Bill Williams memory lives on through his Clenet Automobile.

 Alain Clenet, refers to his American, coach-made, Clenet, as Driving Art. 

Alain Clenet was recognized for his contribution to Santa Barbara history, at the Concours d'Elegance.

Tom Pierpoint, President of The Clenet Cluster, with Alain Clenet.

These wonderful, limited edition automobiles were built in the late 70's and early 80's by Clenet Coachworks of Santa Barbara, CA. There has been a recent strong interest in these vehicles most probably due to the fact that they are becoming "classic neo-classics" as they all approach 30 years of age. We are probably a bit biased, but we think they are the most elegant automobiles ever produced.

The William P. Williams family, showed Bill's Classic Clenet, Series 1, number 13 at the Santa Barbara Concours, Oct 30th, as well as The La Quinta Concours d'Elegance, this year, where it won 2 place in the Neo-Classic, category.

Bill Williams Clenet, showed with 20 other Classic Clenet, owners, at Alain Clenet's, Coachworks, 35 Anniversary.

Steve Kourocas, (Clenet Coachworks original fabricator,) Alain Clenet, (designer and owner of Clenet Coachworks,) with Bill Williams daughter, Donna Williams.

Alain Clenet, sharing some memories of Bill Williams,  with his daughter, Donna Williams.

Steve Kourocas with Donna Williams.  Kourocas has many good stories about her father, Bill Williams during the fabricating, of number 13. 

Donna Williams with her cousin Ann Louise Williams-Corbett, enjoying the Concours.


Clénet is an automobile series with old retro styling, mixed with modern technology.  Each limited-production model was conceived, designed, and produced by a small team of men and women in Santa Barbara County, California in the 1970s and 1980s. The automobile's distinctive styling was based on the high-end automobiles of the 1930s. Despite their retro looks, Clénets used modern drive trains and suspension systems.   

My father, Bill Williams, the ultimate Gatsby...

William Preston Williams lll, and his father Bill Williams.

Why does Bill's son Preston, want to keep his dad's memory alive, through the Clenet, # 13? 

Bill Williams Casa Guillermo, with his 1955 Jaguar MkVII M. parked at the entrance.

This is the  same model of the 55 Jag, Bill Williams had in his collection, and one his teenage son Preston had the keys to.  Bill finally had to take the keys away, after so many reckless joy-rides Preston, and his friends took without permission.

Preston and his dad, Bill Williams.

Here is Preston's story of another wild ride in the 911E Porsche.

The word got around that there was this fast little unassuming 911, I'd raced many school mates, that thought they had the fastest car in Auto Shop;  You know the motor head types!

The thing I found about these great American Muscle Cars, was that they have tons of power, but lack traction and would spin their tires.  The little Porsche, however, would grab and throw the car like a sling shot, Bing bang Gone!!!.

So my friend John, had a friend, who was actually much older, a lawyer, who was also a armature racer, who had a beautiful Red 1985 911S with all of the hood scoops and air dams.   He loved to brag about how it was built and that it had a blower etc, and it was quite fast!

He'd taken me for a ride, and was a much more experienced driver than I was.  His little S was fast, but it did not have the force, that threw you back in your seat, and I knew I could spit him out my exhaust.

I said,  "wow! this is an amazing car, I know you don’t think much of my little E, but I would just like to see if I could keep up with your car."

"I'm sure you could," he said,  "well, until the blower kicks in - then I am gone!!!"

"Cool," I said.

"Press," he said,  "I only race this on the track, as the special gas I use is expensive and the wear and tear it puts on my car is brutal."

"Sure," I said, with a straight face.

"So I will tell you what, lets’ make it a challenge, I'll bet you $200.00 that I'll beat you.   If I win you pay me, and if you win, I'll pay you."

"Sounds good," I said, knowing he thought his $200 bucks was a shoe-in.

"Otherwise," he said arrogantly,  "you can just figure, you have a cute little 911E."

My only concern was not the 911E, of course, but more so my ability.  Maybe I was crazy, but  I just couldn't miss the chance to shut his big fat mouth, and a for only  $200.00, it was worth it.   So I shook his hand and set the date, for that Saturday, as my Dad would be out of town that Friday and I'd have one day to practice my shifting skills.

