Tim Beebe, Crew Chief

Tim got his first taste of racing as small child when his father, Merrill, took he and his brothers to the race track; however, Tim didn't become a full-time race car mechanic/crew chief/owner until he was in his early twenties. Tim campaigned a highly successful Top Fuel Dragster with his brothers and Lee Sixt, the highly successful "Beebe Brothers and Sixt" in the mid sixties. Tim went professional when he and John Mulligan created the now legendary "Beebe and Mulligan" AA/FD in 1967 and they joined early pioneers who were touring the United States.

The "Beebe and Mulligan" Top Fuel Dragster reached the height of fame when they beat Don Prudhomme in the Top Fuel Final at the 1969 NHRA Winternationals. Later that year, Tim and Johnny ran two-tenths of a second quicker than the rest of the field when they clocked an incredible 6:43 in the famous "green car" at the NHRA Nationals in Indy. Sadly, Johnny lost his life in a fiery crash during the first round of eliminations. Tim won the 1969 and 1970 Car Craft Magazine Top Fuel Dragster Crew Chief of the Year awards.

The following year Tim and brother Dave built the "Beebe Brothers" AA/FC and spent the entire season racing locally in Southern California. They set a new NHRA Elapsed Time record in 1970 at the last points race at Orange County International Raceway, thereby securing a much coveted invitation to the 1970 World Finals.

In 1971 Tim built the "Fighting Irish" Funny Car, hired Dick Rosberg to pilot it and once again became a touring professional. In 1973 Tim teamed up with Jim Murphy to run a rear engine Top Fuel dragster until 1974 when he moved to Porterville, California, and opened his own transmission shop, B & B Transmission. He was retired from racing until rejoining Murphy and the WW 2 Racing crew in 2001.

Ron Rapadas

Ron's racing goes all the back to the 1960s as he was involved in Top Fuel racing during the earliest fazes. Ron's various fuel dragsters had many of the top drivers as their pilots, Larry Leventon, Bill Alexander, and the late Gary Ormsby are some of the better known. Ron retired from racing in the late 60s to raise a family and continue as parts manager for a local new car dealership. Ron's return to racing came in 1988 when the WW two race team was formed. Ron continues in the parts business and one of his responsibilities are the assembly of all new engines and is one of the best in the business. Without Ron staying on with the team and wanting to continue racing I would not have bought the operation from Cheri after Jim Herbert passed away last year. Ron is my right hand at the races when it comes to making decisions how we want to run the car and is a wealth of information as well as a good friend.

 

David Thornhill

David joined the team in late 1996. He has been actively racing since an early age as he assisted his father with the operation of a pro gas car since the 1980s. David is an accomplished chassis builder and fabricator having worked at Alston Chassisworks along with many other fabrication outlets including Thornhill Engineering, his current establishment. David's welding and fabrication skills have made him invaluable to the WW2 team, as well as the assistance he gives to the maintenance program and being responsible for the cylinder heads and the bottom end. The new 2009 WW2 top fuel car was built by Dave.

 

Michael Beebe

Born: 3/4/1974
Residence: Porterville, CA
Occupation: Educator
Duties: Clutch
Family: Wife - Melody, Sons - Aedan-Merrill and Saint Maximillian
Favorite Tracks: Pomona, Bakersfield, Route 66 Chicago
Favorite Music: Jazz and Louise Armstrong
Favorite Music Group: Iron Maiden
Favorite Food: Cajun and Creole
Hobbies: Designing, computers, and competing in triathlons

Michael is the son of tuner Tim Beebe and joined the WW2 race team during the 2006 season and has the responsibility of the clutch.
Playing and coaching football collegiately until 2006, Michael was a starting offensive lineman and an offensive line coach at Valparaiso University, in Chicago, and Western Michigan. During those years he was part of two championships, two top national NCAA rankings, and the best school turnaround in NCAA history. He also has participated in various college and pro football camps as an assistant coach.
Michael completed his bachelor's and master's degrees with a focus on English, education, and psychology in December of 2002. He is currently working on his dissertation and completing his doctorate degree in leadership.

 

Daniel Wilkison

Born: 5/5/1952
Residence: Cloverdale, CA
Occupation: Owner WEE Manufacture of Special Purpose Products
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Track: Famosa, CA
Duties: Assistant, to the assistant Crew Chief
Hobbies: Golf
Attended 1St Drag Race: 1966, Half Moon Bay, CA

Daniel re-joined Jim in 2007 in the WW II effort after some years away from drag racing. He had toured with Jim's '72 and '73 Holy Smokes funny cars. Then in the late 70's, he campaigned his own twin-turbo pro comp car, which Jim drove to top speed of 232 MPH, 25 MPH over the national record in 1978. Daniel brings to the WW II team years of racing experience as an innovator and skilled craftsman, with an emphasis on research and development.

Mark Keiser

Born 04/17/66
Residence- Santa Rosa
Duties-rt side head, and blower
Favorite track- Pomona
Racing series-Heritage series NHRA
Family-son Shawn daughter Rochelle
Hobbies-Drag racing top fuel,sprint cars,drag boats,go carts,dirt modifieds,riding motorcycles
Music-classical rock
Favorite food- pizza,a good steak
Occupation-General contractor

 

I grew up in Santa Rosa CA. My dad took me to the drag races when I was still an infant,and I have been hooked on top fuel ever since.Its always been a dream to drive a top fuel car.I went to Frank Hawleys drag racing school and got my super comp licence. Also went to Jimmy Sills sprint car school. But my real passion is drag racing.

Daniel Beebe

Born: 6/13/1974
Residence: Porterville, CA
Occupation: Build engines for wind machines
Duties: Bottom end, Oil
Family: Wife - Ish, Sons - Kasey 11, Zach 3, Daughters - Stephanie 9, Lisa 6
Favorite Tracks: Famoso and Pomona
Favorite Music: 80's
Favorite Food: Home made Tacos, Pork Steaks
Hobbies: Fabricating Race cars, Racing, Spending time with the family

 

 

Dan, nephew to Tim and son of Dave from the famed Beebe Bros got his first taste of drag racing at the young age of 9 when his brother Dennis got the Beebe family back into Drag Racing. Always wanting to drive, Dan got his chance to drive their Front Engine dragster at the age of 18 when he went out and won his first ever race in the dragster in the Super Pro class at Famoso Raceway in 1992. Dan is a 5 time Track Champion who has won numerous Divisional bracket events as well as high dollar bracket races. In 2006, Dan won the Division 7 Super Pro title which earned him the right to race for the World Championships in Pomona where he finished 3rd. In 2007 Dan used his fabrication ability to build a brand new dragster which he continues to race in the Summit Series today. This is Dan's first tour of duty with the WW2 Top Fuel Dragster. His duties on the team include the bottom end, putting oil in the car and logging tire & track temperature for the car on each run.

Matt Zurschmiede

Born: 5-26-64 Torrance, Ca
Current Residence: Santa Rosa, Ca
Employer: Garton Tractor
Occupation: Field Service Tech
Family: Wife Reece and stepson Nick
Favorite Food: Lobster and Steak
Music: Depends On The Situation
Live By Motto: Work Hard Play Hard!
Hobbies: Work, Racing, Golf, Running and Mt. Biking
Duties: Right Side Head and Tires

 

This is my first year with WW2 Racing; my previous race experience includes being a crewmember on a dirt modified in upstate New York and the same on an pavement modified in Northern California. I consider myself an avid motorsports fan and follow the Nascar Sprint Cup very close. Go Newman #39! Over the years I have attended numerous races of all types. I would like to thank Jim Murphy for this great challenge.