[Stefano]

Dan Blocker was one of the "biggest" most recognized TV Stars of the Era.

To use him to help sell Chevys locally was a huge testament to the forward thinking and marketing suave of the Stephani's who owned and ran Nickey Chevrolet, until it was sold in 1973.

Chevrolet was a major sponsor of the Bonanza TV show.

The Story of how the relationship came to be was shared with me by Ronnie Kaplan, Crew Chief and Builder, for the Nickey Road Race cars.

I will take the opportunity to share the info as I recall that it was relayed to me. Ronnie has so many cool stories that I stopped taking notes and now just sit back and enjoy listening to them.

Just an aside, but if Ronnie is not testing a race car and his health permits, we all might be able to talk to him in person at the Spring Vette Fest at the Nickey display.

Nickey was running one of their road race cars at Laguna Secca/Monterey CA sometime in the early 1960s??. Ronnie and Jack Stephani were walking thru the lobby of the their Hotel, in downtown Monterey and Dan Blocker was spotted coming out of an elevator.

Jack turned to Ronnie and stated, "that's Dan Blocker. Do you know him?" Ronnie replied, "of course I do." Jack then stated, "then I want to meet him."

Well, Ronnie had seen Dan/Hoss around the pits before, as he was the owner of a Maserati race car and they had exchanged pleasant hellos and nods, only in passing.

But Ronnie and Jack walked confidently towards Dan and Ronnie held out his hand to greet Dan and said, "Mr. Blocker, I want you to meet Jack Stephani, owner of Nickey Chevrolet and the Nickey Racing Team".

Ronnie then slipped away, as soon as he could and Jack and Dan struck up a conversation which eventually ensued into long lasting friendship and business relationship.

There was a bigger than life head shot of "Hoss" on the back wall as you entered the Nickey show room and his picture was also used in some advertisements, from back in the day.

Dan Blocker was a school teacher from Carlsbad New Mexico, home town of Dick Harrell. I asked Ronnie who knew both men if Dick and Dan knew each other prior to the Nickey days?

Ronnie was confident that they had met during the Nickey relationship.