Wild Willie Borsch is the reason I loved to go the dragstrip at Irwindale to get my fix when I was a kid in the 60's. Who else would have driven this car at 200mph with only one hand on the wheel ?? Nitro and burning rubber with the ground shaking, there is nothing like it !!! RIP Willie !!!
Grew up in the sixties watching this man in the magazines. Being in Florida I never saw him in person,but fell in love with sport because of cats like him. He was a real showman🏁
I wonder if the wing hurt more than it helped. So many photos of the Winged Express, even the driven by Mike Boyd, with the front tires off the ground anywhere on the track, including in the lights. Also, the photo of the car completely sideways, with the Moon decal on the wing looks like it's warning, "Look out Willie!"
You lucky dog! Never seen him, but the stories and photos were exciting. I'm still looking for the photos in Hot Rod magazine of Willy full on, slicks full grown, smoke and fire, three wheels in the air leaving the line. I've heard that he's taken out the tree more than once. One of drag racing heroes.
Where did all of the pictures were he was going in a straight line come from. Whenever I would see pictures of him in Popular Hot Ridding he was always sideways! Great pictures!
Picture at 0:56 is the one that got me hooked on drag racing many many years ago. Sideways with his foot still on the loud pedal,gone but NEVER forgotten.
In the 60s at York PA .I met Willie. A hell of a driver. He made a couple pass's just to entertain the crowd ! It was raining ! He had a huge set!!! if you know what i mean !! I will never forget the man !! Thanks for the video ! I read he made hie frames out of muffler pipe he said he could find it anywhere if he wrecked !! My kind of man !!!
Willie was a long time family friend, they don't get any better. It was our dad, Al Barnes that came up with the idea to put the wing on the car while working at Howard's Cams.
These were the guys that made the NHRA guys rich , and then NHRA outlawed them all, nice Eh ? In 2023 I'd like to add:I hope everyone notices the Winged Express is still running an Early Hemi, the most amazing creation ever produced by Chrysler especially back in the 1950s, I love them motors.
Yes, when I was a kid I think they paid him $1500.00 to make exhibition runs and the stands would be full of spectators when he showed up and the crowd would go crazy when he would get crossed up and power out of it steering with one hand.
I've read the split between Willie and Al Marcellus was when Willie insisted on running a big block Chevy in the funny car. He felt it would be cheaper to maintain.
Wild Willie Borsch is the reason I loved to go the dragstrip at Irwindale to get my fix when I was a kid in the 60's. Who else would have driven this car at 200mph with only one hand on the wheel ??
Nitro and burning rubber with the ground shaking, there is nothing like it !!!
RIP Willie !!!
Thank you! Man what a ride.
Grew up in the sixties watching this man in the magazines. Being in Florida I never saw him in person,but fell in love with sport because of cats like him. He was a real showman🏁
I wonder if the wing hurt more than it helped. So many photos of the Winged Express, even the driven by Mike Boyd, with the front tires off the ground anywhere on the track, including in the lights. Also, the photo of the car completely sideways, with the Moon decal on the wing looks like it's warning, "Look out Willie!"
"1 Hand" Wild Willie....most memorable nitro pass I ever witnessed
You lucky dog! Never seen him, but the stories and photos were exciting. I'm still looking for the photos in Hot Rod magazine of Willy full on, slicks full grown, smoke and fire, three wheels in the air leaving the line. I've heard that he's taken out the tree more than once. One of drag racing heroes.
Nice Tribute Video. Saw Willie once in person and his driving was Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Where did all of the pictures were he was going in a straight line come from. Whenever I would see pictures of him in Popular Hot Ridding he was always sideways! Great pictures!
Picture at 0:56 is the one that got me hooked on drag racing many many years ago.
Sideways with his foot still on the loud pedal,gone but NEVER forgotten.
In the 60s at York PA .I met Willie. A hell of a driver. He made a couple pass's just to entertain the crowd ! It was raining ! He had a huge set!!! if you know what i mean !! I will never forget the man !! Thanks for the video ! I read he made hie frames out of muffler pipe he said he could find it anywhere if he wrecked !! My kind of man !!!
Willie was a long time family friend, they don't get any better. It was our dad, Al Barnes that came up with the idea to put the wing on the car while working at Howard's Cams.
That's pretty cool info Wendy. I probably met your dad. I used to talk to Willie and Rich Harrell, in the pits at Lion's Drag Strip.
@@whitelight2507 Those were the Days Lions, Irwindale and OCIR..........I am Grateful
These were the guys that made the NHRA guys rich , and then NHRA outlawed them all, nice Eh ? In 2023 I'd like to add:I hope everyone notices the Winged Express is still running an Early Hemi, the most amazing creation ever produced by Chrysler especially back in the 1950s, I love them motors.
Yes, when I was a kid I think they paid him $1500.00 to make exhibition runs and the stands would be full of spectators when he showed up and the crowd would go crazy when he would get crossed up and power out of it steering with one hand.
I've read the split between Willie and Al Marcellus was when Willie insisted on running a big block Chevy in the funny car. He felt it would be cheaper to maintain.
Rob Zombie "Dragula" been fitting back ground music! Love the old photos!! 👌👌
And then there was Willie... What else can be said.
While Willie was an ordinary man , until he stepped in that car .
#34????? Should be much closer to single digits to me!
The only thing that would
Be better is. SOUNDS
IMO. This video is much too quiet! It's original but there's no action. All the other modern ones are fake compared to this however.
pure bs .I wanted to see vids ,I got old photos