Billy Vaughn

[superstroke]

Billy Vaughn was the smoothest driver I have ever seen compete at Lakeside Speedway. His laps were flawless and so consistant, it seemed he was on a rail. When I started to attend races at Lakeside, in the 60's, Mr. Vaughn was driving the #85 car belonging to Lester Kelly. I am guessing, but I believe the Vaughn/Kelly team won three championships on the 1/5th mile paved oval. The announcer for Lakeside would refer to Bill as "The Gentleman". I never got the opportunity to meet Mr. Vaughn, but to those who knew him, never, ever did I hear a bad word about this great individual. These photos are from the Roy Jackson collection. The photo with the #85 car, is a trophy presentation. I do not know the history behind it, but I believe that Nancy Campbell may have just won a Powder Puff race driving the Lester Kelly owned modified. Nancy stands on the left, and the man in the picture is another legend from Lakeside, Mr. Sam Gallo.

[VintageBuzz]

Billy Vaughn was the smoothest driver I have ever seen compete at Lakeside Speedway. His laps were flawless and so consistant, it seemed he was on a rail. When I started to attend races at Lakeside, in the 60's, Mr. Vaughn was driving the #85 car belonging to Lester Kelly. I am guessing, but I believe the Vaughn/Kelly team won three championships on the 1/5th mile paved oval. The announcer for Lakeside would refer to Bill as "The Gentleman". I never got the opportunity to meet Mr. Vaughn, but to those who knew him, never, ever did I hear a bad word about this great individual. These photos are from the Roy Jackson collection. The photo with the #85 car, is a trophy presentation. I do not know the history behind it, but I believe that Nancy Campbell may have just won a Powder Puff race driving the Lester Kelly owned modified. Nancy stands on the left, and the man in the picture is another legend from Lakeside, Mr. Sam Gallo.
Hey superstroke! Thanks for remembering Billy Vaughn. Starting in 1958 and driving the #87D, Billy was a regular at Intermountain Speedway in Cheyenne, WY. In 1961 driving the #87D Ford sedan, Billy finished 2nd in points right behind Don Wilson in the #19D. In 1962 & 1963 driving the #87D Ford coupe, Billy won the track championship. In 1964 & 1965 still driving the #87D Ford coupe, Billy finished 3rd & 4th in points. In 1966 driving the #85D Ford coupe, Billy won the track championship with Lester Kelly and set the track record at 13.67. In 1967 driving the #85D, Billy finished 4th in points. ~VB
Source: WARC "Big Red" History Book & my own two eyes as a very young kid in the stands
Book Editors: Bob Baker & Mary Krieger

[lakeside #29]

If I remember correctly, Billy Vaughn was the first driver at Lakeside to convert his car to a Ford 223 c.i. 6 cylinder engine. That would have been in about 1959. That engine combo became the standard at Lakeside for many years. He also was one of the first, if not the first, to install 3/4 ton truck floater hubs on his car. Before the use of floaters, if your car was a Ford, and broke a rear axle the rear wheel would leave the car and be a hazzard to any one or thing that got in it's path. Billy drove his #87D until Jack Thoms retired and he took over the seat in Lester Kelly's #85. Billy sold his #87D car to Bob and Jim Blevins. The car was involved in a bad crash and was totaled out. Mr. Kelly had many championships with his drivers. Billy was Lakeside champion in 1966. He retired in 1969. Most people remember John Pachello's #19, but Mr. Kelly's cars were just as meticulously prepared. The #85 also ran a reverse grind camshaft that turned the engine backward. It would plant the left front tire instead of trying to lift it in the corner. Lester Kelly and Wayne Stallsworth both used this set-up. Billy, as stated above, was a very smooth driver. I'm glad I got to see him work.

Chris Ertler

[carc7]

Chris Ertler, you're right about Billy having the first Ford overhead valve straight 6. That was his maroon #87 sponsored by the Outpost Bar in Westminster. I have a profile picture of Billy and the car but it was from 1962. Everybody with a Ford ran Flatheads until then. They saw how efficient the engine was and everybody jumped to the sixes by 1964.

:applaud:

[Quick Time]

I could be wrong (happens often) but I think Billy raced midgets for awhile....Possibly in the late fifties. Anyone know more about that?

Chuck

[Wayne Arner]

http://thegoodolddays073.jpgYes, Billy Vaughn did drive Midgets, long before MSC, here he is in Harold Mainerd's Hercules, about 1948-49 at Lakeside. Note the extravagant trophy, furnished by the Club!

[gregnorman]

Billy Vaugn was one of the first local racers I remember from when I was a kid. My dad had taken me to Big Country Speedway (IntermountainSpeedway) in the early sixties. We had just got to the races in time to see Billy hit the front straightaway wall in his coupe. I think he got it back together for the next race. Dad told me Vaughn would change cams in his motor to match weather conditions for the night. Not sure if that was true or not.