Drag Racing has lost another legend

chris3racing · 11-21-2008, 09:51 AM

A very dear friend and fellow drag racer, Mr. Billy "West" passed away last evening. Billy West was a legend in drag racing particularly in North Carolina. Billy West was an East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Inductee and a racer well known in the MOPAR world.

There are so many memories of Billy racing in the Carolinas over the early years. For folks who don't know I was one of those drag racer who thought you could out run a mopar with a chevy, back in the 60's and 70's. I had been away from drag racing for over 30 years until last year my son, at Mopar Speed Shop, got us back in to racing with a Plymouth Duster. We were at the Rockingham Mopar Show and I was doing a little tune-up. Several people were standing around and I heard this voice say "Look under that Mopar hat, It took you 40 years to learn" and I looked up over the hood to see Billy West with his usual smile on his face. And yes he was pullin a little red wagon with a Chrysler 4 speed in it.

When Larry Davis published his book Super Stock Racing the Family Sedan, there is a small black and white photo in the very first pages of the book. I asked Billy one time, at the Reunion in Henderson, to sign a picture in my copy of the book. He turned back the pages to that little photo of Billy West and Melvin Yow at Easy Street Drag Strip. Billy says "can I sign this one." Those early days of racing and friendships meant the world to him.

God Bless You Billy West

Marc Kinton · 11-21-2008, 10:03 AM

Wow....very sad news indeed. Godspeed Billy; one of my heroes

danny waters sr · 11-21-2008, 12:12 PM

God speed, billy. I growed up watching billy at kinston drag strip. As i got older i even had the privalige to race against him in a few bracket races,while he was driving his red road runner.if i am not mistaken ,he built on to his shop and enclosed that very car and no way to get it out other than tearing a shop wall out .lots of memories visiting him at his shop. Lots of history in and behind that ole shop behind his mom and dad's house.rest in peace billy ,you will be missed.

11-21-2008, 09:51 AM	#1
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Drag Racing has lost another legend A very dear friend and fellow drag racer, Mr. Billy "West" passed away last evening. Billy West was a legend in drag racing particularly in North Carolina. Billy West was an East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Inductee and a racer well known in the MOPAR world. There are so many memories of Billy racing in the Carolinas over the early years. For folks who don't know I was one of those drag racer who thought you could out run a mopar with a chevy, back in the 60's and 70's. I had been away from drag racing for over 30 years until last year my son, at Mopar Speed Shop, got us back in to racing with a Plymouth Duster. We were at the Rockingham Mopar Show and I was doing a little tune-up. Several people were standing around and I heard this voice say "Look under that Mopar hat, It took you 40 years to learn" and I looked up over the hood to see Billy West with his usual smile on his face. And yes he was pullin a little red wagon with a Chrysler 4 speed in it. When Larry Davis published his book Super Stock Racing the Family Sedan, there is a small black and white photo in the very first pages of the book. I asked Billy one time, at the Reunion in Henderson, to sign a picture in my copy of the book. He turned back the pages to that little photo of Billy West and Melvin Yow at Easy Street Drag Strip. Billy says "can I sign this one." Those early days of racing and friendships meant the world to him. God Bless You Billy West

11-21-2008, 10:03 AM	#2
Marc Kinton Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Youngsville, NC Posts: 326 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Drag Racing has lost another legend Wow....very sad news indeed. Godspeed Billy; one of my heroes

11-21-2008, 12:12 PM	#3
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Drag Racing has lost another legend God speed, billy. I growed up watching billy at kinston drag strip. As i got older i even had the privalige to race against him in a few bracket races,while he was driving his red road runner.if i am not mistaken ,he built on to his shop and enclosed that very car and no way to get it out other than tearing a shop wall out .lots of memories visiting him at his shop. Lots of history in and behind that ole shop behind his mom and dad's house.rest in peace billy ,you will be missed. __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"