The race was so cool!  We went to my favorite place, The Tram road and marked off a two mile stretch.  My buddy Tom drove with me and my other bud, John drove with my challenger.  I was on the right side and my challanger, was on the left.  John counted down.  With our windows open, he put his right arm up and counted down 5,4,3,2,1, and then threw his arm down. 
 
We both punched it, 1st gear I was gone, I was ahead by at least 60 feet, 2nd gear his blower kicked in and he zoomed up behind me and edged past me, 3rd gear I caught him at 130+, and started walking away, 4th gear 150 and going, Tom and I were laughing as he waived good buy in the rear view mirror, 5th gear the gauge was pegged and still going.  We past the 2 mile mark, and I took my foot off of the accelerator and eventually pulled off the side of the road, and the S pulled in behind me. We all got out, and John and the Guy walked towards us, John was smiling - as he expected me to win, but the lawyer was shaking his head.
 
"I can’t’ believe it," he said,  "I want to do it again."
 
"Well we can," I said,  "But it'll cost you - I can’t do this for free!  You know, the gas, wear and tear and all. 
 
He got so worked up over the deal, he actually said he wanted to have my car put on the dyno, as it seemed a bit rough,.
 
"Well,"  I said, "I just wanted to see if I could keep up with you. What do you think of my little E. now?"
 
"He smiled and gave me the $200.00, and we all went out to eat.
 
That too was a good day.
 
One more story from Preston to come.  Shocking and heartbreaking.  You won't want to miss it. 
 
Keep checking this week for more pictures of Bill's Clenet at the Santa Barbara Concouse with Alain Clenet.  I think you now understand why the car is so special to us and why we want to keep Bill's memory alive through it. 
 

We'll Fun, Fun, Fun till Daddy takes the 911 Porsche away.

William Preston Williams lll, last Hurrah with the Porsche 911E, at  Casa Guillermo, in 1976.  Like father, like son!

Preston Williams in the middle, with his best friends, on his 16th Birthday.

Born to be CAR GUYS: Concluded:.
Story by Preston Williams.

Tom was pretty much my best friend, and I trusted his good sense, (well as much as a teenager could judge or have.)  He loved cars and was a good, safe driver, so when he said, "hey Press, I'd love to drive that little Porsche, and take it to the limit, but this time during the day, no hair pin turns," I thought, why not.

It was a Saturday and again Dad was out of town, so I agreed, only if I could drive his, quick little 289.  I knew it would never beat the 911E, but it was a fun car, so after he agreed we went back to the Tram road - but this time all the way to the base station, because he wanted to drive the windy road all the way down to Palm Canyon.

The Porsche was so fast, you could zip through the turns and then fly down the straight ways, and because it had great breaking ability, and the quick speedomatic transmission - shifting was awesome, just a fun car.


Tom drove to the base station (quickly!!) and than headed back down, and again since it was summer in the desert, the Tram was pretty much dead.  

Tom began the trip down the mountain, taking the turns at about 60, shifting through the turns and hitting about 75 through the straight ways, than, down shifting through the turns.  The car handled great!  However, about half way down the mountain, the road turns into big long S turn, and that's where he got up to 3rd gear, cursing about 80 through the long S turns.  

The last three miles straighten out, so he tapped the brake and down shifted into 2nd, than punched it!   unfortunately, there was a little dirt on the road, and  caught a little fishtail.  Tom quickly shifted into 3rd and luckily, it straightened out and we were gone!

120, 130 +, just coming out of that fishtail was  exhilarating, and the speed just laid you back in the seat as he hit 4th at 140, 150 +.  At 5th gear the guage was pegged and just flying, until the last mile, when the motor stalled, but we still had momentum, so kept going.

Tom pumped the brakes and we hit the curve onto Palm Canyon about 70 miles an hour, and she just hugged the turn, as we cruised into the North end gas station about a 1⁄4 mile down the road.

 I said to Tom,  "Dud what’s up? Every time you drive this car it dies?"


This time we had gas and the battery was charged, but we had two problems, the Porsche wouldn't start, and it was stuck in gear.

