Benjamin Franklin “Ben” Musick, Sr.

a.k.a. William “Bill” Morris

1908 – 1966

 

This photo of Ben Musick a.k.a. Bill Morris was taken on July 21, 1934 at Anthony, Kansas just one week before Musick won the feature race at Winfield, Kansas in the #4 McDowell Ford.  The man in the darker shirt is Carl Goosbe – Charles Pauley collection

 

Ben Musick, a.k.a. Bill Morris is shown here in 1936 in the yellow #3 Messer Special at V.F.W. Speedway in Detroit, Michigan – Don Radbruch collection

  

 

Ben Musick with the #4 Messer Special that he drove at the Kansas State Fair at Hutchinson, Kansas in September of 1937 – Charles Pauley collection

 

 

Ben Musick, a.k.a. Bill Morris is shown here in the Messer Special Cragar owned by Chelse Johnson

Bruce Craig photo from the book, “Valley County THUNDER, the History of Racing at Ord, Nebraska” by V. Ray Valasek and Bob Mays

 

 

This photograph of Ben Musick was taken in 1939 at Topeka, Kansas.  Note that the trees are inside the fence around the track.  The fence must have been more for keeping nonpaying spectators from watching the race than it was for the protection of the participants - Buddy Carroll collection

 

The Alias

          For a time, Ben Musick, Sr. was wanted by federal agents in connection with the theft of a truck load of moonshine while it was impounded by authorities during Prohibition.  Ben continued to drive racing cars under the alias “Bill Morris” while trying to elude capture.  He was eventually apprehended, convicted, and served time in prison for the offence.