"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

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.

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


.

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

... double post

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMA76qbrrL8

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbYgb...feature=fvwrel

RIP

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

Thanks for the youtube urls!

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

RIP Big Willie. :(

http://cdn102.iofferphoto.com/img/10.../2844217/1.jpg

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.

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.

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

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

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/u...igWillie-1.jpg

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

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

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/...e33493da40.jpg

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..

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.

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.

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. :(

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

Another Brotherhood Flyer...

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/51...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

GTX John, here's a better photo of that ad...maybe you can explain a little more about the days events leading up to this photo, or where was it taken etc...it sounds like he was a hell of a guy.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3.../bigwillie.jpg

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

The photo shoot was done on a Monday Night which was about the only day
we were not Street Racing someplace. Willie called me to bring few other racers
to come out for the shot which was just staged for that purpose at a all night
Gas Station in South Central Los Angeles......... This was a pretty tough place in
those days and still no Garden Party today!

I rounded up with some of my buddies on very short notice. Several of them were so darn high on Pot at the time,
they could barely stand up ( Not uncommon in those days ). To my left hand (Leaning on roof) was Rapid Richard "Critter"
Ritter: a Sgt. at Arms in the Club. He had a 68 Roadrunner with a Cross Ram Race Hemi built at Keith Black in South Gate
He ran Mid 10 @130 Plus on 10 Inch tires at 4000 lbs (He was close to 300lbs himself on the Hoof) in late 60's. I made a bucket of
money and helped pay my College Tuition betting on his car against the horde of Rat Motored Camaros that infested LA
back in those days.

The Jimmy Hendrick looking guy on my far right was Stan "The Egg Man Ubanski an
Organizer in the club and one my buddys who work one my
race car sometimes. The guy next to him "Little Paul" happened to be
with Stan and I believe Stan had one hand on the middle of his back
to hold him upright for the shot!

When we arrived and started to set up the shot, Willie exclaimed " We
need some Black Faces in the shot". Willie called around South
Central and found a couple of officers from the Club and had them
rush out to the Gas Station for the Picture. I think they were darn embarrassed
to be seen with a bunch of bushy headed stoned white boys that were obviously
not from their neighborhood!

Fast and Funny Times !!!!!!!!

GTX John

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

big willie was the man. when i was a kid in high school. read about him in just about all the hot rod books back then.he kept some guys and gals off of drugs through his programs.from what i have read about him he was a great man and from new orleans at that.RIP BIG MAN!!!!

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

I have not had much contact with him in several years, but he will be missed. He broke me into the Los Angeles street race scene some 25 years ago and created a place that made a difference in Terminal Island. If it was not 102 degrees I would put the jacket he gave me in 1990 on.

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

I had the opportunity to meet Big Willie years ago, before the days at Terminal Island. I was being mentored by Bill Kuhn (Mr. Wedge) and Marv Miller. Sure had allot of fun and made some serious money with Bill's 55 Chevy with the set-back 409 motor and Marv's NOS system. My job was to run around and see what everyone had and report back. Willie always treated everyone with respect and truly cared about them. Willie, you will be missed!

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

Eddie: Is Marv Miller still around? He was quite a character back at
in those days. He was quite a sharp and fast guy!
I am almost afraid to ask about anyone anymore for fear that the
report will not be Good News.

Thanks,
GTX JOHN

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

I will contact Sgt. Bill Chaffin (SS/BX) who was instrumental in Willie's Care the last two years. Hopefully there will be a Memorial Service for him in
So. Cal. area. I am sure there are more of us than just I, that would like
to pay a final tribute and share a few old stories.

I will post as soon as I hear anything.





Son of David have mercy on your servant's soul.

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

I haven't seen Marv in along time, the last I heard from Bill Kuhn he had mentioned that once Marv sold the NOS business he was high rolling in Vegas and ended up getting by-pass surgery (bad food). Marv was a wild man and would race anything, Bill was the calm/cool type and the mechanic. With that ole 55 it was like "Two Lane Blacktop". It was all a great experience! When I go to Kingman I drop in on Bill and Mary to check on them, Bill always treated me good.

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

Eddie, I didn't know that you knew all these guys. I never personally met either Marv or Ak Miller,but I worked with a Glenn Miller who retired from this job a couple years ago, and found out that he was their nephew. He said that Marv used 409's as test motors for his nitrous oxide set ups in the '70's when he got going on that. Ak Miller, well, what is there not to say? He developed systems for four cylinders and other engines using propane, other alternative fuels, and both those Millers were quite the tinkerers and innovators. I was introduced to Willie at his track the first time we went there.I had to really admire him for what he was trying to do, bring people together using drag racing as a catalyst. He did far more for race relations wherever he went than all the social programs, the jessies, the sharptons, etc. and had far more success as a human being than anyone else out there. The world sure needs far more persons like him.He was a real cultural icon if there ever was one. Come on up to Irwindale if you get time,Eddie!!

Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away
 

Greg, it was Bill's 409 in that 55 that was being experimented on. I used to hang out at Marv's shop on Greenleaf in Whitter. They also made conversion kits for sbc into XKE's because the 6 cylinders in the XKE's were junk and expensive.
Big Willie made me small, I don't have to stare up to many people but he was one of them.