of action at Langhorne with Shoemaker.	Joe Cryan Photo Parked next to Lee Hendrickson at Nazareth.	Jim Kelly Photo A nice color shot of Bill at Fonda said to be around 1967.
Alan McDonald Photo Lined up at Nazareth bewside Ploski and behind Hildreth and Sleight.	Cliff Haynes Photo Cliff captured the 33 on the trailer somewhere.	Shany Lorenzent Photo via Dave Dykes Checkers at Stafford. An earlier shot - the car still is S33.	Jim Kelly Photo A nice shot of Bill around 1967 at Fonda.	Alan McDonald Photo Bill poses at one of the larger races while Fred Decar does final prepping at right.	Photo via Edward B. Brown III A shot at Middletown.	James Osterhoudt Photo This is said to be another 33 fire - this time at Syracuse.
Dave Campbell Photo At first, I thought he was giving us the finger - but that would be most un - Wimble - like.	Jack Hedstrom Photo via Edw. B. Brown III Early Langhorne shot beside the Deasey/Wolfe 707.	Cliff Haynes Photo Cliff caught the 33 on the trailer at Fonda.	Alan McDonald Photo The career - ending wreck at the Valley.	Russ Bergh Photo Casvalcade of Auto Racing A Fonda pose.	Courtesy of the Midstate Club Somebodys's Kodak of the sedan.	Alan McDonald Photo Early in he career -it's an S33.
From the HAMB Message Site Another shot at Stafford.	Bill Farress Photo Wimble at Monroe County. Ironically the other car is his old Kempeny ride.	Greg Rickes Photo Wimble at Victoria with some fans.	Gene Stratton Photo Taken at Reading.	John Grady Photo via Dave Dykes A nice color shot of Bill in the sedan.	Joel Canfield Photo via Rick Parry Joel Canfield got this shot at St. Lawrence Valley Speedway in Canton with his trusty Kodak .	Courtesy of Christian "Ti-Gaz" Genest From a racing paper.
Courtesy of the Midstate Club Captions tell the story.	Austin Gregory Photo Somewhere that required a number change.	Via Edw. B. Brown III A nice typical color shot.	Courtesy of the Midstate Club Posing at Monroe County.	Roger Kofroth Photo Courtesy of the Three Wide Picture Vault The sedan arriving somewhere.	Shany Loremnzet Photo Courtesy Edw. B. Brown III At Stafford.	Shany Loremnzet Photo Courtesy Andy Fusco The 33 wrecked at Stafford.
	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's At Middletown.	Ric Lucia Collection At an undetermined dirt track.	John Grady Photo Heading out to qualify for the 1962 Fonda 100.	Russ Bergh Photo Courtesy Ed Biitig Coll. A Fonda wreck.	Russ Bergh Photo Courtesy Jim Kelly Coll. via S. Belknap. The sedan, as yet unpainted.

The Daytona Years

Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts, Sr

Courtesy of Pascal Cote Bill, at the Daytona beach course or maybe the first superspeedway race with an early McCready coupe.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club On the beach with a car more recent than the one at left. Not sure where they were running it - the beach course was closed.	John Grady Photo Lockport, NY's Cam Gagliardi stands by a '61 Pontiac he prepared for Wimble, who was running in every points race he could.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock McCready's 1961 Pontiac Permatex car.	Ladabouche Photo This appears to be a borrowed ride for a superspeedway in his national points chasing years.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club Another Pontiac shot.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club A '55 Chevy the team had for some big track events.
Alan McDonald Photo A nice color shot of Bill posing while Frd Decar does final prepping.	Getty Images Photo A shot at the 1963 Permatex race.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club McCready's Permatex Studebaker - different angle.	Fred DeCarr Collection via Otto Graham thru MidState Club McCready's Permatex Studebaker.	Mike Cranston Photo Lined up at a Permatex race in front of Bill Slater. An unfamiliar car.	Photo via Edward B. Brown III Bill at Middletown. Buzzie Reutimann is in background wearing his All Star League helmet.	Getty Images Photo Early in the career with the McCredy coupe at a Daytona race.
		Rick Parry Photo At a Permatex race With this Studebaker.	Courtesy of Lou Lazzaro Another view of the Syracuse fire.

The Retirement Years

                          
Left - Lape Collection    Right - Ken Dippel Photo
Bill thrilled a very young David Lape by sharing Victory Lane with him in the 1960's. Many years later, then a legend at Fonda himself,
Lape put a long - retired Wimble in his car for one final win.

Photographer Unknown The reunited Fonda Championship All Star League team of 1968: Wimble, Narducci, Gahan.	Photographer Unknown Another reunion years later.	Photographer Terrible It's Me I got a really blurry shot of Wes Moody with Wimble, at Airborne around 2006.	Norty Foster Photo Me, with my friend, Bill Wimble. He liked it when he learned I had also written a book about racing.	Ladabouche Photo Bill with former Airborne rivals Charlie Trombley [left] and Jim  "Sapphire" LeClaire.	Scheeves Photo Bill with former Fonda drivers Guy Chartrand, Ron Quackenbush, and Jeep Herbert.	Photographer Unknown Another autograph session with Rene Charland, Nick Ronca, and Doc Blanchard.
	Jeremiah Fish Photo  Bill at his Hall of Fame induction. I assume it is Weedsport, but not sure. Could be NYSSCRA.	Frank Simek Photo A nice color shot of Bill with John Danish.	Courtesy of Ken Parrotte Bill, as I see him every year, by a tribute restoration.	Frank Simek Photo Bill and Nancy.

Return to the Main Page
Return to the Main News Page
Return to the All Links Page
Return to the New York Drivers' Link Page