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05-20-2012, 07:37 AM | #1 |
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"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 |
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
... double post
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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.
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05-20-2012, 11:32 AM | #7 |
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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.
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Todd Hoven 1035 Stock |
05-20-2012, 11:36 AM | #8 |
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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
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05-20-2012, 01:15 PM | #9 |
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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.
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05-20-2012, 01:28 PM | #10 |
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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. |
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