Letters ‘Whizzo’ and Knebworth remembered, and the Jeep record’s set straight

I was saddened to read of Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams’ passing (Month in Cars, November 2018). I first met Barrie when attending the Under-17s Car Club in 1974/5 at Finmere, where he assessed our driving abilities, or lack thereof. I recall him turning up in a Celica MKI and enthralling us all as he did doughnuts around a tyre, then getting out to cheers from us teenagers and telling us not try that with dad’s car, which prompted ‘don’t even think about it’ warnings from the parents.

My father and I then followed his racing career, watching him race and meeting up with him in the paddock to have a catch up. He never forgot my name and to father it was always ‘Hello Dad’.

Reminiscing over this weekend I recalled a trip to Silverstone and a saloon car event. We caught up with Barrie in the bar, along with Tony Lanfranchi and Gerry Marshall... soft drinks all round please. He was a true gent and will be sorely missed by his fans and the racing fraternity. RIP. Gordon Dow