Harold ‘Pappy’ Wilcox Passes at 85
Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame member Class of 2005, Harold ‘Pappy’ Wilcox has passed away.
Harold began racing at Belfast Raceway in 1950 before calling Unity his “home track” the following year. Pappy also raced at Bass Park, Exeter Speedway and Brewer Speedway. In addition to racing cars, Pappy was a stunt driver – jumping ramps, going through the “wall of fire” and driving into a 5-ton block of ice. He was the first driver from Maine to race the NASCAR Grand National circuit, now Sprint Cup Series. In 1961, Harold drove the circuit from Norwood (Massachusetts) Arena to Ashville (North Carolina) Speedway. Pappy returned to Maine the following year. He retired as a driver in 1972, after twenty-two years of thrilling race fans, to support his son’s racing career as a car builder and advisor.
More information will be added as soon as it becomes available.
Harold Edward Pappy Wilcox
GLENBURN – Harold Edward Wilcox “Pappy,” passed away June 6, 2013, at his residence after a long illness. Pappy was born July 26, 1927, in Bangor, to Everett Wilcox and Isabelle (Irving) Wilcox.
Pappy proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After he left the service, Pappy met and married Patricia M. (Bean) Wilcox. They were married Jan. 1, 1949, and celebrated 50 years of marriage together. For 40 of those years, Pappy was employed by the trucking company, H.O. Bouchard. Pappy was the very first driver from Maine to ever drive in the racing series now known as NASCAR. This distinction, and others, led to his induction into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Unity Raceway Hall of Fame. Pappy was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He took pride in his family, work, and his racing career. He devoted much of his life to auto racing and watching his great-grandchildren’s games and performances.
In addition to his parents and his beloved wife of 50 years, Pappy was predeceased by son-in-law, Kenneth Bowness; and three sisters, Maggie Tait, Geraldine Doliber and Betty Tripp. He is survived by daughter, Joyce Bowness of Glenburn; son, David Wilcox and wife, Penny, of Glenburn; granddaughter, Robin White and husband, Wendell, of Hudson; grandson, Ronald Wilcox and wife, Angie, of Glenburn; and five great-grandchildren, Brett and Courtney White, Jacob Gagnon-Wilcox, Emden Wilcox and Collin Durgin. Pappy’s family wish to express their thanks to all of the staff at Hospice of Eastern Maine for their kindness and caring.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. June 12, with Pastor Stephen Hall officiating. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share in conversation and refreshments at West Glenburn Community Club, 5 Phillips Road, Glenburn, immediately after the committal. Those who wish to remember Pappy in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Hospice of Eastern Maine, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME, 04402-0931 or of Maine, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
Published in BDN Maine on June 10, 2013
Sources: Maine Vintage Race Car Association/Bangor Daily News