The 3rd annual Motorsports and Memories event, set for September 17 at historic Meadowdale Raceways in Carpentersville, Illinois, will feature the 1959 B Production National Championship-winning Purple People Eater MkIII Corvette team from Nickey Chevrolet. Nickey followed up a 1958 BP National Championship with an equally dominating performance in 1959 as Jim Jeffords drove the car to National wins from coast-to-coast. So overwhelming were the victories, that many competitors accused the team of cheating—a claim that, despite many teardowns, was never validated.
The Nickey crew, headed by renowned mechanic Ronnie Kaplan, made sure the car was always prepared to win. Jeffords, along with Kaplan, team manager Lindy Lindheimer, and members of the Jack Stephani family, one of the owners of Nickey, will be on hand to greet well wishers, to sign memorabilia and provide photo opportunities. An evening dinner and panel discussion by the Nickey team will follow the activities at Raceway Woods, the track’s original location.
The Purple People Eater MkIII Corvette is now owned by the Miller family of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and is being graciously loaned to the Meadowdale International Raceways Preservation Association for this event.
For more information on attending and/or participating, contact Tom Stephani at tom@custombuilding.com or visit MIRPA.org
