"Big Willie" Robinson passes away

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.

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.

Hemi Moose · 05-21-2012, 12:20 AM

Another Brotherhood Flyer...

Hemi Moose · 05-21-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

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.

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.

GTX JOHN · 05-21-2012, 01:18 AM

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

05-20-2012, 02:30 PM	#1
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away RIP Big Willie.

05-20-2012, 02:59 PM	#2
Larry Fulton Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 271 Likes: 54 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	#3
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,295 Likes: 2,382 Liked 3,174 Times in 971 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 Set another place at the table

05-20-2012, 03:42 PM	#4
7423 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 639 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	#5
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,136 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 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	#6
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,733 Likes: 2,799 Liked 2,483 Times in 697 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	#7
bigshow2966 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 654 Likes: 674 Liked 180 Times in 55 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.

05-21-2012, 12:20 AM	#8
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: "Big Willie" Robinson passes away Another Brotherhood Flyer...

05-21-2012, 01:18 AM	#10
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,733 Likes: 2,799 Liked 2,483 Times in 697 Posts	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 Last edited by GTX JOHN; 05-21-2012 at 01:44 AM.