He shone on the speedway track while he also has an impressive record as a powerboat driver.

Bill also had a relatively short but highly successful stint as a speedway racer, where he put together a string of records racing against luminaries including Jack Brabham.

In 1955-56 Bill won 14 consecutive races driving V Twins and he remains the only driver to achieve this feat.

However, Bill’s speedway career ended following a horrendous crash at Sydney Showground on November 3 1956 that saw him fighting for his life for several days. 

Bill’s speedway feats will be honoured  at the Illobo Motorsport Park at Illabo, near Junee in the Riverina when the Bill Shevill Vintage Classic meeting is held this Saturday (October 21.)

This was programmed for last October, however, unseasonable rain saw the event washed out.

“We won’t have that problem this year,’’ club secretary Kerry Phelan assured.

“We haven’t had any bloody rain here for ages.’’

The park, located at the Illobo Showground, is known as ‘the heart of vintage speedway.’

Mr Phelan said there will be entries from South Australia, Victoria as well as NSW for the meet.

Bill is a fighting fit 87 these days. He will be making the trip to Illobo for the meeting, driving the 740kms on his own.

“If they’re good enough to put this on, then I think I should make the effort to get there,’’ he said.

He’ll also get to drive during the meet – for just the second time on track since his accident in 1956.

Mr Phelan said the meeting is growing into a major community event that attracts people to the area.

“It’s good for the local commerce, people stay here and spend money around the town,’’ he said.

“And we make sure we look after them.’’

He said Bill’s speedway record speaks for itself.

“It wasn’t a long career – as he acknowledges, but he was certainly successful,’’ Mr Phelan added.