Congressman Bill Posey Drives Classic 1966 Chevelle Malibu in ‘Great Race’, Features Stops in 17 Cities

Annual Cross Country Automobile Race Tests Endurance and Abilities

U.S. Congressman fuels up his classic 1966 Chevelle Malibu for the 2023 Great Race. The race covers nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days. Posey wrote a fascinating account of his participation in the race: CLICK HERE for the Congressman’s personal account of the race.

U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, with his wife, Katie, as his navigator, drove his 1966 Chevelle Malibu through nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days, in the 2023 Great Race. Posey, at one time, was part owner of the Eau Gallie Speedway, and was a successful stock car driver, having won over 100 races in his career.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – As some of you may know, U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, at one time, was part owner of the Eau Gallie Speedway. He was a successful stock car driver, having won over 100 races in his career.

In 2023, Posey had the opportunity to do something that most people do not; he drove in The Great Race. His congressional duties prohibited from running in the race in years past, but in 2023, his calendar aligned properly, and Posey was “off to the races!”

Posey, with his wife, Katie, as his navigator, drove his 1966 Chevelle Malibu through nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days.

Posey wrote a fascinating account of his participation in the race: CLICK HERE for the Congressman’s personal account of the race.

U.S. Congressman Bill Posey (3rd from left) pictured with his wife, Katie Posey (far left), his grandson, Billy Carson (2nd from left) and Billy’s wife, Sarah Grace (far right). Congressman Posey, with his wife, Katie, as his navigator, drove his 1966 Chevelle Malibu through nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days, in the 2023 Great Race.

The Great Race website, with excerpts below, best describes what the race is and how it works.

What is the Great Race?

The Great Race is an antique, vintage, and collector car competitive controlled-speed endurance road rally on public highways. It is not a test of top speed. It is a test of a driver/navigator teams’ ability to follow precise course instructions and the cars (and teams) ability to endure on a cross-country trip. The course instructions require the competing teams to drive at or below the posted speed limits at all times.

Large crowds greeted race participants at each stop of the Great Race, which covered nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days. U.S. Congressman Posey, with his wife, Katie, as his navigator, drove his 1966 Chevelle Malibu in the race. (Image Great Race photographer)

How does the Great Race work?

Each day the driver and navigator team receive a set of course instructions that indicate every turn, speed change, stop, and start that the team must make throughout the day (usually 220 to 250 such instructions per day). Along the course route there will be from 4 to 7 checkpoints recording the exact time that the team passes that point.

The objective is to arrive at each checkpoint at the correct time, not the fastest. The score for each team is the result of the team’s ability to follow the designated course instructions precisely. Every second off the perfect time (early or late) at each checkpoint is a penalty point.

This format is much more mentally demanding than a flat-out cross-country race. Also, GPS or computers are not permitted, and odometers are taped over. This is a test of human mental agility and endurance as well as classic car endurance, rather than programming capability.

The course avoids timed segments on interstate highways, opting instead for scenic local, county, and state highways whenever possible through some of the prettiest country in the United States.

Congressman Bill Posey (center) pictured with his wife, Katie Posey (left) and family friend, Martha Hill, in Little Rock, AR. Posey, with his wife, Katie, as his navigator, drove his 1966 Chevelle Malibu through nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days, in the 2023 Great Race.

U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, crossing the finish line after driving his 1966 Chevelle Malibu through nine states, with stops in 17 cities over nine days, in the 2023 Great Race. (Image: Great Race photographer)

Posey wrote a fascinating account of his participation in the race: CLICK HERE for the Congressman’s personal account of the race.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson moved to Brevard County in 1984 and has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports and the space industry, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

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