By Willem Oosthoek
All photos taken by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection]
Bill Kimberly
Sliding into the Archives
The below image of Paul Wilson’s Alfa 6C 2500 is the first in a slideshow; the directions are to look at the photo, and do one of two things: either click on the arrow at the center of the photo to go to the article itself, or, click on the arrow that appears on the right and left side of the photo. This will bring you to the next story, if right, or previous story, if left arrow is selected. Hence, a slide show, scrolling left and right instead of up and down.
This slide show of fourteen stories clearly demonstrates the excellence, depth and range of stories that appear every week in VeloceToday, authored by top writers and photographers from the U.S., UK, Belgium, Australia, France and Italy. [Read more…] about Sliding into the Archives
The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 6
By Willem Oosthoek
After a disappointing finish with the Cunningham Jaguar E-type at Sebring in March 1963, Bill Kimberly picked up his corporate job in London again and did not expect to do much racing for the rest of the season, with -perhaps- Le Mans and the Cunningham team being the exception. An unexpected call changed things completely, thanks to one of Bill’s occasional boarders in the London apartment. [Read more…] about The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 6
The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 5
By Willem Oosthoek
The 1962 season would turn out to be a low point in term of the number of race appearances for Bill Kimberly. Occupied with his corporate job at Kimberly-Clark in London, and with his Ferrari 500TR sold, he appeared trackside only twice. But they were memorable rides, both again with the Briggs Cunningham team.
Although Briggs showed up in force at Sebring in March, Bill was unable to make it. But in Europe competition would be easier to arrange based on his vacation days. Across the English Channel, Le Mans was only a short distance away. [Read more…] about The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 5
The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 4
By Willem Oosthoek
With a busy corporate schedule at Kimberly-Clark in Connecticut, Bill Kimberly had fewer opportunities to race during the 1961 season. As a regular “working stiff” his number of vacation days were limited, so invitations by Briggs Cunningham for Sebring, Le Mans and Road America were welcome. Briggs’ mechanics would do the preparations on the cars that Bill would race, another time and money saver for the amateur race driver.
The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly, Part 3
Story by Willem Oosthoek
Expecting an early sprint contest between the Ferrari and Aston Martin works entries at the 1959 Le Mans 24 hours, E.D. and Bill decided to drive at a conservative pace early on and see what would happen. After seven hours they had reached 10th place, climbing to 9th overall in the next hour. Bill: “We were very careful not to overdo it and we stayed very close to our set lap times. Then transmission trouble struck, and we had to retire. We were running 8th overall when it happened.” They completed 108 laps in nine hours.
The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 2
By Willem Oosthoek
With his purchase of the Ferrari 500TR previously raced by Chick Butscher and Lucky Casner, Bill Kimberly finally had an opportunity to contest feature victories in SCCA Regionals. It would prove difficult, though, as competition in the Southeast was stiff for a more than two-year old, mid-sized bolide.
Inspired by Uncle Jim: The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly
By Willem Oosthoek Part 1
It all started way back in 1872, when four men partnered up to establish a paper mill in Neenah, Wisconsin. By 1880 the fast-growing business was incorporated under the name Kimberly-Clark, with one of the partners, John Kimberly, serving as its CEO. One of John’s grandsons, James “Jim” Kimberly eventually ran the business until 1950, when he retired to concentrate on a new full-time hobby: sports car racing. Jim’s job as Chairman and CEO was taken over by his brother Jack Kimberly, who happened to have a young son, soon to be fascinated with Uncle Jimmy’s new hobby. That son was Bill Kimberly, and in spite of their age difference, Jim and Bill are often confused when it comes to motor racing history.