"Big Willie" Robinson passes away

[Hemi Moose]

Another Brotherhood Flyer...

[Hemi Moose]

[Hemi Moose]

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]

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

[sammy pizzolato]

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!!!!

[Paul Wong]

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.

[Eddies66]

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!

[GTX JOHN]

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

[GTX JOHN]

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.

[Eddies66]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

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

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.