I wanted to share some stories and art from one of Shelby's longest and best buddies. Bill and Shel go back to the late 50's early 60's during his racing days in the US and Europe. They hung with the likes of Sterling Moss, Phil Hill, and all the rest of those great drivers. They stayed lifelong friends until Carroll's death, and Bill did some of the best paintings, and pen and ink drawings of Shelby and the cars he touched. He was also part of the Terlingua Chili Cookoff's, started by some Dallas guys that bought some land in Big Bend and wanted to have a party spot away from the city. The Terlingua Racing Team logo was a Bill Neale original. I joined the Shelby Club in the mid 60's and still keep my prized 8 x 10 signed to me by Shel.
Bill ran one of the largest Advertising agency's in Dallas, and our next door neighbor worked with him. My neighbor had the Amalie PRO Racing Oil account in the mid to late 60's, and he took me out to Green Valley Raceway in 1967 to watch the Trans Am race won by Dan Gurney in his Team Cougar that day. He beat Parnelli Jones in another Cougar by the closes margin in Trans Am history, and I got 10 minutes with Dan in the pits between races. Been a hero of mine ever since.
Bill hunted in a group with my dad, and I became friends through my longtime car fascination. My biggest thrill was doing the Texas 1000 Vintage Road Rallye around Big Bend in 2005. Starting in Midland, we drove around 250-300 miles per day in that big open countryside, including Marfa, Terlingua, and Fort Davis. Perfect roads to exercise our 30 cars. Bill had his Terlingua Mustang with him that week, and in Terlingua he rolled out some of the Chili Cookoff posters out of his trunk, and called Shelby to talk about where we were.
I met Carroll at several events, but the last one was an auction of a large collection in Marshall Texas, not too far from Pittsburgh Tx where his farm was. I told him I was a friend of Bill's, and he said " where'd you meet him ? Jail?" The crowd cracked up.
I will put up some of the art and pics of Bill I have. He is in declining health, so hoping the Covid19 stuff stays away from him. One of the truly nicest man you could ever meet.
This first group is from Big Bend
Bill ran one of the largest Advertising agency's in Dallas, and our next door neighbor worked with him. My neighbor had the Amalie PRO Racing Oil account in the mid to late 60's, and he took me out to Green Valley Raceway in 1967 to watch the Trans Am race won by Dan Gurney in his Team Cougar that day. He beat Parnelli Jones in another Cougar by the closes margin in Trans Am history, and I got 10 minutes with Dan in the pits between races. Been a hero of mine ever since.
Bill hunted in a group with my dad, and I became friends through my longtime car fascination. My biggest thrill was doing the Texas 1000 Vintage Road Rallye around Big Bend in 2005. Starting in Midland, we drove around 250-300 miles per day in that big open countryside, including Marfa, Terlingua, and Fort Davis. Perfect roads to exercise our 30 cars. Bill had his Terlingua Mustang with him that week, and in Terlingua he rolled out some of the Chili Cookoff posters out of his trunk, and called Shelby to talk about where we were.
I met Carroll at several events, but the last one was an auction of a large collection in Marshall Texas, not too far from Pittsburgh Tx where his farm was. I told him I was a friend of Bill's, and he said " where'd you meet him ? Jail?" The crowd cracked up.
I will put up some of the art and pics of Bill I have. He is in declining health, so hoping the Covid19 stuff stays away from him. One of the truly nicest man you could ever meet.
This first group is from Big Bend
