2009 Media Guide P.O. Box 98 Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0098 (815) 459-1205 [email protected]

About Nickey Chevrolet

In the 1950’s and 60’s, Nickey Chevrolet was a fixture on the northwest side of Chicago. Anyone who lived in the Chicago area during that time can remember the grating and omnipresent radio jingle that went, “Nickey, Nickey, Nickey, Nickey, Nickey Chevrolet…with the backward K!” Truly a mega-dealer before the term was even coined, Nickey was famous worldwide for its groundbreaking and unique marketing schemes. They included “over-the-top” new car introductions, extended service hours, personal appearances by Dan Blocker -“Hoss Cartright” of Bonanza fame, co-promoting with Bill Veeck & the Chicago White Sox, wacky PR stunts, and the famous “Backward K”. What really set Nickey apart was its participation in all forms of motorsport. From the late 50’s through the mid 60’s, Nickey owned and / or sponsored stock cars, drag cars, land speed record cars, and sports cars. Their racing teams won amateur and professional races and championships from coast –to-coast. Drivers included Jim Jeffords, Fred Lorenzen, Dick Harrell, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hurtibise, Roger Ward, Skip Hudson, and John Cannon to name a few. Nickey was even better known as the pioneer of dealer prepared 60’s muscle cars starting with the infamous and wickedly fast 1967 Nickey 427 Camaro. While Nickey faded from the Chicago automobile scene in the mid 70’s, its memory lives on through the enthusiasts and fans of this legendary dealership. For more information see us on the web at www.NickeyChicago.com ,or call Tom Stephani at (815) 459-1205 office, (815) 861-9333 cell

Tom Stephani

Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL Age: 59 Family: Wife Gretchen, married for 38 years, son Paul, 30 Occupation: Owner of a Land Development and Home Building Company Hobbies: Racing, Travel, Skiing, Racquetball, Photography Racing Bio: SCCA Club Racing National License 1972 – 1998 1972 CenDiv Regional Champion – Formula Vee 1972 Chicago Region Driver of the Year 1972 Bondurant Road Racing Student of the Year 1972 Miller / Bondurant Driver of the Year 1979 CenDiv National Champion – Formula Vee 1989 Rocky Mtn. Division National Champion – Formula Vee SCCA Runoffs 1977, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1996, & 1997 Track Records at Blackhawk, Waterford, Watkins Glen, Texas, Pueblo Over 20 National and Regional Wins 2003 – Present, Vintage racing USRRC / Can-Am P.O. Box 98 Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0098 (815) 459-1205 [email protected]

For Immediate Release

“Pure Hoss Power” Roars Into Vintage Racing!

Tom Stephani, son of one of the original owners of Nickey Chevrolet, is campaigning the Nickey Vinegaroon USRRC / CanAm car in Vintage & Historic races nationwide. In 1965 & 1966 the Vinegaroon was owned by Dan Blocker, “Hoss” of TV’s popular show Bonanza, and driven by John Cannon and Bob Harris in the USRRC and

CanAm. The Vinegaroon was one of four high-powered sports racers sponsored by

Nickey and won the Stardust Grand Prix in Las Vegas in April of 1966. Stephani acquired the car in 2002 year after it had been meticulously restored by Floyd Sable of

Eden Prairie Minnesota. It is classified as a Group 7c and carries the number 95, just as it did in 1966.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, Nickey Chevrolet was a fixture on the northwest side of

Chicago. Anyone who lived in the Chicago area during that time can remember the grating and omnipresent radio jingle that went, “Nickey, Nickey, Nickey, Nickey, Nickey

Chevrolet…with the backward K!” Truly a mega-dealer before the term was even coined,

Nickey was famous worldwide for its groundbreaking and unique marketing schemes.

They included “over-the-top” new car introductions, extended service hours, personal appearances by Dan Blocker -“Hoss Cartright” of Bonanza fame, co-promoting with the Chicago White Sox and National Food Stores, wacky PR stunts, and the famous

“Backward K”.