“What the F—k are we going to do?" I said,  "even if we get it home, my Dad will know that it's broken."


So not able to get it home , I had no choice but to call my Dads friend Carl, who owns a gas station or two, and would know what to do, Talking about biting the bullet!!


"Hello, Carl?, uh, this is Preston, you know Bill's son."

"Ya, ya , sure," he said, " Hey Press what’s up?"

"Carl, I have a problem," I said,  "and Dad's out of town, and I could use some help?"

"Okay, what type of help," he said,

"uh, car help,"  I said,

"Did you run out of gas?"

"Well no,"  I said,  "I, um, took the Porsche out and it won’t start?

"I’m sorry Press," he said in dismay,  "you what?  you took your Dad's car for a ride,"  he laughed,  "okay bud, where are you?  I'll come down and see what I can do.

"OK thank you Carl," I said, finally exhaling.


So I gave him the directions, and hung up.


Tom freaks out saying.  "Man you can not, tell your old man I was driving!!! - Not only will he be pissed at me, he'll call my Dad - and he'll kick my ass, and take my car for a month or more.   This is so not cool!

"Ya think?"  I said,"  I'm gonna get my ass kicked if
my Dad knows you were driving.   I may as well kiss my ass goodbye, well, it was fun while it lasted."


We looked over the car to see if we could figure it out? Tom says it could be vapor locked, being so hot outside, and maybe that locks up the transmission somehow,

"Well that would be cool," I said, "if it all fixes itself."


"Listen Tom," I said,  "I know Carl’s a cool guy, maybe he won't tell my Dad about this."

"When does your Dad get home," Tom said.

"Who knows, he said Monday?

"That's good," Tom said,  "then we have two days, to figure this out."

"yeah, well, these days, he always tells me later, and comes home sooner, hoping to catch me in the act?"  I said.

"Great!!  Were F**k*d."


About that time, a big white pickup truck pulls up. It's Carl,  "Hey boys, out for a joy ride?,"

"Yeah, you know just cruising." I said, laying low.

 "This car?"  Carl says,  "Sure, Cruising," he laughs, as he inspects the car.  "Press, all I can do is have it flatbeded back to the house, and Press you know; I will have to tell your Dad, you boy's will have to face the music for this one!"

"Yes I know.


So Carl had the car brought back to the house, and he said, "Press I would recommend that you tell your Dad first, okay kid."

"Yup, thanks Carl."

"Alright Press. I will wait a week."

I had a lump in my throat the size of a grapefruit, when telling my Father what happened. He was so pissed, especially when the repair would cost $2,500.00, he took my car away for a month, and from that point forward when he went out of town, he'd either lock me out of the house and make me stay with friend, or he'd have the neighbors check in on me all of the time.   He also took the car keys with him, when he'd go - and that summer, he went to Europe for a month, and locked me out of the house.

However, the good news was, Dad, made arrangements for me to stay at my Girlfriend's house, but for a teenager that was more of a blessing then punishment!

I guess the good old times were over and it was time for me to grow up. At least for today.


The Last Hurrah!!
 
Check in tomorrow for another Porsche story, by William Preston Williams lll.
 
Check in Wed for the last pictures taken of Bill's Clenet, shown at the Santa Barbara Concours d' Elegance,  Oct 30, 2011.
 
Also this week I will be posting my cooking segment at AZTV, making Frances Chocolate Icebox dessert.
 
Pictures of my presentation in Laguna Beach taken last sat will be posted this week as well. 

My cousin, Bill Stroh's Porsche story, continued.

Bill, with two of his kids,  Billee and Preston, on Preston's 16th Birthday, the year Bill Stroh's, Porsche came to Casa Guillermo.

Preston's Story continued:

 Through the years I had many experiences with the 911. Being the kid I was, I'd take every advantage of my Dad being away, (as he often was.)  Whether it was having a  friends over, or an occasional full blown party- or my favorite thing - cruising the car's.

Over the years, there were many times of taking the 911 without permission, but three were memorable.  One time in particular, when Dad was out of town, I had my best friend Tom over, and we had been hanging at the house for most of the day, cursing down Palm Canyon and Las Palmas on the Mopeds, when I got a call from one of my friends, who invited us over, so rather than take my Camerro, I thought it would be fun to take the Porsche.

