The new speedway in their hometown of  Vineland, N.J. stimulated many garage owners to get involved in racing.  Neal's first car (photo 2) was painted orange and was numbered 717.  The number coming from the number of letters in his driver's name  Richard =7, Werchan =7 plus 1 middle initial made it 717.  Dick Werchan at an Elmer Race Reunion a few years ago explained the Lairds Special being painted on the side.  "Easy, that was what we all drank (Lairds Apple Jack) at the 'The Grove' after working on the car at nights,  so we thought it only appropriate to be on the side of the car!"

Neal's coupe shows the reverse of the colors with the car black and the numbers orange.  Dick Werchan went  on as his memory of the car came to life."What a shame that was.  They used to pick up 1937 Fords for around $35. or $50, bucks back then.  I passed this car sitting in a yard up in Atsion on Rt.206.  I stopped in on several occasions and asked if it was for sale to which they said NO!  Then one time I stopped and they said yes but they wanted $200. I believe.  We ended up buying it anyway and I remember driving it back to Vineland with the original radio playing in the car.  It was a beauty in street running  condition.  I think we put the "torch" to it that week!  Oh! if we only knew then!   But you know, we would have cut it up anyway because we needed it!"

The coupe never made it through the summer and it was replaced with a "humped back" sedan.  By the start of the 1957 racing season, Dick was replaced with a driver named Elton Hildreth.  (Photo 3)  It was also in 1957 that Neal Williams started fielding the legendary 44, with Al Tasnady driving.  (photo 4)  Al had been the best at Vineland Speedway the two previous years when the car was owned by two Vineland businessmen, Romeo Gelsi and Toots Armellini.  The 44, even then, had a Williams Auto Parts ad on the trunk and it is not clear when Neal's involvement with the car actually took place, but in 1957, it was all his.

Elton ran most of the 1957 in the 717.  Late in the summer he left the 717 and drove the cream and red 16-J owned by a Millville, N. J. trucking company owner, John Reginac.  and bought it to drive his self in 1958.  Tasnady left Williams in the summer of 1957 and was replaced with the Baltimore. MD. ace, Ken Marriott.  Ken won the 1957 NASCAR modified championship driving the 44 part of the season!   Marriott built a new coupe for Neal and drove it on the beach at Daytona in February of 1958.  He then retired from racing and Ralph Smith became the driver of the 1958 season campaigning successfully at Middletown, Alcyon,  Wilmington and  Vineland.

Neal's "second string"  teams, fielded in the shadow of Neal's "premier" 44 modified with Tasnady, Marriott and Smith, did quite well!  Elton Hildreth recalls when he drove the 717, he didn't have the wins to match  Tas or Mariott, but because he ran sportsman and didn't wreck the car. he earned more money after the "bills were paid",  than the 44 car!

When the Aberdeen, Maryland. ace and Vineland Speedway 1957 Modified champion Ralph Smith slid behind the wheel of the new Williams 44 coupe in '58, Steve Elias approached Neal about him running the used-up sedan left over in the weeds from last season.

Neal gave the "nod" and  Steve  "patched-up" the body  with a welder and old license plates!  Steve really "shook the bushes" when he took the car to Vineland which paved over the dirt with asphalt for 1958 and won the feature events on the second and third racing program!  Ralph Smith in the "premier" ride then won the following week.  Steve had a successful season at Vineland with many top five finishes and a solid year at Wilmington Speedway  also.

Early in the 1959 season Al Tasnady left the Lucky Jordan 2 he was driving and returned to the Williams 44.  Al was "back home" so to speak and the winning team was back on track!  In 1960 the owner ship of the 44 went over to Sterling Lerch from Bethlehem, Pa. with Tas continuing as driver.

One last note.  The last car 44 to be built by Neal Williams was a bronze 1937 Ford sedan with Al Tasnady  lettered on the door and Maul Special on the trunk.  It can be seen on photos and films when it appeared at Daytona for the modified race in February of 1960.    The 44 now owned by the Maul Brothers appeared at the opening day race at Alcyon Speedway in 1960 with Elton Hildreth driving.  The car then carried the number 111 on the doors with a large 44 still appearing on the roof, a scoring requirement for it competing at Daytona on the super speedway.   Elton relinquished the ride to Jackie McLaughlin that week, and the McLaughlin , Maul 111 legend began.

Neal Williams owned race cars for less than a decade but provided race fans with cars and drivers that generated records and stories that are still remember today!  Neal would be very proud today if he still with us to see his grandson Neal, racing today, in the Williams owned 44!