Bill Frederick | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Fredrick Australia |
| Occupation | engineer |
William L. "Bill" Frederick was an Australian-American engineer.
As a part of his full time job, Frederick was an engineer of various stunt work devices, such as pulley and propelling mechanisms for people and vehicles. Through his work he would make connections with various stunt performers, including Kitty O'Neil and longtime collaborator Hal Needham. He and Needham would later win a Scientific and Engineering Award in 1986 for their design of the Shotmaker Elite camera car and crane, which is still used in the modern era.
Frederick was a record holder in various land speed records, and an active competitor in achieving the FIA-certified land speed world record. Various records held by Frederick include: the fastest vehicle in a quarter mile distance with the Courage Australia; the land speed world record held by a female with the SMI Motivator, piloted by O'Neil; and an unofficial land speed world record with the Budweiser Rocket. Although highly debated to this day, the Budweiser Rocket can unofficially be considered the first car to break the sound barrier, another highly contested feat in the industry. The Budweiser Rocket was displayed at the Smithsonian Institution and is currently in the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.