ABOUT
(hometown: Nova Scotia) Nearly forty years ago, Bill Clarke began racing his streetcar in Drag City, Nova Scotia. Bill competed as time permitted, as he balanced his love for the sport with his role as the owner of Trans World Distributing Ltd. Over time, his family business, a local hardware retailer, grew to become the Maritime’s largest commercial supplier of industrial fasteners and hardware. Throughout this period, Bill kept a race car at the ready, to use whenever the opportunity arose. Moreover, he steadily increased his involvement as a sponsor/supporter of drag racing in the Maritimes.
By 2009, Bill was ready to make a comeback in the NHRA Super Gas and IHRA Super Rod Classes. He collected both an NHRA and an IHRA National event win, as well as numerous semi-final and runner-up finishes in NHRA & IHRA competition. Although Bill has since cut back on his personal drag racing schedule, he still maintains the skill to go rounds – most recently at the NHRA National Open in Miramichi, New Brunswick, in July 2019.
While Bill’s accomplishments as a driver are significant, his contributions to the sport, as a sponsor, has made a world of difference. Bill Clarke has, through Trans World Distributing, provided considerable financial support to local racers, organizations, and racing facilities over the last few decades. Local racers running under the Trans World banner include veterans Jim Morrison (Super Gas) and Bruce Riley (Super Stock), though many profit from his support. His company has also played a key role in the success of two thriving local racing series: the Atlantic Pro Tree Series and the Atlantic Canadian Stock/SuperStock Association. Bill and Trans World have been supportive of local dragstrips, donating both material and funding to maintain and improve their facilities, as well as sponsoring scoreboards and points series.
Bill Clarke’s generosity as a sponsor has been crucial in enabling the sport to thrive and prosper in Atlantic Canada over the past thirty years. Both his achievements and his kindness will go down in history of the sport of drag racing.
Competition Achievements:
National Event Winner, Super Gas Class, NHRA Amalie Oil Gatornationals, Gainesville, Florida, March 2015.
Semi Finalist, Super Gas Class, NHRA divisional Event, Orlando, Florida, March 2013.
National Event Winner, Hot Rod Class, IHRA Nitro Jam National Event, Palm Beach, Florida, March 2011.
Semi Finalist, Hot Rod Class, IHRA Divisional Event, Bradenton, Florida, February 2012.
Quarter Finalist, Super Rod Class, IHRA Divisional Event, Darlington, North Carolina, February 2013.
Semi Finalist, Super Rod Class, IHRA Divisional Event, Immokalee, Florida, March 2013.
Runner-Up, Super Rod Class, IHRA Divisional Event, Bradenton, Florida, February 2016.