Driver, Organizer, Team Manager

Many historians consider the 1950s the Golden Age of Unlimited racing's piston era, and the Nevada cattle rancher was one of the decade’s greats. Piloting Bill Waggoner’s Maverick, Stead won nine races, including the 1959 Gold Cup, and the 1959 National Championship. He took the Gold Cup at record speed and set course records at six other venues. Only Chuck Thompson won more races (10) that decade and only Jack Regas had a better win rate (.450). In capturing nine of 30 starts, Stead’s .300 tied him with inductee Danny Foster. Following retirement from competition, Stead served in other capacities, helping bring Unlimited racing back to Lake Tahoe as chair of the 1962 Harrah's Tahoe Regatta and as team manager for Miss Reno (1961) and Tahoe Miss (1962). Stead also made a lasting mark in air racing when he created the Reno National Championship Air Races in 1964. He was killed during a practice run in his own racing plane. Stead was inducted into the Unlimited Hydroplane Hall of Fame in 1961.