Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

[Todd H.]

I'm trying to find out if Bill Thomas prepped my '57 579C while it was at CS Mead Chevrolet in Pasadena in April-July 1957. The original owner, who was a friend of mine, purchased it at Harry Mann in late July or August 1957 with a few hundred miles on it. He said the car had come from CS Mead, though, and it had various racing modifications, including some technical brake work, when he bought it. He thought someone, maybe the dealership, had already been racing it. He went on to race it very successfully until 1960 in southern California.

Since Bill Thomas was at CS Mead at the time, and was known for prepping FI Corvettes, it seems at least possible that he worked on my car. I have a theory that my car's original 4360 FI might have ended up on the very famous #5055, but I have no solid evidence.

Any help is appreciated.

[Joe R.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Todd,

There is only one person that could possibly answer your question and Mike Pilsbury unfortunately passed away many years ago. I'm heading to the Florida MCRS meet tomorrow and my thoughts will be on Mike. The last time I saw him was at the Old Cypress Gardens meet just a few months before he passed. May he Rest In Peace!

JR

[Todd H.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

JR,

I am unfamiliar with Mike Pilsbury. Did he work with Bill?

It seems everyone who could confirm or deny my theories on what happened has died, including my car's original owner, Dalton Danon. I just learned about Bill Thomas and his presence at CS Mead this last October and by then Dalton was too sick to answer questions. He had pointedly told me "don't forget-your car came from CS Mead Chevrolet".

Todd

[Joe R.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Todd,

Mike was walking history of race cars on the West Coast. He lived and sold Corvettes and Parts from his Anaheim, CA. warehouse. He had a brother that might shed some light on your quest. I do not have a number or first name of Mike's brother. Maybe someone from the West Coast can help you.

JR

[Loren L.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Try the Anaheim(sp?) Public Library and see if they can tell you when Bill opened his shop there - he may have already been there during the period you describe. Try a google on Art Evans and the Fab 50's non-club to reach the old timers in SoCal racing.

[Todd H.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Thanks, Loren.

Are you saying Bill may have operated his shop while he was at CS Mead? There seems to be plenty of evidence that he was service manager at CS Mead from 1956-58 or 59.

Dalton said I should join the "non-club" before he died. Looks like it's time to do that.

[Rob M.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Todd,

Have you spoken with Jim Gessner? He might be able to help you with your car.

[Todd H.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Yes. Jim is a good friend, and he helped connect me with the original owner. He knew a lot about my car, like it's race history and that it has it's original engine, but he was not aware that many of the race modifications were there when Dalton bought the car, and even Dalton didn't know that someone had attempted to vent air to the back brakes through the rockers.

[Todd H.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Try the Anaheim(sp?) Public Library and see if they can tell you when Bill opened his shop there - he may have already been there during the period you describe. Try a google on Art Evans and the Fab 50's non-club to reach the old timers in SoCal racing.

Loren, I've spoken with Art and joined the Fab 50's club, but he said he hadn't heard from Bill for many years before he died, and he didn't know anything about his work at CS Mead. I'll keep digging, but hopefully anyone that happens to come across information about Bill Thomas' work at CS Mead Chevrolet in Pasadena race prepping Corvettes will remember this thread and let me know. I do have the Clymer "Corvette V8 1955-1962 Complete Owner's Handbook" that Bill co-wrote with Ocee Ritch and I will study that for clues. Anyone know of any other books that Bill might have written?

I love this car. It's unrestored, I think it's faster than the '67 BB I had for many years, and I'm having a great time. Only old Corvette I've ever owned that I know has it's original engine, and it's a racer? Weird. Any help will be much appreciated.

[Loren L.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

There are at least 2, and perhaps 3, features in Corvette News along the lines of "How to Prepare Your Corvette For Racing" by Bill T. I assume
"Google" can find them - if not, cry out and those of us who actually learned the alphabet will hunt them down.

[Edward B.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Perhaps some of the Cheetah people might have information on Thomas' earlier years.

[Todd H.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Edward,

That's a good suggestion, but I've tried. Someone who says he knows Bill III (Bill Thomas, Jr.'s son) initially said he would inquire with him for me, but that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Apparently Bill is is in the midst of a trademark dispute with Bob Auxier, who for at least a while built the continuation Cheetah, and apparently knew Bill pretty well. I have an inquiry in to Bob as well, but no response.

There does not seem to be a Cheetah forum, not that anyone there would know any history about Bill's work on an old Corvette. They're very rare cars, of course, with only 11 completed (depends on who you listen to), and 8 surviving.

I hoped to find someone still living who worked in service at CS Mead who could confirm what I think or let me know I'm just another over-imaginative Corvette owner.

The enigmatic Bill Thomas might be under appreciated in the Corvette hobby. I'm surprised at myself for knowing nothing of him before this last fall.

[George J.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Todd,
Your car sounds great. Please post some pictures for us!

George

[Todd H.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Thanks, George. I sure think so.

It raced at Pomona, Del Mar, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Willow Springs, San Fernando, and more. Suspension upgraded by Max Balchowsky. Wheels from Andy Porterfield. Porting help from Carroll Shelby. I think initially modded by Bill Thomas. Made roadworthy befor I bought it at Dick Guldstrand's, who says he remembers the car. It had been sitting for about 15 years. It is unrestored, and shows many bumps and bruises from racing.

Dalton has (had) 42 trophies he won with the car which his son said would be coming to me. Here's some shots of the car at Pomona in 1958, Dalton and me with some of the trophies, and the car at a recent show. It's so cool to know most of it's history. Dalton died on November 11, 2014. He loved to talk about almost beating Lotus 11, and the time he attended a Porsche event and beating all of the Porsches. They were so sore they wouldn't give him his trophy. I guess I can only load 4 pictures at a time. If you'd like to see more please let me know.

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[Joe R.]

Re: Looking for early info on Bill Thomas

Hi Todd,

The four picture limit has been lifted. I don't believe there is any limit now. I can't speak for the rest of the members, but I would like to see more pictures.

Joe