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John's Modified Page |
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A Page dedicated to Billy Clarke |
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A brief history of a man that brought so much to the Modified racing world. |
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BILLY CLARKE:
He's been a racer since God invented the oval. |
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Henry J before |
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NO: 1 William (Billy) Clarke poses in the car he raced at Seekonk Speedway in 1963. |
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Leave it to an individualist like Billy Clarke to come up with something completely different. And to Clarke, different means really different. Check out his old Henry J bodied Mod at Seekonk in 1965. |
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It has been 41 years since I first saw Billy Clarke race in his #1 Henry J Modified. An what a creation it was. It was because of Billy and what he believes in that got me into Modified racing.
Here is a man that did everything on his own. From building his own chassis to testing and racing his cars. He is a walking encyclopedia for Modified racing.
I am building this page in dedication to him and all that he believes in. He has always had his own rules to follow when it came to his sport. Shirley has always been by his side through thick and thin and visa-versa.
In the dead of Winter when people are home in bed, Billy would be in his shop burning the midnight oil, working on something new.
Now Billy spends alot of his time supporting his son Brian's racing career in Pro Stock. At the same time, he also spends the rest of his time with his own racing in the Sports truck series.
I will be restoring one of Billy's Pinto Modifieds for New England Antique Racing (NEAR), in commemoration to his racing career.
I want to thank Billy and Shirley for their friendship and all they have done. Looking back over the years, I know that Billy misses modified racing and all of his friends that he raced with. Alot of whom have passed away.
Your friends,
John & Bev Gallant |
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Henry J after |
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Billy and the Henry J decided to watch the race from the bleachers instead of participating in it. |
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There is more to read on the next page. Ride on over to see what there is to read about Wild Bill from Seekonkville. |
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Here is a shot of Clarke's big wreck with Fred DeSarro (3) at Stafford in the early 1970's. Billy's B-1 Coupe bore the brunt of the high-speed, first turn mishap. |
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Links: |
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Yahoo! |
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NEAR |
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Seekonk Speedway |
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Billy Clarke |
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Contact: |
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Name: |
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John Gallant |
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Email: |
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[email protected] |
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