Willy T Ribbs documentary
I grew up in San Jose thru the ‘60’s up to around 1990. I crewed for a team based in Santa Clara who ran events in IMSA and SCCA Trans Am in the early ‘80’s. I remember seeing Willy in the pits in some of the events.
He was a good looking young man, was brash and had attitude. Big attitude. He was billed as the “Muhammad Ali of Auto Racing.” He didn’t flaunt that he was a victim of racism, but stated it in a way that he was disadvantaged because of his color. He seized the opportunity to get into the public eye, as he should have, in the newspapers and interviews. Like the story goes, he never got a fair shake. But when you get to that upper league of talent, it’s hard to get the “best” ride.
Still, he had some good rides. He had Budweiser sponsorship in a two car Camaro team with legend and F1 personality David Hobbs, and later, a Ford/Motorcraft Mustang ride with a young owner named Jack Roush. He was a good, fast driver.
I was rooting for him to succeed, because he was a Bay Area local and he was an underdog. But in the end, I think his attitude might have worked against him to become more mainstream.
I grew up in San Jose thru the ‘60’s up to around 1990. I crewed for a team based in Santa Clara who ran events in IMSA and SCCA Trans Am in the early ‘80’s. I remember seeing Willy in the pits in some of the events.
He was a good looking young man, was brash and had attitude. Big attitude. He was billed as the “Muhammad Ali of Auto Racing.” He didn’t flaunt that he was a victim of racism, but stated it in a way that he was disadvantaged because of his color. He seized the opportunity to get into the public eye, as he should have, in the newspapers and interviews. Like the story goes, he never got a fair shake. But when you get to that upper league of talent, it’s hard to get the “best” ride.
Still, he had some good rides. He had Budweiser sponsorship in a two car Camaro team with legend and F1 personality David Hobbs, and later, a Ford/Motorcraft Mustang ride with a young owner named Jack Roush. He was a good, fast driver.
I was rooting for him to succeed, because he was a Bay Area local and he was an underdog. But in the end, I think his attitude might have worked against him to become more mainstream.