Barrie "Whizzo" Williams RIP

[John Clarke]

I was shocked to learn that Barry "Whizzo" Williams had passed away yesterday when announced by Lord March at the Goodwood Revival.

Series 1 folk maybe unaware that Barry drove Adrian Van Der Krofts Series 1 at the Silverstone Classic in 2009. They were competing in the the BRDC 500 pre war sports car race. Peter Horsman and I were driving my (then) Series 1 4-4 LM and was amazed to see that Barry had posted a time 4 secs quicker than any of us. Remarkable.

Adrian and Barrie's race came to a premature end when a wheel collapsed whilst Barrie was driving, if my memory serves me right?


Adrian's rapid series 1 as driven by Whizzo Williams

RIP Barrie.

john

[Bob Bull]

When the HSCC celebrated their 40th. anniversary than ran a race for 1950's sports cars as in the original Griffiths formula, Barrie was driving a Jaguar XK120 in a field of Lister, Maserati, D-Type etc, and in pouring rain completely dominated, showing total masterery of the conditions in a car that should have been no where near the front. Sheer brilliance!*

Barrie had a fund of amusing anecdotes from his career, and was not just a great driver, but also a charming gentleman.

When he overturned a Cooper F1 car at the Classic (?) he was heard to call to the marshals; "You had better get me out of here I am your President you know."

The next day the car bore the legend, "This way up"

God Bless you Barrie.


* https://photos.app.goo.gl/22j6U8gyLBcNtpsM7