This sum's it up and this thread is now deemed DEAD imho! I watched Willy during his whole career and yes he had moment's of brilliance but he was pompous, arrogant and played the racial card or innuendo at every opportunity he had.
I would ask them their ethnicity. I'm still not sure if you get my point that not all darker skinned people originated from Africa? ... It would be like saying to you: "are you from England?" Pete
Willy.T.Ribbs came over to the UK in 1977 ,won 6 out of 12 F Ford races straight off.he was pretty much sensational at the time,sort of Senna style.'Who is this black kid from the USA?' He was fast ( whooped my a$$ several times) ,made the mistake of going back to USA ( because no backing to move up to F3) .. Bernie gave him,age 30, a run in the Brabham in 1985 at Estoril but with backing from Olivetti Patrese and De Angelis got the drive for 1986. I think he could have made it to F1 with the sort of backing Lewis had from uncle Ron from an early age in karting. Mind you he was pretty outspoken ,think M Ali syle, would make Lewis look like a choir boy!
Willy T. was also the first A-M to qualify for the Indy 500. He was struggling a bit in practice, so the story goes that Rick Mears took him around the track in a road car. Willy instantly went 2 or 3 mph faster than he had all month & subsequently qualified. I thought history would remember him more kindly than these comments would indicate. But, hey, at least history remembers him more kindly than Cosby!
Willy T tried in Champ Car in the 90s. Was never a front runner, but the competition was intense and he didn't have the backing to move up in the field - he gave it a shot, though. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Willy T features pretty prominently in the documentary about Paul Newman's racing life called "Winning". Adam Carolla put the film together and it's available on Amazon Prime to stream for free. The way Willy T is portrayed in the film is all very positive. IIRC, he won 11 out of 12 races in the 1st or 2nd year with the Trans-Am team Newman referred him onto.
His race was less hindrance than some might think. It gained him notoriety and sponsorship he wouldn't have otherwise had. His bravado is nothing special among race drivers. Supposedly he liked to compare himself to Ali. I like him in this interview. He acknowledges having the best team and indeed hams it up just like Ali. I couldn't describe him as ever having been part of F1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GxDs2emadM
I drove the Surtees at several display events in mid 70s, that makes me an F1 driver? Whoo Hoo!!! One of the tests was at Brands, I warmed the car up, both George Harrison and Barry Sheene drove the car, thus they are also F1 drivers?
