Re: big Willie Robinson III, sort of off topic but still Mopar

Yes, he was in the early part of Two Lane Blacktop - with one of his Daytonas. I think he was more well known on the west cost - LA area, but I knew of him. He was a proponent of getting street racers off the streets for safety - as well as trying to curb gang violence. I don't know if I've seen many pics of him without his veteren clothing on - usually a Brotherhood of Street Racers vest and camo and a beret. I saw him at Great Lakes Dragaway in 2009. He was there for a nostalgic drag racing weekend. He wasn't racing - he was there as a nostalgia celebrity. Attached a pic from that day. Everything I've read about him indicates that he was a good guy who tried to help others and make a difference.

Dave
'64 Belvedere 2DHT
318 Poly, Push Button Auto

From: neal zimmerman <neal.zimmerman@xxxxxxxxx>
To: 1962to1965mopars <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 9:50 AM
Subject: big Willie Robinson III, sort of off topic but still Mopar

I just read that this guy died a while ago. Seems to be some sort of
marginal figure that never really got his moment, or maybe he didn't
want it. Its hard to find much on him......pretty obscure. I remember
a street racing scene with a Dodge Daytona from that movie "2 Lane
Blacktop", and guys in jackets with patches and a credit at the end
about "Big Willie". Does anybody here remember him and the
Brotherhood of Street Racers. Seems he was a mo-par guy. One obit
blurb I found in the NY Times said he was a green beret in Vietnam,
and somehow organized a drag-strip with the blessings of the LAPD and
the City of Los Angeles. I know most of you guys aren't from the LA
area but i thought I would ask.
Neal Zimmerman, Eugene Oregon

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