What really set Nickey apart was its participation in all forms of motorsport. From the late 50’s through the mid 60’s, Nickey owned and / or sponsored stock cars, drag cars, land speed record cars, and sports cars. Their racing teams won amateur and professional races and championships from coast –to-coast. Drivers included Jim

Jeffords, Fred Lorenzen, Dick Harrell, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hurtibise, Roger Ward, and Skip

Hudson to name a few.

Nickey was even better known as the pioneer of dealer prepared 60’s muscle cars starting with the infamous and wickedly fast 1967 Nickey 427 Camaro. While Nickey faded from the Chicago automobile scene in the mid 70’s, its memory lives on through the enthusiasts and fans of this legendary dealership. For more information see us on the web at www.NickeyChicago.com or, call Tom Stephani at (815) 459-1205 office,

(815) 861-9333 cell

Vinegaroon 1965 Genie Mk10 USRRC / CanAm Sports Racer

Original Owner: Dan Blocker (Hoss of Bonanza TV Show) Original Drivers: John Cannon & Bob Harris Built By: Huffaker Engineering, California Sponsored By: Nickey Chevrolet, Chicago Illinois

Winner – April 1966 Las Vegas USRRC race Second Place – 1965 Nassau Trophy Race Campaigned in the 1965 & 1966 USRRC Series Competed in 1966 CanAm Series

Current Owner / Driver: Tom Stephani Restored by: Floyd Sable, Eden Prairie Minnesota Chassis: Tube Frame, Original Suspension Body: Hand-Laid Fiberglass Engine: Chevrolet, 358 cu. in., 450 hp Carburetion: 4 – 48 Downdraft Webbers Weight: 1250 lbs. without fuel Transmission: Hewland DG300, 5 speed Performance Specs: Top Speed: 170 mph 0-60 mph: 4.1 seconds 0-100 mph: 6.2 seconds 50-70 mph: 0.6 seconds Vinegaroon History Dan Blocker’s Nickey Vinegaroon (Genie Mk10) is a meticulously restored and completely documented 1960’s USRRC / Can-Am sports racing car. The car was originally built by Joe Huffaker in 1965 for Dan Blocker Racing and driven by John Cannon in the 1965 and 1966 USRRC and Canadian sports car series. After finishing 2nd in the 1965 Nassau Tourist Trophy race, the car won the 1966 season opening Las Vegas Stardust Grand Prix USRRC race. The primary sponsor of the car was Nickey Chevrolet. In mid 1966, Bob Harris, a noted Hollywood stunt man, took over the Vinegaroon driving duties. The car was campaigned in the remaining USRRC races that year and participated in the inaugural Can-Am season in the fall of 1966. Its best Can-Am finish was 11th at the Stardust finale. The car passed through three owners before being discovered in the late 1980’s by Floyd Sable of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. After an eight year restoration, the car made its vintage racing debut in 1998 at Road America. Sable sold the Vinegaroon to Tom Stephani, son of one of the original owners of Nickey Chevrolet, in November of 2002. From 2003 to the present, Stephani has run the car in significant vintage events at tracks such as Road America, Mt. Tremblant, Watkins Glen, Sebring, Mosport, VIR, Mid-Ohio and the 2008 Monterey Historics. Vintage Racing / Events

Road America BRIC – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 Monterey Historics - 2008 Sebring HSR – 2005 VIR Gold Cup – 2006 Watkins Glen Zippo Historics– 2006 Mosport – 2006, 2008 Le Circuit Mt. Tremblant –2007 Mid-Ohio - 2007 Historic Can-Am Award – 2005 Road America Pole Winner – 40th Can-Am @ Road America Winner – Elkhart Lake Road & Track Concours Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance – 2006 Chevy Vettefest – 2006 Watkins Glen Research Center Display- 2007 California Auto Museum (Sacramento) 2008 - 2009 P.O. Box 98 Crystal Lake, IL 60039 (815) 861-9333 [email protected]