Memories of Bill Tanner by Terry Earwood
If you grew up in the South and were any type of drag racing fan, you know the name Bill Tanner. Sadly, Bill succumbed to cancer at 2 AM February 24. Services will be held Saturday, the 26th, at Memorial Park South, in Flowery Branch, Georgia, 770-967-5555.
Bill was the South's premier Mopar racer, beginning with a slant six Lancer. His 413 '62 "Ramcharger" was virtually unbeatable until the Hemi came along. He briefly campaigned a rare 1966 "D" Dart, named the "Lil Ramcharger", while assisting Larry Lawrence on his former Ramcharger owned '65 Hemi Dodge.
Billy Aiken, owner of Atlanta's Lenox Dodge, helped Bill acquire an original 1968 Hurst built Hemi Dart, one of only 70 ever built. Bill literally "earned a living" with this SS/AA car from 1968 thru 1970, often racing 3 nites a week. This was an era of racing we'll never experience again, and Bill was at the "top of the heap".
In 1970 he was awarded an Eastern version of the Dodge Safety and Performance clinic from Chrysler, which was already represented by the 2 Plymouth teams of Sox and Martin and Don Grotheer, plus Dick Landy's Dodge from the west coast.
Bill was an awesome mechanic, great driver and competitor and a true "racer". He was just a "good ol' Southern Boy" who earned a living doing what he loved, and was great at. He is survived by his wife Katie.
Southern "racing roots" has lost one of it's founders and stars. He taught me all I know.
Terry Earwood
Bill was the South's premier Mopar racer, beginning with a slant six Lancer. His 413 '62 "Ramcharger" was virtually unbeatable until the Hemi came along. He briefly campaigned a rare 1966 "D" Dart, named the "Lil Ramcharger", while assisting Larry Lawrence on his former Ramcharger owned '65 Hemi Dodge.
Billy Aiken, owner of Atlanta's Lenox Dodge, helped Bill acquire an original 1968 Hurst built Hemi Dart, one of only 70 ever built. Bill literally "earned a living" with this SS/AA car from 1968 thru 1970, often racing 3 nites a week. This was an era of racing we'll never experience again, and Bill was at the "top of the heap".
In 1970 he was awarded an Eastern version of the Dodge Safety and Performance clinic from Chrysler, which was already represented by the 2 Plymouth teams of Sox and Martin and Don Grotheer, plus Dick Landy's Dodge from the west coast.
Bill was an awesome mechanic, great driver and competitor and a true "racer". He was just a "good ol' Southern Boy" who earned a living doing what he loved, and was great at. He is survived by his wife Katie.
Southern "racing roots" has lost one of it's founders and stars. He taught me all I know.
Terry Earwood
posted by David @ 11:49 PM
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