WILD BILL SLATER, Connecticut Valley Rocket

If you would like to listen to the Speedway Line Report from February 24th 2003 when Bill was a Guest and discussed his Racing Career CLICK HERE

"WILD BILL" is a New England Racing Legend winning many features and Track Championships during his distinguished career. Bill was also a long time Racing Director at Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway. Bill should also be credited with helping to save the Stafford Motor Speedway when he talked Jack Arute Sr. into purchasing from Mal Barlow the troubled speedway in the late 60's, then giving up his long time job at Pratt & Whitney to become Racing Director at the track. Stafford has since become one of the most successful short tracks in the country, a large part because of what Bill did with the track in those early days.

Besides winning two Championships at the Waterford Speedbowl, where he started his racing career, in 1956 and 1959 Bill finished 4th in 1964, 3rd in 1965, 2nd in 1966 and 3rd in 1967 in the NASCAR National Sportsman Championship. Bill was an infrequent visitor to Riverside Park Speedway, but managed a feature win on May 5, 1956. Bill has 5 Stafford Speedway victories, all in 1962 on the dirt including 3 in a row. Bill was also the 1967 Stafford Sportsman Champion, the first year the track was paved. Bill has also won at Utica-Rome, Oxford, Norwood Arena, Trenton, Thompson and Old Bridge, among others.

Probably Bill's greatest victory came during the 1965 Race 0f Champions at the 1 Mile Langhorne Speedway, the first year the track was paved.

Bill was one of the initial inductees in the NEAR Hall-Of-Fame.

Hall of Famer "Wild Bill" Slater was hospitalized Tuesday Night 6/17/03 after suffering what was reported as a mild stroke.
Right now it appears Bill will be hospitalized longer than first reported and it will be a longer road to recovery.
Bill can Use Some Cheering Up!

Cards of Cheer can reach Bill at:
Bill Slater, 12-B Bluefield Dr., Manchester, Ct. 06040

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One of Bills early cars at the Speedbowl