Brotherhood Raceway Park
| "Terminal Island Raceway" | |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UMT -0800 |
| Opened | 1974 |
| Closed | 1995 |
| Drag Strip | |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Length | 0.25 miles (0.402 km) |
Brotherhood Raceway Park (sometimes referred to as Terminal Island Raceway) was a drag racing venue on Terminal Island which is between the neighborhood of San Pedro in the city of Los Angeles and the city of Long Beach.
Background[edit]
In 1974, "Big Willie" Robinson and his wife Tomiko, opened the drag strip which hosted 1⁄4 mile drag racing. It opened on an old Navy airfield paying $1,000 per month to lease the facility. Over the next two decades, the track would lose and regain the temporary lease several times but would permanently close in 1995, displaced by a coal-handling plant.[1]
Today[edit]
Subsequent attempts to revive racing on the Terminal Island site, particularly when the coal facility closed, have not been successful.[2]
Film and television[edit]
The drag strip was featured in a 1995 episode of Visiting with Huell Howser.[3]
Connection to Hollywood[edit]
Willie made connections to famous figures in Hollywood in order to spread his influence. Prominent people like Arthur Newman, Paul Newman's brother, and Barry Meguiar, the host of Car Crazy could be seen wearing Brotherhood jackets or vests[4].
Filmmakers from the street racing film Two-Lane Blacktop, released in 1971, also received Brotherhood clothing. Although the movie was not a box office success, it spread the influence of street racing and the Brotherhood.
Notable Events[edit]
Star Wars Race Day 1977[edit]
At the height of Star War's popularity in 1977, "Big Willie" Robinson organized a drag racing event themed around the film franchise. Lucasfilm, the production company behind the film, supported and provided the rights to the characters in the events[4].
While working on the street-racing movie, Two-Lane Blacktop, Willie became friends with producer Gary Kurtz. Kurtz, who produced on the set of Star Wars, allowed Willie to use the characters at the racetrack[4].
Many notable figures from around Los Angeles came to see the drag race. Mayor Tom Bradley, Councilman Robert Farrell, and Tookie Williams were found in attendance.
Star Wars Race Day 1980[edit]
After the release of The Empire Strikes Back, Willie organized a second "Star Wars" race day in 1980[4]. Notable characters including Darth Vader and Boba Fett shared the drag strip with Willie.
Bibliography[edit]
- Coonce, Cole (May 4, 2010). Sex & Travel & Vestiges of Metallic Fragments (1st ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781452802138.[a]
- Miller, Daniel (2019-07-16). "Big Willie Robinson's wild Hollywood ride: 'Star Wars,' 'Fast & Furious' and Paul Newman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-03-22.[b]
- Townsend, Sylvia. Bumpy Road : The Making, Flop, and Revival of Two-Lane Blacktop. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2019[c]
- https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6183643-L-A-Harbor-Department-files-reveal-tension-with.html[d]
Notes[edit]
- ^ This is a book written by a literary journalist who writes for automotive and drag-racing magazines. It is a collection of essays, and one covers Brotherhood Raceway Park
- ^ This podcast from the LA Times details Big Willie Robinson and his events at Brotherhood Raceway Park
- ^ The book mentions street racing in the Los Angeles port in lead by Big Willie Robinson
- ^ The document was shared by the LA Times in support of one of their articles which suggested reasons that lead to the downfall of the Brotherhood Raceway Park
References[edit]
- ^ Dennis McLellan (25 May 2012). "'Big Willie' Robinson dies at 69; L.A. drag race organizer". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Daniel Strohl (31 December 2014). "Los Angeles street racers aim to bring drag racing back to Terminal Island". Hemmings Motor News.
- ^ "Brotherhood Raceway- Visiting (318) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University".
- ^ a b c d Miller, Daniel (2019-07-16). "Big Willie Robinson's wild Hollywood ride: 'Star Wars,' 'Fast & Furious' and Paul Newman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-05-03.