Well I am sure that tom gave me the moral support.  So we zoomed out the gates of the Casa, and headed over to Kenny’s.  After being there a few hours, drinking and getting high, we left feeling no pain, (with that liquid courage, or in this case stupid courage,) we raced around the windy streets, before taking it to a higher level.

I turned on the high beams, picked a long stretch of road, and was ready to roar, when Tom say’s "Dud can I give it a test drive," 

“Sure!!!” I said, so we traded positions, and buckled up for what would prove to be an extreme event in our lives. 

Tom put it in 1st and floored it, we were thrown back into our seats, you know the G-force thing... and Tom got through 1st, then 2nd and then 3rd we were going about a 130, when all of a sudden, we both screamed out ooooh Shitttt!!!!. As we saw a hair pin turn coming about 30 feet ahead, and Tom having some experience racing his 1965 Ford Mustang with a built 289, was aware that you don’t hit The brakes at that speed.  He just took his foot off of the accelerator, and cranked the steering wheel to the right - and I mean to tell you - I think we both saw our short little lives, flash before our eyes, as they were probably closed, and this car hugged the road and held tight all the way through the tight-ass turn.  

We just started laughing and crying, thanking God, that we were still alive!!  When the laughing stopped, we realized that the little 911 had also stopped.  We tried and tried to start the car, until the battery died, so we had to push it half a mile to a gas station to charge the battery and get a little gas.


After that frantic experience, being freaked out, yet glad to be alive, we didn’t think about the fuel level, but the fact was, if that is all it was, and we were safe - as the option of my fathers wrath over the car being wrecked, or worse dying, or crippled for life, being out of gas was a drop in the bucket.


After that we went back to the house and smoked a fatty, in celebration of our stunt, I think that day, I was glad that I let Tom drive, and also that my second cousin Bill Stroh had modified the suspension of that little 911 E, because that most likely saved our lives, and we both have had a great story to tell.

More stories from Preston Williams with the Porsche, to be continued.

Note from Bill Stroh's son John P. Stroh:

The Porsche that Bill bought was a street car for my mom. That engine had 906 cams, and titanium rods, and
cyclinder head's that were not of porsche. I helped rebuild that engine many time's, and know
if you had to service the car, porsche would say WHATS THIS!

William Preston Williams lll, remembers race car driver, Bill Stroh's 911 Porsche.

The 1969 Porsche 911E, was the car I loved the most, as boy's love fast cars, and this one was a rocket!!

I remember the day that big car hauler pulled through those big electric gates at Casa Guillermo.  It was 1976 and I was all of 16 and what do you know?  I had a license!!

The driver of the truck got out and came around to the end of the trailer to release the back door and attach the tracks that would allow the machine to roll down.  One of the two men hopped into the trailer and got into that sweet ride and started it up.  I never heard such an awesome sound.  It had a throaty roar, as he backed the car up and his partner guided him down the ramp. 

My Dad put his arm around me,  as he often did, and squeezed my bicep, "hey muskels."  (Dad always had such a fun way with words,)  "What do you think of this one!  This was my cousin Bill Stroh's car, I bought it from his wife, when he passed away.  You know he used to race cars, on the professional circuit.  The motor in this car is no ordinary motor." 

 I said, "really, why is that?"  and then he paused a moment as the car backed out, and the bright sunlight hit that burnt orange paint, with the cool racing stripe across the bottom, and the word PORSCHE in it and on the back hood, all in gold lettering and beneath it -Sportomatic, 911E.  

Gleaming in the sunshine it looked like a beautiful jewel, and Dad said, "isn't she beautiful!!" 

I said so what's up with the motor Pop?  Wanting to know every detail.

"Bill had it specially built, by his Master Mechanics, all of the pistons and rings were forged by hand out of aluminum, as well as many other parts to be extra light weight, everything about this motor was designed for ultimate performance, this motor won him many races, when it was in his race car, so when Bill retired he had this motor put into his Wife's Porsche 911E, so you see this is no ordinary car" 

"Well Dad how is that possible? I mean a race engine?, that doesn't seem legal."

