January 3, 1955
Willy T. Ribbs
(photo; openpaddock.net)
Born In San Jose, California, USA.
Ribbs father William "Bunny" Ribbs, Sr. was a plumbing contractor and amateur sports car racer, and was friends and neighbors with Indy Car driver Joe Leonard. Ribbs was nearly killed at eight years old when an out-of-control car at a race struck him. Following his graduation from high school in 1975, Ribbs moved to Europe to compete. He won the Dunlop Championship in his first year of competition. In 1977, he competed in the Formula Ford Series in England, winning six races in eleven starts. Ribbs returned to the United States in 1978, making his debut in the Formula Atlantic open-wheel series at Long Beach on April 1, finishing 10th after running as high as 4th.
The former driver and team owner competed in many forms of auto racing, including the Trans-Am Series, Formula Atlantic, IndyCar, CART, IMSA, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Ribbs saw his most success in the Trans-Am Series, winning 17 races while driving for such names as Dan Gurney and Jack Roush, and winning the 1983 Trans-Am Series Rookie of the Year.
Ribbs became the first black person to drive a Formula One car, when he tested for the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Brabham team at the Autódromo do Estoril, Portugalin in 1986. He broke the color barrier at the Indianapolis 500 in 1991, becoming the first African-American to qualify for the race.
(photo; www.indianapolisrecorder.com)
Ribbs' talent was at times limited by a lack of good equipment, and eclipsed at times by his strong personality. Ribbs had received criticism for his strong personality during his career, sometimes from other African Americans in auto racing. Black car owner Leonard T. Miller felt Ribbs was not the best representative of the black community due to his outspoken nature.
Ribbs has also spoken negatively about his experience in NASCAR. In May 2006, a newspaper column by Jason Whitlock of Knight-Ridder quoted Ribbs detailing his criticism of NASCAR and his lauding of the Indianapolis 500. Ribbs created controversy by referring to NASCAR as Al-Qaida, "Neckcar", and WWE. His personality and physical stature have been compared to Muhammad Ali and Ribbs once hired boxing promoter Don King to manage him.
In 1984, during a warm-up session at the SCCA Trans-Am Series season opener at Road Atlanta, Ribbs was fined $1,000 for throwing a punch at fellow driver Bob Lobenberg, afther the two drivers made contact on the track. In 1987 following a race at Portland International Raceway, Ribbs was suspended by the International Motor Sports Association for one month after throwing a punch at driver Scott Pruett. Ribbs felt that Pruett had cost him a chance at winning the race.
In the Disney Channel cartoon The Proud Family, Penny Proud and her friends attend "Willy T. Ribbs Middle School," where the mascot is the "Racer."
After retiring from racing, Ribbs turned to professional shooting, specializing in sporting clays.
(Photo; nnvesj.org)
Willy T with his prized Perazzi shotgun for competitive shooting.
Born In San Jose, California, USA.
Ribbs father William "Bunny" Ribbs, Sr. was a plumbing contractor and amateur sports car racer, and was friends and neighbors with Indy Car driver Joe Leonard. Ribbs was nearly killed at eight years old when an out-of-control car at a race struck him. Following his graduation from high school in 1975, Ribbs moved to Europe to compete. He won the Dunlop Championship in his first year of competition. In 1977, he competed in the Formula Ford Series in England, winning six races in eleven starts. Ribbs returned to the United States in 1978, making his debut in the Formula Atlantic open-wheel series at Long Beach on April 1, finishing 10th after running as high as 4th.
Ribbs became the first black person to drive a Formula One car, when he tested for the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Brabham team at the Autódromo do Estoril, Portugalin in 1986. He broke the color barrier at the Indianapolis 500 in 1991, becoming the first African-American to qualify for the race.
(photo; www.indianapolisrecorder.com)
Ribbs' talent was at times limited by a lack of good equipment, and eclipsed at times by his strong personality. Ribbs had received criticism for his strong personality during his career, sometimes from other African Americans in auto racing. Black car owner Leonard T. Miller felt Ribbs was not the best representative of the black community due to his outspoken nature.
Ribbs has also spoken negatively about his experience in NASCAR. In May 2006, a newspaper column by Jason Whitlock of Knight-Ridder quoted Ribbs detailing his criticism of NASCAR and his lauding of the Indianapolis 500. Ribbs created controversy by referring to NASCAR as Al-Qaida, "Neckcar", and WWE. His personality and physical stature have been compared to Muhammad Ali and Ribbs once hired boxing promoter Don King to manage him.
In 1984, during a warm-up session at the SCCA Trans-Am Series season opener at Road Atlanta, Ribbs was fined $1,000 for throwing a punch at fellow driver Bob Lobenberg, afther the two drivers made contact on the track. In 1987 following a race at Portland International Raceway, Ribbs was suspended by the International Motor Sports Association for one month after throwing a punch at driver Scott Pruett. Ribbs felt that Pruett had cost him a chance at winning the race.
In the Disney Channel cartoon The Proud Family, Penny Proud and her friends attend "Willy T. Ribbs Middle School," where the mascot is the "Racer."
After retiring from racing, Ribbs turned to professional shooting, specializing in sporting clays.
Willy T with his prized Perazzi shotgun for competitive shooting.
He was a great driver with lots of Talent, but his
ReplyDeleteAttitude is why he Never made it in any Racing series! It's a Shame!
Having watched the documentary on Mr. Willy T. Ribbs on Netflix, one or many have said his attitude was the problem why he never made it. As an African (born) American and proud of it, it was his attitude that got him their like some many others before him Ali, Arthur Ashe, Henry Arron, Jackie Robertson and so on, had to have a (special) attitude to get them to where they are in America. Doors shut on them simply because they were black! Shame you you who either isn't from the African American culture who haven't (assumption made here) the slightest idea what it's like to walk in his (Willy)shoes, or, one of use who don't know history! Shame! Shame! Shame!
ReplyDelete