"Big Willie" Robinson passes away

GTX JOHN · 05-20-2012, 07:37 AM

With a heavy heart I need to tell everyone that my Friend/Hero/Mentor: "Big Willie" Robinson has passed away.
He has been in bad health this year and struggling with complications from Diabetes.

Many of you know him as the President of The Los Angeles Street Racers and
I have had, as Vice President and a Southern California Organizer of the club, the great pleasure of his company
since 1964 or 1965...........Truly an era (at least in our automotive history in LA ) has passed!

He kept many of us off the street though starting the Brotherhood Raceway Track in the Los Angeles Harbor area.
Although Willie loved Drag Racing, he often told me that in many ways the racing was just..... a "Gimmick" in his perspective.
If you looked at our colors, you would see a patch on the right sleeve that has an American Flag and the inscription
"New Breed of Brotherhood" above it. Willie saw the racing as a "Gimmick" to bring a diverse group of different
ethnic groups together to interact as friends. Fifty years ago that was often a very difficult task, particularly around
Los Angeles in that turbulent time around the Watts Riots in LA.

In his native Louisiana he was the in the first group of Black Students to
integrate a prominent University in the early 60's.... his prized Oldsmobile was torched to the ground
and thereafter he was run of campus. However, he never held a grudge or
blamed any of us in other ethnic groups as individuals despite his dreams all being shattered.
The keys on my Computer are getting too wet for me to write any more right now.

"GTX John" Irving
Vice President
LA Street Racers

Charlie A · 05-20-2012, 08:36 AM

Matthew 5:9 King James Version

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

R.I.P.

Jim Wahl · 05-20-2012, 08:38 AM

When I became President of the Orlando Street Racers Assn. way back in the early seventies I got a letter (no email back then) from Willie congratulating me and stating full support of the club and offering assistance if needed. I wish I knew where that letter was now. He was a great guy, I also wish I had kept in touch. God's Speed Big Wille, you will be missed. Jim

.

Andys dad · 05-20-2012, 08:39 AM

... double post

Andys dad · 05-20-2012, 08:45 AM

RIP - Big Dog

I raced my "FrinedZ Camaro against his Superbird on Victory blvd late one Saturday night in 1970

I think this per-dated the "Brotherhood"

Ron

chris3racing · 05-20-2012, 10:55 AM

Big Willie was "the man" in the muscle car days of street racing all over the country. Many who street raced, even on the east coast, knew of Big Willie and his brotherhood even with out the internet. Big Willie was in many of the car magazine and even a movie that I vaguely remember today. With the COPO camaros, Hemi cudas and Boss 429 mustangs street racing back then was a big deal. The cars would all hang out at the local drive-in resturants, cruise the streets and about 11:00 it was "Show Time." There was a "Speed Shop" in almost every town and Big Willie brought about organization to the Friday and Saturday night events. RIP Big Willie.

Todd Hoven · 05-20-2012, 11:32 AM

God Speed, to a difference maker, and a uniter. I also read that he was a US Army Vietnam Vet. I have a magazine with him in a Keystone Wheels ad with some of the LA street race guys and his Superbird.

cicero819 · 05-20-2012, 11:36 AM

Rest in Peace Big Willie, as a young man in the 60's reading Hot Rod Mag. I saw no color barriers, just another racer. CR

RANDY PAYNE · 05-20-2012, 01:15 PM

When Hubert Platt and i had THE FORD DRAG TEAM in 1969,we were priveledged to work with this gentleman to try and get racing off the streets.What a great person.A REAL PERSON.Not many real people left. 'MR. BIGGG STUFF' god's speed my friend.

Myron Piatek · 05-20-2012, 01:28 PM

I remember articles and ads with him and his Daytona in several car magazines when I was young.

A little YouTube clip about his "mission":

....and a show interview that the above clip came from!

