"Wild Bill"  -  "Little Bill"  -  "Shorty"  -  "Pee Wee" -  "Speedy Bill"
William Jean "Bill" Nelson
1927 – 1987

 

 

 

 

"Wild Bill" Nelson receiving a trophy he won driving this Kenny Neely owned Hudson sedan in the mid-1950s – Harriet Ramsey collection

 

 

 

Nelson did find ways to overcome his perceived height disadvantage as shown in this photo taken at Robbins Speedway in Wichita, Kansas in 1954 – Neely family collection

 

 

 

“Wild Bill” Nelson is shown seated in the car and car owner Kenny Neely is wearing the white coat in this photo taken in 1954.  It is believed that the man at left is mechanic Bob Johnson and that the man at right is car sponsor Al Williams who owned Scientific Motors in Wichita – Neely family collection

 

 

 

“Wild Bill” Nelson, left, with car owner Kenny Neely and a Hudson that Nelson drove for Neely in 1954 – Harriet Ramsey collection

 

 

 

These cars were built by Kenny Neely and sponsored by Pop Drain's Garage of Wichita, Kansas.  Each of the cars was blue over white with red numbers.  Left to right:  Don Everhart with the #9 Hudson sedan, Orval Beckel with the 1934 Hudson sedan #99 in which he won the A feature at Winfield, Kansas on September 6, 1954, and “Wild Bill” Nelson with the #98 Hudson coupe – Harriet Ramsey collection

 

 

 

Bill Nelson was sitting high in the seat at left but cowered from the camera while clowning with an unidentified "powder puff" driver at right.  The car was a Hudson sedan owned by:

Kenneth Fenton "Kenny" Neely
1923 - 1993

 

 

Can anyone identify the woman standing beside the #50 car above?  If so, please contact Bob Lawrence.

 

 

 

Bill Nelson is buried in Old Mission Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas

 

 

 

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