"Big Willie" Robinson passes away - Page 2

Run to Rund · 05-20-2012, 01:46 PM

Thanks for the youtube urls!

Hemi Moose · 05-20-2012, 02:30 PM

RIP Big Willie.

Larry Fulton · 05-20-2012, 02:59 PM

watched 'em run at Terminal Island once as a kid...

Neat article here on Willie...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...52/1/index.htm

R.I.P. Big Man

btw - Love that ad also.

jmcarter · 05-20-2012, 03:11 PM

Remember when he came to 411 Dragway in East TN many years ago, he made quite an impression. The place was packed to see him and his Daytona. God Speed Willie and thanks for your contribution to society beyond what the casual observer might ever realize.

Hemi Moose · 05-20-2012, 03:30 PM

Anyone else here have any good stories from 'Terminal Island' from back then...

Hemi Moose · 05-20-2012, 03:35 PM

It seems Big Willie even got into the Hollywood scene back then too...

7423 · 05-20-2012, 03:42 PM

Without a doubt, the most fun and greatest memories of drag racing in my lifetime took place on Terminal Island at Brotherhood Raceway Park. Rival gangs from the city of Los Angeles would gather and race there every weekend. No fighting, no gang warfare, no prejudice, not even a harsh word was ever spoken. Hundreds of people from many different walks of life all left their differences outside the gate. Willie and Tomiko created an atmosphere where all got along and had a great time drag racing. It was a sad day in LA when it closed for the last time. Willie will be deeply missed. I only hope that maybe someday, someone will operate a drag strip in the SoCal area the way he did. The man knew how to show a good time to his customers and treated all of them like gold, no matter what color they were..

Greg Reimer 7376 · 05-20-2012, 06:29 PM

I raced my Chevelle down there one time in about 1995 or so. We had no MPH lights that night, but it ran the tach almost all the way out, and the engine didn't nose over as soon,so I was really curious as to what the actual trap speed was. I think it cost $5.00 to get in,including the tech card. It was quite a fun night with a big group of really nice people. I ran one of my 409's there about ten years earlier. He and the Brotherhood loved it. That's a sad loss to drag racing history and the So Cal car scene.

GTX JOHN · 05-20-2012, 06:30 PM

Hemi Moose: The Bearded very white white young guy in middle of picture in white shirt would be me.

Willie did not much care for the Wheels that they gave him for this ad. The next week after ad was finished, he put the car up on jacks and sold them and put his old wheels back on. Back in those days, Willie was give way more products than he possibly could use on his race cars and the manufacturers knew that he sold a lot of the extra stuff (Often to me) to finance the Clubs operations.

bigshow2966 · 05-20-2012, 09:01 PM

I first read about Willie in the car rags when I was in high school back in the '70's. Got to meet him in Vegas at MATS a few years ago. Man still wore his service uniform proudly and was incredibly passionate about his beliefs.

Godspeed Willie.

05-20-2012, 01:46 PM	#11
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 574 Likes: 6 Liked 44 Times in 22 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Thanks for the youtube urls!

05-20-2012, 02:30 PM	#12
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away RIP Big Willie.

05-20-2012, 02:59 PM	#13
Larry Fulton Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 270 Likes: 49 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away watched 'em run at Terminal Island once as a kid... Neat article here on Willie... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...52/1/index.htm R.I.P. Big Man btw - Love that ad also. __________________ Larry Fulton

05-20-2012, 03:11 PM	#14
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,155 Likes: 2,040 Liked 2,806 Times in 876 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Remember when he came to 411 Dragway in East TN many years ago, he made quite an impression. The place was packed to see him and his Daytona. God Speed Willie and thanks for your contribution to society beyond what the casual observer might ever realize. __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock

05-20-2012, 03:30 PM	#15
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Anyone else here have any good stories from 'Terminal Island' from back then...

05-20-2012, 03:35 PM	#16
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away It seems Big Willie even got into the Hollywood scene back then too...

05-20-2012, 03:42 PM	#17
7423 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 640 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Without a doubt, the most fun and greatest memories of drag racing in my lifetime took place on Terminal Island at Brotherhood Raceway Park. Rival gangs from the city of Los Angeles would gather and race there every weekend. No fighting, no gang warfare, no prejudice, not even a harsh word was ever spoken. Hundreds of people from many different walks of life all left their differences outside the gate. Willie and Tomiko created an atmosphere where all got along and had a great time drag racing. It was a sad day in LA when it closed for the last time. Willie will be deeply missed. I only hope that maybe someday, someone will operate a drag strip in the SoCal area the way he did. The man knew how to show a good time to his customers and treated all of them like gold, no matter what color they were..

05-20-2012, 06:29 PM	#18
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,116 Likes: 166 Liked 655 Times in 209 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away I raced my Chevelle down there one time in about 1995 or so. We had no MPH lights that night, but it ran the tach almost all the way out, and the engine didn't nose over as soon,so I was really curious as to what the actual trap speed was. I think it cost $5.00 to get in,including the tech card. It was quite a fun night with a big group of really nice people. I ran one of my 409's there about ten years earlier. He and the Brotherhood loved it. That's a sad loss to drag racing history and the So Cal car scene.

05-20-2012, 06:30 PM	#19
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,550 Likes: 2,249 Liked 1,923 Times in 585 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Hemi Moose: The Bearded very white white young guy in middle of picture in white shirt would be me. Willie did not much care for the Wheels that they gave him for this ad. The next week after ad was finished, he put the car up on jacks and sold them and put his old wheels back on. Back in those days, Willie was give way more products than he possibly could use on his race cars and the manufacturers knew that he sold a lot of the extra stuff (Often to me) to finance the Clubs operations. Last edited by GTX JOHN; 05-20-2012 at 06:36 PM.

05-20-2012, 09:01 PM	#20
bigshow2966 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 617 Likes: 416 Liked 83 Times in 36 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away I first read about Willie in the car rags when I was in high school back in the '70's. Got to meet him in Vegas at MATS a few years ago. Man still wore his service uniform proudly and was incredibly passionate about his beliefs. Godspeed Willie.