RIP

05-20-2012, 07:37 AM	#1
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,545 Likes: 2,242 Liked 1,886 Times in 580 Posts	"Big Willie" Robinson passes away With a heavy heart I need to tell everyone that my Friend/Hero/Mentor: "Big Willie" Robinson has passed away. He has been in bad health this year and struggling with complications from Diabetes. Many of you know him as the President of The Los Angeles Street Racers and I have had, as Vice President and a Southern California Organizer of the club, the great pleasure of his company since 1964 or 1965...........Truly an era (at least in our automotive history in LA ) has passed! He kept many of us off the street though starting the Brotherhood Raceway Track in the Los Angeles Harbor area. Although Willie loved Drag Racing, he often told me that in many ways the racing was just..... a "Gimmick" in his perspective. If you looked at our colors, you would see a patch on the right sleeve that has an American Flag and the inscription "New Breed of Brotherhood" above it. Willie saw the racing as a "Gimmick" to bring a diverse group of different ethnic groups together to interact as friends. Fifty years ago that was often a very difficult task, particularly around Los Angeles in that turbulent time around the Watts Riots in LA. In his native Louisiana he was the in the first group of Black Students to integrate a prominent University in the early 60's.... his prized Oldsmobile was torched to the ground and thereafter he was run of campus. However, he never held a grudge or blamed any of us in other ethnic groups as individuals despite his dreams all being shattered. The keys on my Computer are getting too wet for me to write any more right now. "GTX John" Irving Vice President LA Street Racers Last edited by GTX JOHN; 05-20-2012 at 08:00 AM.

05-20-2012, 08:36 AM	#2
Charlie A VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 2,483 Likes: 68 Liked 87 Times in 63 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Matthew 5:9 King James Version Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. R.I.P.

05-20-2012, 08:38 AM	#3
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,842 Likes: 630 Liked 674 Times in 122 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away When I became President of the Orlando Street Racers Assn. way back in the early seventies I got a letter (no email back then) from Willie congratulating me and stating full support of the club and offering assistance if needed. I wish I knew where that letter was now. He was a great guy, I also wish I had kept in touch. God's Speed Big Wille, you will be missed. Jim . __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

05-20-2012, 08:39 AM	#4
Andys dad VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, Ca Posts: 1,571 Likes: 48 Liked 175 Times in 78 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away ... double post __________________ time is our most precious resource, you can always make more money but you can never make more time spend your time wisely with the ones you love - Ron Durham Last edited by Andys dad; 05-20-2012 at 08:46 AM.

05-20-2012, 08:45 AM	#5
Andys dad VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, Ca Posts: 1,571 Likes: 48 Liked 175 Times in 78 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away RIP - Big Dog I raced my "FrinedZ Camaro against his Superbird on Victory blvd late one Saturday night in 1970 I think this per-dated the "Brotherhood" Ron __________________ time is our most precious resource, you can always make more money but you can never make more time spend your time wisely with the ones you love - Ron Durham

05-20-2012, 10:55 AM	#6
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Big Willie was "the man" in the muscle car days of street racing all over the country. Many who street raced, even on the east coast, knew of Big Willie and his brotherhood even with out the internet. Big Willie was in many of the car magazine and even a movie that I vaguely remember today. With the COPO camaros, Hemi cudas and Boss 429 mustangs street racing back then was a big deal. The cars would all hang out at the local drive-in resturants, cruise the streets and about 11:00 it was "Show Time." There was a "Speed Shop" in almost every town and Big Willie brought about organization to the Friday and Saturday night events. RIP Big Willie.

05-20-2012, 11:32 AM	#7
Todd Hoven VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,330 Likes: 884 Liked 720 Times in 151 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away God Speed, to a difference maker, and a uniter. I also read that he was a US Army Vietnam Vet. I have a magazine with him in a Keystone Wheels ad with some of the LA street race guys and his Superbird. __________________ Todd Hoven 1035 Stock

05-20-2012, 11:36 AM	#8
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 68 Times in 29 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Rest in Peace Big Willie, as a young man in the 60's reading Hot Rod Mag. I saw no color barriers, just another racer. CR

05-20-2012, 01:15 PM	#9
RANDY PAYNE Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ROME,GA. Posts: 197 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away When Hubert Platt and i had THE FORD DRAG TEAM in 1969,we were priveledged to work with this gentleman to try and get racing off the streets.What a great person.A REAL PERSON.Not many real people left. 'MR. BIGGG STUFF' god's speed my friend. __________________ Randy Payne 2837 STK, SS

05-20-2012, 01:28 PM	#10
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,539 Likes: 34 Liked 135 Times in 49 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away I remember articles and ads with him and his Daytona in several car magazines when I was young. A little YouTube clip about his "mission": ....and a show interview that the above clip came from! RIP Last edited by Myron Piatek; 05-20-2012 at 01:36 PM.