passion because there’s
way more work than there is fun. It’s definitely a challenge, but I
enjoy racing with these guys. It’s a real nice atmosphere. It’s an
enjoyable weekend even if you don’t do well.”
They say it takes a village to raise a child. It took a community of
drag racers to resurrect the Willys.
“I had some friends that have helped out a lot,” Wilson continued.
“Different ones contributed parts and helped me in different ways. I
can’t name them all. One of my fellow racers bought the front end for
me, another gave me a fuel pump, another gave me a battery. Just stuff
like that. I have friends when I go to the races that are closer to me
than people that stay next door. There’s a special camaraderie between
the racers, because whoever’s there at the races, they have to have a
passion to do that and we share that same passion.
“Those people stood by me, offering to help and many did help. It
really means a lot to me. Makes you want to go back and be with those
people again.”
Wilson also credited the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW) for
being a major help in his time of need.
A do-it-yourselfer from way back, Wilson did much of the paint and
bodywork on the reconstructed Willys himself. The effort and time he
invested certainly paid off. The car won Best Appearing at the recent
PDRA Memphis Drags. Wilson said he originally chose a Willys body in a
sport where aerodynamics can be key because he “just liked to have
something different.”
“We’ve received a lot of nice comments about it,” he said of the
finished Willys. “That’s rewarding in itself. It was really nice [to
receive Best Appearing], especially when you do the work yourself.”
Wilson is a man who is used to doing work himself, he and his wife
being the sole force behind his bodywork and wrecker businesses. Even
at the track, Wilson does much of the work himself. “I really miss my
son. He was my Crew Chief before the wreck. Now he’s moved away and my
good friend Bruce comes with me, but we’re still missing that third
man. Different ones help us out at different times.
“Right now I’m honestly trying to get the car sorted back out. Done a
lot of changing. Just really hadn’t quite gotten the combination
figured out. I think it will be competitive once we do.”
Although it’s been a long journey to get back behind the wheel, Wilson
never once doubted he would make it. “Always from the time I was a
small child, I’ve been fascinated with cars. I raced with my
imagination when I was a little boy. I reckon I still got that in me.”
Wilson’s first race car was a Hot Rod ‘55 Chevrolet that he raced
locally as a teenager before growing into the Quick 8 racing that
became popular in the ‘80s. Then for nearly 15 years, racing took a
back seat until Wilson purchased the Tommy Mauney built Willys chassis
in 2006. He debuted the car in Ennis, Tx. in late 2009 and had the
opportunity to race in Qatar in 2010 with the Arabian Drag Racing
League. “That was a real treat,” Wilson said of racing abroad. “I
enjoyed it. I never thought of doing anything like that, but I was
thankful for the opportunity. It was hard not having help. I’m not
able to afford to pay a crew so I was at everybody’s mercy. But I
enjoyed it.”
Although Wilson is a budget racer, he appreciates the help he receives
from JEG Contracting, Leanders Clutches, M&H Auto Parts and Goodridge
Hoses. He says he also appreciates “my wife, for putting up with me.”
It is certainly good to see Ed Wilson back among friends with the PDRA.
And you can bet it won’t be long before his friends find him back in
the winner’s circle again.
Photo Credits: Gary Rowe / RaceWorks.com / PDRA66.com
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