Growing up Fast, Driving Fast Cars and Being the Son of a Maybelline Heir in the 1970's, Was Quite the Hayday!

My sister Donna with Preston  in 1977

1966, my brother Preston turned 16. He lived with our dad, Bill Williams, at his estate in Palm Springs. Our dad, owned many exotic cars.  Any kid would be tempted to sneak the keys, invite a friend and take a spin through the winding streets of  Old Los Palmas. Since our handsome, man about town, dad, spent plenty of time, "doing his own thing," so to speak, my brother was hard pressed to keep his hands of daddy's cars.  Here is one of my favorite stories, written by Preston.

Dads 1971 Jag XKE V12, was quite fast.  I remember doing one of those joy rides, unbeknownst to Dad, who was at the condo in Newport Beach.  Tom and I had just driven out of the gates of Casa de Guillermo, turned right on to Patencio Road and then pulled onto the dirt shoulder side of the road, to test it's pony's.  I threw it into low drive and punched it!  It starting spinning it's wheels throwing dirt and all of a sudden grabbed a rock or something and jerked to the left.  The car did a complete 360 circle.  The long front end swung around like the hand of a clock and we both saw the wall next to us coming closer and closer as the front end swung around. Thank God the car missed it by the hair of my chiney chin chin, but needless to say that pretty much ended our fun for the day, as we both we freaked out after that!  But, tomorrow would come and I am sure we got into something else because I knew where the keys to all the cars were so, when dad left.....it was always an adventure! 
Written by William Preston Williams lll
Read more about Preston and his adventures in The Maybelline Story