Posted By: Phil Salvatti
Hot Rod Pioneer Bill Burke passed away on Thanksgiving day as confirmed by his son Steve. 
A sad day for Hot Rodders’ world wide who share a passion for history and the pioneers who helped form the legacy of the SCTA, Hot Rod Magazine, Street Rodder Magazine and The Road Runners lakes club, so long ago. 
Burke was originally and famously known as the father of the ‘Belly Tank’ lakester setting many records both at The Bonneville Salt Flats and at the El Mirage dry lakes in California. 
Burke was also innovative in Fiberglass
construction and innovative designs. In partnership with Micky Thompson, he built the first fiberglass sports car. As an avid backyard builder his home was truly his canvas, even infamously building one of his famous Streamliner bodies in the back den of his San Gabriel California home in the early 1960’s. In order to get the car out, he had to remove most of the dens wall and became a local media event. Today a sliding glass door serves as a reminder. (it has been reported Henry Ford did the same thing getting the Quadricycle out of his shop as well).
Burke initially was instrumental in building “Gow “Jobs, “Hop Ups”-(a 32 Roadster before his Naval Stint), (two) production bodied -1962-63 Studebaker Avanti’s. A 1967 Nicky Chevrolet-Bill Thomas Camaro, a 1968 Corvette Roadster & his son Steve’s Chopped RX-7.
Lakesters included- (Multiple Belly Tanks) and Streamliners- (The’Pumkin Seed’ and ‘Botany 500’).
He was passionate back then of attaining the multi-generational 200 MPH Burke Club membership.
Among all of this, he was also a charter member of the Road Runners Car Club-SCTA.
It was a sight if you were a San Gabriel resident seeing all the different kinds of cars that once set records on the street in front of his house.
Burke also was also known as Hot Rod Magazine’s original MADMAN and later did the same over at Mc Mullen Publishing in the 70’s until his retirement. But the real question is, does a Hot Rodder ever retire? I think not, but time retires the Hot Rodder.
There is so much more to the Burke story that in time will all be told.
Godspeed Mr. Burke.
