Bill was a great guy and avid model T’er for many years. He had not been active in the club for a few years due to declining health. Bill was always a very entertaining chap, having run Willy’s Used Up Car lot at Flywheelers Park in Florida. His show using a model T as the prop, was always a hoot. His wonderful collection of odd ball tools and other items was always fun to look at. His Model T assembly in 4 minutes was a tribute to his skills as a mechanic and curious mind. Periodically, he would get in trouble with the local authority’s, while on tour, doing fun stuff for all to see, but not to the liking of the Mr. Police man. Explosive under hood devices wired to a spark plug were always a favorite. Generating flames out the tail pipe “American Graffiti” style was fun to watch. He and wife Jane always made a tour interesting. Jane was always the “assistant” to his shenanigans and always supported him while having fun, then again as his caretaker in later years.
My last memory of Bill was him eating ice cream surrounded by friends and family at the international tour in Hamilton, Ohio.
It was a privilege to have known this great man and his wonderful wife Jane, for many years. Have fun with your Model T buddies in Heaven. You deserved it!
Passing of Bill Portier
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Tmooreheadf
Topic author - Posts: 414
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Tom
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tmodeldriver
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Re: Passing of Bill Portier
Thanks for your posting, Tom. I second everything you said. I displayed flywheel engines and other junque at Flywheeler Park for many years. Bill and Jane were my two favorite people to visit with while there.
Gotta tell this story. A bunch of us were set up in the infield of the Daytona speedway over Thanksgiving weekend at what was called the Turkey Rod Run. Bill was right across a pathway from me with, shall we say a "well broken-in" T touring car, about a '15, I think. When a group of folks would be curious about the starting crank Bill, standing at the driver's side, kind of braced on the steering wheel, would explain. "Well, there are several ways to start a Model T. Of course there's the crank or you can push start it. Some of 'em even have electric starters. However, this one starts so easily I usually just kick a tire." He'd give that left front tire a gentle kick while his hand on the steering wheel would move the spark lever the one or two notches needed to make contact and that old T would start, every time.
Bill had a lot of fun with that little trick and I enjoyed seeing the amazement on people's faces. I like to think that the old T was having fun as well. Bill was a great guy.
Gotta tell this story. A bunch of us were set up in the infield of the Daytona speedway over Thanksgiving weekend at what was called the Turkey Rod Run. Bill was right across a pathway from me with, shall we say a "well broken-in" T touring car, about a '15, I think. When a group of folks would be curious about the starting crank Bill, standing at the driver's side, kind of braced on the steering wheel, would explain. "Well, there are several ways to start a Model T. Of course there's the crank or you can push start it. Some of 'em even have electric starters. However, this one starts so easily I usually just kick a tire." He'd give that left front tire a gentle kick while his hand on the steering wheel would move the spark lever the one or two notches needed to make contact and that old T would start, every time.
Bill had a lot of fun with that little trick and I enjoyed seeing the amazement on people's faces. I like to think that the old T was having fun as well. Bill was a great guy.
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Brent Mize
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Re: Passing of Bill Portier
So sorry to hear about “wild Bill”
Such a fun guy and a real model t’er!
So sorry for Jane and Bill’s family.
Certainly one of a mind!
Such a fun guy and a real model t’er!
So sorry for Jane and Bill’s family.
Certainly one of a mind!
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Tmooreheadf
Topic author - Posts: 414
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Tom
- Last Name: Moorehead
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- Location: Louisville, KY
Re: Passing of Bill Portier
I saw him do the kick wheel start several times. Jane would be standing on the passenger side and I always thought she might have had a hand in the start process.
Another one of his props was the methane Briggs single cylinder he would start with no gas in the tank, spark plug wire disconnected and a hose running from a chamber pot to the carb intake. A couple of horse turds in the chamber pot and by magic, the engine stared and ran.
Very cool indeed!
Another one of his props was the methane Briggs single cylinder he would start with no gas in the tank, spark plug wire disconnected and a hose running from a chamber pot to the carb intake. A couple of horse turds in the chamber pot and by magic, the engine stared and ran.
Very cool indeed!