Halfway into the Goodwood Revival weekend came the sad news that Barrie Williams had passed away (on the morning of 8 September). He was just weeks shy of his 80th birthday.
The last surviving member of the ‘terrible trio’ whose other alumni were Tony Lanfranchi (d.2004) and Gerry Marshall (d.2005), ‘Whizzo’ was a racing institution, known, recognised and loved in paddocks throughout the world.
With somewhere between 700 and 800 races and 250 rallies – and many wins – behind him, he only announced his retirement from competition in February, aged 79.
Whizzo’s sideways style was legendary
His talent – as sideways as you like, or neat and quick as the pace demanded – was a perfect match for the surge in popularity in historic racing in the ’80s, where he shone for the next 25 years.
A regular at the Goodwood Revival, his was a ubiquitous presence at events great and small, lately driving Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars for Dick Skipworth as well as piloting the famous team transporter.
Whizzo was a regular at Goodwood
