[email protected] About Nickey Chevrolet

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]