"Well Press,  it had to be tuned down a bit, to make it safe for the road, and as well the car has a specialized breaking system to support the high speeds, and they modified the suspension as well all to make it fast and safe, and best of all it looks original." 

"I said oh, you mean it doesn’t' have all of the fancy spoilers and air dams to make it look fast!!"

"Yep that's it, this is a serious machine!!." 

(You see my father liked style - not so much flash, he believed that a car should maintain the original look, the classic lines, as it was designed.)  With that my palms were itching, and you bet I could not wait to show this to my friends.


So once the moving men left and the car was placed in the car port, next to all of the other beautiful cars, we looked it over, and were so impressed with how clean it was.  It looked like new, Burnt Orange, with all black leather interior.  I knew this was going to be mine some day,


Dad said, "what do you say we take her for a spin."

"Are you kidding?  You don’t' have to ask me twice," I said, and we hopped in.  Dad in the driver’s seat of course.  He turned the ignition on, and revved that throaty little beast!!  

The quick response was quite thrilling, the sportomatic transmission, was so unique, in that it had no clutch. You just let it idle, put it in 1st gear and go, and release the gas between gears, and I mean to tell you we went!! The response was amazing.   Dad just cruised at first, through the neighborhood, but he could not help himself wiping through the winding roads.   He said "she handles like a dream."   But I wanted one thing - to go fast !!!

"Hey Dad, let’s take her on to the Tram Way road."  This is a 10 mile road, with long stretches of straight ways, mixed with mountain terrain, it takes you to the base station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram Way.  This was my favorite place to joy ride the cars and being the middle of summer in the desert, there would be no one around. 

So we made our way there, about a ten minute drive from the Casa.  Upon turning on to the tram road, off of Palm Canyon, Dad let it rip.  1st gear we hit 50 miles an hour, in what seemedlike 1.5 sec, it was like a rocket, I am telling you I have never felt G-Force ever, but that day I believe I understood the meaning, as I could barley, if at all, lean forward off of the seat, and then Dad hit second gear, and it pressed me back further into the seat and with in another second or two we were flying past 95, 3rd gear was over 120 in a second, and he shut her down, and we were blown away as this was a five speed transmission and the speedometer went from 0 to 160 and I am sure it would do all of that and more, but 120 was cool for now.

Dad did not let me drive that car for quite sometime, as he had already found out about some of my escapades, parties, and joy rides, and to think of that day, even amazes me that he was doing anything with me, because, during that period of my life, I seemed to be a loose cannon, but in any event that was a great day for us.

READ MORE ABOUT BILL STROH http://www.maybellinebook.com/search/label/Bill%20Stroh

Mama drove a Hot Rod - Thanks to my cousin, race-car driver, Bill Stroh.

Bill Stroh's 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350, was the catalyst that inspired Bill Williams to build his car collection.

The 1965 GT350 had one purpose in life and that was to put the Ford Mustang in the winner’s circle in SCCA road racing.  Bill Stroh on the left, with his son and brother in law, raced this Cobra and I have to say, it made my dad, Bill Williams a little jealous.  In fact three years later my dad  trumped his cousin and bought a 1968 Ford Mustang

Shelby GT500 Convertible.

Here I am with Bill Strohs son, standing next to Bill's GT 350 Cobra.  It was the Summer of 1966, while I was in Chicago, getting to know my father's family.  I had no idea that five years later, I'd be the owner of a 1968 Shelby Mustang, GT 500 Cobra convertible when my father gave his car to me in 1971, for my 24th Birthday.

Here I am admiring Bill Stroh's racing Cobra.  I'm sure it was this car, that planted the seed in my father's mind, to begin his car collection, after the Maybelline Company sold, in December of 1967.  

                                                   

1965–66 GT 350s were very successful racers, and had many production-class victories.

So I drove a Hot Rod with a baby seat, until I sold my Shelby GT 500 Mustang convertible in 1983. 

 My next Hot Rod, was a 1969 Completion Orange Camero, with white racing stripes, which I drove my daughter around in until she was 10 years old.  I have to give credit to Bill Stroh, for bringing racing stripes into our lives and spurring my dad on to collect 12 classic cars.  Today we still have his 1977 Clenet, Series 1, number 13. 

