The Big Picture
Classic world mourns the loss of Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams
Our tribute to racing legend and all-round top chap Barrie Williams.
Tributes have been paid throughout the classic car world to one of motoring’s most charismatic personalities, Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams, who recently passed away after a short illness at the age of 79.
Whizzo was a leading light in the world of historic racing, following an illustrious career spanning six decades. Racing was in Barrie’s blood. His first race as a youngster saw him going sideways to victory in a Morris Minor on Easter Sunday, 1960. Paying for his racing by working as a lorry driver, he went on to famously take the chequered flag driving a Mini Cooper S at the 1964 Welsh Rally. It was there he earned the nickname ‘Whizzo’ after being branded a ‘Welsh Whizz-kid’ by a reporter. A subsequent twoyear stint in Formula Three ended when his team mate and friend Chris Lambert was killed at Zandvoort in 1968. Put off by the need for such obscenely high speeds, Barrie turned to saloon and touring cars, driving for the works Colt team in the BTCC and later winning one-make titles at the wheel of Renault 5s and Fiestas.
Whizzo’s heroic antics at Goodwood saw him regularly nab victory in cars as wideranging as a Mini Cooper to a Ferrari 250GTO – both of which he was happy to drive on the absolute limit. He retired from driving earlier this year.
Whizzo often joined the PC team on stage at the Practical
Classics Restoration Show,
entertaining the crowds on stage with his cheeky stories, then spending time with fans afterwards. Never short of a hilarious comment or encouragement for young drivers, Barrie’s great wit, kindness and his extraordinary racing career – not to mention his ability to go sideways just about everywhere – will never be forgotten.