My dad's Shelby GT 500, crashed and was rebuilt, for my 24th Birthday. The front of the car actually lifted when I hit the gas and was the most fun car I ever drove.

Bill Stroh died unexpectedly from a heart attack in 1974.  He was only 50 years old.  Bill Williams lived to be 82 and grieved the loss of his cousin for 32 years.  It was like losing a brother he said.  My dad bought Bill's Porsche and I will be posting that story, so stay tuned, you won't want to miss this memory from my brother, Preston Williams, when he was 16 at Casa Guillermo.

I will be doing my One Woman Show tomorrow evening in Laguna Beach, stay tuned for video's and pictures.  Thank You for following The Maybelline Story Blog.  Signed copies of my book are available at http://www.maybellineblog.  

Car Guy's grow up!!!!

Bill Williams collected beautiful automobiles for the pleasure of being seen in them.  Bill Stroh raced fast cars for the pleasure of driving them. 

Ladies man, Bill Williams, became an avid car collector, in his late 40's, after the Maybelline Company sold in 1967. He bought Casa Guillermo, in Palm Springs in 1973, for it's 4 garages, and two acres of land, where stored several more cars.                                     

Man's man, Bill Stroh on the other hand, became a hands-on, race car driver for Porsche, in the 1960's, making quite a name for himself in Chicago's racing world. 

Check in tomorrow and see a couple of Bill Stroh's racing cars and find out the outcome of, Born to be Car Guy.

This weekend I will also be posting some of my brother Preston's, memories, of what it was like being a kid with so many fast cars at his disposal, when dad was out of town, especially Bill Stroh's racing Porsche.

WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT BILL STROH AND BILL WILLIAMS? http://www.maybellinebook.com/search/label/Bill%20Stroh



            Her Story Curls Eyelashes

Author Sharrie Williams will speak at Laguna Beach Books Saturday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. about her family memoir, “The Maybelline Story…and The Spirited Family Dynasty Behind It”.


Williams, a former Laguna Beach resident, will bring the story to life with a presentation using vintage family photos. Light refreshments will be served and guests will have a chance to chat with American Association of University Women members.


Read the Q&A with Williams published in Laguna Beach Magazine’s September issue.

Car Guy's Gone Wild.

Bill Williams and his cousin, Bill Stroh, continued their car crazy love, until the draft temporally stopped the obsession for a couple of years.

Bill Williams in his Army uniform, before being shipped to the Philippians, poses with Bill Stroh, who would soon enlist into the Navy.  However that didn't stop them from spending every available minute working on their cars.

Both Bill's learned how to rebuild an engine as teenagers, and could talk the talk with any mechanic, while their girl's sat patiently and waited.

Bill Stroh in the center with his cousin Bill Williams to his right, with the
4-F Club Guys.

As Teenagers the cousin's formed a Car Club, called the 4-F Club and cruised for pretty girls.  It didn't take long before both guys had THE ONE.

Bill and Pauline Williams, with Baby Sharrie, sitting on the grass, and Mary and Bill Stroh.

After the War, the boy's returned home, married, had kids and built careers, however, when they reached their prime, the first thing they did was return to their first love.  Beautiful cars.

Born Car Guys will be continued.

Read more about car crazy, Bill Williams, in The Maybelline Story and buy a signed copy at http://www.maybellinestory.com/

Born to be Car Guys!!!

I guess you'd have to say Bill Williams and his cousin, Bill Stroh, had a love for wheels, right from the get-go!

The two little cousins were the children of Evelyn Williams, and her sister Verona Stroh.

The two Bills grew up together in Chicago, and loved anything that they could push, ride or burn rubber in.

Best of buddy's, The young Bill's lived together during some rough times in the 1920's, when Evelyn and Preston were working out their differences. 

The boy's were practically twins.  Born a few weeks a part, handsome little chaps with truck loads of enthusiasm,

 especially for cars.

Even when Bill Williams moved away from Chicago, to California, Bill Stroh visited during the Summer months and their devotion for anything fast continued to grow.

Bill Williams in his first car.

Born to be Car Guys: 
To be Continued.